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Post by lydecker on Apr 24, 2024 15:22:06 GMT
First, let me say that I adore TCM and could not live without it. For years my husband and I debated about going to the festival but the thought of paying for the cost of the passes plus travel to LA (for 2) always seemed to be a wee bit extravagant to screen movies that, in most cases, you had seen many times before. However, after the sudden, devastating death of my husband 18 months ago, I decided to treat myself to the festival this year. If you haven't been there, you may be shocked to learn (as I was) that buying passes is absolutely NO guarantee that you will be able to see any film. I purchased the "low" end of the passes ($850) (there is one festival pass that is cheaper) and assumed that I could just go from film to film to film. Not so. Getting into a film requires waiting in 2 lines every time and it is almost a certainty that you will have to line up at least 90 minutes prior to each film, simply to get a "queue pass" which gives you the ability to line up AGAIN (30 minutes prior to the screening) to maybe/maybe not get into a desired film. Spending literally hours in line for each film severely limits your ability to see lots of films. (Not to mention it kills your back!) It also causes you to have to leave films you love up to 30 minutes early so that you can get in the "queue pass" line in the hopes of seeing the next movie. I had to walk out of a screening of Double Indemnity (which screened at 9 AM but I had to be in line at 7 AM for a decent chance to get a seat) about 30 minutes before the film's end (just about killed me to do so) so that I could stand in line for 90 minutes in the hopes of getting in to see The Sin of Nora Moran. Crazy!!! In most cases the lines consisted of 500-700 people and as shocked as I was that this was the way it was going to be the whole weekend (in all probability I spent more time in lines than screening films) I was among the "lucky ones" since I actually did get into every one of my "must see" films. However, if the TCM Film Festival ran the way other film festivals I have attended did (you buy your tickets in advance and simply walk into the theatre -- no waiting) I would have seen many, many more films. There was also no time to eat, no time to go to the bathroom, etc. etc.
Bottom line, if you are going to go to the TCM Film Festival in the future you should either purchase the "Spotlight" pass (at a whopping $2549 which will no doubt be even higher in 2025) or buy the lowest priced pass at $399. Because, whether you paid over $1,000 or "only" $399 you will still be standing for hours in the same long lines. Only Spotlight pass holders get preferential treatment and are allowed into theatres first and, since there are far fewer of them, their wait time in lines is fairly minimal.
Much to my shock, very few people seem to have a problem with paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for admittance to the festival with NO GUARANTEE that they will see a single film. Shame on TCM for selling far too many passes and not caring that all of the attendees will be spending most of their time waiting in lines, instead of watching films which is the very reason they showed up in the first place.
Lydecker
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Post by Fading Fast on Apr 24, 2024 15:30:03 GMT
First, let me say that I adore TCM and could not live without it. For years my husband and I debated about going to the festival but the thought of paying for the cost of the passes plus travel to LA (for 2) always seemed to be a wee bit extravagant to screen movies that, in most cases, you had seen many times before. However, after the sudden, devastating death of my husband 18 months ago, I decided to treat myself to the festival this year. If you haven't been there, you may be shocked to learn (as I was) that buying passes is absolutely NO guarantee that you will be able to see any film. I purchased the "low" end of the passes ($850) (there is one festival pass that is cheaper) and assumed that I could just go from film to film to film. Not so. Getting into a film requires waiting in 2 lines every time and it is almost a certainly that you will have to line up at least 90 minutes prior to each film, simply to get a "queue pass" which gives you ability to line up AGAIN (30 minutes prior to the screening) to maybe/maybe not get into a desired film. Spending literally hours in line for each film severely limits your ability to see lots of films. (Not to mention it kills your back!) It also causes you to have to leave films you love up to 30 minutes early so that you can get in the "queue pass" line in the hopes of seeing the next movie. I had to walk out of a screening of Double Indemnity (which screened at 9 AM but I had to be in line at 7 AM for a decent change to get a seat) about 30 minutes before the film's end (just about killed me to do so) so that I could stand in line for 90 minutes in the hopes of getting in to see The Sin of Nora Moran. Crazy!!! In most cases the lines consisted of 500-700 people and as shocked as I was that this was the way it was going to be the whole weekend (in all probability I spent more time in lines than screening films) I was among the "lucky ones" since I actually did get into every one of my "must see" films. However, if the TCM Film Festival ran the way other film festivals I have attended did (you buy your tickets in advance and simply walk into the theatre -- no waiting) I would have seen many, many more films. There was also no time to eat, no time to go to the bathroom, etc. etc. Bottom line, if you are going to go to the TCM Film Festival in the future you should either purchase the "Spotlight" pass (at a whopping $2549 which will no doubt be even higher in 2025) or buy the lowest priced pass at $399. Because, whether you paid over $1,000 or "only" $399 you will still be standing for hours in the same long lines. Only Spotlight pass holders get preferential treatment and are allowed into theatres first and, since there are far fewer of them, their wait time in lines is fairly minimal. Much to my shock, very few people seem to have a problem with paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for admittance to the festival with NO GUARANTEE that they will see a single film. Shame on TCM for selling far too many passes and not caring that all of the attendees will be spending most of their time waiting in lines, instead of watching films which is the very reason they showed up in the first place. Lydecker
Thank you for your post. I'm sorry your experience was below your, to my mind, very reasonable expectations. I'm glad you posted as my girlfriend and I have talked about going, but I can't see us doing that now.
