Frustration at Tribeca
Our experience at Tribeca has been, well, interesting. In fairness, the purpose of the festival is to promote business after 9-11. I suppose for the two weeks while the festival is going on there is an increase of traffic in the city. Mostly, I listened to New Yorkers greeting other New Yorkers who came out to see a film because they knew somebody connected to it.
Our experience was frustrating on many levels. Mostly because we came to see films not the long lines to get into the films and not the rude gate keepers taking coveted tickets. As press we have requested tickets to so many audience screenings, we have yet been able to attend a single screening where Q&A’s are the norm. We don’t know if they are occurring or what the audiences response to the movies are or what the writers, directors and actors have to say about their work. We can only provide information on a handful of films because we spent so much time in lines or on the subway trying to get to a different theaters or walking (and running) to films too many of which have been cancelled.
Granted this was our first Tribeca experience. Perhaps we made a mistake. We thought our job was to report on the films of Tribeca. Maybe it was really to report on the revitalization of New York. Our Tribeca experience in a nutshell? Cyndi asked me the other day what I wanted to see. My response? “I don’t want to go to a movie. I want to see something good!”
So, New York is exciting, amazing and fun. The people are busy living their lives. Business seems to be good everywhere we go. Mission accomplished. Good job Bob and Carol! Thanks for encouraging my colleague and me to come spend our money and our time in the Big Apple. Great way to get attention and coverage. New York was marvelous! Wish I could say the same about Tribeca.
