Elaine Stritch Talks New SHOOT ME Doc, Gandolfini & More

Theatrical icon Elaine Stritch is the subject of a rapturously-received new documentary, Elaine Stritch: SHOOT ME, and, in promotion of the film, the actress and performer recently sat for a rare Q&A and commented on her favorite roles, the future and how the no-holds-barred doc came about itself.

Seated alongside the filmmaker, Chiemi Karasawa, as well as world famous documentarian Michael Moore, Stritch was also joined by close friends and collaborators Rob Bowman and her trusted friend, Julie Keyes, at the Traverse City Film Festival last week.

Taking on topics ranging from aging to technology and beyond, Stritch covered quite a lot of ground in the wide-ranging conversation.

For instance, what does The Lady Who Lunches - or, should that be, The One Who Wears A Hat - think of the Twitter phenomenon? "I don't even know what that is. And it's a lousy title," she snaps.

So, how did the documentary come about in the first place? "Why not? Nobody else was following me around," Stritch casually asserts.

As for her recent big move from the hallowed halls of her beloved home at the Carlyle in Manhattan back to her home state of Michigan, Stritch says, "I'll always miss New York, but I kind of like going in and out, and having some place I can call home. I love being here in Michigan, and I think something very good is going to happen [with Detroit's economic situation]. They're fighters. Detroiters are fighters."

Also, Stritch cited her work in Stephen Sondheim & George Furth's COMPANY as well as her turn in the revivals of Edward Albee's A DELICATE BALANCE and Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein's SHOW BOAT as her favorite parts to date.

Stritch also remarked upon her co-star in the unusual John Turturro-directed movie musical ROMANCE & CIGARETTES, the recently deceased James Gandolfini, confiding, "I don't like to talk about it. It's too soon. It's one of the great losses of my life. I just think he was extraordinary."

Elaine Stritch: SHOOT ME premieres in February 2014, with a DVD release planned for later on next year.

Check out the original article on the matter here.

View photos of Stritch, Karasawa, Moore and more at the TCFF Event below.

Photo Credit: Jane Boursaw