Yesterday, anyone within 5000 miles of Toronto heard the news: the Scotiabank Theatre has bed bugs!
Or, so it was anyway, until TIFF and Cineplex declared the venue bed bug-free and tried to stomp out the wildly fanned flames of panic that were rising from the moviegoing public, industry reps, incoming media and anyone who might have thought about plunking his or her bum down in a seat for a TIFF screening this year.
In case you missed it, you can read a full breakdown of the day’s events here.
As someone who’s absolutely terrified of bed bugs, I felt my heart stop. The news that a Toronto movie theatre might be infested rattled me to my core and made me break out in a panic sweat. I’ve long worried about the tiny bloodsuckers lurking in theatre seats and feeding when the lights go down, but I kept reassuring myself that, if such a thing existed in Toronto, it would surely make the news.
And then it did. OMG.
After that news was promptly squashed, though, a whole slew of naysayers piped up with smug assertions that the original Tweet was a hoax, that there are no bed bugs in theatres in Toronto, and that everyone got all worked up for nothing. Bed bugs, they seem to believe, are no big deal.
Fine. Maybe the Scotiabank Theatre doesn't have any bed bugs at all... but, thing is, bed bugs are still a very very big deal, and a very very real problem, here and elsewhere, and acting like this news story was as ludicrous as reporting sea monsters walking the red carpet at the Elgin is just ignorant. In Toronto, like it or not, believe it or not, bed bugs are spreading from private homes to public places like libraries, hospitals and restaurants. So, really, it’s just a matter of time before they crawl into the Scotiabank. Or the Yonge and Dundas AMC. Or the Varsity. If they haven't already.
If you ask me, the pre-festival bed-bug hysteria this news story caused is actually a welcome wake-up call. Not only for the film festival, which needs to ensure that a small portion of its ridiculously steep ticket prices starts going towards routine pest-control inspections, but for the cinema industry at large AND the folks lining up for the movies.
Bed bugs travel from location to location quite easily by hitching a ride on, say, that knapsack you just placed on the floor, or that jacket you unknowingly slung over the infested seat in front of you, or on your own clothes if you’re unlucky enough to land on or near one of their nests. And all it takes is ONE bed bug stowaway to start an infestation anew in another spot. Sort of makes settling in for two hours in the dark a much creepier experience these days.
Even though fest reps were quick to give the all-clear, I’m not entirely convinced it is. Would they, or Cineplex, actually admit to having bed bugs if they did? Would they really risk losing millions of dollars in revenue? Which makes you feel better: hearing a theatre has NO bed bugs, or hearing that a theatre did have them but that, “we swear!”, the problem has been treated? My money’s on the former. And I’d bet TIFF’s is, as well.
As it stands, I only had one film scheduled for the Scotiabank. And, thanks to my longtime BFF, the ticket lottery (which, once again, screwed me royally), I likely won’t get that screening, anyway. But I really can’t see myself bellying up to the Scotiabank’s bar anytime in the near future... and I’ll be hyper-alert at all the other TIFF venues, as well.
Openfilm.com is an excellent new venue for the work of beginning filmmakers. We checked in with Openfilm CEO Dmitry Kozko to learn how the site can help new talent get started in the film industry:
Moviepie.com: Do you think the Internet has made the film industry more accessible to newcomers?
Dmitry Kozko: Absolutely! The Internet opens doors to newcomers. Aspiring filmmakers can now connect with the film industry community from anywhere. In addition to networking opportunities, sites like Openfilm offer exposure opportunities that were never before possible. The high-definition video streaming capabilities of the most advanced Web sites allows work to be seen in the quality it was meant to be seen in by a virtually unlimited audience This gives newcomers an easy and affordable way to test their content and when they are ready a platform by which to distribute and monetize their content. They also benefit from receiving feedback from a large and vibrant community of film professionals and fans – something the Internet can uniquely support.
Moviepie.com: The fact that Openfilm members can vote on their favorite videos is a huge boon to anyone who posts a film. Is the Internet beginning to force Hollywood to recognize popular phenomena and audience demands?
Dmitry Kozko: We think a vibrant independent film community is vital to the motion picture industry, which has a tendency to be slow to change and rely on proven formulas. We see fostering grassroots filmmaking and providing a creative stimulus to commercial filmmaking as complementary goals. Our chairman, James Caan, and our other directors, including Robert Duvall, Mark Rydell and Scott Caan, agree with this idea and that is why they are devoting their energies to our site. We want to stimulate and celebrate independent film and build links from the independent film community to mainstream Hollywood.
Moviepie.com: What role can screenwriters and actors play in the Openfilm community? Will they also have the opportunity to post their work and find venues for their talent, even if they are unable to submit a completed film?
Dmitry Kozko: Filmmaking is the most collaborative art form and we have the goal of creating a platform that will provide career advancement to practitioners of all necessary roles of filmmaking. Very soon, we will be announcing our first actor’s competition. It’s designed to give budding actors a chance to realize their ambitions, just as our $1 million Get It Made competition is helping to bring recognition to aspiring directors. In addition to large cash prizes and industry exposure, winners of these competitions receive productive feedback from Openfilm’s board members and advisors, who are some of the industry’s leading actors and directors. As for screenwriters, we are testing several concepts right now, so stay tuned for those exciting developments.
