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Jul28

Written by:Jason Pollock
7/28/2009 12:58 PM

Dear Friends,

I'm so excited to announce that I will be receiving an incredible honor tonight at the opening night of the Traverse City Film Festival.  5 years ago in the summer of 2003, I was the festival manager of the 1st ever TCFF.  This year Michael Moore and the TCFF board members have decided to make me an official Co-Chair of the Festival! Below is what they have posted about it on the Traverse City Film Fest Website... In this post they have also included a lovely pic of what I used to look like 5 years ago! Lets just say that I lost 60lbs and cut my hair... LOL! I hope you enjoy that one...

http://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/about/?page=cochairs

Co-Chairs

As we reflect on our fifth anniversary, the festival recognizes Susan Brown and Jason Pollock as honorary co-chairs of the 2009 TCFF and Co-Founders of the festival, which would not exist without their extraordinary contributions.

A Message From Susan Brown:

As the festival enters its 5th year, I am amazed at the progress of this world-class event and forever proud to have been part of its launch. Having worked many events in the Detroit area, all manned by volunteers, I had never experienced anything like the volunteer spirit at the TCFF. Without the hundreds of people who give their money, their skills and, most of all, their time and cheer to the festival, even the genius of the concept and the continually incredible film selection would not have survived the first year. I remember when, in less than three months, the entire festival was planned and created such a stir that nearly all of the films, many from places we’d barely heard about, sold out in hours.am happy to welcome all of you to this terrific event. Thank you for making it a continuing success story. Enjoy the films.

A Message from Jason Pollock:

Thinking back to 5 years ago, it is so inspiring to see what the festival has become in such a short amount of time. Most festivals around the country take decades to mature the way that the TCFF has in only 5 years. Having the opportunity to start the festival with Michael, John, Doug and Susan was an unforgettable experience. It took a lot of sleepless nights but we pulled off something miraculous back in 2005, and I can’t wait to see what TCFF looks like in 2014! Thank you so much to the people of Traverse City for always making me feel welcome. TC truly has become a home away from home for me. And now, on with the movies!

__________________________________________________

Here is an article that ran in the local Traverse City paper which mentions me and discusses what it was like to start this great film festival...

http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_208080641.html

Traverse City Film Festival turns 5 years old

 

By VANESSA McCRAY
vmccray@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY -- The film festival is 5 years old.

If it were a kid, it would be going to kindergarten.

And it is, kind of. This year, the Traverse City Film Festival added a film school -- one of many developments to occur as the event matured.

Sure, there was crying when the festival was born in 2005. Its father's politics provoked some fussing.

But soon, the festival grew from its four original venues and expanded to auditoriums at Central Grade School and the Dennos Museum Center. Along the way, it revived the darkened downtown State Theatre into a year-round gathering spot.

Now, at age 5, the film festival is one of Traverse City's summer mainstays. More than 70 features, plus 50 shorts will be shown from Tuesday through Sunday. It took vision and volunteers to make it to this birthday, organizers said.

Film festival origins

Academy Award winner Michael Moore is the face of the film festival -- a face often topped by a baseball cap.

His casual image fits the laid-back but highbrow festival he founded in Traverse City, near his Antrim County home. The first festival launched in late July 2005 after just six weeks of intensive planning.

The concept: To create an event "for movie lovers, for the community, and to, in our own small way, make a contribution to save the cinema," Moore said.

Over the years, that meant comedies like "Borat," treasures like "The Wizard of Oz" and foreign films like Jordan's "Captain Abu Raed." This week, it means the highly anticipated "Julie & Julia" and a documentary to mark Woodstock's 40th anniversary.

That first year was a flurry of activity. Moore called in favors with studios to get films. His then-assistant Jason Pollock ran around town, raised money and worked on tickets. Susan Brown coordinated the legions of first-year volunteers. Deb Lake, now the executive director, earned notice for her hard work and was tapped to help wrap up the first festival and plan the second.

The festival battled public perception. Moore's liberal politics left some uneasy about his plans. Opponents protested with a counter festival, but it did not return the next year.

"I believed that maybe it might be good for me to do something for an area that disagrees with me politically. Instead of shunning them or fighting them on some level, maybe I should embrace them," Moore said.

Festival volunteer and movie-lover Debi Dechow didn't understand the resistance to the film festival.

"It doesn't matter if you agree with him or not. This is not about him. Yes, he was the founder, but it's about bringing something to Traverse City and doing something for the community which is amazing," she said.

The first year brought nearly 50,000 admissions and 500 volunteers. Last year's festival, the fourth annual event, drew more than 80,000 admissions and 1,200 volunteers.

"We can't do it without this army of volunteers. It's by the community, for the community," said local resident and festival board member John Robert Williams.

State of the State

The crown jewel of the film festival is the State Theatre.

