SBIFF Good for Santa Barbara?
There's bound to be a letter to the editor in the next week reeking of isolationism saying the Santa Barbara International Film Festival isn't good for Santa Barbara.
While the paparrazi surrounding George Clooney and Naomi Watts may not seem very Santa Barbara to many of us -- I like the film festival and it certainly brings in business during what would normally be a slow month in town.
If you are one of those locals that hasn't gone -- try it out. Here's a nifty schedule of movies at EdHat that gives you a description of the movie when you roll over the name with your mouse.
While the paparrazi surrounding George Clooney and Naomi Watts may not seem very Santa Barbara to many of us -- I like the film festival and it certainly brings in business during what would normally be a slow month in town.
If you are one of those locals that hasn't gone -- try it out. Here's a nifty schedule of movies at EdHat that gives you a description of the movie when you roll over the name with your mouse.
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 2/04/2006 05:56:00 AM
Our Community Guidelines ask that you use the Blogger/Open ID login or the
more private Name/URL option when making comments. Comments using "Anonymous" will not be published. For more info, see choosing an identity.
4 Comments:
Actually, I think it is 11 days - and then there will be two days afterwards for best of the fest, a new feature (well, actually, they did this about 4 years ago before the reign of Roger). And not a day too long for this movie-lover.
As for bringing in business into town, that was the original reason for having it at this time of year. However, don't believe the stats. of # of movie-goers; it's quite hit and miss and sort of hovers around 40,000, a number they've been using for years.
Btw, it would be interesting to know how many passes, the $1,500 type and the $500 type, were given out --- and, especially, how many went to the City employees, including council. SBIFF is a 501c3 non profit and shouldn't this be public news?
The amount that a platinum pass is worth is too much for them to accept it as a gift -- so they are not offered them.
Good! Then that, no passes, is a change over last year when city Arts tsar Patrick Davis and wife, Nancy, had such passes.
It is hard enough to stand in line for an hour (and end up in the 4th row - lucky not to be in the 2nd, 3rd, as some, as yesterday for the great new film, King Leopold's Ghost, and know that a lot of passholders are comp'ed.
Understandable for film people - not so understandable when the passholders are city employees. Dedicated fest goes are the Flacks who (I assume) always buy their passes; there a lot of other locals going to the fest, with and without passes.
Nice editorial in today's N-P about the history of the fest. Good suggestion to switch Fiesta away from August!
Scott Steepleton column in today's News-Press points out what we all know, that the Fest is especially for the out of towners, noting that Durling said that the Fest is a "passholders" event even though the City gave $52,000. Actually, that's a small amount compared to some fests.
Two Platinum passholders I saw yesterday were Patrick and Nancy Davis - if they paid $1,500 each for those passes, I'll eat my hat (very needed to ward off the sun while I stand in line as they traipsed in to the shaded passholders' place.) Also saw council member Helene Schneider walking by, not wearing a pass around her neck.
The Arts department is in charge of giving out grants to artists and art related. That they get passes (and Davis is seen at many of the $-events) makes one wonder.
What is the City policy on city staff getting comp'ed? We know the political people can't accept gifts above a certain amount, but what about the other paid staff and departments? And where are the records on these gifts? It should be a matter of pubic record in the same way that salaries are (maybe these gifts are part of the salary?)
Post a Comment
<< Home