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They say third one's a charm!
Okay, this is actually only the second HCBW, although the CKREB Luncheon in '99 is really what kicked off these little weekends in the first place. And technically I was at the film festival for more than a weekend, more like ten, slightly world altering days, but that's getting ahead of myself. I kept a diary, fortuitously, 'cause I sometimes couldn't remember half of the stuff that would happen to me even on the same day. I'll be refering back to it to describe some of the highlights, but please forgive my lack of writing skill since I was writing half of it on the plane ride home.
There was much less structure to this weekend than last year, dictated by the need to get into the films we each wanted to see. But despite, we did seem to keep running into each other because of similar interests in particular films.
Once again meet the buddies; myself, Kari, Monica, Clemence, Claudia, Sierra, Dawn, Cathi, Linda, Ruth, Kathie, and her neighbour Carol, who was a new intiate...
Kirsten
City Hall, also a former DS location. The corner of Front and Bay St. Looks like a scene right out of Last Night.
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L-R (1) Outside waiting for the film 'Suddenly Naked.' Claudia, Kirsten, Clemence, Kathie, Linda. (2) The whole gang, right after seeing the premire of 'Picture Claire,' trying to decide what to do next because we didn't want such a great night to end so soon. Linda, Sierra, Dawn, Monica, Claudia, Kathie, Clemence, Carol. (3) Standing at the front of the 'Picture Claire' rush-line. Clemence, and the Rev. Monica with *the book,* flipin' me off a sweet HCL pic.
Journal Excerpt #1:
Day 1. Sept 5th.
My fellow roommates who had to put up with me over the festival were Cathi, Claudia, and Clemence. Thank ya guys.
<snip> Cathi and I made a mad dash over to the Eaton's Centre, where we first attempted to find the TIFF box office, until we stumbled on a huge line up of people trying to buy tickets. So we lined up, but I soon discover Kari was in line, and then I ran into Dawn. Dawn then directs us to the box office seeing as she's an experienced festival go'er, and now instead we are at the head of the line for 'out of towners'. We get our tickets and to our relief we find that we got everything we chose, except for the film "The Last Wedding" which is heading the film festival. <unsnip>
<snip> We waited for Clemence and Claudia's arrival, but we begin to worry when it seemed to be taking too long. So as we headed down to go to supper, we bumped into them in the lobby. We eventually decided to congregate as a group now of fellow CKR fan's to the 'Spotted Dick', the pub we used for the CKREB luncheon back in '99. New faces were Linda from England. Dawn was also in attendance, along with Cathi, and Claudia. Then there was Kari, myself, and Clemence of the original group.<unsnip>
Journal Excerpt #2:
Day 2. Sept 6th.
<snip> 'Still filmless. So begins our great DS site seeing/shopping exbidition.'<unsnip>
Later that night. <snip>'We crashed, but we were phoned and went down to finally meet Ruthie for the first time. We went across the street to the Second Cup and sat around outside and chatted. There we met Ruthie's friend Katherine who is also on the list, as well as her friend Carol, who is just a riot to talk to. She should be a comedian, or a Canadian. The two of them are just great. Kari had been the only one not there, but Sierra had shown up; which was so great to see her again since the last time was in March, when she was up in Edmonton for the Local Heroes Film Festival.
Carol couldn't seem to get her head around the concepts of how we all met via an internet mailing list, and just what was so great about this Callum guy. Then we got her started on the whole DVD area code issue which had been plaguing our fellow Europeans who could not get Memento on DVD yet, and she seemed adamant that she would now be the one to find a way to elude this problem, whether legally or not.
Even when they were beginning to close up Second Cup, we still stood around chatting until it started getting late. <unsnip>
Dejavu, you?
