It’s all been happening and not happening in the febrile fan-dance of Film Festival Central the last few days. But there is movement. #OldFest has had a number of disappointments as various venues, guests, etc have dropped out. I would like to clarify some those things but try getting anyone on the phone in the era of Shirking From Home.
Here’s what I am most concerned with today. I made the poster and a few flyers this morning and got them printed. Marketing spend, approx £40.
Do come along. IT’S TOMORROW. If not, you can help us by downloading this file and printing it for your friends or passing it on. Samizdat. Or punk publishing. Choose your own analogy.
Neil is a nice guy, he does a wonderful show and he is a walking encyclopaedia on silent film. Last time I saw him it was at the Town Hall with Paul Merton accompanying Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last. This time it’s the 1925 version of Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney. Fantastic! I will be there to encourage. I’ve found some files to make 3D printed masks. Unfortunately, I can barely make my HP inkjet work for more than a day. If anyone has a 3D printer, I’m happy to pass on the material. There are wonderful things to be found on the relevant page at the Internet Archive.
Feel free to come in character. I always do. But what character should I choose?
The eagle-eyed will have noticed the lack of branding on my poster. That’s my protest. From now on, my two teenage superstars and myself will be concentrating on one film at a time and not pursuing anyone’s grand vision.
Successful (and less successful) events so far: North by Northwest and Sauvage at the Sherborne Stuntman Rick and The Batman at The Playhouse; Shaun of the Dead at the Bottle of Sauce; Scrapper at Charlton Kings Film Society; The Last Showgirl at The Barn, Cirencester. More coming; we are improvising and working fast. ‘Work Fast And Make Things’, as none of our Techlords ever said.
Also, well done Julius and co for putting on ther concert of film music at The Princess Hall. I dropped in at the end and people seemed very happy. It was well-attended.
Meanwhile, #NewFest has produced its programme. Lots of interesting stuff. But they can do their own publicity. This is a festival for the usual white, middle-class, well-heeled, elderly, somewhat depressed arts-enthusiasts of Gloucestershire. I wish them luck. I am for change, not keeping things the same.
Over in terrifying Gloucester, meanwhile, my lovely friend Dan Liu and I did our Chinese and English poetry show in Kings Square and had a lot of fun. I intend to do more. We even got a couple of people sporting civic regalia to have a listen. Su Shi, Li Bai, Robert Frost, Ivor Gurney. I like breaking down barriers and finding common ground.
Here’s my handout for the day. I have to say setting and proof-reading Chinese was a challenge, as was editing MIDI to produce backing music. We are here to learn, and I like it.
More later. I may have to find time to write every day while things are in such confusion.