TIFF 2009 – Day 1

Once more into the breach dear friends. red carpets are rolled out, and stars are being spotted in Yorkville. TIFF 2009 has officially begun.

I’m a tad saddened that the official website hasn’t included a forum for people to link their blogs this year. In the past it was actually a pretty handy spot to get a beat on what was going on! Oh well, maybe next year.

As for this year, I thought I’d mention a few small dos and don’ts for any festival goers who may be new to the game this year…

Don’t text, im, or tweet during a screening. There are already enough movers and shakers who annoy people around them trying to watch the movie by fussing with their shiney PDA of choice. There are even more wannabe movers and shakers who annoy even more of us. Don’t be that guy. There will be plenty of time to text and tweet when the credits roll.

Do check into getting SAME DAY tickets. The rush line might get you in – but it’s a crapshoot, and being the last people in means nasty seat selection. Most movies have tickets available the first thing in the morning of the screening. It’s a great way to get into a must-see show.

Don’t scalp or buy from scalpers. Various sites are listing tickets to screenings that will be attended by George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, and Jack White for well over $100 a pop. Please don’t encorage this. Last year, I actually waited in line behind homeless people who were paid to camp out for same day tickets to BURN AFTER READING. These are just movie stars gang, not demi-gods. Please don’t ask or pay more than face for any ticket to this madness.

Do talk to people near you in line. You will spend a lot of time waiting around, make the most of it! This will be my eighth festival, and without a doubt the strangers I’ve chatted with inside and outside of screenings have been the best barometer of what’s worth seeing and what to ditch. You might make a great new friend, or even be introduced to a future spouse!

Don’t believe all the hype – good and bad. More and more, press and bloggers, and tweeters aren’t really spreading the word about what they’re seeing so much as they are posting knee-jerk reactions. This isn’t a good thing. These ten days are a wickedly wild time, and by no means are they a true barometer of what’s to come. Take everything you read, good and bad, with at least a few grains of salt.

Do take a break. This is supposed to be fun, but sleep deprivation and bad food will kill the fun by Sunday night. Do take a few hours here and there to regroup. Do make a point of getting together with other fest-goers to catch up and raise a glass. Do think seriously about skipping a screening if you’re running on empty, or your heart just isn’t in it. This is a fun time, but it won’t be if you get to the end of it a blearry eyed, undernourished mess.