Upcoming
Youth in Revolt
January 15
January 22
Drool
The Girl on the Train
Wait In The Hall
The Toronto Film Festival press office team hasn't made its final, last-minute calls about who will be getting press badges for the forthcoming festival (9.10 to 9.19). They're re-reviewing the situation next Monday, a rep says. It nonetheless seems curious, especially considering the rampant implosion of print outlets all over the world, that the TIFF-ers are giving three well-read, thoroughly respectable online voices -- Movieline's Stu VanAirsdale, Spoutblog's Karina Longworth and Cinemablend's Katey Rich -- the vague idea that they may not make the cut. Or that they might...not sure yet!
(l. to r.) Movieline's Stu VanAirsdale; Spoutblog's Karina Longworth; Cinemablend's Katey Rich; In Contention's Kris Tapley.
On top of which In Contention's Kris Tapley, owner and master of one of the key quality-calibrating, awards-chasing sites that shifts into high gear starting with Toronto, has tried to get himself credentialed this year instead of the previously credentialed In Contention correspondent John Foote (Tapley having told Foote he'll be taking over the beat). Tapley has nonetheless been told by the TIFFers, "Uhm, sorry, but we already have Foote covering for your site." In response to which Tapley said, "Uhm, no...I'm covering this year for my site, not Foote." In response to which the TIFFers said, "Uhm, sorry, but we already have Foote covering for your site."
On top of which the very smart, aggressive, constantly poking-and-hammering film blogger Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist (whom I read daily because he's always on to something I haven't heard about) has been officially turned down . This just doesn't add up. Perez is no fanboy. He's on the Big Picture 24/7, chasing down scripts, putting his nose into things, assessing the whole equation, etc.
It's kind of a strange way to treat a crew of respected, trend-spotting, ahead-of-the-curve types. Is the newspaper community not deflating and shrinking? Are the ad dollars that are spent online not starting to overtake print in some markets? It's a profound changing-of-the-guard situation going on, and festivals, bless 'em, always seem to be slow to wake up to the new-coffee smell.
Whatever the final determination the Toronto Film Festival begins three and half weeks from now and they're keeping these guys, who need to figure out plane travel and some hotel-room situation as far in advance as possible in order to get good deals, on pins and needles. Longworth, Tapley, Van Airsdale, Rich and Perez are hardly new to the net or the festival circuit. Longworth especially is...Karina Longworth! And Stu is, like, Mr. Shoe Leather. And Tapley is a brand-name guy who collects ad dollars from the biggies every fall and winter.
They've all been around, paid their dues, earned their stripes. Tapley does ComicCon and has been to Sundance. Two of them covered Cannes last May. VanAirsdale has been credentialed for Sundance and Cinevegas, and his Moveline colleagues did a bang-up job last month covering ComicCon. Rich covered ComicCon also and has done Showest.
It's just seems sorta weird and clueless, is all. The Tapley situation especially, which sounds like something out of Kafka.
A TIFF press relations spokesperson told me this morning that (a) "we've pulled the files of the people you mentioned [and] we'll be re-reviewing these files on Monday," (b) "We get hundreds and hundreds of applications each year and have only a certain amount of passes to give out each year...there are about 1000 revolving/returning press people who come each year and every year we decide on about 200 new people," and (c) "There are certain outlets we've said no to -- the ones who focus just on celebrities, for instance -- because we want steady persistent festival coverage...it's not who they are as much as how persistent their coverage will be."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 14, 2009 at 8:37 AM
comment #1
Kristopher Tapley
says ...
We tried to get a second credential because this is the first year I'm able to cover the fest myself and they wouldn't do it. Then we tried to swap out me for John Foote (who has covered for us for two or three years now), and still no dice (which makes no sense). On top of which, to be a festival that prides itself on being the starting gun for the awards season and to constantly ignore emails from an, excuse me, rather established awards site that will be covering Venice, London, AFI, Santa Barbara, Telluride, maybe Berlin -- makes no sense.
I didn't realize these guys were getting turned away, too. Total bullshit. Maybe they should cut back on the numerous credentials they hand out to the trades and, you know, make sense of the situation. It's a real problem that totally turned me off this year. Glad you wrote something about it.
Posted by Kristopher Tapley
at August 14, 2009 9:50 AM
comment #2
p.Vice
says ...
You must bow and worship the Bell Lightbox before you will be allowed to enter.
Posted by p.Vice
at August 14, 2009 10:01 AM
comment #3
LexG
says ...
