One of the best things about the TCM Classic Film Festival was getting to meet so many of the great classic film bloggers who I talk to on a regular basis online but hadn't met in real life. Here are some I subjected to my iPhone selfies.
Me and Laura of Laura's Miscellaneous Musings
Me and Jill of Sittin' on a Backyard Fence
Me and Aurora of Once upon a screen...
Me and Carley of The Kitty Packard Pictorial
Me and Jessica of Comet Over Hollywood
Me and Raquel of Now Watching (Two Raquels together!)
Me and Trevor of A Modern Musketeer and TCM Party
Me and Matt from Warner Archive (blogger, tweeter and podcaster extraordinaire!)
Me and Paula of Paula's Cinema Club and TCM Party
(with Laura of Laura's Miscellaneous Musings)
Me and Ariel of Sinamatic Salve-ation
(picture by Matt from Warner Archive)
I met a whole lot more including Kristen from Sales on Film, Diane from Classic Movie Blog, Drew from Cultural Transmogrification Magazine, Karen of Shadows and Satin, Marya of Diary of a Film History Fanatic and many more.
Theodore Bikel - TCM promo taping
Ann Blyth - TCM promo taping and Mildred Pierce screening
Barrie Chase - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World screening and on my way to the bathroom
Jane Fonda - Handprint Footprint Ceremony (from very far away)
Mitzi Gaynor - Poolside South Pacific Screening
Tippi Hedren - On my way to the bathroom
Kathleen Hughes - River of No Return screening
Marvin Kaplan - TCM promo taping, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World screening and The Lady Vanishes screening
Karen Sharpe Kramer - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World screening and on my way to the bathroom
Norman Lloyd - So You Think You Know the Movies Trivia and The Lady Vanishes screening
Walter Mirisch - On my way to the bathroom and The Great Escape screening
France Nuyen - Poolside South Pacific Screening
Mickey Rooney - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World screening and on my way to the bathroom
Stanley Rubin - River of No Return screening
Eva Marie Saint - Eva Marie Saint: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival
Max von Sydow - Conversation with Max von Sydow and Three Days of Condo Screening
Jane Withers - TCM promo taping
TCM Photo |
Here I am at the Ann Blyth TCM Promo taping trying not to freak out because OMG Ann Blyth was right there.
Here are some of my thoughts on the festival:
What I Liked
- The lines for events and screenings were well managed by TCM volunteers. Good job!
- We got really close to the stars but they were protected at all times by various staff members. This made for an intimate experience while also keeping the stars safe from crazies.
- Almost everything started on time. TCM was very punctual, there were very few delays.
- All the lovely surprises. Seeing Ann Blyth at the TCM promo taping was by far my favorite surprise.
- All the classic film stars I got to see!
- Seeing Robert Osborne, Ben Mankiewicz and Leonard Maltin numerous times.
- Meeting people who have read my blog (woah)
- The variety of classic films, the decades and genres covered. There was literally something for everyone. You could easily customize your schedule
- The quality of the interviews before the screenings. They were only 15 minutes (a few were a bit longer) but they were always top notch.
- The TCM Festival iPhone app. It was a bit buggy to start but I loved that it sent me reminders before each of the films I had chosen.
- The Info desk was amazing! The staff there was super helpful and friendly. They gave me buttons to reward me for all my social media activity.
- The TCM Classic Film Festival tote bag, my favorite new accessory.
- Getting press photos after the events because some of my pictures didn't come out so good.
- Being on TV and having my mom call me because she saw me on TCM.
What I Didn't Like
- Not enough places to charge my iPhone
- Crazy lady who seemed to haunt the Roosevelt Hotel bathroom
- All the walking I had to do. I'm not against walking but I brought the wrong shoes! Next time I'll bring sneakers.
- L.A. Cab drivers
- Having to leave screenings to get into other ones. Can they please have shuttles for the far away venues next time?
- Opening Night Party crowdedness
- Not knowing I had to RSVP to the Jane Fonda Handprint Footprint Event. I probably misread an email.
- There was breakfast at Club TCM? How did I not know this?!
- Not having enough access to food in general and healthy food specifically. I hope TCM will consider food trucks or some kind of concession stand for Club TCM in the future.
My favorite moments:
- River of No Return (1954) screening with Stanley Rubin, I cried
- Ann Blyth TCM promo taping, I cried
- Chatting with Matt from Warner Archive, I cried (just kidding)
- Playing a trivia game hosted by Alex Trebek
- Shaking Leonard Maltin's hand
- The Lady Vanishes (1938) screening with Norman Lloyd
- Meeting classic film bloggers galore
Bear with me. Up next are some more detailed posts about some of the events I attended.