Totally agree and I never said it's not good for Toronto, it should stay and get bigger for all the mentioned reasons. All I'm saying is it's not for me, stars don't impress me, I don't have any burning desire to say I was the first to see a film, I can wait and see films in the future without all the hoopla and stress with such large crowds, but I know many are allured to it, that's great, it's all good.
TIFF - explain the allure of it
- Thread starter JamesDouglas
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Totally agree and I never said it's not good for Toronto, it should stay and get bigger for all the mentioned reasons. All I'm saying is it's not for me, stars don't impress me, I don't have any burning desire to say I was the first to see a film, I can wait and see films in the future without all the hoopla and stress with such large crowds, but I know many are allured to it, that's great, it's all good.
This is my biggest dislike of the TIFF and why I avoid it at all cost. People sitting around talking about films as if they are the way to cure world hunger.
I agree with Don and Butler as seeing film has various purposes, and as someone who LOVES foreign language and anything non Hollywood released (I get a kick out of saying hmm imagine the fact that people seem to survive daily in the world without speaking a word of English, or when I hear someone oh geez those subtitles move too fast I cant keep up hahha) But I am finding this completely inaccessible as an ordinary Joe, there are a couple of films I checked I wanted to see but when you go to the buy tickets part all you get is the "OFF SALE" and then some comment about checking for tickets being available at 7 am the day of!!! So I can understand the snobbery that some towards it.
True, but many of them are filmed for the purpose of financial gain and individual acclaim.
I suppose if you are going to party WITH the movie stars (i.e. you have a friend who is in the biz) then it would be worth it. You'd be treated like royalty. For us "regular folk" though, I don't see what the big deal is. I am not one of those people that is easily starstruck. I think actors make WAY too much money for what they do. It's entertainment, for pete's sake, not brain surgery or rocket science.
Exactly, and when you meet enough celebrities, you see that they're just regular people. Some are nice, some are assholes. I went to school with someone who's extremely famous worldwide before he became famous, and he was just a regular guy, a bit of a nerd with glasses and braces, and now he's "cool" and all the ladies love him. That changed my view of celebrities.
The key thing for me about TIFF is not the stars who will be visiting Toronto this time, but the films from around the world being showcased at the festival. Many of these films will either be played for the first time at TIFF or are not available easily at any other venue until they are available on DVD or on Netflix (especially for foreign films, particularly those from non-Western countries).
Are you woried that you might miss the latest dope's statement from Rob Ford? I find it amazingly ironic that you would complain about people sitting around talking about films, on a forum where people sit around talking about their ejaculate as if it's the most valuable and significant substance on the planet.Toke said:
The Cove is hard to take, at times. And it does in a way deal with world hunger!livluvlaf said:
But movies can simply be entertaining, and $20 is a lot less than a ticket to watch an often mediocre display such as that seen on the ice at Rogers Centre.
And as far as I know, no one (except staffers working at the venue) has ever been forced to endure attending a Gala opening, or partying with a celeb.
Anyway, for relevance to this forum, there's an interesting-looking movie from Sweden, Call Girl.
Somebody gets it.
From the few times that I have spent with 'stars' most are a basically human as you and I with the understanding that they often have common traits that make them want to create on the stage, screen, or page. and they often share traits with top level athletes. The real constant a-hole tend to be the agents, who treats others around them and their charges as sub classes.
TIFF is an opportunity to highlight and view new creations from these people before most of the world. If you have Harpers view of the arts you will never see that and so be it. Some people think WWE is entertaining, others don't.
Well tell that to the people stuck on the street cars on King Street during rush hour on Friday trying to get home when some "celebrity" sauntered into the street blocking traffic with his entourage of film crews and papaprazies in tow to greet the hoardes of mostly screaming women on the south side of King St. Yeah that was a "winner" being late to get home to family and friends or second jobs. I am glad we were part of winning.
I don't know what to make of TIFF anymore. A decade ago when I was a young and gullible I volunteered at TIFF and enjoyed it immensely. Now with them charging $20 a screening it's an enterprise with the facade of being all about film and artistry.
And I hate how this city gets all wrapped up in celebrity worship at this time of year. Local reporters need to stop asking the actors how much they love Toronto and how awesome TIFF is. Do you think without contractual obligations and free room & board at the Ritz Carlton that any of these stars would be here?
And I hate how this city gets all wrapped up in celebrity worship at this time of year. Local reporters need to stop asking the actors how much they love Toronto and how awesome TIFF is. Do you think without contractual obligations and free room & board at the Ritz Carlton that any of these stars would be here?
Anyone unfortunate enough to have to rely on the King streetcar during rush hour to get somewhere on time already exists in a constant state of disappointed and tardiness.
Totally agree. I'm not a film guy so I give this a miss, but there are events that I will line up for because they make life richer and more fabulous.
Seeing famous people is completely uninteresting to me. Even meeting people I deeply admire is something I now avoid. A couple of years ago I saw a guitar player and his band in a small club, a world class improvising musician and composer, just thrilled to be there for the playing. Afterwards it was actually hard to avoid the musicians, and when I met his eyes while checking out the gear I had to say something... He was a total sweetheart, as were his bandmates, but if I really love something I am often close to tears, so it isn't the best time to make nice small talk. Rather than giving him a bear hug and weeping on his shirt, I made some cryptic comment about who my other great musical hero was, and after a puzzled look, he seemed to get what I meant. We shook hands (brave man to put his living literally in a stranger's hand) and he gave me a little "You're not gonna go all weird on me, are you?" look, and I was glad to get away without embarrasing myself totally.
Made a visit to 'Taste of the Kingsway' yesterday afternoon. Beautiful sunny day, had lunch right on the street and had a lovely conversation with Torontonians and tourists alike about TIFF.
Went for dinner at a great little hotspot on Queen St. East. Fantastic meal, great wine (all Canadian menu content). The couple next to us asked what we were having so we ended up talking about food, wine and TIFF.
Attended the screening of 'Tai Chi 0' at TIFF. Met the director and saw my Beloved Goddess on screen. Zhou Xun was down the street but I couldn't be in two places at once. A wealth of riches, say I!
Finished the evening with drinks at the King Eddy. The couple next to us was visiting Toronto from Marseilles for TIFF. They want to see the new Audrey Tatou film and catch some Midnight Madness screenings. Lovely people.
This is living in Toronto and this is living in Toronto during TIFF.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
Went for dinner at a great little hotspot on Queen St. East. Fantastic meal, great wine (all Canadian menu content). The couple next to us asked what we were having so we ended up talking about food, wine and TIFF.
Attended the screening of 'Tai Chi 0' at TIFF. Met the director and saw my Beloved Goddess on screen. Zhou Xun was down the street but I couldn't be in two places at once. A wealth of riches, say I!
Finished the evening with drinks at the King Eddy. The couple next to us was visiting Toronto from Marseilles for TIFF. They want to see the new Audrey Tatou film and catch some Midnight Madness screenings. Lovely people.
This is living in Toronto and this is living in Toronto during TIFF.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