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L-R (1) The 'Spy vs. Spy' location just due south of Sam Records on Younge St. Fellow German's, Claudia and Clemence. (2) Old City Hall. Filming location for a couple of Due South episodes. (3) Clemence. Sheraton Grand Hotel, 24th floor. From 'Call of The Wild,' the last ep of Due South. Further up the right hand wall is the door to the hotel room they also used. (4) From the walk through scene in COTW, Sheraton Grand Hotel. (5) Sheraton Grand lobby and elevators, used in COTW. (6)Union Station, used in 'Victoria Secret,' and 'The Man Who Know Too Little.' (7) The revolviong door from 'Victoria Secret', very tricky to track down. (8) Clemence going back home to Germany. Terminal 3 was used in 'Perfect Strangers.' ...(9)Elgin Theatre, the big neon sign down the street. Where we had just seen 'Picture Claire.' (10) The Uptown, near the south east corner of Bloor and Younge St. And once again we're waiting in the rush-line.
Shmooze with the Stars:
L-R (1) My Mothership. CHUM building, the home of Much Music and the Moses Zaimer Broadcasting Empire. Corner of Queen and John. (2) Festival Shmooze 2001, hosted by StarTV and the Perspective Canada showcase. (3) In the white top, Molly Parker. (4)Terry David Mulligan walking out to the crowd with Jennifer Love Hewitt. (5)Wendy Crewson being interviewed by Terry. (6) In the blue dress, Lynne Stopewick chatting with Terry.
Journal Excerpt #3:
Day 3. Sept 7th.
<snip> 'That night the three of us went for supper at the Hard Rock Café in the Skydome, and afterwards I was able to convince Claudia and Clemence to go down John St., which is just north of the CN Tower, and go over to Much Music to watch the Festival Shmooze.
At the Shmooze we were able to see so many Canadian film stars, probably many which neither of my German friends were able to recognize; Robert Lantos, Bruce Sweeny, Chantal Kreviazuk, Lynne Stopewick, Anais Granofsky, Sook Yin Lee, the StarTV crew, but the more identifiable were; Molly Parker, Wendy Crewson, Julian Richlings, Terry David Mulligan, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who was in town doing a film at the time. And what was up with that hat? <unsnip>
Please Lineup Ma'am:
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L-R (1)Molly Parker walking out on stage for the premire of the film 'Rare Birds.' (2) In black, director Sturla Gunnarsson, ? , Molly, Andy Jones, William Hurt. (3) In the purple dress, Sarah Polley, who was introducing her new short film 'I Shout Love.' (4) Wendy Crewson and director Anne Wheeler at the premire of 'Suddenly Naked.'
Journal Excerpt #4:
Day 4. Sept 8th.
We finally brake our filmless streak today in a big way with three films to attend. Not the greatest scheduling on my part. Our second stop is early in the evening, a showing of a collection of short films at the ROM, the Royal Ontario Museum. One of the short films was to be one directed by Sarah Polley herself called, 'I Shout Love.'
<snip>'It's funny, outside of the screening before we went in, Sarah Polley had been sitting beside Dawn and Sierra, but then got up, it wasn't until I saw a short girl standing aways, talking with a taller, older gentleman that I clued in to who she was and quietly pointed her out to my friends. They hadn't recognized her. I suggested not to take any pictures, I didn't want to be too conspicuous because so far no one had seemed to have recognized her. Too late. Autograph collectors were on her only a minute or two later, and she finally left to go inside the ROM.' <unsnip>
<snip>That night we went and saw our final film for the day, and it ended up being also the best film of the festival in my opinion (at this point, other than Picture Claire!) It was by Anne Wheeler, the same director who created 'Bye Bye Blues', and 'Better than Chocolate.' The name of the film was 'Suddenly Naked,' and it starred Wendy Crewson, and this really cute, sweet, unconventional looking twenty year old guy named Joe Cobden. It was shot in Vancouver, and Anne said it took a little over a month to shoot. The movie was about a woman novelist in her early forties, falling for a brilliant writer who is in his early twenties. The movie really shows off Wendy's powerful wit. Upholds my on going in-joke, "when I grow up -I want to be just like Wendy Crewson."<unsnip> I wonder what she would think about that...
Journal Excerpt #5:
Day 5. Sept 9th.
