TIFF - explain the allure of it
- Thread starter JamesDouglas
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How can you possibly sayy this is "snooty"? He wasn't smoozing at a party, or name dropping. Don spent what appears to be a day taking what the city has to offer. And I might add being an excellent "ambassador" for visitors to the city. Sounds like a great day to me.
Five things we learned at the Cloud Atlas press conference
What: Cloud Atlas
Who: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Keith David, Susan Sarandon, David Gyasi, Hugo Weaving, James D’Arcy, Ben Whishaw, Zhou Xun
1. It’s Hugh Grant’s birthday
The permanently befuddled British actor — who delivered the best one-liners during the press conference — celebrated his 52nd birthday Sunday, prompting his Cloud Atlas co-stars to lead the assembled cast, crew and international press in a rendition of Happy Birthday. “That’s the first nice thing the press has ever done for me,” Grant quipped.
2. Cloud Atlas is Germany’s first blockbuster. Or maybe not.
Asked whether the sci-fi drama, which had a production budget of about US$100-million and was filmed largely at Studio Babelsberg, was the first potential blockbuster to come from his home country, co-director Tom Tykwer largely evaded the question. “We didn’t think about this so much,” the Run Lola Run filmmaker said, going on to talk about how both he and the Wachowskis were united by a love of “mind-opening cinema” before finally adding, “If it turns into a blockbusters, then yes, thank you.”
3. Hugh Grant is irrepressible.
While Tom Hanks got some good zingers in there now and then (asked what he thought of the power of celebrity, he quipped: “If I truly had power I’d be waterskiing right now”), Grant proved to be the biggest joker of the bunch. For instance, asked what he thought of the filming experience, Grant quickly deadpanned: “I bitterly regret doing the whole film. … Everyone talks about the nice atmosphere in the set, but I tried to make it nastier. I told the German set the English one was much nicer and vice versa, but I never got far on the division.”
4. Always pass the microphone to Keith David.
The veteran character actor was seated at the far left of the press conference, and was largely overshadowed by his more marquee-worthy co-stars. Yet when the actor was finally given a mic to comment on his favourite role in the movie (of which there are many), his smooth dulcet tones cast an imposing shadow over all who came before him. Someone book that man a series of car commercials!
[SIZE=+2]5. Zhou Xun is more popular than any Hollywood star
Although the press conference was packed with A-listers Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon and Hugo Weaving, Chinese actress Zhou Xun garnered the most questions, thanks to inquiries from foreign press. Her answers were mostly delivered in Mandarin, though at one point co-star James D’Arcy was asked to give his sure-to-be-accurate translation: “She had a lovely time, thank you.”[/SIZE]
What: Cloud Atlas
Who: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Keith David, Susan Sarandon, David Gyasi, Hugo Weaving, James D’Arcy, Ben Whishaw, Zhou Xun
1. It’s Hugh Grant’s birthday
The permanently befuddled British actor — who delivered the best one-liners during the press conference — celebrated his 52nd birthday Sunday, prompting his Cloud Atlas co-stars to lead the assembled cast, crew and international press in a rendition of Happy Birthday. “That’s the first nice thing the press has ever done for me,” Grant quipped.
2. Cloud Atlas is Germany’s first blockbuster. Or maybe not.
Asked whether the sci-fi drama, which had a production budget of about US$100-million and was filmed largely at Studio Babelsberg, was the first potential blockbuster to come from his home country, co-director Tom Tykwer largely evaded the question. “We didn’t think about this so much,” the Run Lola Run filmmaker said, going on to talk about how both he and the Wachowskis were united by a love of “mind-opening cinema” before finally adding, “If it turns into a blockbusters, then yes, thank you.”
3. Hugh Grant is irrepressible.
While Tom Hanks got some good zingers in there now and then (asked what he thought of the power of celebrity, he quipped: “If I truly had power I’d be waterskiing right now”), Grant proved to be the biggest joker of the bunch. For instance, asked what he thought of the filming experience, Grant quickly deadpanned: “I bitterly regret doing the whole film. … Everyone talks about the nice atmosphere in the set, but I tried to make it nastier. I told the German set the English one was much nicer and vice versa, but I never got far on the division.”
4. Always pass the microphone to Keith David.
The veteran character actor was seated at the far left of the press conference, and was largely overshadowed by his more marquee-worthy co-stars. Yet when the actor was finally given a mic to comment on his favourite role in the movie (of which there are many), his smooth dulcet tones cast an imposing shadow over all who came before him. Someone book that man a series of car commercials!
