Maryland Film Festival Notes

04.25.99
Gabe's Notes:
Day Three Part I
Part II

04.23.99 - Gabe's Notes: Day One

Recollections of the 1999 Maryland Film Festival come and go in sketches. This collection of thoughts will attempt to capture the mood and events each day of the festival from my own point of view.

DAY 1

Friday, April 23rd

Opening night was a success. Now comes the hard part: we've got to keep this baby flying for three days.

The Charles

The Charles Theatre

I arrive early to the Charles Theatre to set up for the 10 AM panel discussion "Writing in 2 Media." Chairs. We need chairs for the panelists. Take them from our defacto press room and schlep them down to the theatre. A few minutes (perhaps a half hour?) later, from inside the projection booth, I look into the theatre to see Robert Ward, Stephen Hunter, and Taylor Branch sitting comfortably in their chairs. I can't hear what they are saying.

The phones in the office are ringing off the hook and one of our volunteers, Karl Millhouser, is all alone. Callers, most of whom are sans computers, and therefore cannot access the Webpage, are frustrated because they want more information. I need to go over there and help him out.

Jed Dietz

Jed Dietz

Zeke (Jed's dog) is running around the lobby and barking at Rollmops(sp?) the Charles Theatre's cat. I think I'd rather be in the office for a while. I'll stop by for a half hour. I check the phone machine and there are 37 messages. Three hours later ... I have called people back, answered some questions, and put out some shipping fires. (One print is still pending... I hope it comes by tomorrow!)

I return to the Charles where four screenings are underway. (I missed Duck Soup entirely.)

Mayor Schmoke

Mayor Schmoke

The Mayor is in Theatre "A" watching The Godfather and he is actually staying to watch the movie. I watch twenty seconds. Brando has an orange in his mouth. Meanwhile, the Polish contingency is here packing the house for the American Premiere of the epic With Fire and Sword.

Doris Wishman and Michael Bowen are in the new Charles Theatre lobby. It is pouring rain outside. Doris, whom I am meeting for the first time, complains about her screening time.

Doris Wishman and Fred Schneider

Doris Wishman and Fred Schneider

"Who wants to come see a movie at 5:30 on Friday?" she asks. I assure her people will come. "They better! If they don't, I'll never speak to you again." As legions of camp movie fanatics (or are they nudist fanatics?) flock to the show of Nude on the Moon, I tell her, "I guess this means we're still friends." Doris' friend Fred Schneider (from he B-52s) has come to Baltimore for the screenings and he sits beside her chatting.

Someone told me John Waters was there... Of course he was getting ready for his 8 o'clock show of Boom!

With the 5:30 Doris Wishman show loaded, it's time for an emergency meeting with the festival crew. The day has been rather chaotic and we need to shore up the hatches for the impending crowds tonight. Boom! is going to be packed. American Hollow is going to be packed....

I have no recollection of what happened for the next few hours. A whirlwind of introductions and problems. Filmmakers are arriving from the airport and the train station wondering where their rides are. (Well?) Rollmops is not used to so many people in his house. He is also frustrated at the new Charles configuration -- he no longer has access to his favorite lobby space. I see him back up to a wall and spray his disapproval. Sarah Jacobson has come to the Charles Theatre. She is unhappy about feeling stranded at BWI. She and I are old friends from college so I take her criticism personally. I offer to take her to her show at the Orpheum in person.

It's 11:30 and I will introduce Divine Trash to a packed house in theatre "A" and then grab Sarah for the trek to Fells Point. Introducing films is a lot of fun, but it is also one of those festival quirks that add to the fun and excitement of the event. With speakers here, it is a necessity. Here is an average introduction:

"Welcome to the 1999 Maryland Film Festival. (Wait for applause...if none is forth coming, chastise the audience.) There are a few brief announcements before the screening of title -- first I'd like to thank our Charter Sponsors. Without their faith and support, none of this would be possible. For those of you who are illiterate, I'll read them: the Maryland Film Office (and the Department of Business & Economic Development), The Rouse Company, The City of Baltimore, First National Bank, The France-Merrick Foundation.

"Our fantastic staff and volunteers: particularly Jacque Pfeifer, Sharon Rudolph, Chris Cable, Michael Faulkner, and Brian Cooper. The Charles Theatre and their staff -- particularly the projectionists. I have worked as a festival projectionist and let me tell you, it is not easy to screen sixty films in four days.

"This space is brand new and they are experiencing baptism by fire. Thanks to them for all of their efforts. I would also like to implore all of you to support the Charles Theatre year round. Come downtown and let them know that you appreciate everything they've done for us. To have a world class venue like this (a space that makes the art houses in New York look like bowling alleys), with all of the conveniences we've come to expect (cup holders, stadium seating...) in a town like Baltimore is remarkable.

"They are going to need your support to make it happen. If a movie is playing here and at a commercial theater, the choice should be obvious: come to the Charles! And lastly, I'd like to ask you to take a look at our merchandise and gear.

Maryland Film Festival Merchandise

Show your support for the festival. Wear our stuff year-round. It's nice and comfortable. And we've got a lot of it. Thanks for coming and enjoy the show..."

Sometimes, I'd launch into a vicious diatribe against a certain corporate-owned art house, other times, I'd talk a little about the selection. When a filmmaker was there, I'd tell a little about them and their film, but this gives you a flavor of what it was like.

So I introduce Steve Yeager with a true story: He once went out on a date with my mother! (How many festival organizers can say that?) As he approached the microphone, I jibed, "Ladies and Gentleman, my Father." Steve was, of course, shocked -- which is what I wanted to do just before a screening of Divine Trash. I can't stick around to hear what he has to say because I have to get Sarah to the Orpheum by midnight. And I'm really worried about finding parking in Fell's Point on a Friday night. For those visiting the site from afar (welcome) the Orpheum is directly across from the Police Station set used on Homicide: Life on the Streets. It is also in an area of town frequented by rowdy college kids on the weekend. Lots of bars and atmosphere. But less and less of it the more the frat boys invade...

I drop off Sarah and manage to score a space a block away. Race up to the theatre and begin what must look like a vaudeville routine with Sarah. We both tell about our college years and Sarah, never at a loss for words, gives a little back ground. She is a consummate professional. She has screened the film in over fifty festivals since premiering it at Chicago Underground in 1996. She explains why she came out of "festival retirement" to screen at the Maryland Film Festival:

John Waters

"Boom!" John Waters

"To stalk John Waters."

Once the midnight show starts, she and I wander around Fell's Point looking for a dessert place. The coffee place closes at 12. We sit by the water on a park bench catching up. This is one of the nice parts of the festival.

A quiet moment with a filmmaker away from the hype and excitement of the "lobby." Baltimore is a lovely city and the waterfront is absolutely majestic. This is why I love Baltimore. We go to BOP (Brick Oven Pizza) for a slice. Sarah has timed the film perfectly. She knows exactly when it is time to head back for Q&A. And as usual she hawks her goods, sells some tapes, and gathers names for her mailing list. Michael, a festival staff person -- AND an Orpheum employee -- offers to drive Sarah home. It is 2:30 AM. and the first full day of screenings has bled into the second.

Day Two >>