new film festival to boost downtown’s star power
Hollywood already has a highly visible presence in Downtown Los Angeles. In recent decades, the central core has become the most filmed location in the world, where several production crews occupy different street corners on any given day (or night).
What has long served as the nondescript backlot to the entertainment industry will soon boast a more glamorous role - complete with red carpets, celebrities and paparazzi. This summer the Downtown Film Festival (DFF) will make a splash with its first annual five-day exhibition. The event is being organized by the founders of the well-established Silver Lake Film Festival, an indie-focused film juncture which celebrated its seventh year this spring.
Greg Ptacek, the Festival Co-Director and industry veteran, and his team plan to debut the DFF as a “major cultural event,” drawing national (and possibly international) attention from filmmakers. This spotlight is expected to generate tremendous Downtown buzz and contribute to its resurgence. The ambitious venture has already garnered interest and support from several key politicians, local business owners and philanthropists.
As part of their campaign, festival promoters are also looking for community involvement. Screenings will be strategically scheduled to allow lunch-time office workers to catch a “short” or for residents to plan dinner and a movie in the evening. Furthermore, resident committees will be formed to vote on programming content - which may be coupled with other public events, such as Grand Performances, to give festival-goers a “full experience.”
As part of that community participation, Ptacek contacted us at angelenic to ignite discussion about the festival’s possibilities, venue choices and sponsorship opportunities. Please comment regarding any suggestions, opinions or concerns you may have.
Confirmed festival dates are August 13-17, 2008. Most details are still being worked out; however, several key components have already been proposed. The following sections give more insight into the DFF concept.
Venue Variety to Amp the Appeal
Ptacek explains the festival happenings will occupy a gamut of Downtown theaters and other less-obvious settings. Historic Broadway theaters, rooftop terraces, Nokia Theatre, Laemmle’s Grande 4, ImaginAsian Center, Japanese American National Museum, a park and small neighborhood joints are all possible locations. The intention is to “tour and showcase” the diversity of our neighborhoods through a rotating circuit.
Attendees and residents alike should expect to see a unique side of the city. For some, the “where” might be just as interesting as the “what.” Among the most exciting venues will be the historic Broadway movie palaces. An event of this magnitude comes at an opportune time as momentum for Broadway’s revival is gaining traction.
The Orpheum Theatre - a likely festival candidate - is currently the only fully restored playhouse on Broadway, and today hosts large concerts and other productions such as the LA Conservancy’s annual Last Remaining Seats movie gala. The Million Dollar Theatre, Los Angeles Theatre and Tower Theatre are other possibilities as their respective owners continue restoration work.
Green Initiatives Sprouting
Joining other efforts to promote sustainability in Downtown, the DFF aspires to be “a zero carbon emissions event,” making it the world’s first entirely “green” film festival. Organizers are working with the City of Los Angeles, environmental groups and other economically-minded entities to develop the initiative. All operations from marketing to party receptions will adhere to these standards.
A series of short and feature-length films on environmental issues (such as global warming) will be presented. In addition, a Green Expo exhibiting live demonstrations, product displays, workshops and panel discussions may take over a parking lot in the same vein as Park(ing) Day LA.
To take efforts a step further, film-goers and residents should be encouraged to utilize public transit, walk or bike to all activities. Information on Downtown’s DASH routes and Metro stations should be publicized and made readily available, as driving and parking could be cumbersome.
Economic Impact, L.A.’s Tribeca?
When film festivals are successful, their impacts on communities can be immense, financially and otherwise. In 2002, New York City launched the Tribeca Film Festival in the Lower Manhattan neighborhood as a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was a revitalization effort by filmmakers to bring visitors to a destitute neighborhood.
In only six years, that festival has grown into one of the most prestigious film events in the world. Last year over half a million attendees had an estimated economic impact of $120 million on the city of New York. The Tribeca festival continues to grow each year.
Ptacek draws on the Tribeca comparison because he feels the situations are analogous. Could the Downtown L.A. Film Festival deliver a similar impact to our community?
It could, but not immediately. According to a recent film festival study referenced by Ptacek, “every dollar spent by a film festival stimulates another $5 of spending in the local community – restaurants and lounges, hotels and retail shopping.” Based on that formula, the DFF would generate a relatively modest $3.75 million in revenue for neighborhood businesses in its inaugural year. However, long-term growth potential is the focus here.
Remember, the organizers of this event need your input to help make it a success. Leave your comment below!
SPONSORSHIP CONTACT INFORMATION
Greg Ptacek
www.downtownfilmfest.com
Ph: (323) 660-1935
gregptacek@earthlink.net or greg@silverlakefilmfestival.org
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19 comments
It is very interesting that http://www.angelenic.com broke this news before the Downtown News could ever hit it. I have noticed a pattern of this blog being at the forefront of everything happening in downtown and I am impressed. Thank you so much for your interesting pieces and great photography. It is a pleasure to visit your site everyday while I enjoy my cup of coffee on Fig.
Congratulations on getting the scoop again guys, I welcome the idea of being able to grab a hotdog and see a short movie during my lunch break, it would be nice to get out of “work” mode in a different way for an hour. great idea!
Again, angelenic has proven to be on the forefront of keeping residents and visitors of downtown alike uptodate as to what is happening in Downtown LA.
