| Author
|
Post |
 
|
|
Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
|
State Supporters,
You can just feel the film festival right around the corner, can't you? And,
oh, do we have some GREAT movies we'll be showing at this, the 4th annual
Traverse City Film Festival! In my next letter I will let you know when we
are announcing the list of films and when the tickets go on sale. As
promised, Friends of the TCFF will get first crack at purchasing the tickets
a week ahead of the general public. And every available seat will be put on
sale to the Friends first (please note, this is a privilege extended only to
paid-up members of the Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival, NOT
members of the State Theatre). So stay tuned for details next week.
Meanwhile, this Friday we will begin a one-week run of the most popular
indie film of this spring -- "The Visitor." This is a thoroughly
entertaining, funny, touching, sad, and yet hopeful story of a widower whose
mundane life is transformed when he encounters two "illegal aliens" who have
been -- illegally -- living in his apartment while he's been gone. "The
Visitor" is set in the current
anti-immigrant-there's-a-terrorist-around-every-corner climate. When one of
the visitors is arrested by homeland security, his Arab mother travels to
New York from her home in southeast Michigan to try and free her son from a
corporate-run detention center, and an unlikely romance begins. The movie
stars the great Richard Jenkins (the father on "Six Feet Under"), Hiam
Abbass ("Munich"), Haaz Sleiman, and Danai Gurira. It is a beautiful film,
well made, and it has moved audiences across America in the past few months,
as it has become the highest-grossing art house movie this season.
Speaking of "highest-grossing," the historic State Theatre of Traverse City
has once again (how many times is this already?!) become the #1 theater in
the country TWO WEEKS IN A ROW for the movie being shown. Of the 150 cities
showing "Son Of Rambow" across North America, Traverse City's State Theatre
was number one in box office grosses! You begin to realize how amazing this
is when you consider that we charge two to three dollars less than the
theaters in the large cities (which usually allows them to bring in more at
the box office) and that during the second week we had one or two shows a
day of the Stones film cutting into "Rambow's" overall numbers.
So once again Hollywood knows of Traverse City -- and this has the ripple
effect I've been talking about for the past four years. We have a film
festival that is known by filmmakers and filmlovers around the country (and
the world), a perfectly-restored landmark movie palace that keeps setting
records, and now the State's and TCFF's best friend, Governor Jennifer
Granholm (ok, actually, second best friend next to our own Bill and Helen
Milliken!) has brought a ton of films in production to Michigan this summer
with her film incentives. Michael Cera, who played Juno's boyfriend, was at
the State Theatre twice this weekend to see a movie; his film, "Youth in
Revolt" starring Ray Liotta and Steve Buscemi, has been filming all week in
Frankfort, Lake Ann, and Interlochen State Park. The film is set in northern
California, and that is where is was to be shot -- until the Granholm Plan
took effect. Now Lake Michigan is doubling for the Pacific Ocean!
Hahahahahahaha!! Our good friends the Weinsteins (the studio behind this
film) know a good deal when they see one and so here they are shooting a big
movie in northern Michigan. (Full disclosure: the Weinsteins made my last
two movies and Harvey Weinstein was the first honorary co-chair of the
Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival.) All that we hoped for when we
instituted the TCFF in 2005 is coming to pass. (If you'd like to read more
of my thoughts on this, check out this week's Northern Express at the link
below:)
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikeinthenews/index.php?id=11730
Tomorrow (Thursday) is the last day to see the Rolling Stones on the big
screen of the State (and the last day to see "Then She Found Me" -- we were
#5 in the country over the weekend with this film, and that was with the
Stones film once a day, too!).
My cursing of Mother Nature in last week's letter has given us a nicer week
as the temperatures rise. We are announcing a new policy today at the State
-- the first day every summer that the temperature hits 90 degrees... EVERY
SEAT IS FREE AT THE STATE! And on the first day the temp hits 100, every
seat will again be free AND everyone gets a free pop! (If one or both of
these things happen during the festival, the first day after the fest will
be free instead.) We will go by what the National Weather Service station is
reporting at the airport, but we will also have our own thermometer on the
sidewalk (as it is always warmer surrounded by the urban high-rises of the
densely-packed downtown TC). As soon as it hits 90 or 100 degrees for the
first time, we will put it up on the marquee and send an email blast to
everyone. It's nice and cool inside the State's auditorium, so come on in
anytime this summer to cool down for a couple of hours -- and see only the
best movies, 'cause we only bring the good ones to the State!
The Cherry Festival is coming up soon and this will be our first year of
working together for the good of Traverse City. I'm really looking forward
to what we will be offering at the State that week and next week's letter
will have all the details. But for now I'll just say there will be lots of
free movies, lots of stuff for kids, stuff for teens, stuff for seniors --
and the best news of all -- ONE FULL WEEK OF "THE WIZARD OF OZ" on the giant
screen of the State Theatre. Fully restored and gorgeous in its original
color, we are proud to bring this classic to everyone who lives and visits
here.
