Santa Barbara International Film Festival
So, i know that this blog comes a little late but haven’t had the chance to write about this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival, for which i MC and coordinate Q and A sessions following each screening. This position sort of fell into my lap through a neighbor who asked if i was interested in volunteering for the festival. It sounded more like i was going to hand out tickets rather than something fun but long behold …. I am offered a much more prestigious position, MC. Thanks to #RussSpencer It has been a privileged the last 2 years to be able to introduce over 30 films and get to know the directors/cast/crew during Q and A sessions and the after party.
The last year brought many celebrities including Riviera Award Winner Martin Scorsese, Modern Master Christopher Plummer, The cast of “The Artist” as well as the winners of the virtuosos awards which went to Demian Bichir, Rooney Mara, Melissa McCarthy, Patton Oswalt, Andy Serkis, and Shailene Woodley. These were just the faces you saw on stage but if you keep your eyes open you are sure to spot celebrities all over town. Just walking along i saw Julia Drifus from Seinfeld, The redneck guy from anchorman, the entire Bones Brogade Skate team and other. Try peeking into some of the nicer restaurants int own. unnoticed, and i guarantee you’ll see someone interesting. Then again, that can always happen in sb but, that’s the fun part about film festival. No one is getting into any backstage rooms or hiding from special viewing areas. If someone wants to see a film, they have to go in the same entrance as everyone else so who knows, you could sit down next to your favorite celeb. The whole thing has desensitized me towards the glamour aspect of celeb spotting. They are just people and most friendly when treated as such. You wont find me directly rushing up trying to get every picture i can, unless of course, the situation presents itself. Below are some shots from the festival. Enjoy !
Can’t wait for next year ! In the family now : )
A Foreign Perspective 