How David Lynch and 'Twin Peaks' Cast Honor the Legendary Log Lady in Heartfelt Documentary
The character The Log Lady became an iconic figure within "Twin Peaks," yet Catherine Coulson embodied far more than just this role. She was a cherished actress known for engaging with fans and contributing to the show’s mythology. Additionally, she had a long-standing career at Ashland's Oregon Shakespeare Festival and worked as a camera assistant under renowned directors like David Lynch, John Cassavetes, and Albert Brooks.
Richard Green, the director of "I Know Catherine, The Log Lady," notes that Coulson managed to make "everyone who was close to her feel as though they were her closest confidant." This feature-length documentary will be shown at Ojai’s Playhouse Theatre on Saturday, followed by a Q&A session with "Twin Peaks" co-creator Mark Frost.
Many of these friends played roles in producing the documentary, which concludes with the intense narrative of Coulson’s final days. As Lynch and her team hurriedly worked against the swiftly advancing stages of Coulson's lung cancer, they aimed to feature her in the Showtime revival titled “Twin Peaks: The Return.”
Coulson died in 2015 Just four days following a short appearance of The Log Lady filmed at her residence in Oregon, assisted by a nearby production firm and David Lynch overseeing via Skype from a distance. This segment serves as a poignant ending for the documentary, capturing moments when friends and relatives come together at her house to bid farewell. Meanwhile, Lynch’s Los Angeles-based producer attempts to determine if Coulson is fit enough to travel to the Washington set using a medical transport aircraft.
First off, we get an intriguing glimpse into the life of a multifaceted woman who came of age during the pristine decade of the 1950s, where her father was involved in public relations for Disney. When the countercultural movement started gaining momentum, Coulson transformed herself into a bohemian theater artist amidst the chaotic era of 1960s San Francisco. Relocating to Hollywood led her to share living space with both Lynch and actor Jack Nance from “Eraserhead,” whom she later wedded. Her contribution extended significantly to “Eraserhead” as not only did she serve as an assistant cameraperson but also acted as Lynch’s right-hand person; this period marked their initial collaboration on developing the idea behind the Log Lady character.
Though not her sole achievement, she became an iconic figure among numerous David Lynch enthusiasts for portraying Margaret, also known as the enigmatic Log Lady, who would deliver lines such as “The answers to all our queries lie within the breeze, stones, foliage, and streams.”
Green, known for his role as The Magician in Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive,” conducted over 65 interviews for the documentary during the last seven years. Some of these interview sessions took place in the very same Beachwood Canyon apartment where he initially encountered both Coulson and Lynch.
Over twenty years since "Mulholland Drive," Green was delighted to collaborate once more with Lynch, who kindly offered recollections about his long-time friend and partner, Coulson. "He has the ability to be the most supportive viewer imaginable—ask any performer. His presence and encouragement are unparalleled," remarks Green. "In return for his insights on this movie, all I did was listen attentively."
Green remembers the session with David as nothing but sheer delight, lasting about ninety minutes," referring to what might have been Lynch's final on-screen role. "He ranks among the finest narrators in history.
Various individuals featured in the "Twin Peaks" documentary share their recollections of Coulson, including Frost, Kyle MacLachlan, Dana Ashbrook, Grace Zabriskie, Michael Horse, and Kimmy Robertson.
Green became intrigued by the idea of producing a documentary about Coulson after learning about the details of her final appearance in "Twin Peaks: The Return." This information was shared with him by Coulson’s close associate and executive producer, Donna DuBain. He felt that it was an incredible tale—someone managing to complete this role for one last time only to pass away four days afterward. To Green, this sequence of events appeared exceptionally remarkable.
No one truly understood the entire narrative. This is precisely why we had an NDA," he explains. "Donna informed me about the $6 million confidentiality agreement that everyone signed upon arrival. They were required to pay a hefty fine of $6 million should they disclose anything that occurred.
When the moment arrived to capture the pivotal last scene for the documentary, which also featured shots from the filming of "Twin Peaks: The Return," Green states that his primary objective was simply to remain unobtrusive and allow the personal discussions to unfold naturally without any accompanying music.
Similar to Lynch, Coulson enthusiastically practiced transcendental meditation, and even managed to convince Green to give it a try as well. Recalling those times, Green admits, "Initially, I found it quite suspicious." However, during a particularly challenging phase in his life, he states, "'Deciding to undergo TM training would not only enhance my understanding of Catherine and David but might also be beneficial for me personally.'"
Green mentions that it was Coulson who initially fostered a sense of comradeship within Lynch’s teams, which continued through his career. “David cultivated an environment of community, teamwork, and positivity on set—I believe this was significantly shaped by Catherine.”
The director mentions that the original log from the Log Lady has been found and is en route to a museum. Additionally, Coulson’s famous red glasses will be exhibited at certain screening events.
Following Ojai, the documentary will head to Ashland, Portland, Los Angeles, and various other cities, as well as being accessible for streaming. on the film's website starting May 21.
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