I hope the downtown restaurants and lounges realize the potential of the film festival and offer their generous sponsorship, together with some of the major financial institutions and developers.
There is no better place than the Broadway theatres with their historic background to show these movies in the most wonderful setting in all of Southern California. In addition to outdoor showings at the California Plaza, where Grand Performances already has proven that to be a most scenic venue for eclectic events.
Angelenic, keep up the good work! You guys are THE resource for ANYTHING Downtown.
Continuing with Alex’s comments, all downtown businesses that stand to gain from increased pedestrian traffic should jump on this opportunity to promote and support this event. The potential for first time visitors to downtown is enormous. They could end seeing a quiet and empty town, or if successful, streets full of visitors stopping at restaurants and shops while waiting to visit their next movie venue. I think this is a great idea coming at the right time.
Good job on breaking the news first guys. We’ll see if the downtown news is honest and cites angelenic as their source if they report this story this weekend. This is great news at a time like this, when the housing market is struggling, a film festival is a great way to keep the momentum rolling for the downtown renaissance.
I think the film festival should consider using venues like st. vibiana cathederal and the edison. Both places have a very classy urban vibe that i think visitors to downtown would be awed by. For a place like the edison it would be a win-win, in that the festival could introduce the bar to a new customer base, and the bar could help advertise the event in the preceding months.
I also think they should plan to correlate the festival with the downtown art walk, that way people who come downtown to see a movie, could find themselves sticking around afterwards and visiting galleries. Some galleries could even show exhibits that are connected to the film festival. All in all, i think this festival is going to be a great thing for downtown.
Great suggestions Affrojuice! That’s exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for. The Edison is on the top of my list also… and luckily, I know the GM. I have a lot of confidence that they would be open to hosting festival-related events. I imagine Tom Gilmore would be willing to offer up his venue as well.
Good job guys. However, this info was around over a month ago. Just send someone to attend the DLANC, CCA, and DCBID meetings. I’ll forward info if I find it next time.
I’d love to go to those meetings — but I’ll have to decide whether I want to give up school, work, sleep or blogging in order to have the time to do it.
Thanks for any info you can provide…
I’ve always wondered why the American Cinemateque doesn’t take advantage of one of the historic theaters on Broadway and open a branch downtown. The Egyptian in Hollywood and the Aero in Santa Monica are great locations. It would seem like a good fit for the venue and neighborhood.
I would love to see the American Cinemateque come to downtown. That’s a great idea! I’m not sure if any of the old movie palaces have been in operable condition until recently. Maybe someone should approach them about considering the neighborhood.
I believe all of the theaters downtown, except the Tower, are in working condition for showing movies. The L.A. Conservancy runs Last Remaining Seats every spring. So the buildings work. I’ve seen movies at most of these venues over the years. (“Independence Day” at The State back in 1996 was fun.) And, compared to the condition the Egyptian was in when the earthquake finished it off back in the early 90s, these buildings are in much better shape.
The demography of downtown residents is perfect for the Cinemateque. Toss in some outreach to Latinos and Koreans in the neighborhood and I bet one of these theaters could be kept very busy. There are plenty of interesting films coming out of Latin America and Korea. I can remember when respectable Angelenos wouldn’t venture into Hollywood.
The demographic downtown is absolutely ideal, and the ImaginAsian Center will prove the demand for indie and foreign film here.
I’m an avid indie and foreign film fan myself, and some of the best movies I’ve ever seen have been Korean and Brazilian. This new film festival could the catalyst for change. People will begin to discover our venues and fan base.
You guys do great work. simply great work. You certainly provide a wide range of interesting topics from which to pick for reading. thanks
I am so glad that I have stumbled upon this website. Since moving downtown, I am constantly trying to find out new events and happenings to emerge myself in, and angelenic is PERFECT! I am excited to learn about the upcoming film festival and if you have any ideas on how downtown residents can volunteer or help out, please post it! Thanks and keep up the great work!
Hey guys, I love your site and have asked 2X to be on your list, but it doesnt’ seem to “take.” Could you kindly sign me up for your elist?
Best and thanks, David A. davidandrusia@mindspring.com
And David, for the third time, what is your site’s URL that you want us to add to the blogroll?
Here you go: http://www.downtownfilmfestla.com/
I feel like a confused idiot (cut me a break—I was a French major in 1846!
Can there be a reason I’m not getting your e’s (including this request, which I’d surely have honored)? I do check junkmail, btw.
Wondering in Westlake, D>
Well sounds good on the surface. BUT, It’s only a marketing stunt, the Silver Lake Film Festival did nothing for our neighborhood. We still have business’ going up one day and closing the next just like a change of underwear. Plus the 1 dollar stimulating 5 dollars sounds like the Bush economy plan. Going GREEN anybody? Sure jump on the wagon, L.A. green? Please that’s like the Minutemen blessing illegal immagrants. All in all this is just somebody trying to capitalize on the revival of Downtown, I’m sorry Downtown has always been a revival to the poor and homeless. Once Silver Lake was diverse but that was murdered and so will end that diversity in Downtown. Remember Mr. Bernstien told you. Where’s Silver Lake?
“All in all this is just somebody trying to capitalize on the revival of Downtown…”
alan, you are very perceptive and astute.
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