I, too, love TCM, but this is not something that will further endear me to the channel.
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Post by topbilled on Apr 24, 2024 15:48:59 GMT
Thank you lydecker for describing the experience so that others may understand how it works.
At least you were able to attend, which was a way to honor your late spouse's memory.
I think I would have been upset at having to leave a movie early in order to get in line again. Something feels awfully wrong about it!
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Post by lydecker on Apr 24, 2024 17:44:41 GMT
I talked to several people (while in the endless lines) and I was told that "it didn't used to be this bad" which I hope, for their sake, was true. I suspect as the parent company of TCM has changed many times over the last 15 years, the greedier of the corporate parents decided to sell as many passes as possible with no regard to the fact that hundreds (thousands?) of unsuspecting pass purchasers would have no idea about the endless lines and the insanity of paying a lot of money to have absolutely no guarantee that you would see any films (unless you were willing to wait in lines for 90 minutes for each film.) If they had sold half as many passes, I'm sure the lines would have been shorter and the experience much better. The other problem was getting seated once you got into a theatre. I was alone so it wasn't a huge problem to find a single seat, but couples were hard-pressed to be seated together because all the "good seats" were taken by Spotlight Passholders & V.I.P.s (whoever they were!)
I've been to Eddie Muller's Noir City Film Festivals multiple times and they are run wonderfully. You purchase your tickets online ahead of time (though you would, in all probability, be able to purchase tickets to individual films prior to each screening,) walk calmly into the theatre, have your choice of seats for 90% of the screenings and enjoy great intros by Eddie and other Noir City reps for 3 days. Heck, you even have time to eat an occasional meal and go to the bathroom!
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Post by dianedebuda on Apr 24, 2024 18:28:33 GMT
Note to self: Don't even think about going to a TCM Film Festival. You're too cheap to spring for a Spotlight Pass. You hate crowds, lines, waiting and leaving early, so lydecker's report guarantees it would not be something you'd enjoy.
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lydecker , sorry for your loss and the Festival not living up to your expectations. |
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Post by NoShear on Apr 24, 2024 21:00:50 GMT
First, let me say that I adore TCM and could not live without it. For years my husband and I debated about going to the festival but the thought of paying for the cost of the passes plus travel to LA (for 2) always seemed to be a wee bit extravagant to screen movies that, in most cases, you had seen many times before. However, after the sudden, devastating death of my husband 18 months ago, I decided to treat myself to the festival this year. If you haven't been there, you may be shocked to learn (as I was) that buying passes is absolutely NO guarantee that you will be able to see any film. I purchased the "low" end of the passes ($850) (there is one festival pass that is cheaper) and assumed that I could just go from film to film to film. Not so. Getting into a film requires waiting in 2 lines every time and it is almost a certainty that you will have to line up at least 90 minutes prior to each film, simply to get a "queue pass" which gives you the ability to line up AGAIN (30 minutes prior to the screening) to maybe/maybe not get into a desired film. Spending literally hours in line for each film severely limits your ability to see lots of films. (Not to mention it kills your back!) It also causes you to have to leave films you love up to 30 minutes early so that you can get in the "queue pass" line in the hopes of seeing the next movie. I had to walk out of a screening of Double Indemnity (which screened at 9 AM but I had to be in line at 7 AM for a decent chance to get a seat) about 30 minutes before the film's end (just about killed me to do so) so that I could stand in line for 90 minutes in the hopes of getting in to see The Sin of Nora Moran. Crazy!!! In most cases the lines consisted of 500-700 people and as shocked as I was that this was the way it was going to be the whole weekend (in all probability I spent more time in lines than screening films) I was among the "lucky ones" since I actually did get into every one of my "must see" films. However, if the TCM Film Festival ran the way other film festivals I have attended did (you buy your tickets in advance and simply walk into the theatre -- no waiting) I would have seen many, many more films. There was also no time to eat, no time to go to the bathroom, etc. etc. Bottom line, if you are going to go to the TCM Film Festival in the future you should either purchase the "Spotlight" pass (at a whopping $2549 which will no doubt be even higher in 2025) or buy the lowest priced pass at $399. Because, whether you paid over $1,000 or "only" $399 you will still be standing for hours in the same long lines. Only Spotlight pass holders get preferential treatment and are allowed into theatres first and, since there are far fewer of them, their wait time in lines is fairly minimal. Much to my shock, very few people seem to have a problem with paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for admittance to the festival with NO GUARANTEE that they will see a single film. Shame on TCM for selling far too many passes and not caring that all of the attendees will be spending most of their time waiting in lines, instead of watching films which is the very reason they showed up in the first place. Lydecker Condolences on the loss of your husband, Lydecker. I had a recent thought that the community T CM speaks of in their commercials should be addressed as their paying community... Still, I wish your husband and you had got the chance to experience the festival together. |
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Post by kims on Apr 24, 2024 21:13:15 GMT
Granted I've been to few film festivals and never in the big city venues, but I've never heard of one run so badly. Good grief what is the pass for if you can't see the films? Frankly the TCM hosts should be ashamed to hawk the event.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Apr 24, 2024 21:39:25 GMT
Note to self: Don't even think about going to a TCM Film Festival. You're too cheap to spring for a Spotlight Pass. You hate crowds, lines, waiting and leaving early, so lydecker's report guarantees it would not be something you'd enjoy.
