Mmmm....there it is. The line ups, the commotion, the amusing dilemma faced by those who were looking to get in the rush line up for the Rush movie. And Kevin Clark, hot on the mayoral trail, pulling live pigeons out of bag in front a baffled group of bright eyed documentarianists waiting for the box office to open. Hot Docs has begun.
First up was Babies, a cute little flick about...babies. I learned that babies in Namibia are adorable and that babies in Mongolia are hilarious and like to play with baby goats.
From goat babies to goat ears, next up was Rush. This was the rowdiest crowd I've ever been a part of at a documentary screening. There was yelling and cheering and several standing ovations. And then the movie started. It didn't help matters that Geddy and Alex were there in the flesh. (I wonder what would happen if Hot Docs hardcores crashed the next Rush concert. We'll show them how to sit in your seat and behave!) During the introduction someone remarked that a good music doc is one that makes you go home and listen to the band right away. Well I'm listening to Lady Gaga as I type this. Kidding. I'm listening to YYZ.
Things I remembered to bring with me today: my fancy pants festival pass and my tuned-up bike (gears like butta - thanks Duke's) Things I forgot: My light up pen and my dinner. Much appreciation to the lady with the purple scarf for holding my place in line while I looked for a Tim Hortons that still had bagels at night. I've got 10 more days to get into the swing of things.
Some more things I learned today:
Hot Docs is actually 11 days long, not 10. See brand new tag line above.
The Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture, is the funniest man in provincial politics.
The Elgin/Winter Gardens Theatre is the world's last remaing double decker theatre.
One last tidbit: As I rode home, one of those "need $$$ for weed" types yelled at me "man, I wish I was your bike!" And to clarify, "You know what you do to a bike, right?"
Thursday, April 29, 2010
schedule - revised.
I have been up since 5 am. It's Thursday morning, the first day of the rest of my life, for the next ten days. I can't eat, can't sleep, too excited! Tonight should be easy, with only two movies, both at the same venue. Let the documentarianism begin!
Thursday, April 29
Friday, April 30th
Saturday, May 1st
Sunday, May 2nd
3:00/ 4:00 - something
Monday, May 3rd
11:45 - The Parking Lot Movie
Tuesday, May the 4th be with you
Wednesday, May the 5th
9:45 - Blank City
Thursday, May the 6th
Friday, May 7th
Saturday, May 8th
Sunday, May 9th
last movie: festival fave
Monday, April 26, 2010
sneaky preview.
Hot Docs asked me if I wanted to receive screeners of the movies before the festival. I knew they would balk if I requested 168 DVDs, so I've been working my way through some of the ones that have been putting da kinks in my schedule.
I slept my way through most of The Mirror. Please don't infer too much from that. It was late and the lights were off and my couch is very cozy. Heidi stayed up and she liked it. She had this to say: "Annie, wake up."
Space Tourists wasn't really about space tourists. It was, but it was also about 4 or 5 other things, and some of the stories got lost in orbit. A treat were photographs of Kazakhstan by Magnum photographer Jonas Bendiiksen, who is something to look at on his own.
The Story of Furious Pete did not do anything to assuage my suspicion that competitive eaters can never be charismatic people. There is some truly grotesque stuff in this movie, including but not limited to slow-mo, close-up shots of liquified hamburgers pouring out of a fat man's mouth. Prediction: someone's going to walk out of this one.
3 more days until we get to do this all together...
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