Out of the Past

Sunday, April 29, 2018

TCM Classic Film Festival 2018: Recap #2

On the first full day of the TCM Classic Film Festival, I was furiously preparing for my red carpet interviews. This is the third year in a row that I've been able to greet and interview guests as they walk the carpet for the opening night premiere.

Before I headed over to the TCL Chinese Theatre courtyard, Jay of Cinema Shame and The #Bond_Age_ Project, Jessica of Comet Over Hollywood and I recorded a TCMFF themed episode of the Cinema Shame podcast. Stay tuned for that one! We'll also be reconvening post-fest for a follow-up episode. I didn't get a picture with both Jay and Jessica so here are selfies to commemorate.

Then I headed to the red carpet for probably the most hectic and energetic premiere I've attended. Between Martin Scorsese zipping down the red carpet, Paul Sorvino singing opera to the crowd, Mel Brooks cracking jokes and Norman Lloyd charming the pants off of everybody, there was much to enjoy.

I got quite a good number of interviews. Some short ones but some longer ones too. I'll be doing a full recap of my red carpet experience with lots of great photos and will be posting video interviews on my YouTube channel very soon.

I only had time for one just one of the two movies. I went to the cold war drama Fail-Safe (1964). Lillian Michelson did the research for this one! I was exhausted after red carpet so I had to bail early. Will be watching the full thing at home and will report back. Screenwriter Walter Bernstein couldn't be there but Ben Mankiewicz stepped in with a wonderfully detailed introduction and short audience Q&A.

I'll have more recaps and full in-depth posts coming your way.

Friday, April 27, 2018

TCM Classic Film Festival 2018: Recap #1

My trip to California started off at lightning speed and I'm only now just able to catch my breath. I'm here in Hollywood for the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival. This is my sixth fest and it's always a surreal feeling when I'm actually here. I take a moment to appreciate it when I'm standing in line for a movie otherwise all the amazing moments fight for my attention and I don't stop to appreciate where I am.

First stop in Los Angeles is always In-n-Out Burger. We pick up our car rental and head straight to the one just outside the LAX.

Later that evening we headed to Burbank for a dinner with Robby of Dear Old Hollywood and his adorable family. We ate at Pinocchio's and had a great casual Italian meal.

On Wednesday we had a full day. I picked up my badge and goodie bag at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel before the start of the festival. Here's a look at what I got!

We traveled to the Motion Picture and Television Fund home in Woodland Hills for a very special visit. When we arrived we took a gander at the Roddy McDowall rose garden and sculpture.

The reason for our visit was to have lunch with Daniel Raim, Jennifer Raim and Lillian Michelson all of the documentary Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story. All of you know how much I gush about this movie. I've reviewed it, interviewed Daniel Raim, hosted a Twitter chat (that trended!) when TCM aired the doc. So it was really gracious of Lillian to host a lunch for all of us at the MPTF home. And I'll tell you right now, this was a day I will never forget. We talked for hours and I didn't want to leave. In fact I had such a great time that if we had flown back that night and not done anything else I would have said that was an amazing trip to be remembered forever.

I'm grateful for Daniel, Jennifer and Lillian for being so gracious and welcoming Carlos and I! And a special thanks to Lillian for hosting the lunch.

After peeling myself away from that amazing experience, I headed back to Hollywood for a TCMFF press event. We mingled with lots of press and bloggers and TCM staffers and TCM general manager Jennifer Dorian kicked off the event with a speech. She spoke to some of the highlights of the festival this year and I got so excited more so than I have been which is saying a lot.

Then we headed to Kitchen 24 for a dinner with some of my blogger friends.

And even more friends were waiting for us at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel for TCM's Social Influencers Mixer. Thanks to Marya for hosting us! I got to chat with lots of friends and colleagues and got to take a ridiculous amount of selfies.