RSVP : Ornette Coleman Isn’t a Piece of Camping Gear

The Scene: Monday’s industry screening of Showtime’s “Lush Life” at the Directors Guild. The film about the lives of jazz musicians airs May 20. A party followed at the Roxbury club’s top floor.

*

Who Was There: From the film came co-star Kathy Baker (Jeff Goldblum and Forrest Whitaker were off filming). Also on hand were 400 agents and production execs.

*

Regarding the Locale: One club-goer took a look around Roxbury and remarked: “Gee, it’s nice to be here and not be tripping over Shannen Doherty.”

*

Best Self-Deprecating Remark by a Film Exec: Showtime’s Steve Hewitt described his first meeting with “Lush Life” writer-director Michael Elias about making the movie: “Michael looked at me like he was thinking, ‘Here’s this kid executive who probably thinks Ornette Coleman has something to do with camping equipment.’ ”

*

Regarding Showtime: Long the Avis to HBO’s Hertz in the cable-TV world, Hewitt described their relative positions as: “We’re the scrappy kid on the block. They’re into Little League, we play stick ball in the street. It gives us more freedom--we don’t need to have uniforms.”

*

Yes, This Must Be L.A.: It was an eight-block walk from the theater to Roxbury. There was about as much chance as the National Anthem being switched to a jazz tune as there was of anyone heading for the party on foot.

*

Entertainment: An excellent jazz band with Chuck Findley, Mike Lang, Dave Carpenter, Gene Estes, Vince Trombetta, Charlie Loper and Ernie Andrews playing. This might have been the first time a grand piano has somehow been hauled to Roxbury’s top floor. There was probably more good music played at Roxbury on this one night than in its entire history.

*

Quoted: While introducing the film, executive producer Jana Sue Memel said: “To all the filmmakers out there, I’d like to say, there’s no better place to make a movie than Showtime. Which is the speech I’d like to give this year at the Oscars.”

*

Observed: As part of an abstract art exhibit, there was a pair of eerie, headless, seated figures in the DGA lobby. Whether they signify the ill effects of screenings, or what happens to over-budget directors, the DGA would be better off with a popcorn machine.