DAY ONE, PART FOUR

Here is the TCM Promo for the Restoration of A Star is Born. It's a most informative film highlighting the importance of film preservation and how A Star is Born has been transformed for its new DVD Release. (And yes, I ordered one. It's supposed to be on the way.) But there is another reason I enjoy this promo so much, besides its being timely, informative, and historical. I'm in it! Toward the very end of the promo, you can see a tall woman in a formal Chinese dress with a Mandarin collar carrying her turquoise coat as she walks into the actual theater at Grauman's. That's me!

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?o_cid=mediaroomlink&cid=333749


Day One, Part 4

So I donned more lip gloss, squared my shoulders, marched in the the elevator, and descended into the arena! Everyone who had a pass couldn't wait for CLUB TCM to open. It was across the hall from the lobby and the Festival Store was located right in front of CLUB TCM. When it opened, there were actually 2-3 maitre'd's who would check passes and say nice things like "You look very lovely" etc.

That was a nice touch.

When you walked into CLUB TCM, there was a dance floor with tables and chairs, and all around the room were photos of Hollywood Stars and a screen with film clips running on the wall behind the stage. There were plenty of comfy couches and chairs and folks met their friends there for snacks and drinks before and after the film showings.

It was so much fun in there! You could see all kinds of people who had come from all over the world to be a part of the TCM Film Festival. There were even some kids who flew in from Poland to be a part of it! Everybody wanted to know where someone was from, what your favorite movies were, and what you were planning to attend on the schedule.

I visited with so many people, and I know I couldn't remember all their names. The enjoyment of the moment was what everyone was interested in. I must have met a hundred new people that night, but none of them were rude, officious, or just plain old "stuck-up." If they were there, I didn't see them or meet them.

For snacks they had little beef empanadas, mahi mahi munchies, tabouli salad, bruscietta, oriental egg rolls, and much more...

The waiters were very friendly, and the bartenders were busy, but kind and accomodating.

Passholders would visit about the movies they were going to see and movies they looked forward to.
Several members of TCM City were there and it was wonderful to meet the "faces" behind the names.

But then it was time to go to the Premiere of A Star Is Born, which is one of my favorite films because of the songs Judy Garland sings.



Since it was the first night premiere, all goodies at the concession stand were FREE!!!
I ordered my filmgoing usual, a large diet coke, a small popcorn, and chocolate-covered peanuts.

And as I walk in, I am seated off to the left of the screen, and strike up a conversation with Bruce from D.C., and we talk about the film, and how much fun we are already having at this festival. Discussing aspects of the restoration before the introduction was also helpful and a young couple joined in the conversation.

Robert Osborne introduced the film and practially got a standing ovation. Everyone was so thrilled to see him looking his usually dapper self.

But when the curtain went up, the star was really the beautiful restoration. The colors were so vibrant and the sound was so crisp.

Never in my memory can I remember the sound in a theater being so fresh. No scratchy recordings, no bleeps or blips, just clear tones of voices, songs, and all so accessible. This was the first classic film I had seen on a large screen in many years, and after I had been so nerve-wracked all day, it was a wonderful moment of peace to realize that I was going to see one of my favorite scenes and hear one of my favorite songs and see one of my favorite film stars in one of her most brilliant moments on screen. Ever.

From where I had been sitting, I could hear several Ooohs and Aaaahs when there were closeups. And I loved how people clapped for the film. It was a joy.

Next: Esther and Betty, the Aqualilies, and more...