By:  Jason Harter

 

 

2009 Traverse City Film Festival

 

 

Thursday July 30th, 2009  - Follow The Sun Up North

     Now it has only been 4 weeks since Rothbury but already the old map is out and the new one is in.  I am not sure what to expect.  Now I like movies and I like festivals, but I have never been to a film festival, and I'm not sure how I will handle being indoors watching movies all weekend.  Especially in such a beautiful place when the weather is so nice this time of year.

     Names Like Bass, Bluegill, Pike, and Walleye are out.  They have been replaced with Eighth, Pine, Union, Front, Cass, and Park.  I will be staying next to one of the venues.  Lars Hockstad Auditorium.  But they are all within an 8 square block area.  There will be movies at The State Theater, The City Opera House, The Old Town Playhouse, Milliken Auditorium, Lars Hockstad Auditorium, and The Open Space.

     I roll into town about 11:00a.m. on Thursday.  Now I have only been to Traverse City once and it was only for an hour, so I want to have a balanced weekend.  Divided equally amongst Movies, Nature, Friends, and Food.  Really see Traverse.  My exposure has been made up mostly of seeing those old tourism advertisements.  You know, the "Follow The Sun Up North" and "Make A Scene In Traverse City" posters (pictured below).

     The first thing that I notice is that there are no driveways in the downtown neighborhoods.  It is all alley's for parking.  My first movie of the weekend is the Noon showing of "Rachel" at the State Theater.  I check in and head to The State.

 

The State Theater

     The Traverse City State Theater (pictured below) is alot like other State Theaters all accross the country.  It had seen it's better days.  But Michael Moore was part of a group that helped resore it to it's former glory and then some, a few years back.  The seeting is spacious, reclining, movie seats, while the ceiling is speckled with lights that substitute as stars.  At first glance they look stationary, but if you look close they are all slowly turning on and off.  Weaving in and out of each other.  Outside there is not one light or letter missing.  Just like it used to be, just like it should be.   

 

 

     I originally thought that I would give a review of all the movies that I see this weekend.  But I don't want to spoil the movies for those who haven't seen them.  Besides it would simply be my own opinion anyway.  Movies are different things to different people.  They bring out different feelings and reactions from different people.  So I will try and tell you what the movies made me feel or think without giving away any of the movie.

 

Rachel: Noon - The State Theater

     Now I am neither Israeli nor Palestinian, and I am ignoring the usual media preconceptions, and I am looking at this as a fresh neutral slate.  But I think what happened to the Jewish people during World War II should be a warning for all generations to come.  First, for the methodical brutality that our species is capable of.  Second, for the blind following masses that were rationally taught to condone it.  And Third, for the fact that everything changes, nothing is absolute, and everything has an ark. 

     Congratulations Israel!  You have gone from being persecuted to being the persecutor.  The aggressor.  The Palestinians stand about as much chance against you as the Hell's Angels would against the entire U.S. Armed Forces.  Haven't you in a way become like the 1937 German's.  Isn't that what you share in common?  A deep, unneccessary, hatred for another people?  Do you not see a small part of yourselves in them?

     The one moment that struck me the most was when one of her friends was asked if he had any regrets.  He said, "yeah, I regret not having a video camera."  It really struck home the power of video that we can often overlook.

 

     Now I have not actually seen where I will be staying this weekend yet.  I need to meet up with my Traverse City Goodwill Ambassador, Federov.  Once the movie lets out I head back to meet up with Federov and grab a bite to eat.

     My escort this weekend will be the "Blue Bomber" (pictured below).

     Now this is Traverse City traveling at it's best.  I mean have you ever seen blue tires with whitewalls?  But there are rules and I will have to learn them to stay alive in this area. 

     There are 5 main groups in Traverse City.  The flip-flop wearing bicyclers, the skateboarders, the rollerbladers, the grinders, and the car travelers.  The rollerbladers and skateboarders are all but extinct, the grinders grind at all hours of the night with impunity, the cars have to compete with more and more bicycles every year, and the bicyclists can't ride on the sidewalks downtown (pictured below).

     Where I come from it is more dangerous to ride in the street so we are expected to be on the sidewalk.  I will be riding in the streets and using hand signals for the first time in a long time.

 

Lars Hockstad Auditorium

     Lars Hockstad Auditorium might be my favorite venue of the weekend.  It is a Junior High School auditorium with seats that look like they were made by the same company that made all of the old elementary school desks (pictured below).  There is also a sculpture of Abe Lincoln in the corner under the United States flag.

 

Sugar: 6:00p.m. - Lars Hockstad Auditorium

     This movie shows the disparity between the perception of America and the reality.  It made me think of how much we can take for granted as American's, while other's are willing to leave their families and everything they know to come here.

