My name is Bill, and I am addicted to seeing galas.
Galas are held twice nightly at Roy Thomson Hall for the middle eight days of the Toronto International Film Festival (T.I.F.F.). (One film each is shown as a gala on the first and last evening of the Fest.) Out of those eighteen, I typically catch four or five. These are pictures with a lot of hype behind them.
Here's what happens at a gala: Michèle Maheux or Piers Handling (the Managing Director and Director of the T.I.F.F., respectively) marches onto the stage, says a few warm words about the Festival, mentions its key sponsors, and introduces whatever talent is there to represent the film. A chorus of applause then goads cast and/or crew out from behind a tall black curtain.
There are variations on this formula. Neither Woody Allen nor his cast showed up on Tuesday evening to promote Sweet and Lowdown, prompting apologies from one of its producers as well as rumours that no Allen film will ever warrant such preferential treatment again. Toronto mayor Mel Lastman gave a typically enthusiastic speech before Wednesday's Simpatico. (Aside: star Nick Nolte showed up in what looked like a big, yellow bathrobe. Further aside: Simpatico is an atrocious waste of a good cast.) Wes Craven delivered a long, prepared monologue on the making of his new film Music of the Heart at its gala, overcompensating for either star Meryl Streep's absence or his decision to stray from the horror genre. (Music of the Heart is a drama about a violin teacher that some have already dubbed "Mrs. Holland's Opus".)
Technically, the gala presentations are top notch. The arena's state-of-the-art digital sound system produces less reverb than one might expect from a spherical auditorium. The screen is very large and the projection never less than flawless.
There's another reason I love going to the galas: Howie, Howie's wife, Bonnie, and our mutual friend, Phyllis. These three incredibly enthusiastic filmgoers have become as much a staple of my Fest-going experience as star spotting and partygoing. (They always save a seat for Chris and I.) Unfortunately, Howie and Bonnie had to leave the T.I.F.F. early this year, for their coastal house was in danger of being ravaged by Hurricane Floyd. Some things are more important than movies.
This year's galas
Felicia's Journey, Me Myself I, Ride with the Devil, Mumford, American Beauty, The Cider House Rules, Snow Falling on Cedars, Sunshine, The Girl of Your Dreams, Sweet and Lowdown, Orfeu, Simpatico, East-West, Jakob the Liar, Music of the Heart, Love in the Mirror, Anywhere But Here, Onegin