Karina Longworth needs to officially change her name to Trying Too Hard. Like, ooh, privileged Quirky Arty Film Chick with CLUNKY RETRO '50S CAT LADY GLASSES! In thrift store clothes!
She probably drives an old beater around Silver Lake too, just for maximum safe rebellion.
Jesus, sure she's a nice gal and smart critic and all, but really, that look doesn't scream "edgy individualist." It screams "Television Without Pity Recapper!"
"SQUEE BWAH HA HA, loves me some SHIPPING."
Posted by LexG
at August 14, 2009 10:19 AM
comment #4
Katey
says ...
Kris, that's insane. Having been turned down last year I was at least somewhat prepared for this, but your situation is a whole new level of weird.
It's especially frustrating having seen the NYFF lineup, and realizing how few of the big fall movies will be there. We used to be able to catch some Toronto leftovers in New York, and this year it's just Precious.
Posted by Katey
at August 14, 2009 10:26 AM
comment #5
BurmaShave
says ...
LexG that's fucking on point. If the Toronto people saw that picture they're entirely forgiven for denying her a pass. Not to mention that devastatingly douchey picture of Airsdale sucking on that cigarette.
Posted by BurmaShave
at August 14, 2009 10:36 AM
comment #6
BurmaShave
says ...
Stu Van Airsdale looks like Peter Weller auditioning for SCARFACE.
Posted by BurmaShave
at August 14, 2009 10:40 AM
comment #7
Ryansi51
says ...
Man you guys are rough.
Katey, I think youre hot.
Posted by Ryansi51
at August 14, 2009 10:41 AM
comment #8
nemo
says ...
I like Longworth's glasses.
Van Airsdale needs to lose the cigarette, though.
Posted by nemo
at August 14, 2009 10:42 AM
comment #9
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
Wells to LexG: Longworth is a New Yorker. And don't be snarky and cruel. The "curvy hip smart girl with Catwoman glasses" thing works very well in person and in photos and what-have-you. Nobody is 100% original - - everybody borrows a bit here and a bit there. We all take, assimilate and make anew. Be warned -- like Blanche Dubois I won't tolerate deliberate cruelty. Watch your mouth & watch your ass. It could happen to you. Be merciless to the phony and the mediocre, but don't hurt people's feelings. Unless, of course, they're right-wing swine who are wailing about "death panels" and begging to be sedated and straightjacketed and trucked out to the desert and put in a green re-education camp. Gloves off when it comes to these guys. The more horribly they suffer, the better.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at August 14, 2009 10:42 AM
comment #10
LexG
says ...
Ha! Always honored to get singled out by JW, even if it's for my being a dumb-ass. Anyone who's seen my Bloated Baldwin appearance on YT or my pathetic facial hair knows I'm in no position to bag on a cool chick's get-up... Just seems a little... contrived, I guess. Like Marion Cobretti-level contrived.
Posted by LexG
at August 14, 2009 10:51 AM
comment #11
Nick X
says ...
Longworth looks cute to me. I'd think about asking for her number if she looks like that in person.
Posted by Nick X
at August 14, 2009 10:54 AM
comment #12
Glenn Kenny
says ...
The problem with the shot of Karina isn't the glasses: It's that she looks like she's lost the will to live, or is at the very least posing for the back cover of a "No New York" followup. I'm sure that even a perfunctory Google image search could have yielded snaps of her appearing rather more lively and bon-vivantish.
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at August 14, 2009 11:03 AM
comment #13
Midwest Doug
says ...
They won't allow you to switch Foote covering? You should sock it to 'em.
Posted by Midwest Doug
at August 14, 2009 11:23 AM
comment #14
George Prager
says ...
None of them know how to cook.
Posted by George Prager
at August 14, 2009 11:32 AM
comment #15
George Prager
says ...
That being said, they should all get credentials.
Posted by George Prager
at August 14, 2009 11:36 AM
comment #16
Ethan
says ...
Kris, the answer is obvious. Kill John Foote and assume his identity.
Posted by Ethan
at August 14, 2009 12:43 PM
comment #17
buster keaton
says ...
Lex & Burma -- You called it 100% when it comes to those poseur shots of Longworth and VanAirsdale (and doesn't that name "VanAirsdale" sound like a snobby rich kid who used to beat up on Maynard G. Krebs and Dobie Gillis?) I agree that the trades score way too many passes, and many of them go to ad sales execs rather than editorial types. Maybe the way to award passes is to go strictly by circulation and/or monthly page views, whichever is larger. But poseurs who wear trendy eyeglasses, porkpie hats, goatees and bowling shirts should be banned period.
