This is my final TCMFF 2018 post. We made it to the end, and I hope you enjoyed this journey. This year was a lot more different than in previous years. I didn’t attend as many films as I usually do and I have a lot of mixed emotions about that. I’m sad that I didn’t take in the full festival like I typically do. I love going from one film to another. That is the experience that I want and the experience that I love. This year we were able to travel outside of Hollywood, and that was incredible, and I don’t regret that for a second. I’m so glad we were able to do that.
Sunday I had plans to attend Woman of the Year, Growing Up Mankiewicz, This Thing Called Love, Finishing School and then I would finish the night with A Star is Born or The Phantom of the Opera.
It was an ambitious final day, but when I woke up, I was so exhausted. I didn’t want to go to the first movie, so we decided to get breakfast at Mel’s. Did I mention that I live for Mel’s avocado toast and eggs? I do-sidebar, I made this for myself the week we got back. I tried so hard to copy what I thought Mel’s recipe was. I ended up with a broken tooth, crying. Guys, I broke my tooth on avocado toast, eggs and bacon. Also, I consider myself a decent cook. I’ll also never try to make it again.
After Mel’s, we attended Growing Up Mankiewicz at the Roosevelt Hotel in Club TCM. It was interesting, but the turnout was so huge that we were stuck in the back corner and couldn’t see or hear the conversation. I want to suggest that for people in back TCM maybe think about getting a few TV monitors and louder speakers. What I did hear was interesting. I would like to see a future panel with just Josh and Ben Mankiewicz talking about their father. I am also wildly interested in him and his work with Bobby Kennedy, but that is something I would be interested in because I love anything about the Kennedy’s and politics in the ’60s.
After that Lauren took Brian and me to Silver Lake to eat at Little Dom’s. I didn’t realize it until looking it up just now that it is a favorite of Jon Hamm, Katherine Heigl, Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart, and Ryan Reynolds. It’s a small Italian place in Los Feliz. According to my Bible, Bravotv.com the person you’re most likely to run into here, however, is Ryan Gosling, who dines so frequently he’s been spotted coming and going at least three times in a two-week span. We didn’t see any celebrities the Sunday afternoon we were there, but the food…guys the food.
I had the Nutella Panino and then proceeded to eat Lauren's potatoes, possibly the greatest potatoes I have ever eaten in my life. It was a great lunch made even more significant by the fact that for dessert, yeah dessert from the Nutella Sando I had, I ate the most fabulous cake I have ever had in my life with my hands as we drove down Hollywood Boulevard.
Sitting with two of my favorite people in the world eating the most magnificent cake I have ever had in my life with my hands as we drove in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on our way to see more great films during the TCM Film Festival...as I sit here watching the snow blow outside this Starbucks in Lincoln, Nebraska on this frigid November day, that moment in time is what gets me through the year. This feeling that I have right now, thinking about how happy that one moment made me, the sights the sounds and that moment is what makes the hard work, the saving, the budgeting all year so worth it. That moment is one of so many that make saving all year so worth it.
When we got back, it was too late for Brian to see Bull Durham and he has yet to let me live this down. Lauren went to test for the TCM intro thing while Brian watched and chatted with his best TCM lady friend, Zillah, while I took off over to wander around Grauman's and the rooftop of the mall area. I found a great view of the downtown area and the Hollywood sign took some pictures and tried to make my final decision on what film to end the festival.
I went into the festival with the final decision of seeing The Phantom of the Opera. I love Lon Chaney so much, and he holds a special place in my heart. I have left feedback for TCM to show a Chaney Sr. film at a film festival, so I felt that I had to go. I don't really care for Phantom. I had been so looking forward to seeing the new Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga adaptation of A Star is Born so I wanted to see the Frederich March version on the big screen in the same calendar year because that would be amazing, but I also wanted to see Blessed Event.
I guess if you picture it, me at the top of the Hollywood and Highland Center looking out over Hollywood Boulevard deep in thought contemplating which film to see, it's so stupidly dramatic.
I heard a lot of chatter that people were going to see Star, so I decided to avoid the crowd (DUMB) and skip that.
Theater four, Nah.
It's Lon Chaney, life and game-changer. He makes me feel the feelings. I was sold, and that was the plan. I walked into the theater to get in line, took a number and immediately changed my mind. I gave my number to someone else and walked over to The Miracle of Morgan's Creek!
What the hell?
I know-I broke the first rule of TCMFF, do not repeat films. Is that a rule or is that just my rule or common sense? Whatever it is I broke it. It was just so much fun, and I saw all the fun gals like Kellee and Aurora headed in, and I was like, I need to finish on a fun and upbeat note. So that's exactly what I did. It was a great crowd, not as good as the first crowd, but good. I laughed and loved it again. This was the year of seeing the same film on the big screen more than once, well at least it was for me.
I recently saw Blessed Event on FilmStruck and I really didn’t like it, so I’m glad I didn’t battle my way into that. Also losing FilmStruck is a fucking shame and pisses me off like you wouldn’t believe. That’s all I have to say about that for now.
I regret not going to see A Star is Born but that is a Nikki problem, and I will have to live with that.
After the film, there is always that awful dread of knowing its over, but I had a highlight of the festival of getting to sit poolside at the closing party held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and chatting with Nicole, Kate and Casey. It was terrific getting to know these girls I talk to online, all year long even better. I will probably do another long, sappy post about how much I genuinely love my TCM friends. I say it all the time, and every year but honestly there is nobody like them. I have grown so close to my TCM pals. I recently got back from a weekend in Vegas with one of my best friends whom I met at a TCM Film Festival. I would also like to plan another with these girls I just mentioned. I could go on for days about what Classic Film/TCM and the Festival has given me in the way of friendships, but I'll save that for another time.
We ended our night with a traditional trip to In-N-Out and our final goodbyes.
If you're on the fence about attended a Festival, please feel free to reach out and ask any questions. I would be happy to answer honestly or direct you to someone who can. With anything, there are things to be improved upon and things that I love.
My main piece of advice is to talk to everyone as much as you can in line and savor the moment. Take it all in because it goes so fast, but mainly talk, talk, talk. You never know whom you will meet or whom you will connect with. The people guys, the people. My heart could just burst when I think of each person who has pulled me out of the darkness over the past few rough years. It's a great community that I am so damn blessed to be a part of; it's honestly something special.
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