In the meantime, come see "The Visitor" and the rest of our great
alternative programming this coming week: "Shark Tale" for 25 cents on
Saturday morning, the original "The Pink Panther" this Sunday at noon, a
powerful film about child abuse by Catholic priests called "Deliver Us From
Evil" on Monday night, and classic Saturday morning cartoons, never before
seen at the State, for 25 cents on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.
Beginning next Wednesday we will begin a two-month retrospective of the
great classic films of the 1930s -- before censorship was introduced in
Hollywood. When the Hays Code was instituted, one man decided what was safe
for Americans to see. This nonsense went on for over 30 years. But before
Mr. Hays was installed as our moral compass, Hollywood did exactly what it
wanted. And we are going to be showing these films in their original, uncut,
uncensored glory! Our series is called "Before the Code," it will be every
Wednesday at 11 a.m. (except July 9), and the price is what you would have
paid back in the '30s -- 25 cents! The fun all begins next Wednesday with
the one and only "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang." This series is great
summer fun -- don't miss it. Uncensored Films for Uncertain Times!
That's it for now. Watching -- and making -- movies in Northern Michigan!
Not quite the same as listening to Ernie Harwell on my transistor radio in
Indian River in 1966, but still not a bad way to spend the summer "up
north."
Yours,
Michael Moore
State Theatre Day-by-Day Schedule
Thursday, June 26
Shark Tale (PG) - 11:00 am
Then She Found Me (R) - 2:00, 4:00, 8:20
Shine a Light (PG-13) - 6:00
Friday, June 27
The Visitor (PG-13) - 1:30, 3:40, 6:00, 8:10, 10:20
Saturday, June 28
Shark Tale (PG) - 10:30 am
The Visitor (PG-13) - 1:30, 3:40, 6:00, 8:10, 10:20
Sunday, June 29
United Artists 90th Anniversary: The Pink Panther (NR) - 12:00 noon
The Visitor (PG-13) - 2:15, 4:25, 6:35, 8:45
Monday, June 30
The Visitor (PG-13) - 1:20, 3:25, 5:25, 9:30
SATATEAM presents: Deliver Us From Evil (NR) - 7:30
Tuesday, July 1
25 Cent Kids Matinee: Classic Cartoons (G) - 11:00 am
The Visitor (PG-13) - 1:30, 3:40, 5:50, 8:00, 10:00
Wednesday, July 2
Before the Code: I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (NR) - 11:00 am
The Visitor (PG-13) - 1:30, 3:40, 5:50, 8:00, 10:00
Thursday, July 3
25 Cent Kids Matinee: Classic Cartoons (G) - 11:00 am
The Visitor (PG-13) - 1:30, 3:40, 5:50, 8:00, 10:00
Note: This Schedule is Subject to Change. Be Sure to Check the Record-Eagle
Daily for the Most Up-to-Date Showtime Information.
Buy Tickets Online
http://www.statetheatretc.org/?page=buytickets
TCFF/State Theatre Blog
http://absolutemichigan.com/blogs/tcfilmfestival/
|
_________________
Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
|
Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:58 pm |
|
|
Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
|
| whoopie |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
|
|
Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:41 am |
|
|
Flinn's Journal
F L I N T O I D
|
| "The Visitor" briefly played locally at the Courtland Cinemas. |
_________________
I HAVE SEVERED MY TIES WITH FLINTTALK.COM BECAUSE TROLLS CANNOT BE CONTROLLED ON THIS BOARD. |
|
|
Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:52 am |
|
|
Adam Ford
F L I N T O I D
|
| Ryan maybe you could get on the Flint Film Festival committee? |
|
|
|
Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:43 am |
|
|
lunchlady
F L I N T O I D
|
| Yes, Ryan we would love to have you! |
_________________
Whatever... |
|
|
Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:58 pm |
|
|
Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
|
I would love to Adam, I think we could still put together an Amazing Film Festival and compete with the biggest ones in the state.
quote:
Adam Ford schreef:
Ryan maybe you could get on the Flint Film Festival committee?
|
_________________
Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
|
|
Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:24 am |
|
|
Adam Ford
F L I N T O I D
|
|
|
Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:31 am |
|
|
Adam
F L I N T O I D
|
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080803/ap_en_mu/people_film_festival_madonna
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - She might be known worldwide as the Material Girl, but there's more than a little of the small-town Michigan girl left in Madonna.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pop superstar arrived in this northern Michigan resort town Saturday to introduce her documentary, "I Am Because We Are," a highlight of the Traverse City Film Festival. The event was co-founded by filmmaker, author and fellow Michigan native Michael Moore.
