How David Lynch and 'Twin Peaks' Cast Honor the Legendary Log Lady in Heartfelt Documentary
The Log Lady was a cherished character in "Twin Peaks," but Catherine Coulson was far more than just that role. She became a fan favorite known for engaging with series devotees and contributing to the show’s mythology. Additionally, she had a long-standing career as an actor at Ashland's Oregon Shakespeare Festival and worked as a camera assistant for directors like David Lynch, John Cassavetes, and Albert Brooks.
Richard Green, the director of "I Know Catherine, The Log Lady," notes that Coulson managed to make "everyone who was close to her feel as though they were her closest confidant." This feature-length documentary will be shown at Ojai’s Playhouse Theatre on Saturday, followed by a Q&A session with Mark Frost, one of the creators of "Twin Peaks."
Many of those friends played roles in producing the documentary, which concludes with the intense narrative of Coulson’s final days. As Lynch and her team hurriedly worked against the swift progression of Coulson's lung cancer, they aimed to feature her in the Showtime revival “Twin Peaks: The Return.”
Coulson died in 2015 Just four days following a short appearance of The Log Lady filmed at her residence in Oregon, assisted by a nearby production firm and David Lynch overseeing via Skype from a distance, the documentary reaches an emotionally charged end. As friends and relatives convene at her house to bid farewell, Lynch’s Los Angeles-based producer endeavors to determine if Coulson is fit enough to travel to the Washington set using a medical transport aircraft.
First off, we delve into the captivating story of a multifaceted woman raised in the pristine era of the 1950s, where her father held a public relations position at Disney. When the countercultural movement started thriving, Coulson transitioned into becoming a bohemian theater artist during the tumultuous times of 1960s San Francisco. Relocating to Hollywood led her to cohabit with Lynch and actor Jack Nance from “Eraserhead,” eventually marrying him. Her contribution to “Eraserhead” included working as both an assistant cameraperson and Lynch’s aide, which also marked the inception of their discussions about what would become known as the Log Lady idea.
Though not her sole achievement, she became particularly memorable playing Margaret, the enigmatic Log Lady — known for delivering lines such as “The answers to all our queries lie within the breeze, foliage, stones, and liquid” with a solemn wit. This character turned her into an emblematic presence among David Lynch’s devoted followers.
Green, known for his role as The Magician in Lynch's "Mulholland Drive," conducted over 65 interviews for the documentary throughout the last seven years. Some of these conversations took place in the very Beachwood Canyon apartment where he initially encountered both Coulson and Lynch.
Over twenty years since "Mulholland Drive," Green expressed great enthusiasm about collaborating once more with Lynch, who happily recounted stories of his long-time colleague and partner Coulson. "Lynch is simply the finest supporter an actor could have—ask anyone who has worked with him. His presence and encouragement are unparalleled," remarks Green. "For this movie, all I did for him was listen."
Green remembers the session with David as a delightful ninety minutes, possibly Lynch’s final time onscreen. He considers him one of the finest narrators in history.
Other individuals from "Twin Peaks" who share their recollections of Coulson in the documentary include Frost, Kyle MacLachlan, Dana Ashbrook, Grace Zabriskie, Michael Horse, and Kimmy Robertson.
Green became intrigued with producing a documentary about Coulson as soon as she learned of the events connected to her concluding appearance in "Twin Peaks: The Return." This information came directly from Coulson’s close acquaintance and executive producer, Donna DuBain. “It struck me as such an incredible tale—someone manages to complete this part for their finale only to pass away mere days afterward,” explains Green. She found this sequence of events truly remarkable.
No one truly understood the entire narrative. This is why we had an NDA," he explains. "Donna informed me about the $6 million confidentiality agreement everyone signed upon arrival. They were required to pay a penalty of $6 million if they disclosed anything that occurred.
When the moment arrived to capture the documentary’s pivotal concluding scenes, which featured clips from the filming of "Twin Peaks: The Return,” Green states that his primary objective was simply “to step back” and allow the personal dialogues to unfold naturally without any accompanying music.
Similar to Lynch, Coulson enthusiastically practiced transcendental meditation, and even managed to convince Green to give it a try as well. Recalling those times, Green admits, "I initially found the idea rather cultish." However, during a challenging phase in his life, he states, "'Deciding to undergo TM training would not only improve my understanding of Catherine and David but might also be beneficial for me personally.'"
Green mentions that Coulson was the one who initially fostered a sense of camaraderie within Lynch’s teams, which continued throughout his career. "David cultivated a feeling of community and positivity on set—I believe this was significantly shaped by Catherine."
The director discloses that the original log belonging to the Log Lady has been found and is en route to a museum, whereas Coulson’s famous red glasses will be showcased at certain screening events.
Following Ojai, the documentary will head to Ashland, Portland, Los Angeles, and various other cities, as well as being accessible for streaming. on the film's website starting May 21.
- David Lynch to Receive Honor from World Soundtrack Awards
- 'Wild at Heart' producer Joni Sighvatsson is setting up 'The Girl WhoSaved the King ofSweden' as part of an international ensemble drama withDiprenteMedia.
Comments
Post a Comment