Traverse City Record-Eagle

2009 Traverse City Film Festival

August 3, 2009

Film Festival Outtakes: 08/03/2009

In person: Lead actress, co-director and co-writer Paola Mendoza and her mother Liliana Legge, along with co-director and co-writer Gloria La Morte charmed a State Theatre audience at the Saturday afternoon screening of the Spanish language film "Entre Nos."

The film, inspired by true life events, stars Mendoza portraying her mother's poignant struggle after arriving in the U.S. from Colombia.

In a Q-and-A session following the film, Legge said she agreed to the film as long as Mendoza played the role of the mother. Finding two child actors to play the son and daughter proved to be a bigger challenge.

The filmmakers combed churches and community centers and auditioned more than 500 kids before finding the two scene-stealing actors perfect for the parts.

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Movie-goers at a screening of "Roger & Me" Saturday night received pins and lint rollers. (Lint rollers play a part in the movie.) Director and film festival founder Michael Moore said he had been invited to show the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival shortly after it was released in 1989 but passing over the border at Sarnia, they weren't allowed to bring thousands of lint rollers into Canada. "You can have them here tonight, 20 years later," he said.

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Director and film festival board member Larry Charles asked Moore what he thought after watching "Roger & Me" again Saturday. "I'm mad," Moore said. "I tried to warn people 20 years ago. I think of all the grief I've had to take and for what?"

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Moore said he didn't have the Internet capacity he needed at his production offices on Front Street, so he had a T-1 line put in on his side of the street "and everyone on the block can use it."

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Moore said he feels vindicated by an appearance by Wendell Potter, former head of corporate communications at CIGNA, a major health insurance provide, on Bill Moyers' "Journal" last month. Potter said "Sicko" "hit the nail on the head."

He also told Moyers about a memo that was circulating between health care companies and members of Congress that threatened to send members of Congress "back to their districts" if they were supportive of Moore or his movie.

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Filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer of "Valentino: The Last Emperor" had the audience in uproarious laughter at a Sunday screening of his film about the iconic designer. The director described behind-the-scenes moments from the making of the film.

Valentino is shown in the documentary traveling with an entourage that includes a handful of pugs, trading barbs with his partner and perfecting his fashion creations.

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Leo Najar, artistic director of the Bijou Orchestra, which played during a screening of "Metropolis" Sunday at the State, said it's "not a silent film with orchestra accompaniment; it's a concert with movie pictures."

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  • Tweet us during the film festival

    We want the Record-Eagle coverage of the sixth Traverse City Film Festival to include your tweets.

    Continued ...
    Jul 25, 2010 7:30 am
  • Clearing the Record: 07/10/2010

    Continued ...
    Jul 10, 2010 7:30 am
  • Film festival awards announced

    The full list of awards for the movies in the Traverse City Film Festival, announced late Sunday, includes the Founders Prize for Funniest Fiction Film for "In The Loop" and the Audience Prize for Best Documentary for "Food., Inc."

    Continued ...
    Aug 4, 2009 7:05 am
  • 2009 film fest is 'pretty popular'

    John and Ruth Buta spent their 51st wedding anniversary at the Traverse City Film Festival, where they had to sit separately at a sold-out screening of "Mike's Surprise." But the couple got an anniversary gift before the film started, when Ruth Buta's name was drawn for a private "test screening" of festival founder Michael Moore's new film in the next few weeks.

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    Aug 3, 2009 7:16 am 1 Photo
  • Young filmmakers learn the craft

    Young filmmakers honed their skills at this year's Traverse City Film Festival. Many said they picked up things they wouldn't be able to learn elsewhere.

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    Aug 3, 2009 7:00 am 1 Photo
  • Moore: New movie on truth of bailout

    Michael Moore said his new movie will "tell you the truth about the bailout, the crash, the robbery that's taken place." Moore talked about "Capitalism: A Love Story" following a screening of his first movie, "Roger & Me," Saturday night at the Traverse City Film Festival.

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    Aug 3, 2009 7:00 am 1 Photo
  • Saturday, August 1, 2009
  • Michigan runners win Stars of the Mile

    It was a Michigan day. Rondell Ruff won the men's Stars of the Mile -- the reincarnation of the Golden Mile -- by over a second to finish off a Wolverine sweep, as fellow former University of Michigan runner Nicole Edwards won the women's race.