Posted by buster keaton
at August 14, 2009 2:13 PM
comment #18
karina
says ...
Just wanted to reiterate what I told Wells privately, which is that I haven't heard back from the press office, but historically, I have been accredited by TIFF. I never assume that it's a given that a festival of that size wants my coverage, but as I know print journalists who also haven't heard back from the press office, I assume TIFF is not lying about still working through apps. I hadn't started to worry about it. But we'll see what happens.
Also, as always, thanks for the comments on my appearance. That photo was taken by a photographer from a site called White People Trying to Look Serious, and the facial expression was proscribed. So yes, I was literally posing, and thus it is accurate to refer to the image above as a "poseur shot."
Wells interjection: I've just replaced the "White People Trying to Look Serious" shot with a generic straight-arrow black-dress shot.
Posted by karina
at August 14, 2009 2:41 PM
comment #19
Strangeways
says ...
uh, who gives a shit what someone looks like or how they dress, esp a journalist? If websites could kick off all commenters wearing StarWars/LOTR/rock band/pop culture branded clothing (or faux vintage Lucky Brand shit) or motherfuckin' Crocs, there'd be about 4 people left to do all the commenting...
Posted by Strangeways
at August 14, 2009 2:50 PM
comment #20
T. Holly
says ...
That's so funny, Karina is fact-checking Wells.
Posted by T. Holly
at August 14, 2009 4:13 PM
comment #21
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
Wells to T. Holly: You've had this nippy neghead attitude about me for a while now, and I'm getting sick of it. It's about something besides what you're conveying in your posts, but I don't know what that is exactly. But you're always trying to trash me, and I'm writing this because I'm realizing it's not about "this" or "that". It's about some kind of Sicilian vendetta on your part. Get your thoughts together and spit them out and be done with whatever it is and move on. Because if you keep up with the primal neghead nyah-nyah I'm going to evacuate your ass. Fair warning.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at August 14, 2009 4:39 PM
comment #22
Ryansi51
says ...
"evacuate your ass"
well put.
think 2 girls 1 cup did it first, however.
Posted by Ryansi51
at August 14, 2009 4:45 PM
comment #23
EDouglasCS
says ...
This is me in 2005 and 2006... 2005 we bought our own plane ticket and found enough studios to put us up and keep us busy enough that it wasn't a complete loss, but there was a lot of downtime where I was sitting in my hotel watching the press conferences on TV because I couldn't get credentialed. 2006, when I tried again, it was a complete nightmare... ended up appealing twice and then finally, a week before the festival started, I was contacted saying, "Oh, maybe you should try a third time." I didn't. 2007 I finally got in, I think partially because I had a lot of coverage from Sundance to prove that we do take festivals seriously... I've stayed in good graces and plan to continue doing so as to not get bumped in the future.
Next year, the Light Box (or whatever it calls) opens and they'll finally have more space for new press to get credentialed, but it's always been a problem for years. I've probably told most if not all the people mentioned in the article this from my own experiences. that doesn't mean you shouldn't try again next year if you're turned down this one.
Posted by EDouglasCS
at August 14, 2009 4:54 PM
comment #24
T. Holly
says ...
I called you neghead last time, so it comes around. I was complimenting Karina for clarifying, that's all -- no small feat to do.
Posted by T. Holly
at August 14, 2009 5:27 PM
comment #25
thatmovieguy
says ...
I covered the festival for five years without the benefit of press credentials and still managed to get into 90 percent of the screenings I needed to see. The press pass makes it easier, certainly, but you can still do the work, if you are willing to stand in line, pay your own way on the Rocket, etc. The idea that you would have to skip the festival entirely if you weren't granted credentials is foolish. If you are on good terms with publicists, you can still get into plenty of screenings for free and many junkets as well. I speak as one who knows.
Posted by thatmovieguy
at August 15, 2009 9:44 PM
comment #26
byanyother
says ...
Ugh, so much whining, so little time. So you don't get credentialed, big deal. How many studios like to see bloggers trash their films before they even have a chance to open here? I wouldn't want Karina Longworth at my festival - what it does for her is a lot better than what it would do for me, my festival or my film. But in the end the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so keep whining and moping, sooner or later someone will take the bait.
Posted by byanyother
at August 18, 2009 2:57 AM
Post a comment