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ALBERT NOBBS COURTESY ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS COURTESY ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS COURTESY ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS A REDFORT WORTH FOR CARPET UNFURLS IN Glenn Close as 19th-century manservant Albert Nobbs Glenn Close as Albert Nobbs Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska in Albert Nobbs Rodrigo Garcia, Glenn Close, Cami & John Goff EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY KRISTINA BOWMAN. No, this isn't L.A., Cannes or New York. It's Fort Worth, where a somewhat unlikely, circuitous alignment of dollars, heart and talent converged to finance and produce a bold movie, Albert Nobbs, starring Glenn Close and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. The film is almost certainly destined for a statuette or two; it's nominated for three Golden Globes Bonnie Curtis, Travis Goff, Shelby Krause and two SAG Awards. Van Cliburn, Kimbell Wynne, Tommy Smith E nter Fort Worth investors and arts patrons John and Cami Goff, who were introduced to this independent movie project spearheaded by Close and Dallas-born producer Bonnie Curtis by a mutual friend. The Goffs, wooed by Close's passion and determination, co-financed the film along with the actress and her husband, David Shaw. The spectacular Albert Nobbs had a screening in Fort Worth Wednesday, January 8, and hit theaters nationwide on Friday, January 27. We had a lovely chat with the Goffs and a fly-by with Glenn Close. Setting the scene: Glenn Close plays a woman passing for a manservant in 19th-century Ireland … for 30 years. Take a look at the stills from the movie; this is no vanity project for Close, but a project she has tirelessly worked toward for more than 15 years. Close co-wrote the script, stars in it, serves as executive producer and, along with the Goffs, put her dollars on the line. Close is a Hollywood legend, a powerhouse, so why wasn't a major studio producing this film? John Goff: "From the beginning, Glenn wanted to have artistic control over the film. For the most part, major studios don't do these types of movies anymore. One of the producers, Bonnie Curtis, worked for Steven Spielberg for 20 years. This was her chance to beak away and see if she could do this project without Steven's help." Ken & Julie Hersh As executive producers, how involved were you both in the production? Cami Goff: "We were involved from the beginning of the film, at the first makeup test in Los Angeles last September where the characters, Albert and Hubert, were created. We sat around the kitchen table that night, eating pizza with Rodrigo Garcia and Glenn, Janet McTier and the two producers, Bonnie Curtis and Julie Lynn — talking about scenes and characters and how they were going to make it come to life in Ireland a few months later. We decided to take our children to Dublin last January for eight days of the 34-day film schedule to see it for ourselves. And two of our children, Lucie and Lily Melcher, are even in the film!" Sarah Goff Klaus & Nick Klaus So, you see, it's apropos that there was a gala preview of Albert Nobbs hosted by Cami and John at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth with a cocktail reception and screening, followed by dessert and Irish coffees at the Goffs' home. Pre-cocktail reception: Close, Garcia and Curtis were feet-up at the Goffs', relaxing with a short list of friends and family, when Close sprang up and sang the original song from the film, "Lay Your Head Down, Darling," for which she wrote the lyrics and which Sinead O'Connor recorded. Cami relates, "After she sang — you know, she won a Tony for her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard — she signed our piano. It's a tradition John and I have. We have signatures from Martin Short, Van Cliburn, Vladimir Feltsman and now Glenn Close!" Holly Moore Ann Sutherland Dean Fearing, Angela Murry James Faust Gene & Jerry Jones David Sutherland Mike & Rosie Moncrief Stephen & Michelle Coslik FEBRUARY | PAGE 20 | 2012 Neils & Elaine Agather Anne Greene, Joanie & Tony Darden, Olivia Kearney