Hundreds of fans cheered from behind barricades as Madonna, wearing a black dress, high heels and sunglasses, stepped out of a black sport utility vehicle that pulled up in front of the State Theatre. She hugged a waiting Moore, who sported an orange baseball cap, and posed for photos with him.
Madonna and Moore shared the stage at the theater before a screening of the movie, which deals with the orphans of Malawi, the African nation where she and husband Guy Ritchie adopted a son.
"It's great bringing my movie to a place that I feel familiar," Madonna told the audience. "Not like the Cannes Film Festival, where nobody's speaking English, or the Tribeca Film Festival, where no one sits down.
"There's something poetic about coming back to the place where I used to come for holidays — camping trips with my dad and stepmother and my very large family," said the 49-year-old singer, born to the southeast in Bay City and raised in the Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills.
Madonna was accompanied by her 11-year-old daughter, Lourdes, and the film's director, Nathan Rissman. Ritchie was not present.
Moore, who won an Oscar for his 2002 documentary "Bowling for Columbine," said he was humbled to be able to call Madonna a friend.
"She has such an incredible heart and such a generous spirit," he said. "She does so much out of the glare of the lights to make the world a better place."
Madonna had praise of her own for Moore, 54, a Flint-area native who has a home near Traverse City.
"There aren't a lot of role models for us in the world, or people we can look up to," she said. "People who are not afraid to stick their neck out, people who are not afraid to stand up for things and be unpopular, to go against the grain, think outside the box.
"And we need, and I need, Michael Moore in my life."
Madonna appeared amid the release of a tell-all book by her brother and speculation about her relationship with New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. Madonna and Rodriguez both deny an affair. She did not address the dust-ups in her appearance Saturday.
|
|
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:45 am |
|
|
Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
|
I am currently up here at the Film Festival, its beyond Awesome what this has done to this city. This Republican strong hold of a town is bustling with tourists, celebrities. Everyone I have talked to so far are very grateful to Michael Moore and the other volunteers for putting this film festival on every year. It has grown from a couple thousand people during the festival the first year, to over 60,000 people last year. I was lucky enough to see Madonna's new Documentary and was amazed as how well it was.
Its so ironic that a liberal town like Flint treats Michael Moore with such disrespect and a Right Wing town such as Traverse City loves the guy now. I mentioned that to Michael on Saturday afternoon and he just laughed saying he is doing what he loves to do. I will be back late tonight and will post some incrediable pictures of my trip for you guys to see.
|
_________________
Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:09 am |
|
|
andi03
F L I N T O I D
|
| I can't wait to see interviews with Madonna using her fake British accent....OY. |
_________________
Build a bridge and get over it! |
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:37 am |
|
|
Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
|
| Better there than here. He's done nothing for Flint other than bring us ridicule and make himself famous at our expense. |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:39 am |
|
|
twotap
F L I N T O I D
|
Jeez Ryan old Mike is just discovering who the folks are that he would prefer to rub elbows (and in his case bellys) with. Ill bet hes the most homeless derelict lookin dude for 150 miles I sure hope he decided to shower. The Old virgin needs to do something with those roots.  What a pair. |
|
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 2:58 pm |
|
|
Ryan Eashoo
F L I N T O I D
|
Gosh you guys, do i sense jealousy????
|
_________________
Flint Michigan Resident, Tax Payer, Flint Nutt - Local REALTOR - Activist. www.FlintTown.com |
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:34 pm |
|
|
andi03
F L I N T O I D
|
The "Madonna" thing? No jealousy there....I know who I am. 
With the Far. 911? and the Roger and Me? One cannot say that they are from the Flint area and be taken seriously.......L'Chaim!!! |
_________________
Build a bridge and get over it! |
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:04 pm |
|
|
LakeWoman50
F L I N T O I D
|
Maybe you should stay up there with Michael Moore!
quote:
Ryan Eashoo schreef:
I am currently up here at the Film Festival, its beyond Awesome what this has done to this city. This Republican strong hold of a town is bustling with tourists, celebrities. Everyone I have talked to so far are very grateful to Michael Moore and the other volunteers for putting this film festival on every year. It has grown from a couple thousand people during the festival the first year, to over 60,000 people last year. I was lucky enough to see Madonna's new Documentary and was amazed as how well it was.
Its so ironic that a liberal town like Flint treats Michael Moore with such disrespect and a Right Wing town such as Traverse City loves the guy now. I mentioned that to Michael on Saturday afternoon and he just laughed saying he is doing what he loves to do. I will be back late tonight and will post some incrediable pictures of my trip for you guys to see.
|
|
|
|
Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:12 pm |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Register
Profile
FlintTalk.com Forum Index
> Political Talk
