State and Main 2000

In the quaint town of Waterford, Vermont, chaos ensues as a troubled film production wreaks havoc on its residents. Initially based in New Hampshire, the crew finds themselves expelled due to the leading man’s troubling attraction to underage girls. Relocating to Vermont to continue shooting their film, The Old Mill, they discover that essential to their project—a working mill—has been lost to flames decades ago.

Undeterred, the film’s director, Walt Price, portrayed by William H. Macy, places his hopes on the inexperienced screenwriter, Joseph Turner White, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, to transform the script in the face of adversity. However, White’s struggle with a seemingly endless bout of writer’s block complicates matters, calling into question the film’s future. Enter Annie Black, a thoughtful local bookseller, portrayed by Rebecca Pidgeon, who aims to inspire White during his creative crisis.

The production is not without its troubles: the leading actress, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, demands an outrageous $800,000 to fulfill her contractual nude scene, while the foreign cinematographer inadvertently angers the townsfolk by tampering with their cherished historic firehouse. Simultaneously, the leading man, Bob Barrenger, portrayed by Alec Baldwin, finds himself embroiled in a flirtation with Carla, a cunning local teen played by Julia Stiles.

As tensions mount, the situation escalates when Barrenger and Carla are involved in a car accident. This event becomes a pivotal moment for White, the sole witness, pushing him deeper into a personal dilemma and ultimately drawing him closer to Annie. Compounding the chaos, a powerful movie producer, played by David Paymer, arrives in town to assist Price in navigating the escalating turmoil rooted in their beleaguered production. This tale of creative struggle, community disruption, and unexpected romance promises a richly layered experience as the film unfolds.