9-2-2002
For anyone attending this, or any other, film fest for the first time,
there are a few helpful "guidelines" (I hesitate to say rules, since
they're just common festival sense + common courtesy) that will help
you blend in, enjoy the movies and avoid being trampled to death by a
theatre full of angry fest veterans. They've been culled from my own
experiences and those of some fellow fest regulars, and it's all very
simple, really. Good luck!
DO:
* get to the theatre at LEAST 20 minutes before the movie is scheduled
to start (if at all possible, aim for about 30 - 60 minutes before
showtime for popular movies...unless, of course, you enjoy sitting in
the front row or, worse, outside with the ushers)
* get your ticket(s) out while you're waiting in line --> this speeds
the admission process once you get to the door (no one appreciates
someone rifling through their bag while a backlog forms)
* chat with your fellow line-mates or seat-mates --> open and friendly
film discussions are a staple among festival goers waiting for movies
to start and eavesdropping is allowed
* bring snacks! --> very few festival goers ever buy concession-stand
food during the fest and it's much cheaper to bring your own (helpful
tip: snacks high in calories and protein are even better if you have a
looong day ahead of you)
* bring QUIET snacks! --> no corn chips, nachos, stuff in loud crinkly
bags, etc. --> people will tell you very quickly to zip it
* bring NON-AROMATIC snacks! --> it's very nice that you managed to
sneak that fresh-baked lasagna or thai noodle dish or sardine sandwich
on rye into the theatre but, really, no one wants to smell it
* bring water --> this is especially important for midday movies on
warm days when you sometimes have to stand outside in line, in the sun,
for long periods of time (helpful tip: if you don't want to lug a heavy
bag around all day, bring an empty water bottle with you and fill it up
at the water fountains in the theatres)
* PEE before the movie starts, especially if you're sitting in the
middle of a row
* be prepared for DELAYS --> very few festival movies actually start on
time (this is usually due to a previous movie running long, or having a
long Q&A session afterwards)
* if you don't like sprinting from theatre to theatre, schedule your
movies with, if possible, at least an hour between them --> this will
allow you enough time to travel between theatres, get food, pee,
whatever...even if there's a gripping Q&A after your first movie that
you feel you MUST stay for
* know what movie you're seeing, what it's about and who's in it (trust
me, this helps once the lights dim)
* stay for the Q&A sessions after the movie --> they're often very
entertaining and sometimes more interesting than the movie itself, plus
it gives the audience a chance to interact with the filmmakers and
stars (this is especially important if you're at a comedy -- Q&As for
comedies tend to be hilarious)
* be prepared to be shoulder to shoulder with your fellow patrons at
every single movie --> film fest movies are almost always sold out, and
every single seat inside the theatre will likely be filled
* remember to find time to bathe --> no one likes sitting next to
pungent filmgoers (this is key on hot days!)
* keep an eye out for celebrities anywhere and everywhere during the
festival --> many visiting stars will take in other people's movies if
they have time, so you never know who might wander into your screening
as a "normal" audience member...they might even sit next to you!
DON'T:
* EVER ever ever ever ever cut in line --> above all else, this is a
film festival NO-NO! (people WILL yell at you!)
* ever arrive late and then poke around in the dark for a seat -->
second only to the above as something that will promptly get you hated
by your film fest peers (people WILL yell at you!), or loathed and
despised if you're not alone in your search (i.e., "hi, we need six
seats together")
* talk during the movies! (nothing is that important that it can't wait
until the closing credits roll, plus: people WILL yell at you!)
* leave your cell phone/pager on... lest it go off during a screening
and you become a festival pariah in three seconds flat (people WILL
yell at you!)
* hog seats --> theatres ALWAYS fill up, so you might as well save
yourself the hassle and keep your stuff in your lap or hanging over the
back/side of your seat (people won't yell, but they will get snarky)
* bring loud snacks (so important, worth mentioning twice ;-))
* offer your loud personal analysis of the film as soon as the closing
credits start rolling --> please hang on to the sentiment (good or
bad) until the crowds have cleared and the lights are back on
THINGS THAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED:
* movies won't start on time
* you will stand in line a LOT and for long periods of time, regardless
of the weather or the time of day
* some movies will suck, but most will have at least some redeeming
quality and some will be breathtakingly amazing
* a few people might be rude or stupid but, on the whole, there is NO
better audience than a film festival audience!
— Vickie
