LA Film Fest: Close Encounters of the N.E.R.D. Kind

Grammy-winning producer Pharrell Williams is the Artist in Residence at this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival (June 21 – July 2) in Westwood Village. Part of his resident duties required the selection of two films that inspired him to be one of the most sought after moneymakers in the music world today. Pharrell, aka Skateboard P, half of The Neptunes production team, and lead singer/drummer for funk-rock band N.E.R.D., chose National Lampoon’s Vacation and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It all makes sense now …

Clark Griswold: Could I do your back, honey?
Ellen Griswold: I’ve already done my back.
Clark: Could I do your front?
Ellen: Go do your own front.

Could this dialogue exchange be the inspiration for Pharrell’s “Frontin'” (with Jay-Z)? Most likely not, but I do know Pharrell knows every quote from the movie so the possibility isn’t alien.

Go check out the festival and listen to Pharrell explain why he chose Griswold and UFOs on Saturday, June 23 at 8 p.m. at the Hammer Museum. The event is free. Ice cream optional.