Moviepie.com: Openfilm has the potential to be an ideal place for filmmakers to network and collaborate. Do you anticipate the development of a strong online community on your site?
Dmitry Kozko: We’ve already fostered a strong online community, which continues to grow. The independent filmmaking community is using our social networking tools to come together, to engage with one another, to offer feedback and encouragement. In addition to supporting this type of dialogue, we also have dedicated chat sessions, which enable our community to interact with respected and seasoned industry professionals. Recently, Academy Award nominated director and renowned acting instructor Mark Rydell conducted an Openfilm Live webcam chat for members. Earlier this year, our premiere online chat James Caan conducted for film festival representatives was exposed to millions of viewers. And we have plans to add more collaboration tools.
Moviepie.com: What words of wisdom or encouragement would you offer to someone just starting a career in film?
Dmitry Kozko: It’s not a new formula – persistence and passion and hard work. Very simple; great passion and commitment will be projected in your work and it’s a matter of time until the “right eyes” notice you. Continue to better yourself, don’t stop producing content and don’t be afraid to let your work be seen by everyone. You never know when opportunity will knock. Find places like Openfilm.com to get in front of the right people that can make a real change in your career. Like our chairman, James Caan says: “Openfilm is that right place and that right time.”
Moviepie.com: Thanks Dmitry!
For more information and advice, be sure to keep checking Openfilm.com for new web chats, contests, and opportunities.
Openfilm board member James Caan and CEO Dmitry Kozko
Throughout it’s twenty-three year run, PBS’s documentary series POV has steadily delivered thought-provoking television. The three episode “Adoption Stories” arc, debuting tonight, is no exception. It kicks off with Wo Ai Ni (I Love You Mommy), a film by Stephanie Wang-Brea.
This adoption story takes an unflinching look at what it’s like to bring an older child from another country into an existing family. The Sadowskys are a Jewish family from Long Island with two teen boys and one adopted daughter from China. In deciding to adopt a fourth child, the Sadowskys honored their youngest child’s request for an older sister, and set out to welcome an eight-year-old girl into the fold.
Though it’s clear that little Fang Sui Yong is very much wanted by her new family, there’s something shocking about her transition to America. How is a girl of eight supposed to respond to meeting her new mommy, learning her new name, and being told that she will now be expected to learn English and live in a strange country? Tears are the obvious answer, and yet “Faith’s” new mommy seems surprised by it all. She knows that everything will be okay - why doesn’t her new daughter?
Though the documentary never judges the Sadowskys, choice moments of frustration and misjudgment prove that no family is perfect. While still in China, Mrs. Sadowsky voices her frustration at Fang Sui’s disinterest in learning English, but on Day 3 of her new life, how can you blame the little girl for being distracted? With a million thoughts and emotions racing through her mind, how can she possibly care about learning the word for bagel? At home, Fang Sui struggles to carry her books into school because she cannot communicate properly, has dropped wrists, and for reasons unknown was not given a book bag. In their attempt to make Fang Sui fit into the family, the Sadowskys may have underestimated the extent of their new daughter’s wants, needs, and limitations. The little girl can often be heard saying, “you’re so annoying!” in Chinese, and the period of adjustment is far less rosy than expected.
Despite a rocky start, Fang Sui makes stunning progress over the next seventeen months, adapting to America, learning English at the expense of her Chinese, and evolving into an articulate, outgoing little girl. Whatever seemed to be going wrong in this new relationship ultimately goes very right, affording a new life to a little girl whose future in China was dubious.
Airing September 7th is Off and Running by Nicole Opper, the story of Avery, an African-American teen raised by white Jewish lesbians. Her brothers are black, Puerto Rican, and Korean, yet their life as a family is surprisingly traditional. Avery has become a track star and is on the path to a highly successful future when she decides to contact her birth mother. Suddenly her true identity is in question, and Avery must make sense of her roots.
In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee by Deann Borshay Liem airs September 14th, and chronicles a woman’s search for answers after forty years of deception. Why was the name on her passport switched when she came to America at age eight? Why was she forced to keep this a secret? And who was the little girl whose name she took? Tune into PBS to learn the answer to these compelling questions.
Wo Ai Ni (I Love You) Mommy by Stephanie Wang-Breal
Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 10 p.m. on PBS; Streaming online from Sept. 1 – Nov. 30 at www.pbs.org/pov/video
Off and Running by Nicole Opper
Airing Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 10 p.m. on PBS; Streaming online from Sept. 8 – Dec. 7 at www.pbs.org/pov/video
In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee by Deann Borshay Liem
Airing Tuesday, Sept. 14 on PBS; Streaming online at www.pbs.org/pov/video Sept. 15 – Oct. 15
Yesterday, anyone within 5000 miles of Toronto heard the news: the Scotiabank Theatre has bed bugs!
Fine. Maybe the Scotiabank Theatre doesn't have any bed bugs at all... but, thing is, bed bugs are still a very very big deal, and a 