<snip>We met up with most of the buddies outside waiting for the film, 'Rare Birds.' Molly Parker was at the opening, so was William Hurt, and the director, Sturla Gunnarsson, also happened to be a cinematographer on 'Picture Claire.' ...The film was hilarious, shot all in Newfoundland.<unsnip>
Picture Me There:
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L-R (1) Red carpet for the premire of 'Picture Claire' at the Visa Screening room at the Elgin Theatre, just south of the Eaton Centre. Gina Gershon being interviewed. (2) Juliette Lewis. (3) The arrival of 'the man,' Bruce McDonald. (4) Bruce, and Kelly Harms (aka Callum lookalike) turning to him in the crowd. (5) Okay. Tell me if I'm wrong, but this picture has been bugging me since I blew it up. Bruce looks like he's looking at me. If he's not, why the hell is he doing that thing with his tounge!! It's not an easy thing to do. That is offically the-coolest thing. ;) (6)Atom Egoyan and Arsniee Khanjian arrive. Sorry about the poor picture, I was holding my camera over the crowd.: ) (7) Cast of 'Picture Claire' with Bruce shaking Robert Lantos's hand. (8) After the film. Centre, tinted glasses, Don McKellar. (9) Centre-left, Don talking to Atom. (10) Centre, with white shirt and black leather jacket, Paul Gross. (11) Centre-left, Don, Atom, Arsniee. (12) Centre, Bruce.
Journal Excerpt #6:
Day 6. Sept 10th.
<snip>'The *big* day, the premiere of Picture Claire . We had no tickets, so we were rushing. Monica finally showed up. She had been there since Friday night, but this was the first we had saw of her. It was also our first red carpet, and Visa Screening Room premiere.
We watched as the stars finally pulled up in black limo's in front of the Elign, maybe only 20 to 15 minutes before the film. We had our fingers crossed that we might spot CKR. No such luck, we did see enter though; Bruce McDonald, Robert Lantos, Juliette Lewis, Gina Gershon, Kelly Harms, and I think Camilla Rutherford.
Seeing as we took no chances this time and lined up 3 hours before, we were basically 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th in line, and got in right away. We made a dash to find our seats. We were two rows behind the reserved section. Monica got a sweet seat only a row away from the reserves. The buddies who already had tickets had been saving us seats. Still no sign of Callum.
In fact, Bruce, as he made his speech at the beginning, called out for Rennie in the audience, and said that he had been with Bruce the night before, but Bruce got drunk and forgot to give Cal his tickets. We were all a flutter as to whether this was an excuse put on by Bruce, or the actual truth.
I won't go into the film, but, for one, I was surprised how large a role Callum had, even compared to Kelly Harms, the lead. And it was a fun, esoteric, violent, witty/wicked little role. I read in many papers that Rennie stole the film.' <unsnip>
..Near the end of the film, I made a loud comment unconsciously about what I allege Bruce has done to Callum's character. "Jesus, why do they always have to...." <snip> 'I may have said a little too loud that even Bruce may have over heard.
Now the fun part, after the film and the lights went up, all the stars came out. We spotted first Don McKellar, who then spotted us, a whole row of eager fans with cameras and surprisingly he smiled at us. But I couldn't help but smile and wave at him. ('Weirdly, after the film, we were outside and Don and his friends were with him, so we hung around until they walked off to whatever party they were headed to.) Others we spotted chatting were, Tracy Wright, Atom Egoyan, Arsniee Khanjian, Glen Close, yes, that Glen Close, and Paul Gross, which was a surprise, but he wasn't with Martha, but a brunette woman who must have been a friend.
After the film, we decided to go some where to eat, we didn't want the evening to end so early. So we walked and ended up going to this supposed 'greasy spoon' called the 'Golden Griddle' (Attempted explaining what a 'griddle' is to our German friends.) We all piled in, and it was probably the first and the last time when all of us were together. I think there was something like eleven of us by the end. Too cool, even better than last year. Funny thing, this restaurant was right across from the old Maple Leaf Garden's, but I forgot to take a picture. Spilled a milkshake on my dress.' <unsnip>
Journal Excerpt #7:
Day 7. Sept 11th.
Our first film of the day was 'Century Hotel,' very early in the morning.
<snip> 'The sad part came after the film. As we were heading back toward our hotel room, it was some time after 11am, and I picked up a festival T-shirt at a Roots store. As we were coming down Bloor St., at the intersection with Younge St. we noticed that everyone was looking up, gap mouthed, at the television screen.That's when we found out about the World Trade Centre, and we watched as smoke poured out of the twin buildings from the plane crashes. It was like something out of a film.