     It also showed how tough, if not dangerous, it can be to not know the language of the country you are in.  There was a saying that stuck with me, "Life will give you lots of chances, but baseball only gives you one."  Things don't always work out the way that you want.  But they do always work out for the best.

 

     After the movie Federov's intestinal urges are calling.  He needs to go for a swim.  We head down to the Bay, catch the sunset (pictured below), and head out for a bite to eat.

     We head over to the Mackinaw Brewing Company (pictured below), where Joe, Jen, Marco, Stevie, and the gang are 3/4 of the way thru an all day rush.  With Screech and Newman are already entrenched, I decide to go with the Open Face Brisket Sandwich.  This turns out to be a very good choice.  Plenty of Brisket piled on top of fresh Sourdough bread with mashed potatoes and gravy. 

     Now this is the type of meal that would put mom's and grandmom's out of business all accross the country.  You could do just about anything after a meal like that.  If you failed it would not be for lack of fuel.   

S

     After the meal we head over to "The Dock" (pictured below).  We have Egon and Luke Winslow-King on tap.  Brandy is racing around, while Luke Winslow-King played a nice solo accoustic blues set sandwhiched by Egon.  Egon is a local Funk/Soul group that I don't think we have heard the last of.  Don't miss either one of these acts.

      Once we are inside I notice something strange in the corner.  It is a Gottleib "Shaq Attack" pinball machine (pictured below) which was obviously made back in the ninties when Shaq still played with the Orlando Magic.  Can't be too many of these floating around.

      With day 1 drawing to a close I get back on the Blue Bomber, entertain a few cat calls, and call it a day.

 

Friday July 31st, 2009 - Gyro-Scopter

     There is any easy start to the day.  I only have 3 movies today and the the first one doesn't start until 6:00p.m.  I put some fire under the griddle and proceed to make breakfast.  I will be having the usual.  Or will I?  Red potatoes and farm fresh eggs with cheese.  After a flipping and rotating 45 minutes I pile everything onto a plate.  Now I have made enough for 2 or even 3 people.  It's a mash of 5 potatoes, 4 eggs, and 4 slices of cheese, piled high. 

     But I have to admit I burned the eggs.  Have you ever seen how people in the African bush cook Ostrich eggs covered with coals and ashes?  This is how they looked.

     I head upstairs to take a quick shower before I eat.  I come down only to find the entire plate of food gone, with a smear of hot sause where the food once was.  After seeing the burnt eggs I wasn't that dissappointed, I didn't say anything.  Federov obviously thought I had already eaten.  But while we are checking the weather report on TV Federov says, "I don't feel so good, I think it was something I ate."  I am like "you think?"  Volume wise that was enough food to keep a bear from coming back for 24 hours.  I'm sure the burnt eggs just put the unenjoyable, finishing touches on it all.  I wonder if a bear would have accepted those eggs?

     Now yesterday the battery in my camera was dead.  So I spend the afternoon taking all of the pictures that I missed the day before.  Once work is done I head to the home of the glowing brisket, the Mackinaw Brewing Company.  Having missed breakfast, this meal will make up for it.

     On the way to Milliken Auditorium I see a sign of just how bad things have gotten.  Not only for this state, but for the country as a whole.  Hall Of Fame baseball player Mike Schmidt (pictured below) is now selling houses in Traverse City, MI just to get by.

Milliken Auditorium

     Milliken Auditorium (pictured below) is the only venue outside of downtown.  However, even on the Blue Bomber, it is only 15 minutes from the base.  It is your nice, average, college, auditorium.

     It makes me think of how intolerant and exclusive we can be as a country.  And it re-affirms that no matter what the odds,  If you give something your all, and want it bad enough, you can do anything you set your mind to.

 

Bruno Outakes: 9:15p.m. - Lars Hockstad Auditorium

     Director Larry Charles of "Borat" & "Bruno", is a founding member of the Traverse City Film Festival.  He has a special showing of the "Outakes" from Bruno.  I love me some Borat and I have not seen Bruno, so I am sure this will be a good showing.  Nevertheless, I give my 2 tickets away and head to the beach.

     The clouds ruled yesterday.  Hardly any sun came thru for the sunset.  So I wasn't going to miss the great sunset (pictured below) that we surely had in store.  

 

The Open Space

     The Open Space is, an open space, on the Grand Traverse Bay.  A large inflatable movie screen (pictured below) is put up for the outdoor portion of the Film Festival.  They are all free shows, and they are all classics.

The Goonies: 10:30p.m. - The Open Space

     Now it isn't all just sunsets and cherry juice.  Do I need to even marginally say anything about The Goonies?

