Bingham Ray died this weekend after suffering a stroke at the Sundance Film Festival. He might not have been a household name, but Bingham was, at least to me, one of the most important and committed forces for good in the world of independent film. He founded October Pictures, effectively introduced Mike Leigh to America, was responsible for getting films by everyone from David Lynch to Pedro Almodovar into theaters and the cultural conversation, as it were. (He has a large part in Peter Siskind’s ’90s-indie-film-chronicle Down and Dirty Pictures, largely playing in contrast to the Machiavellian Miramax crew.) Bingham was truly on the side of the angels.
I was lucky enough to meet and spend a few days with him at TIFF 2011, last September, where he was one of the “governors” (basically, mentors/advisors) at a program called Talent Lab I took part in along with a couple dozen other emerging filmmakers. I think I can say we were all very taken with this straight-talking but warmly friendly man, who seemed to make an extra-special effort to get to know us, to hang out with us, to drink with us, to encourage us.
Bingham would sit at the back of the room as we conversed with the other guest speakers, and would often join in the conversation, sometimes with hilarious candour. One of the most memorable moments of the week was when a legendary documentary filmmaker was visiting us, along with a smarmy, glad-handed sycophant who had the title of co-director on his most recent effort, and who seemed to think his opinions were most important to us than the legend in question. It was when this glad-hander interrupted the documentarian on the question “Who are your influences as a filmmaker?” to say, “Well, Marty’s films have always been a huge influence on me,” that Bingham could be heard to say, “What a douche!” and storm out of the room. We all loved him so much for that.
Most important to me, though, was when I had the chance to ask him a question that had been gnawing away at me for a long time. “Is it crazy to be a filmmaker and live in Montreal and not L.A. or New York? Am I out of my mind or wasting my time?” No, Bingham answered. You’re doing the right thing. Tell your own stories, don’t try and make the same films as everyone else. Stay where you are. That meant a lot to me.
I know I’m one of many, many people to have been touched by the man’s wisdom and good nature. There are probably thousands of stories like mine, most from people who knew him far better and longer. But the fact that just a few days’ acquaintance could have such an impact on me, and I know, my fellow Talent Labbers, says a lot about this extraordinary man. Rest in peace, Bingham, you were truly one of the good guys.