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    Aug 1, 2009 9:20 pm 1 Photo
  • Video: "Mr. JoJangles" in downtown TC

    A video clip of "Mr. JoJangles" performing in downtown Traverse City during the film festival.

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    Aug 1, 2009 8:48 pm
  • No joke! Plans in the works for comedy fest

    Jeff Garlin, of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and Traverse City Film Festival co-founder Michael Moore told a crowd Saturday at a comedy panel discussion that plans are in the works to hold -- what else? -- a comedy festival in town next spring.

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    Aug 1, 2009 8:25 pm 2 Photos
  • Buskers: Will play for ... fun

    Buskers are taking to the pavement during the Traverse City Film Festival for an audience of art-lovers.

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    Aug 1, 2009 8:25 pm 1 Photo
  • Festival energy is 'contagious'

    Festival attendees can take home T-shirts and ticket stubs as mementos of the fifth annual Traverse City Film Festival. Or, they can take home original artwork and memories of local music.

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    Aug 1, 2009 8:25 pm 1 Photo
  • Film Festival outtakes: 08/02/2009

    Saturday's numbers make it look like this year's film festival was ... ta-da! ... the best ever. Estimates have admissions at more than 96,000. That doesn't include "Big" at the Open Space. Last year, there were 80,000 admissions. Plus more outtakes from around town.

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    Aug 1, 2009 8:25 pm
  • Film Festival schedule: 08/02/2009

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    Aug 1, 2009 8:25 pm
  • Friday, July 31, 2009
  • Short films find home at fest

    Ian Hollander's first job, back in middle school, was at the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay, working concessions, or in the projection room, or whatever was needed. "That's where I got interested in films," Hollander, 23, said. Now he's making them. Hollander's short film, "All of Me," is one of 14 "Shorts by Students" screening at the Traverse City Film Festival Sunday at noon at the Old Town Playhouse.

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    Jul 31, 2009 11:10 pm 1 Photo
  • 'Roger & Me' gets anniversary screening

    "Roger and Me" shows Moore pursuing Smith to confront him about the impact on Flint following massive job cuts at GM. The film gets a 20th anniversary screening tonight at 9 p.m. at the State Theatre. The screening is sold out, but standby tickets may be available.

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    Jul 31, 2009 11:10 pm 1 Photo
  • Council says film incentive program is safe

    Michigan's film incentives are safe, despite reports to the contrary, said the Michigan Film Office director.

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    Jul 31, 2009 11:10 pm 2 Photos
  • Film Festival schedule: 08/01/2009

    The Saturday schedule for the Traverse City Film Festival.

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    Jul 31, 2009 11:10 pm
  • Film Festival outtakes: 08/01/2009

    Zoltar, the wish-granter from "Big," will be at the Open Space before tonight's screening of the movie to field wishes. Plus more outtakes from around town.

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    Jul 31, 2009 11:10 pm
  • Film gurus work hard for the audience

    A patron wouldn't know it from the plush theater seat, but there's a lot happening in the projectionist booth to make movie magic.

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    Jul 31, 2009 8:31 am 2 Photos
  • Film Festival schedule: 07/31/2009

    Today at the Traverse City Film Festival

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    Jul 31, 2009 7:45 am
  • 'Hair' brings out the free spirits

    As the sounds of a roots band filled the Open Space, Lanae Sambrano-Bartz danced on the grass in bellbottoms and a midriff-baring sweater, a headband holding back her long hair threaded with braids.

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    Jul 31, 2009 7:40 am 2 Photos
  • Kids festival gets rave reviews

    Kids eagerly awaited the first film to be shown at the new Traverse City Kids Film Festival. Their line stretched around the block.

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    Jul 31, 2009 7:40 am 1 Photo
  • Fewer festival films will return to State

    The people who live in Traverse City can hang onto one thing during the Traverse City Film Festival. Some of these movies are coming back. But there won't be as many returning next year, according to film festival officials. The returning movies don't bring in as many people as other movies, they said, and the only returning movie that drew decent crowds last year was "Kenny."

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    Jul 31, 2009 7:40 am 1 Photo
  • Students learn the ropes of documentaries

    It took Kevin McMahon six years to complete his film, "Waterlife" -- two years to make it and four years to raise money for it. It's the kind of detail prospective documentary makers rarely consider but almost certainly will face, McMahon said in a TCFF Film School session Thursday called "Documentary 101."

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    Jul 31, 2009 7:40 am 3 Photos