 

     I head back to base, and meet up with Federov.  He tip toes around the fact that he is hungry.  I ask him who has some must eat food that is still open this time of night?  "U and I Lounge (pictured below) has a really good gyro (pronounced 'year-o').  I told him that I would ride a bike for a gyro, and so it be.

     The place is packed.  2 gyro's coming up.  For anyone who hasn't had a gyro it is a Greek staple.  It is made up of shaved lamb, wrapped in a pita, with a tzatziki sauce.

     It doesn't take long and here they are.  They come wrapped in a wax paper sleeve and for good reason.  I eat the whole thing only to find an 1/8th of lamb still in the wax wrap.  It has thus turned into sliced lamb, potatoe chip, tzatziki pie. 

     This is the best gyro I have ever eaten.

Bike-Food Coma-Base

 

Saturday August 1st, 2009 - The Mission For Old Mission

 

     I have reserved Saturday and Sunday for the majority of my work.  I have sent myself on a mission to head to Old Mission Penninsula.  I'm gonna shoot video of the drive and take all these great pictures.  There are a lot of Wineries and farms on this penninsula.  In a way it is kind of like being in France, with all of the rolling hills filled with grapevines.  Although I got some alright pictures (pictured below), the video has it's issues.  

     The clouds have been moving in all day.  Although I am not on the road that I thought I was, I make it to the Lighthouse and Old Mission Settlement.  I stop at Chateu Chantal for a quick pic (pictured below) and as I do the rain starts ever so softly.  I am disappointed.  I will definately need to come out here with someone who can show me the spots off of the beaten trail.

 

     Twenty minutes later I am home and it starts to downpour.  It rains solid for a couple of hours.  But it doesn't take long and the sun is out yet again.  I can live with this. 

Jeff Garlin Sneak Peek: 6:00 - Old Town Playhouse

     Larry David co-wrote Seinfeld with Jerry Seinfeld.  When the series Seinfeld ended Larry moved on to HBO to do a show called "Curb Your Enthusiasm."  It is a similar humor, but a fresh show in it's own right.  Jeff Garlin is a main character from Curb Your Enthusiasm.  This movie was just listed as Jeff Garlin Sneak Peek.  Nobody knew what we were actually lining up to see.  

     What a great surprise.  Jeff gets up on stage, talks for twenty minutes, and introduces our viewing tonight.  The first 2 episodes from this upcoming season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, on the big screen.  Nice.

 

One of the movies I was looking forward to the most was the 20th Anniversary showing of Michael Moore's 1st documentary, Roger & Me.  However, upon further review, I do not have a ticket for Roger & Me.  I will have to head down and get in the Stand-By line to try and score a ticket. 

     I don't think my chances are very good.  I can't see alot of people wanting to give up these tickets.  And there must be alot of other people looking to buy tickets as well.  I must at least have a long wait if I am able to gain entry.

     I get down to The State an hour before showtime.  Although the line to get in extends 2 city blocks, to my surprise there is no one in the stand-by line.  Still feeling as though I am on a fool's errand, I wait patiently.  It doesn't take more than 10 minutes and someone comes up and offers me a ticket.  That was a lot easier than I expected and I have time to spare.

Roger & Me: 9:00p.m. - The State Theater

     Now Roger & Me is the one movie I will talk about a little bit.  Everyone has had twenty years to see it.  Even though the line extends for 2 blocks, the line moves fast starting at 9:00 on the dot.  On the way in they are giving away mini Roger & Me lint rollers and buttons. 

     Once inside Michael talks for about 20 minutes and he tells the story of how they were on their way to the Toronto film festival and got stopped by customs.  They had all of these lint rollers and buttons as promotinal material for the film fest.  The Candaian Authorities didn't like it, and didn't allow them in.  Here they are 20 years later.  Nice.

     He also asked how many people had not seen the movie before and about 25% of the crowd raised their hands.  I think this is a good thing.  This movie is as relevent to what Michigan is going thru today, as it was back then.  If not more. 

     I myself have not seen it in a while so it will still be relatively fresh for me.  Roger & Me is the story of Flint, MI and one man's quest to talk to then head of GM, Roger Smith, during the first round of massive closings, in the 80's.  He does a great job of showing the history of the UAW and GM from their heyday to present.  

     But this isn't just a story unique to Flint or Detroit.  Above all else this documentary shows what will happen to cities when tens of thousands of workers all lose their jobs at once.  And also the cyclical nature of life.  There were some gasps in the audience when the scene showing a woman killing and gutting a rabbitt came up.  But that is survival.  It's back to the land time.  Some people won't leave no matter how bad it gets.  For good or bad, that is their home.  But it also exposes the Law Of The Golden Mean.  If she could make more money doing something else, she would.

