Greening the Traverse City Film Festival

In Traverse City Film Festival Goes Green, Jacque writes about something many of the festivals we cover grapple with, how to make their event greener. He begins:

I had an opportunity to sit down with Jessica Abfalter, 2010 TCFF Water Manager, and learned how she is helping Traverse City Film Festival reach their green goals. It was a chance meeting, in a local coffee shop, where Jessica was on the phone trying to secure compostable drinking cups for this years events (just one part of her plan). The issue was not finding the cups, but making sure that they arrive safely during one of the hottest summers that this Northern Michigan city has seen in while. The cups that the Traverse City Film Festival will be using begin to decompose, according to the suppliers website, at 110 degrees.

In an effort to put less waste in landfills, the Traverse City Film Festival will go green by ditching bottled water for filtered water with two choices for containers: Compostable cups & reusable sports bottles. The four venues for this green project include: The Traverse City State Theatre, Old Town Playhouse, City Opera House , and Lars Hockstad Auditorium.

Read on for a breakdown of the Traverse City Film Festival’s green effort! Also check out the nonprofit that will take all that recycling and keep the materials working for us, Bay Area Recycling for Charities.

Photo: Jessica Abfalter, TCFF Water Manager & Abbie Phillips, Co-Manager, show off this year’s green ideas.

That’s a Wrap: Day Three of the Comedy Festival

Dan Sultana from Motor City Blog made the trip up to the Traverse City Comedy Festival and got some great photos including the one above. Check out lots more in his Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival slideshow!

Festival blogger Beth Milligan has a nice wrapup of the Comedy Festival, where she notes:

When I was interviewing Jeff (Garlin) on Saturday, he dropped maybe the most exciting news about next year’s festival possible: “We’re going to start on Thursday and end on Saturday,” he announced. At the time, I didn’t actually realize this was exciting news, but by the end of yesterday, I was overjoyed at the prospect.

We’ve got all the blog posts, tweets and photos archived over at the 2010 Traverse City Comedy Festival page on Absolute Michigan. When they post some video, we’ll add that too!

Speaking of video, here’s the winner of the Comedy Shorts Competition, Wolverine’s Claws Suck by Lou & Greg (which beat out Wheelchair Werewolf). It’s rated gory for Wolverine claws and has some swearing (again, Wolverine claws):

onLocation: Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival

Event dynamo Michael Moore has teamed up with comedian Jeff Garlin to launch the Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival. The inaugural comedy fest takes place this weekend (February 19-21, 2010) and features and impressive roster of established comedians including Roseanne Barr, John Waters, Whitney Cummings, JB Smoove, Mike Birbiglia along with some up-and-coming comedians, films and associated hoopla. View the schedule of comedians and special events & films and order tickets!

The venues that they use for the annual Traverse City Film Festival will be converted to have a nightclub feel and they’ll even be doing free, late night shows in the basement of Horizon Books hosted by Jeff Garlin. They’ll also be having a free, outdoor showing of the comedy classic Groundhog Day with special live features. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a one-of-a-kind experience for Michigan comedy fans!

You can follow blog posts, #comedytc Twitter posts and other media on the TCFF Blog and on Absolute Michigan’s Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival page.

Head over to Absolute Michigan’s Traverse City pages to get lodging, dining and other visitor information.

Larry Charles, Michael Moore, Jeff Garlin & others on the Traverse City Film Festival

Traverse City Film Festival co-founder Michael Moore, Director Larry Charles, Producer/ Actor Jeff Garlin and others give their thoughts on Traverse City, the state of Michigan and the Traverse City Film Festival in this video by Scott Allman Video.

Traverse City Film Festival Wrapup

Fifth annual event draws biggest attendance numbers ever

TRAVERSE CITY, MI (Aug. 3, 2009) — The Traverse City Film Festival marked its fifth anniversary year with record-setting admissions and turnouts for free nightly films on the waterfront, along with the announcement of a new Comedy Festival to kick off this winter.

Movie Review: Learning Gravity

by Cherie Spaulding

Editor’s Note: Learning Gravity won the Michigan Prize for best film about or shot in Michigan. Lynch is known for such literary works as The Undertaking. More about him at thomaslynch.com.

Walking down Union Street before show time on Friday I wandered into a downtown antique store for a look at all of the recycled life looming in our town. Before long, I stumbled upon the tackle and tool section and found a treasure–an old fly fishing rod and reel. Silvery-blue, even with a matte finish it sparkled. I had been casually considering a fly rod purchase for some time, so it was a bit of a present to find such a stylish one and light–suitable for a beginner itching to liberate her waders from the unemployment line.

Tied in twine the metallic blue rod and I moseyed up the street to catch the film, Learning Gravity. Hearing the remarks that a woman and a fishing rod receive in the matter of a two block stretch was comical. Though lacking originality with the “catching anything?” inquiry, time and again, I appreciated the willingness of those passing by to acknowledge the absurdity even at the price of my own anonymity. Pleasantly pleased to think my fellow movie goers still had a pulse–still observed their surroundings and embraced the scene with a sense of humor. After all, what value does life have without connection?

