Thursday, November 13, 2014

problem at the movies

Tonight I meet Jill for a screening of Foxcatcher.  It’s my film, only in the sense that I coordinated with the studio to get this film shown for BAFTA members.  So I feel responsible.

I am very involved with BAFTA, and am actually a voting member.  I’ve been active on their screening committee for over five years, and adore this organization. This year I worked with four different studios to bring in 27 different films. And because the people I work with (both at the studios and BAFTA) are all professional and excellent at what they do, I have never once had a problem.  Until tonight.

The film is to start at 7.  I arrive early and everything is going smoothly.  I look over my notes for the intro; I am not nervous. I actually like standing up before an audience, even if the audience cares little for what I have to say.

At 7, a rep from the theater comes by.  I am standing with a couple of other BAFTA volunteers.  “I’m sorry but we’re having a problem with the projector.  We need to get a new bulb and reload the film.”  The how and why are of little interest to us.  The how long is.  About 30 minutes.  So we ask for (and get) free concessions for everyone.

I make the announcement.  It’s a kind audience, and I hear not one groan.

Thirty minutes later and the problem is still not solved.  “The film is being ingested and then needs to be uploaded,” we are told by the theater experts.  I have no idea what this really means but I do understand, “It should take another 10 minutes.” 

I make another announcement and the audience, rather than show annoyance, yays at it only taking another 10 minutes. 

Then, for a third time, I stand up and give the little studio intro, trying to fill ten minutes.  The audience is receptive and understanding.  They listen more attentively than they otherwise would, only because they are restless from having had to sit around for so long. 


Finally, the movie starts.  It’s not a movie one can easily love; it’s a tragic tale of one very creepy guy.  But the performances are outstanding; it sticks with me long after the final credits roll.  That, and what a great group of people came out tonight (in the rain) to see it.

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