Cromwell at ‘W.’ Premiere: ‘My Generation Screwed This Up’

ABC News On Campus reporter Chelsey Delaney blogs: A line of curious U.S. citizens of all ages and backgrounds stretched around the theater-lighted corner of Congress Street in Austin, Texas. Never before could I have imagined an event likely to be attended by both my Hispanic grandmother and my young and very rural cousins from Arkansas.  It was the premiere of "W.," filmmaker Oliver Stone’s depiction of our president’s life, at the classic Paramount Theater — the highlight of this week’s Austin Film Festival. Actor James Cromwell, who plays George H.W. Bush in the movie, said "W." will help frame the election for those still undecided but leaning left. "It’s up to you [college students]. I’m sorry my generation screwed this up," Cromwell said. "It’s up to your generation."  When asked why college student should see this film,  Cromwell said,  "Kids will look at it and say…holy cow, lets not do this again!" "If anything were happening in Washington, this debacle on Wall Street would not have occurred," he said.  "Who’s going to pay for it? Who’s paying for the billions   …   you will be." When preparing for his role in the movie, Cromwell said he approached his character by focusing on the relationship between father and son rather than politics, or the history of the Bush family. "I had a father, I am a father, I am aware of the dynamic…I know there is a process to it. You ultimately have to confront your father as a son ,"  he explained.  "Your obligation is to become the father of your father. You have to embrace them, support them, forgive them … assist them, because you’re now it. And I believe that process got truncated in the Bush family."

While those with film fest passes stampeded through the front doors, the rest of the anxious crowd shuffled about, hoping to get a glimpse of the stars on the red carpet and waiting to hear whether the theater’s maximum capacity of 1,500 would have a bit of squeeze room to accommodate their hunger for entertaining political fare. Many people also came to grasp a sense of clarity, said 26-year-old Rebecca Holiday, one of the many patient bystanders hoping for a ticket. "Even though it may not be historically accurate, I think it might help encapsulate the past eight years," Holiday said, adding that she thinks people are ready to start laughing about the Bush presidency. Unfortunately for Holiday and the rest of the people waiting for tickets, representatives from Paramount delivered some bad news: the theater had reached maximum capacity. Volunteers at the film festival said the theater had never seen such a response to a film before.  As the diverse crowd scattered,  a couple of trucks drove by with McCain campaign stickers. One man leaned out of his car and yelled "John McCain!" One of the few disruptions in an otherwise calm night. Click HERE to watch video from the Austin "W." premiere. ABC News On Campus Austin bureau chief Sara Loeffelholz contributed to this report.