Learning Gravity is a documentary film that explores the work of Thomas Lynch, an under-taker in Southern Michigan, who happens to also be a poet and essayist. Lynch descends from an under-taking family and shares the business with many of his relatives, much of his immediate family included. The first time I heard a Thomas Lynch poem, he was being interviewed on an N.P.R segment, five or six years ago. Wintertime had settled upon Traverse and I still recall it was a gray and lonely kind of day. In a strange and magnificent way, however, Lynch’s piece spoke to me, awakening a springtime of thought. Death is not exactly an uplifting topic for many, but I was grateful–in the dead of winter–to be considering the possibilities for rich contemplation in in the heart of a heavy storm.

Quiet contemplation is essentially what Lynch does best. Cathal Black directs the piece, and in his efforts he honors the solitary elements of Lynch’s journey–his quest to consider the value of human life beyond the scope of a last breath. Lynch reacquaints his audience with the cultural importance of honoring the dead, how the act and ceremony of funerals is an act of completing the cycle of the human experience. Of course, he acknowledges that our rituals not intended to aid the dead in their process. Instead, the living are served, supported in their journey through their waking lives. By honoring the dead we pay the greatest homage to life imaginable. Again, what value and meaning would our lives have without the guarantee of mortality?

Though I have seen other documentary pieces about Lynch and his family, in Learning Gravity, Black transforms the meaning of Lynch’s work to its visual form–a medium that is multi-sensory. By bringing Lynch’s poetry to life on the big screen, the film captures an audience beyond the typical scope of the work, and for a guitar-less poet, that is impressive. In Learning Gravity, Lynch’s contemplative work finds new life.

Photo Credits: The sun sets in TCXL by Dagmar Cunningham and Q&A for Thomas Lynch’s Learning Gravity by tcfilmfest (Thom Powers, Director Cathal Black and Thomas Lynch at the Q&A after Learning Gravity.)

On Location: Sleeping Bear Dunegrass & Blues Festival

In addition to being the week of the TC Film Festival in northern Michigan, this weekend also features the long-running Sleeping Bear Dunegrass & Blues Festival.

While we can’t be there, our good friends at the Glen Arbor Sun are. In addition to this video from the Ragbirds they have a nice interview with Josh Davis of Steppin In It.

Report from the Michigan Film Council meeting at the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival

Thanks to Impact for providing open wireless!

The Big Story is that a remake of the 80s invasion classic Red Dawn. The film will be entirely shot in Michigan, adding a new meaning to the battle cry of “Wolverines!”

Richard Jewell is the new workforce development guy. He will be tasked with developing a Michigan certification program for film crew. Janet warns to be careful when selecting a “film school” as many of them are turning out people with poor skills who can’t get a job. Richard promises that we will develop a program that ensures Michiganians will be employed in the film industry. New Mexico is a target for the state as they are getting tons of projects through the infrastructure and support to the industry they have established.

Michael Moore was asked to deliver a report on the Traverse City Film Festival which is estimated to pour over $10 million into the regional economy over the first few days alone. He says that the TCFF has had more than 250,000 admissions over the first 5 years and that this year the festival has drawn filmmakers from 50 countries worldwide. Central was a salute to Scandinavian film. In addition to the opening film Troubled Water, there was the sold out midnight screening of the “Nazi zombie pic” Dead Snow.

Picking up on a theme that Cherie highlighted in Festival Inspiration, Michael noted that there were a lot of young folk (including his niece) who probably saw their first subtitled film last night. He notes that one of the purposes of the festival is to increase film literacy and that when they go away to school, they probably won’t feel shy about seeing a film with subtitles.

Mike notes that he and festival director Deb Lake will share  how they’ve done what they’ve done at the State Theatre and in the TCFF with anyone – call them! He also reiterated that there are no minimum wage jobs on a film set and his hopes that Michigan not let our ship sail in and then sail away.

The director of the University of Michigan Film School followed up by saying that the year we passed the film incentive was the first year that he saw students staying in Michigan instead of heading out to LA or New York. “40 years ago we went to the moon – can you imagine if we’d kept going what would have happened. You have to imagine your future – just give this thing a chance.”

Opening Day of the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival

by Cherie Spaulding

Arriving Tuesday afternoon in downtown Traverse City, the shops and restaurants were already buzzing with business. The streets were alive with a playful spirit, filled with children and families enjoying Tuesday night’s festivities, participants of the 5th Annual Traverse City Film Festival. Oscar-winner and Festival creator, Michael Moore, infused the listeners with his passion and commitment for the event and the people who make it happen, year after year. A thick crowd gathered to celebrate the beginning of this year’s festival and to see Traverse City’s own Rich Brauer receive the 2009 Michigan Filmmaker’s Award.

The evening evoked an ambiance as potent as votive candles warming a dinner party and transformed a charming little affair – a night at the theater – into a night of magic. Bold red letters hung on the marquee; a stage was set in lights; the streets were busy with shuttering cameras and ticket clad tourists. Separated by only a city block, a stunning foreign film, Troubled Water, explored themes of forgiveness and redemption. The film was screened for two theaters filled perfectly full. Concluding the shows, a question and answer session occurred with the film’s director who  had traveled from Norway to present and speak.