[SIZE=+2]5. Zhou Xun is more popular than any Hollywood star
Although the press conference was packed with A-listers Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon and Hugo Weaving, Chinese actress Zhou Xun garnered the most questions, thanks to inquiries from foreign press. Her answers were mostly delivered in Mandarin, though at one point co-star James D’Arcy was asked to give his sure-to-be-accurate translation: “She had a lovely time, thank you.”[/SIZE]
Tiff is great exposure (and money-maker) for our city and I can't help but be proud (nor can I get a hotel downtown this week lol).
I think we should be give ourselves a collective pat on the back because so many important films want to debut in our city. It says a lot about the best city in the world...
PS. I cannot wait to see Argo.
I think we should be give ourselves a collective pat on the back because so many important films want to debut in our city. It says a lot about the best city in the world...
PS. I cannot wait to see Argo.
People say it's about the great films, but all we hear about is the celebrities, how awesome they look and the nonsense questions they have to answer. The front page of the newspapers don't mention any movies or why they're important.
It's mostly disposable crap nobody will pay to see and they'll barely remember in two years.
It's only a boon for hotels, restaurants, nightclubs. Your favourite escort will be unavailable because she'll be partying or hoping to fuck George Cloony but settle for Roger Ebert.
It's mostly disposable crap nobody will pay to see and they'll barely remember in two years.
It's only a boon for hotels, restaurants, nightclubs. Your favourite escort will be unavailable because she'll be partying or hoping to fuck George Cloony but settle for Roger Ebert.
It is about the great films. Simple as that.
If you're watching the milquetoast media, what you'll hear about is pseudo celebrities, what they look like and the nonsense questions (from the very same media) that they have to answer.
The front page of newspapers have to sell themselves. They'll print what they need to. Film festival, flood, famine or fortune. Topic is not their issue. Content is. Ultimately, you have the ability and responsibility to think and make decisions for yourself. The media is neither your mentor or informant.
The cineasts will communicate with themselves. The buzz around a great film (American Beauty '99, Slumdog Millionaire, '08) can't be defeated by yellow journalism and a shallow report of superficial aesthetics. The power of a great film transcends pedestrian yoo-hooing. As far as I can recall, American Beauty, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Princess Bride, Farewell My Concubine, Eastern Promises, Hotel Rwanda, Life is Beautiful, Strictly Ballroom, The Fisher King, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Big Chill, and Chariots of Fire (not to mention the hundreds of other films that were huge successes in their respective markets) have never been referred to as 'disposable crap' and they have all been released past the aforementioned two year mark.
It's a boon for the entire city. Hotels, restaurants and nightclubs included. They're only part of a very long list of beneficiaries.
...and...
if your favorite escort has to settle for Roger Ebert instead of Draper, Clooney or Noriega, then why isn't her favorite client taking her to TIFF?
He can't be any less appealing than Ebert, can he?
TIFF offers a variety of films. Plain and simple. Sure there's the assortment of hollywood movies and celebrities which get most of the press/hype. But there are also films from other countries which are different from mainstream cinema. If I may make an analogy. I would compare mainstream hollywood cinema to network tv. It's big budget, safe and entertaining. Foreign films have a smaller audience, smaller budgets and take risks, comparable to cable networks like HBO. You might get crap like Cabbie Confessions or the Housewives of Timbuktu but you also get The Wire, Sons of Anarchy, Breaking Bad, Homeland and Mad men.
While the press make it about the celebrities, the paid attendees make it about the movies. In this day of soundbites and a 24 hour news cycle they need to use the quickest bits to keep viewers attention.
You don't have to agree with a persons passion. But agree that it is wonderful they have something they are passionate about. Something that brings them joy for its own sake. I'm sure you have yours. Be happy for theirs.
I saw two films yesterday at TIFF. They were documentaries and absolutely superb!
I will review later.
It's also fun to be downtown and enjoying the 'moving image' with other film aficionados. There's definitely a buzz in the air, whether it's at a screening, or near a theatre or at other downtown venues like restaurants, etc.
Contrary to what Toke said here, some films bring exposure to issues and actually can make a difference, if not try to.
I will review later.
It's also fun to be downtown and enjoying the 'moving image' with other film aficionados. There's definitely a buzz in the air, whether it's at a screening, or near a theatre or at other downtown venues like restaurants, etc.
Contrary to what Toke said here, some films bring exposure to issues and actually can make a difference, if not try to.
And Slum Dog Millionaire was voted top film at TIFF before it received its more prestigious awards later on.
We saw all those movies and won't see them again. They were a good way to spend 2 hours but they're still disposable. Maybe not crap, but the other 90% certainly are.
American Beauty offers one of the greatest insights into a sexual life of a North American male:
Look at me, jerking off in the shower...This will be the high point of my day. It's all downhill from here.