     Different people in Flint are affected by this in different ways.  Some are hardly affected, some lose everything they have, others make a successful leap to something new, and some don't notice at all.  Michael does a good job of weaving them together in a way that emphasises the contrast.  You would have a scene where he is interviewing members of a country club, and then immediately cut to a county sherriff pounding on a door to do evictions. 

     This was one of the highlights of the weekend for me.  I think Michael should work on new documentary of the new soon to be announced CEO of GM.  I guarantee it will be just as tragic and comical 20 years from now.

 

     After the show I head towards the blue bomber.  I have her chained to a street sign next to "The Catch" (pictured below).  Being a little hungry, I stop in for a bite to eat.

     It is an island themed restaurant.  Having an island streak in me, I feel right at home.  I order the conk fritters and listen to buffett, as he sings about A Pirate Looking At Fourty.  I like Jimmy Buffett, but I don't listen to him very often.  Sammy the bartender tells me he hates it.  Don't get him wrong, he likes Jimmy Buffett, but you learn to hate anything that you listen to for 10 hours a day, every day.  I suggest some Link Wray.

     I got here just in time.  They are only open for another twenty minutes.  The conk fritters are exactly what I needed.  Soft, buttery, ocean, goodness.

     Blue bomber-Park-Eighth

 

Sunday August 2nd, 2009 - Big Oil Shines

     Today is a busy day.  I am up and at The State by 9:00a.m.  I have 4 movies today, and a couple of treks to Milliken.  It's coming to a close.

The Only Good Indian: 9:00a.m. - The State Theater

     What is the price of success?  What is the price for survival?  People are more important than money.  Your soul can be dead while your body is still breathing.

 

     Once the movie is over I head back to base and head down eighth.  I am on my way to Milliken and that's a 15 minute ride.  I have an hour until Football Under Cover.  Having not had breakfast yet, I stop at Rounds.  It is a local diner, and to be honest a couple of eggs and toast would suffice.  But the country fried steak, with diced potatoes and gravy, 2 eggs, and 2 big slices of homemade bread, looks inviting.  As the car people air their grievences about the bike people, the bike people smile and nod.  It is not so much a transportational struggle, as it is more of a generational struggle.  But nobody says a word about the grinders.  Of course.

     But the food comes fast here and I am brought 2 meals on one plate.  Oh the heavenly breakfast.  I have not had every country fried steak Traverse City has to offer, but if anyone thinks they have a better Country fried steak than Round's, I would like to hear about it.

     I strap the second meal to the back of the blue bomber and head to Milliken.

Football Under Cover: 12:00p.m. - Milliken auditorium

     Do you remember when you just played sports for the fun of it?  Do you remeber when you just liked hitting the ball, or kicking the ball, passing, shooting, or running with the ball?  Do you remeber the pure and simple joy?  Did you ever have to pretend you were someone else just to play?  Risk your life?  The look on all of those men's faces outside of the arena was the same.  Things are changing, and for the better.

 

     I have an hour and a half until Crude at 3:00.  I bike to the base, put the second meal in the fridge, and head to The Old Towne Playhouse.

Crude: 3:00p.m. - The Old Town Playhouse

     Have you ever heard of an offer to good to be true?  Ever bathed in, ate, and drank, gasoline?  Have you ever been told it was okay for you?  Right is right and wrong is wrong.  Please email Chevron and ask them to settle their lawsuit with the Ecuadorian people, all people, and possibly get out of the oil business altogether.

 

     I head back, regroup, and head down Front to Milliken for the last time.  Burma VJ at 6:00.

Burma VJ: 6:00p.m. - Milliken Auditorium

     Give me liberty or give me death.  It is a human characteristic.  What would you do if an overwhelming majority of your fellow citizens democratically elected a new President and the millitary decided to take control, and place your President under house arrest?  For 19 years, while the world was shut out.  What if after 19 years things had gotten so bad that every priest, from every religion, in your country,  non-violently marched thru the streets, to show that they had gone to far.  What would you do if they started shooting all of the priests?  Shut down the internet?  Shot foreign journalists?

     Would you set up a personal satelite connection so you could beam the videos from your sony MiniDV to the outside world?  To show the atrocities that are occuring in your country hoping that someone might take it upon themselves to help.  At risk of death?  Do you know where the millitary gets their money from?  You guessed it, Unocal, which is owned by Chevron.  Please email Chevron and ask them to leave Burma/Myanmar.  They say they can do more good by staying.  This is not what good looks like.

 

    Well I think it is going to be a quiet night with plenty of red potatoes, corn, and bread with butter. 

     I am left with the feeling that Traverse City is one of America's great northern cities. Is she this seductive in the winter?  We will have to wait and see.  What a great weekend.  Thank you Traverse City.

Ninth-31-115-131-Blue-Home.

The End