Shop keepers and locals were embracing the opportunity to participate in Tuesday’s Festival events, which drew attendance from far and wide. The Festival films this season span a wide range of topics, but those passionate about supporting local communities, independent films and the visual arts, were naturally drawn to the scene. Northern Michigan residents hungry for “big city” culture to satiate quaint “little city” life, praised the event. Many young people stationed in the area found an oasis for their creative inclinations. Others simply love film and devour the opportunity to participate in the screenings of documentaries, obscure films, classic, political, and comedic films–just some of the genres represented throughout the week. Along with panel events, lectures, and free family films, the calender of any attendee could be completely filled!

Driving home I noticed Will Smith’s head–the size of a truck–looming against the backdrop of night sky, as adventurous viewers reclined at the Open Space to entertain aliens for a night by the Bay. Though I could not see the audience, I imagined children and parents snuggled up beneath the stars, feeling a warm breeze off the lake, their hearts filled with laughter. Who could resist a night so fine?

Explore many more photos, videos, blog posts and tweets from the 2009 Traverse City Film Festival.

Rothbury Wrap: Video, Photos & Features from the 2009 Rothbury Music Festival

We’ll probably be going through footage and film from Rothbury 2009 for weeks to come, and we’ll be updating this post through the year to make sure we have everything you need to know about Rothbury 2009. Have something to add? Post a comment!

mLive reports that according to Lt. David Roesler of the Michigan State Police, Rothbury had an estimated paid attendance of just under 34,000 (closer to 36,000 when volunteers, staff and comps were added). You can get more numbers and some great links from Wikipedia’s Rothbury Festival entry.

One of the most interesting things for me about the Festival was meeting people from right here in Michigan who I hadn’t been aware of. Michigan songwriter Ralston Bowles (who was voted on to the island by fans through Facebook & emails) was one of those and his performance right before Willie Nelson was just one of the ways that Michigan shone at Rothbury.

Another group of Michigan folks who I was happy to meet were the folks from WYCE and the Community Media Center of Grand Rapids. They produced some great interviews including one with Grace Potter (of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) one of Spin magazine’s 11 must hear bands at Rothbury that kicks off with a great acoustic solo. Some of their other interviews include Muskegon’s own Four Finger Five (one of my favorites), the MacPodz, Brett Dennen, Guster and Ani DiFranco.

Our Absolute Michigan team included a pair of alumni of the Leelanau School in Glen Arbor: Richard Taber and Ryan Thompson. Richard got some stunning photos and I hear that Ryan hangs with Twitter’s David Lee Rothbury. Together they collaborated on some great videos including a report from the biodiesel think tank and interviews with mycologist Paul Stamets, Erin Zindle from The Ragbirds (who appreciated Rothbury’s attention to “green details”) and the slideshow below of photos from the Rothbury Think Tanks and other scenes from the festival…

Those Think Tanks were one of the things that sets Rothbury apart from other festivals. Another thing was the dedication to Michigan musicians. When I spoke with Rothbury producer Jeremy Stein (along with reps from the Detroit News & mLive) he said that Rothbury felt it was critical to keep Michigan artists in the spotlight. He also talked about their commitment to integrating with the local economy to maximize the multi-million dollar impact of a festival that employs over 3500 people.

We camped with the folks from Porterhouse Productions who have a few reports on their blog. Portherhouse founder Sam Porter and I talked with musician Brett Dennen who had some interesting thoughts about how to carry the festival experience further – look for more about that in the months to come.

Anne Savage of Revolutionary Views put together some tasty panoramas from Rothbury (complete with ambient sound) and also has a cool slideshow from Rothbury 2009.

Oh yeah. I had media access and remembered to pull out my camera every so often. Some of my favorites are in my Rothbury 2009 set (slideshow).

You can see a whole lot more photos from Rothbury (and share your own) in the Rothbury 2009 pool on Flickr.

Of course, there was music at Rothbury. Some highlights include live audio recordings from Rothbury at archive.org including:  Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band, Guster, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Steppin In It, the Ragbirds and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (no Dead show, but I’m sure that will be coming).

YouTube is of course not to be denied. A few favorites are Bob Dylan,  Les Claypool, Railroad Earth, The Black Crowes, STS9′s Michael Jackson tribute, John Butler Trio doing Zebra, Flogging Molly, Umphrey’s McGee with a Pink Floyd cover, Broken Social Scene, The Quannum All Stars, Girl Talk (check out the crowd surfing), Damian Marley, Government Mule w/ guest Grace Potter, (and the light show to match), String Cheese Incident, Toots and the Maytalls and the Dead (also see the fireworks & US Blues – the sound is pretty rough but the video is amazing!)

And as always, add your links, photos & video for Rothbury in the comments!

Photo Credits

• Rothbury – Out of This World by tinmantaber
• WYCE interviews Brett Dennen at Rothbury by Andy McFarlane
• Ribbon Dancer by tinmantaber
• Rothbury Festival 2009 by acsavage
• The Hills Are Alive … with fajitas! by Andy McFarlane
• Nas II by Andy McFarlane