Need help with local film festival...

There's Not Quite Hollywood the documentary about Aussie-Explotation. That's a must see. Hunger has been getting good word from what I've heard.

But Mumford? What?!

How funny that the website set up is pretty much the same for the Los Angeles Film Festival.

-Edit-

Well there ya go. There's also the original SOLARIS.

Solaris is a good choice.

Waltz With Bashir is also worthy.

Not to hijack your thread, but I don't want to make an exact duplicate for my own local film fest. So could anyone point out some standouts I need to check out at the Philly Film Fest?

http://www.phillycinefest.com/calendar.cfm

I already plan on checking out Moon, Not Quite Hollywood, Hunger, Plague Town, I Sell the Dead, Hanger, Able and The King of Ping Pong.

Anything else you see that's worthy of checking out?

I'm not as up on my foreign as I could be, but here's what jumped out at me as worth seeing:

Chocolate

All the Chaplin shit

Hunger (was written up on CHUD).

I Sell The Dead

La Jetee

Mumford? Wha?

Old Joy

Pansy Division

Wendy & Lucy (same director as Old Joy)

I figured this thread might serve as a 'festival help catchall' now that Tati's event is over. I have a festival question I need help with, and couldn't think of a better place to post. Also, I didn't want to start a separate thread just for my question or local festival.

So, the question: I'd like to know if Chewers think this event is worth the money, and if they think I should attend

When: 10/16/10 8PM EST
Who: ALEC BALDWIN & ROBERT OSBOURNE
What: 'REVISITING BILLY WILDER'
Why: "Join Emmy-Winning stage and screen actor Alec Baldwin and TCM anchor Robert Osbourne as they reflect on a legendary director's career, show clips from SOME LIKE IT HOT, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, SUNSET BOULEVARD, take questions and more!"
HOW: By paying $20 or $10 if I lie and say I'm a student (which I think I could get away with.. I look very studious)

Baldwin did our festival last in 2004, and I met him then. He was aloof and blew me off when I tried to thank him for his efforts to get Senator Kerry elected to the Presidency.

I've enjoyed the film festival before (got to meet John Frankenheimer and Ellen Ripley) but I've not been as active about attending in recent years. The festival had the chance to get Gregory Peck to come and turned him down, only to have him die the next year. That kind of soured me on the whole experience.

Should I make an effort to turn out for this thing? Would YOU rearrange your schedule and pay money to see it?

Sorry, Tati Not my intention

How much do you like Billy Wilder? Personally, I'd go for 10 dollars, but not 20, and they might ask for some kind of student ID for the student discount.

For me, I would go. I own most of Wilder's work on DVD, plus the added joy of live Baldwin and Osbourne for an hour or two. I routinely waste more money in stranger places, for less satisfaction.

Good point about the ID.. There is a mail in form for tickets I could try maybe, I'll look into that.

As for Wilder.. I'm sure he's great, but he's not really on my radar right now and I'm not particularly interested in the subject. If I went, it would be to gawk at Baldwin and listen to him talk as he can be a rather charismatic individual.

PS Just to share a little local film festival story: The first year it was held, the guest was Frankenheimer and I attended a screening of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. The film broke half way through, and took a LONG time to fix. Frankenheimer climbed out of his seat, took to the aisle, and proceeded to regale us with funny production stories till the film was fixed (he also took questions). I can share one of those stories which I think is particularly amusing, if there is interest.

EDIT: Mr Tyre,

Thanks for the advice, I will take it into consideration. Not sure how fast this thing will sell out but hopefully I have a few days to mull it over

BTW, just wanted to let you guys know that I bought tickets to the Baldwin thing, as well as a discussion with Leonard Nemoy (who has been in the area alot lately)

I actually would like to hear the Manchurian Candidate story.

I am happy to oblige

So, Mr Frankenheimer told us a story about an incident during filming one day for TMC. By the time he was relaying this tale to us, Sinatra had already been dead for several years, if memory serves me. So, I guess Frankenheimer felt free to open up about potentially embarrassing anecdotes like the one I will relay to you momentarily*

Moving on: Apparently one day during filming, there had been some anxiety with Frankeheimer and the crew about keeping with the day's schedule, as Mr Sinatra had been out partying the night before with certain "business associates" (mobster friends), and he had not yet arrived on set. He showed up a few hours late, and the crew were no longer immediately ready to shoot. So people are mulling around setting stuff up ETC, and Frankenheimer is distracted. He returns to the set to find Sinatra demonstrating his fearsome karate skills (I guess like Elvis, Sinatra fancied himself an amateur ninja of sorts? I have no clue) in an effort to look cool and impress his 'high powered' yet gullible buddies. The problem (as well as the reason Frankenheimer and members of the crew began to freak out) was that Sinatra was impressing his friends with his ability to karate chop and break apart the set furniture -- the special balsa wood break away furniture needed for the fight scene Sinatra had brought his friends to see filmed. There was no spare balsa wood furniture laying about, so Sinatra's bravado and counterfeit ninja skills resulted in more time lost as people were dispatched to locate and purchase new combat props

*perhaps he told this story at other locations or times, can't really know for certain

Whoa, I've been kind of dream walking through the past few weeks, and this festival snuck up on me. I just saw my iPod's calendar app and in a flash realized I'm about to see Alec Baldwin in two days. I'm excited. I'll take photos if I can, otherwise I'll report back here with any interesting info

There will be a question and answer section. The evening's stated topic is Billy Wilder, but assuming there are off topic questions, is there anything people think I should ask if I get the mic?

