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August 19, 2005Film festival feedbackReaders offer suggestions for futureTRAVERSE CITY - We asked, and you answered.Two weeks ago, the Record-Eagle put out the call for your feedback on the Traverse City Film Festival and ideas for the future. The organizers have indicated that after this year's success, they plan to make it an annual event. Many who responded said they want it to remain in the summertime. Some said keep it at the end of July like this year, with more voting for a few weeks later, say, during the second week in August after things have settled down following the National Cherry Festival but a week or two before school starts across the state. They say having it during the school year would limit the opportunities for people from out of the area to build a vacation around it, and college kids home on break to attend. And summer offers a better chance for good weather for outdoor films than fall; in the winter, forget it. "It was absolutely wonderful to have it in the summer when our two college sons were at home and could attend three shows with us," wrote Donna Valdmanis of Traverse City. "It was an eye-opening experience for them. They wanted to attend more ... it fostered a different level of movie discussion and thought with us all." Those responding loved that most movies were shown several times. Having local performers entertaining before the Opera House films got high marks, with some advocating for more next year. If organizers didn't already know that the free nightly films on the inflatable screen at the Open Space were a hit with attendance at 6,000-plus each night, those who responded also rated it as a huge success. "Part of the reason the film fest was so successful was the availability of free films. No matter where the venue is, I hope the TC film fest will ALWAYS provide that the ENTIRE population can participate," wrote Judy Packard of Lake Leelanau. "While some had the bucks to wine and dine while at the fest, for others, just the cost of parking and popcorn for the family was also money spent in TC and I think it added up." Some people felt the sound in some cases was a little too loud. Other thoughts: - Get next year's dates out early so people can begin planning their summer vacations now. "We would like to get it on our calendar as soon as decisions are made as to the dates," wrote Nancy Osborne and Barb Gerber of North Fort Myers, Florida. They were in Benzie County visiting friends during the festival and saw four films. "We promise to 'tell everyone we know,' as Lily Tomlin says. "This festival, we can tell as mere visitors, has demonstrated teamwork, creativity, love of place and health of community in many, many ways." -Add other venues within walking distance or on the trolley route. One suggestion was Lars Hockstad Auditorium at Central Grade School. Others suggested the Park Place, the old state hospital grounds, Traverse City Central and West high schools and The Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay. -Offer reserved seating instead of general admission. "It was really a bummer to arrive with my husband 20 minutes before each of the seven shows we saw and have a limited choice of seats as most people were saving seats," wrote one festival-goer. "Some movies we had to sit apart as we couldn't get two seats together." -Show some old musicals on the big screen at the Open Space. Ian Mielke, 12, a newly converted Humphrey Bogart fan, thinks "The African Queen" should be shown at the Open Space on closing night next year. He suggests that the scene where the ship blows up at the end would be the perfect cue to shoot fireworks off over the bay. - Don't show films with subtitles at the Opera House. One person said it's difficult to read the bottom of the screen on the stage if you're in the back of the house. -Give volunteers stick-on name tags next year. "We were often sent to look for someone to ask a question or get an item and had to figure out who was who," wrote one volunteer. -List the length and ratings (with rationale) of each film in the program. - Offer locally made short films; animation was also mentioned as a category to include in future festivals. All of the comments submitted to the Record-Eagle will be turned over to the festival planning committee.
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