I was stunned. I couldn't think, or operate afterwards; needing distraction, we finally went to find food, but even ordering a bagel seemed mundane. I didn't eat. We went back to the hotel, and it wasn't until we had finally sat down to watch television that we truly knew what was going on.
In the end, Cathi pulled us out of our, or let's say, my, misery; and we decided to try and catch 'Rollerball' (the original Norman Jewison film), which Bruce McDonald was going to intro. We bumped into Monica on the way. But we found out that all of the films for the day had been canceled. The borders were closed, the airports were closed, and all flights were being diverted to Canada, Pearson being one of the ports of call. Even more traumatized now, and needing something to do, we go to the internet café for the rest of the afternoon, to get up to date news, and let our loved ones know we were all right.
That night, Torso, Callum's T.V. movie that was suppose to air on CTV, didn't obviously. I went and rented a VCR instead, but it didn't have a cable to hook up to the T.V. <unsnip>
Journal Excerpt #8:
Day 8. Sept 12th.
<snip>'We find out on the news some how, that the festival came to the conclusion to continue the showing of films, but to stop all red carpets and press conferences.
In hinde sight, they have no idea how important that was. The people in Toronto needed something to do to keep them busy, or we would have gone all bonkers watching T.V. Site seeing may have seemed obscene and pointless. Same with shopping. But, no, film watching, that's what we came here to do.'<unsnip>
Journal Excerpt #9:
Day 9. Sept 13th.
<snip> 'My last film, another showing of 'Picture Claire,' bright and early at 10am. Once again everyone is there. Sadly Bruce didn't show for the Q&A. They said he was on site for another film he was shooting, and would try to come if he could.
But as fans are apt to do, what was just as fun at times as watching the actual film the second time around, was keeping an eye out for Callum.
Spotting. Possibly. From what Clemence tells me, a gentleman came in after the film started, he had a coffee in his hand, he was wearing dark clothes, and he took a seat two rows from the front, and one seat in. When Clemence was fairly sure, she tried to point him out to me. I couldn't see anything.
About 15 minutes to the end of the film is when I first spotted the hair. Then the stucked out ears. And from what Clemence was saying, he had all the 'Callumisms.' The jaw rubbing, the turn of the head. Just as the film ended, he snuck out of the theatre, I thought I saw him get up, but then I lost track of him in the dark. Oh well. There's always Edmonton.' <unsnip> I still think all of these qualities and actions were telling that it was most likely him.
That night my roommates and I watched 'Trapped,' and 'Murder Seen,' copies that had been brought to us, and a rented copy of 'Memento,' and 'Way Downtown' on the VCR I found the night before.
Journal Excerpt #10:
Day 10. Sept 14th.
<snip>'I have a head cold by this point. ...The security at the airport was tight. They confiscated my razor blades for my shaver. I had to move all my electrical equipment on to my carry on (which was a feat in and of itself.) I breezed through x-ray. At 12:30pm, the Governor General began a speech calling for three minutes of silence. All of Pearson, including the humming conveyor belts suddenly came to a stand still probably at the busiest part of it's day. It was eerie. My plane was delayed an hour and a half because of an improper luggage count. When I got back, it was hotter at home in Edmonton now than back in Toronto where it had been usually sweltering at 30C for the whole festival.' <unsnip>
Did You Spot it?
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(1) An autographed Cheif's jersey from SlapShot signed by the Hanson brothers. CN Tower, Planet Hollywood. (2) Outside of the 'Rare Birds' premire, the prop 'RSV' submarine used in the film, brought all the way from Newfoundland! It also has a picture of the 'rare' duck on the side of it featured in the film. (3) Disappearing act, on Younge St. No not the sprinkled donut! The creator of this site, who hates being in pictures! I did better this time. (4)Edmonton Block Heater. Since you were all asking about it, here is a picture of my car plugged in, at a nice brisk -25C. It acts just like an electric kettle, keeping my motor warm so it'll start without problems.
