KELLEE PRATT’S TIPS FOR SURVIVING THE FESTIVAL:
- Sunscreen and a collapsible hat for long lines in the sun
- Chocolate and protein bars for quick bursts of energy on the go
- Comfy shoes, preferably good running shoes (yes, even in a dress… comfort over fashion for dashing up and down Hollywood Blvd. all day and night)
- Consider investing in a Mophie or other portable battery charger. With all those selfies and impromptu celeb sightings, it’ll be worth it.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT DURING THE FESTIVAL:
- I like to load up on a strong breakfast at 25 Degrees (at Roo) of Eggs Benedict if I can, then munch on concession delights of popcorn & chocolate all day (because it’s the one time of the year where I’ll allow my self movie popcorn at any given time of the day and it’s ok.)
- Plus, I like to carry bottles of water & protein bars to push through.
TOP 3 “CAN’T MISS” EVENTS OF THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL:
- Best In Show (I know this doesn’t fit the traditional mold in any way, but I love this film and cast- so hilarious!)
- Black Narcissus in nitrate… and as much nitrate as I can (for obvious reasons)
- Detective Story (I love noir and to see this intro’d by Lee Grant & Eddie Muller is a guarantee of a great time (Truth is, there are SO many choices that whatever I see it will be a guaranteed unforgettable experience).
FAVORITE FESTIVAL MEMORY:
“It’s honestly impossible to narrow down to a singular favorite TCMFF memory or year- too many! Although the “up-close enough to touch” movie star encounters (Maureen O’Hara, Mel Brooks, Margaret O’Brien, Alec Baldwin…) definitely top the list. The core of the fest seems to remain the same, despite the complaints I hear how radically different it is than in years’ past. The changes I have noticed are the prices (bummer, especially for the Spotlighters), a desire for the network to reach out more to a younger audience, and the end of the Social Producers program. While I may not agree with all of their changes, if they continue to show a majority of films and events that are fun, fascinating, interesting, and classic in nature, I’m a happy camper. Which I think they do.”
WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR LOVE OF FILM?
“Like many obsessive film fans, my love of classic film started as a wee youngster and my love for film has grown over the decades. On Saturday mornings, our local art center screened slapstick classics for kids, including Laurel & Hardy and Keystone Cops. My maternal grandmother was a big influence too, insisting I watch films like A Shot in the Dark and Witness for the Prosecution in my elementary school years.”
WHY TCM?
“I love TCM. It’s on at my house every single day. I don’t love every film necessarily. And sure, I do have ‘real life’ activities that interferes in my TCM viewing from time to time. But some films I’ll happily watch repeatedly, no matter how many times I’ve seen it. I am profoundly sad that our dear, beloved Robert is gone and we’ll never have the pleasure of seeing his warm smile again. Irreplaceable. No doubt very different in style and otherwise from Robert Osborne, but I also find Ben and Tiffany entertaining. I’ve enjoyed many of the guest hosts and guest programmers that we’ve seen in the past year. I’ve been especially impressed by some of the unique offerings that members of the ‘TCM family’ have hosted such as Illeana Douglas’s Trailblazing Women series.”
ADVICE TO A FESTIVAL FIRST TIMER:
- I cannot stress enough the importance of comfort over style on footwear
- Sleep before and after the fest (you can do it- it’s like those college days all over again and it’s only a few days.)
THE RETRO SET WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! WE’LL BE ROAMING THE FESTIVAL, LOOKING FOR FOLKS JUST LIKE YOU TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR PAST AND CURRENT FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES! FIND US @the_retro_set on Twitter! And remember: #StayClassic and #LetsMovie
Hi Jill and Wade. I love this series. Thanks for featuring me yesterday. Kellee, I love that you were watching, Witness for the Prosecution in grammar school. When I was that age, the one i remember was Hitchcock’s Lifeboat, Seems like they played that a lot. For those of you looking for Kellee, my daughter who is overwhelmed by all names and faces. she refers to Kellee as the woman, whose smile you can see from orbit.
Thanks for letting us get to know you, Chris! See you and your lovely daughter at the fest!
Chris- SO excited to see you guys soon!! It’s funny that your daughter should use that specific description of my smile- my kids say this exact same thing! In contrast to your lovely daughter, somehow when MY kids say it, it never sounds like a compliment (oh, the little dears!) LOL.
I’ve actually never gone to TCMFF before but I’m hoping next year will work out! 🙂
Would love to meet you, Annette! Just an FYI – we’re putting together an alt-fest starting Thursday where you can stream the movies at the same time as we’re watching them at the fest, so we can all hang out and enjoy! Thanks for following us and #StayClassic!
Looking forward to meeting you someday, Annette! I adore your blog!
Wade, thanks again for asking me to do this- I hope everyone has an unforgettable experience at TCMFF, as I know I will. For all the TCMFF attendees, please say “hi!” if you see me running in my comfy shoes on Hollywood Blvd!