The success of the indie film Waitress was somewhat bittersweet after its writer and director, Adrienne Shelley, had been found murdered in her New York apartment only a few weeks before the film was to show at Sundance. Shelley was a talented and prolific writer, and some of her closest and most well-known friends are gathering to read one of her works in her honor on Nov. 17.

Hines, Russell and Shelley in "Waitress"

Actresses (and lesbian icons) Lili Taylor and Ally Sheedy will be joined by Waitress stars Keri Russell and and Cheryl Hines in a reading of The O Letters. The proceeds from the event will go to the Adrienne Shelley Foundation, which "supports the work of female actors, directors and writers." Yeah, that's something we can definitely get behind.

The best part is that tickets are actually affordable. You can purchase a basic ticket for $25, or if you're really into Ally Sheedy supporting the foundation, you can go all out with a $10,000 VIP package. Maybe it would help if I mentioned Kristen Bell and Mary-Louise Parker will also be there. … continue reading

Earlier this week, Film Independent announced their nominations for the 2008 Spirit Awards. I'm still puzzled by last year's decision to curtail the name (originally the Independent Spirit Awards), and I always have trouble fathoming the cost of film (these particular budgets have to be under $20 million, which seems simultaneously huge and meager), but I appreciate that the nominations provide a relatively reliable guide to indie work worthy of recognition.

This year's most-nominated films are I'm Not There, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, and Juno, but it's an altogether strong crowd, including some films popular with AfterEllen.com readers.

Along with Julie Delpy's Best First Feature nod for 2 Days in Paris and the heartbreaking and well-deserved acknowledgment for Adrienne Shelly's Waitress screenplay, there are such usual suspects as cool-straight Cate Blanchett for her turn as Bob Dylan, wacky-straight Parker Posey (Broken English), and reportedly now-straight Angelina Jolie (A Mighty Heart). … continue reading

If you didn't see Waitress at the theater, put it on your Netflix list now so you'll be able to watch it soon after its DVD release on November 27.

Waitress is a gem of a movie about a young woman (Keri Russell) in an abusive marriage who finds an emotional outlet in pie making. The story is winsome and heartwarming and, at times, hilarious. As The New York Times said in its review, Waitress isn't a feel-good movie, but it is a movie that leaves you feeling good. It will also leave you wanting pie.

Supporting the radiant Russell, whose gorgeous face kept me watching Felicity even after she cut her hair, are Cheryl Hines, of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Adrienne Shelly, who wrote and directed Waitress. For Shelly, the film reflected a talent that had not been evident in her previous work. But the movie's Sundance premier was bittersweet, since Shelly was murdered a few months earlier in her Manhattan apartment. At 40, Shelly was just coming into her own as a filmmaker. … continue reading