When Filmgoers Flee, Filmmakers Fuss
Filed under: RumorMonger, Other Festivals, Cinematical Indie
Film festivals are a movie lover's dream -- you get tons of mainstream and indie features all descending in one all-too-brief block of time. They give you a chance to see what might never get released, and for the mainstream -- you often get to see your favorite actors in person, and hear them chat about the film. However, along with all the fannish fare, there's the damned wrench of scheduling. Sure, sometimes having jet out early to make your next film across the city can be a welcome excuse, but not always. Sometimes, you achingly perch at the end of your seat, waiting for the screen to dim so you can zip past everyone and make your next film -- yet you love what you're watching so much that you're angry to be distracted by the time.Last year, I was able to see Andrea Arnold's Red Road at TIFF. However, I had little time to get to my next screening. When the credits began to roll, I sped out, right past the director herself. She tried to assure me that she would make the upcoming Q&A interesting. I bet it was, but I don't think the ticket rippers at the next venue would let me in late because Arnold had an interesting Q&A.
But I'm not the only one who has been nabbed by the watchful eye of filmmakers. Judd Apatow was recently at Edinburgh International Film Festival, and during a Q&A, a woman made a quick exit after a fan question. Apatow chided: "Your question is so bad that she's leaving!" The 'she' in question was none other than Jennifer Venditti, the director of Billy the Kid, who was zipping out for an interview. Whoops! At least her film nabbed the top doc prize while she was there. Has this ever happened to you?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-04-2007 @ 4:27PM
Alex (FirstShowing.net) said...
Hahahaah... I know this exact thing! I always try and stay for Q&A's, but if you've got to go, you've got to go. I hate rushing out and coincidentally it was Judd Apatow who I passed (and thanked for an awesome movie) right as the credits were rolling on Superbad at the Comic-Con screening. Oh well, that's how film fests and packed schedules work!
However, this is the first time I've heard anyone being called out and later discovering it was someone famous. Not sure much about that... but great story! Now I'm really excited for Toronto - can't wait to get out there!
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9-04-2007 @ 5:28PM
Tom said...
As a programmer, I am often standing in the doorway with the filmmaker as people are filing past and trust me, many many times they don't hesitate to take the opportunity to make a comment one way of the other.
Best ever? A screening of Abel Ferrara's MARY where I was waiting for the credits to finish with the film's Producer. A man stands up and as he walks past he says "That was the worst piece of shit I've seen in years." To which I said, "May I introduce you to the Producer of the film?" The guy was so embarrassed he turned around and stayed through the Q&A, but sadly never asked a question.
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9-04-2007 @ 6:49PM
William Goss said...
At this past SXSW, I had to duck out of the Q&A for The Devil Came On Horseback to get in line for the following showing. At the entrance of the auditorium, someone affiliated with the film insisted that I needed to sit down and listen to this in quite a forceful tone.
Sure, it was a powerful doc, and I certainly felt well informed upon departure, but this woman gave off the implication that my very act of leaving was going to make Darfur twice as bad. I'm fine with sobering facts, but preach at me, and stay is the last thing I'll do.
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9-05-2007 @ 1:10PM
Stan Heck said...
Well I worked at a store. Some big shot was due in. Well a co-worker says to me (while a customer is in front of me) make sure you do ..... I said "I always do". My co-worker got a little pissed and I said "calm down" as long as were doing a good job he will not care". Well the customer in front of me was the big shot and said "relax your both doing fine" Well I am glad I didn't say what I really wanted which was "Were fine were doing our job so just shut the f up."
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