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lydecker , sorry for your loss and the Festival not living up to your expectations.And it's not just the lines and waiting; it's the basic disrespect which allowed the situation to come about and to continue to exist. I still haven't really fully recovered from so many TCM loyalists being kicked off their message boards. I have to agree with NoShear that if they're not monetizing it, they're not interested. They're also recklessly screwing with their corporate identity. That new bit they're running about the hosts touring the Warner's lot in a tram and then getting involved in a drag race on the spot where Rebel's was supposedly filmed, all while firing off lame quips, looks like nothing less than a hostage video. They're willing to trivialize one of their most important assets, their hosts, by making them so shamelessly shill for the new corporate overlord. Sure, they're celebrating MGM's 100th, but it feels as though the channel which was built on the MGM library has switched allegiances on a dime and it's now Warner's which is saluting MGM. I love plenty of Warner's films, but I feel manipulated by the big switcheroo into a loyalty to something I didn't ask for. lydecker, you said your husband's death was sudden and devastating, so I don't imagine words can do a lot, but we all wish you peace of mind. |
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Post by lydecker on Apr 25, 2024 0:59:10 GMT
In 2020 my husband and I went to LA and decided to do the Warner Brothers Tour. It was great, but much to my surprise, our tour guide told us it was the "2nd Biggest Moneymaker" for Warner Brothers. Which explains why the TCM hosts are expected to shill for the tours ceaselessly. Apparently at TCM, the corporate motto is now: "Money is Our God.
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Post by BunnyWhit on Apr 25, 2024 2:57:31 GMT
My deepest sympathy to you, Lydecker. I am so sorry to hear of your husband's passing.
Thank you for sharing about the TCM Film Festival. I must say, I'd never have imagined the festival operated that way. What a disappointment.
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Post by yanceycravat on Apr 26, 2024 6:10:27 GMT
I am sorry to hear of the passing of your husband.
I have many thoughts on the TCM Festival as I have attended several in different capacities over the years.
I recently had surgery for a tendon repair and am literally typing with one finger! When I can type better I'd like to come back and offer my rant, er, um, insights.
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Post by lonesomepolecat on Apr 26, 2024 6:24:29 GMT
Lydecker, I am sad about your husband, but also sad you waited in line so much without eating. If I had only known I would have driven down there and thrown snacks at you!
I know the festival didn't used to be like that because my brother went Back In The Day and he walked right into movies. I wonder why they don't just sell individual tickets to individual events.
I've always wanted to go since I live here, but I guess I'll wait until TCM is bought by yet another company and the festival is run better. I regret that I didn't go in the Robert Osbourne days, but I never could afford it.
PS Did you get to see anything in the Egyptian Theater? They just restored it.
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Post by kims on Apr 26, 2024 14:35:45 GMT
I'll offer a "conspiracy theory." The money you paid for your pass went to that fabulous raise WBD gave Zaslav for decreasing the value of WBD stock. Oh, I know it's not that simple (I hope). It feels good to vent.
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Post by lydecker on Apr 27, 2024 2:05:44 GMT
Lydecker, I am sad about your husband, but also sad you waited in line so much without eating. If I had only known I would have driven down there and thrown snacks at you!
I know the festival didn't used to be like that because my brother went Back In The Day and he walked right into movies. I wonder why they don't just sell individual tickets to individual events.
I've always wanted to go since I live here, but I guess I'll wait until TCM is bought by yet another company and the festival is run better. I regret that I didn't go in the Robert Osbourne days, but I never could afford it.
PS Did you get to see anything in the Egyptian Theater? They just restored it.
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Post by lydecker on Apr 27, 2024 2:08:11 GMT
I did get to see one film in the Egyptian (Night of a Thousand Eyes) and the theatre restoration is lovely!! Of course, Friday night I tried to see "Rear Window" but was turned away (that was before I realized that 90 minutes in line per movie was required to get in despite paying $850 for a festival "pass!")
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