So, I go home in about three and a half hours and then chill out for a bit till 7 PM when my mom is picking me up to drop me off at the Baldwin thing.

My dad says I should try to talk to Mr Baldwin to see if he remembers me, but I don't think I'll do that. I've proven to be a memorable individual in the past (Howard Dean remembered me in late 2007 me meeting him in late 2003, and could even name the rally where he'd met me!), but Baldwin didn't pay alot of attention to me last time I saw him and I'd rather not suffer through the embarrassment of having him stare me down with a withering blank look when I bring up our previous encounter

Anyway, still excited. I think I'm going to ask about THE EDGE* if I get a chance to ask a question, and off topic questions are allowed. I'll bring my cam and take photos if I can, and then report back here once I get home when all is said and done

*or maybe I'll talk about his McNamara in PATH TO WAR, and connect it back to Frankenheimer's appearance at the festival all those years ago. It's nearly a career best performance for Baldwin IMHO, and I bet few people ever compliment him on it

Excellent. This is one of the few times I am jealous of someone living in the New England. They don't have events like this near me.

Well I am seated and waiting for it to begin right now so don't dispair, Mr Tyre! I will offer up a full report (though I won't live blog it, that would be rude)

EDIT I am in the second closest row other than reserved seating, but there is a very large person seated right in front of me

EDIT so happy I have my pod, this thing s already 11 minutes late in starting

EDIT It is over got free food and photos, will post en up soon

I just got home*, and I have to say it turned out pretty well. I documented the night in photos, and I hope it gives you a taste of what it was like to be there Mr Tyre!

Other than the fact I sat behind a huge man who blocked my view, the evening was alot of fun. There was wifi, so I could hide with my iPod and not talk to anyone till it started, and when it got going Baldwin was funny, Mr Osbourne was knowledgeable, and Brian Dennehy was in the audience just two rows in front of me (with his daughter, I believe). I got to meet him when it was all over! Perhaps best of all? Amazing free food at a reception afterwards (I did not anticipate that happening.. I've been to other film fest events with food before, I just didn't think this would be one). Anyway, I'm stuffed. Mini quesadillas. Hummus. Brie. Tomatoes and basil. Toasted bred. Alcoholic drinks (which I did not partake in). Chocolate fondue with straw berries and brownies! I got carried away but it was definitely worth it.

I've established this photo bucket for photos of the event



In the mean time, here are some key shots:









PS For the first half, there were a series of sudden loud gunshot like sounds (actually that loud, the speaker system hosted WILCO a few months back, and the sounds shook the room) that startled everyone. Baldwin began to look quite angry, because the sounds would strike without warning when he was talking. Everyone joked about exploding mics or hidden assassins, and Mr Osbourne just kept saying "I don't know what that sound is!"

I included a photo in the album of Baldwin's mic being changed mid show to confirm this story
Moving on..

They had almost no question time so I didn't get to ask one, and since everyone else was taking FLASH photography during the thing (ugh) I discreetly snapped three non flash shots mid show that I share in the album

*I just got home in terms of when I'm writing this post (11 30 PM), but the photos that are featured here will take a while to upload so I'm writing first, then adding photos, then posting

EDIT BTW Baldwin looked slimmer than when I'd last seen him (30R S4)

Tomorrow night is the Niymoy event, and my dad is going to pick me up to take me. I'm thinking it will be pretty Spock-tastic! I'll bring the camera so I can again take photos.

Hey, at the Nimoy event right now waiting for seating to begin (12 mins from now)

I can't help but wonder if there will be free food at this event. I don't know if I should expect it since there was food at the other one.

EDIT officially photos are not allowed but I will try to take one anyway

Hooray! I am front row center! I will be the closest toMr Nimoy

This might make photo taking difficult.. We are not supposed to take photos and now I will stick out like a sore thumb should I try to snap a shot. I will try to take one at the end of the show if possible...

EDIT Good news! I see others with cameras so I can probably get away with taking a shot or two

Bad news! Nimoy is sick and the program is delayed by 25 minutes

Nimoy is really sick... He is sequestered wiith his doctor who doesn't want him to do the show. I am waiting around till 6 on the off chance Nimoy can overrule Bones and show up anyway

Drat... Program is cancelled. Disappointing, but I hope Nimoy is OK

Took a few photos, including shots of Nimoys art dealer who looks just like hin

He is in te hospital, was feeling fine earlier this evening