Festival momentum and festival organizers enabled the old movie house to reopen after serving as home base for early festivals. From the beginning, Moore wanted the State. That first year, he was told it was impossible. No projectors, no screen, no speakers. "Think of some place else," he was told.

Donations and volunteer labor allowed the theater to welcome festival-goers that first year. The festival later worked out a deal with Rotary Charities of Traverse City to take it over. A spruced up State reopened for year-round use in late 2007.

"That was my theater when I was a kid, and it just sat there empty and everyone in town had learned to ignore it -- like the crazy uncle in the living room," said festival board member Doug Stanton.

Dechow thinks the film festival "makes our region stand out." Stanton called the first year a "grand experiment."

"It was really amazing, and it wasn't just about movies. It was about bringing story-telling back downtown," he said.

Additonal Photos from the Record Eagle Article...


Filmmaker and Traverse City Film Festival founder Michael Moore speaks during a press conference about the 2005 festival. Douglas Tesner/Record-Eagle file photo 


The inside of the State Theatre before it was remodeled. Douglas Tesner/Record-Eagle file photo 

 

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Jason_Pollock: The smartest are not the ones who think they know everything. The smartest are the ones who think there's something to learn from everyone.
Jason_Pollock: The smartest are not the ones who think they know everything. The smartest are the ones who think there's something to learn from everyone.

Jason_Pollock: @sylviaswann hey you :)
Jason_Pollock: @sylviaswann hey you :)

Jason_Pollock: One of the coolest photos of a HUMAN and a WHALE probably EVER! http://t.co/HOSlmCpd
Jason_Pollock: One of the coolest photos of a HUMAN and a WHALE probably EVER! http://t.co/HOSlmCpd

Jason_Pollock: @hoogs thanks for the RT dude! Hope you're well. #YouRock #FF
Jason_Pollock: @hoogs thanks for the RT dude! Hope you're well. #YouRock #FF

Jason_Pollock: @maremurray @Pollock_Rocks THANKS SO MUCH!!!:)
Jason_Pollock: @maremurray @Pollock_Rocks THANKS SO MUCH!!!:)

Jason_Pollock: I think this becomes truer everyday. "Here's how the Republicans have ALREADY conceded the 2012 Presidential Election" http://t.co/8zjWosP8
Jason_Pollock: I think this becomes truer everyday. "Here's how the Republicans have ALREADY conceded the 2012 Presidential Election" http://t.co/8zjWosP8

Jason_Pollock: @me_moi_clara great point!
Jason_Pollock: @me_moi_clara great point!

Jason_Pollock: Donald Trump's endorsement of Mitt Romney is about as important as Donald Trumps's reality TV show. #NobodyCares
Jason_Pollock: Donald Trump's endorsement of Mitt Romney is about as important as Donald Trumps's reality TV show. #NobodyCares

Jason_Pollock: #FF: Support non-profits and follow my #NonProfit Orgs list! Follow the whole list with a click: http://t.co/DdZTvkV1
Jason_Pollock: #FF: Support non-profits and follow my #NonProfit Orgs list! Follow the whole list with a click: http://t.co/DdZTvkV1

Jason_Pollock: @GrahmCrackrKids the @AP released that news.
Jason_Pollock: @GrahmCrackrKids the @AP released that news.

Jason_Pollock: BREAKING: @KomenForTheCure REVERSES their decision to pull funding from @PPact! A HUGE victory for women everywhere!
Jason_Pollock: BREAKING: @KomenForTheCure REVERSES their decision to pull funding from @PPact! A HUGE victory for women everywhere!

Jason_Pollock: Education & Jobs in January: Unemployment w/ no high school degree: 13.1% Vs. w/ a college BA: 4.2% via @MichaelSkolnik
Jason_Pollock: Education & Jobs in January: Unemployment w/ no high school degree: 13.1% Vs. w/ a college BA: 4.2% via @MichaelSkolnik

Jason_Pollock: @sylviaswann hey you:)
Jason_Pollock: @sylviaswann hey you:)

Jason_Pollock: @Leifgustav honored!
Jason_Pollock: @Leifgustav honored!

Jason_Pollock: @LindsayFultz thanks for the RT!
Jason_Pollock: @LindsayFultz thanks for the RT!

Jason_Pollock: @Mae_Andersen THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! #enjoy :)
Jason_Pollock: @Mae_Andersen THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! #enjoy :)

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Jason_Pollock: @larry411 LOL

Jason_Pollock: Most of the time they call someone an "overnight success", they are lying. True success is never "overnight success."
Jason_Pollock: Most of the time they call someone an "overnight success", they are lying. True success is never "overnight success."

Jason_Pollock: @AlessandroRea @ruhanirabin @Minervity @FixedOpsGenius @brasonja thanks so much!
Jason_Pollock: @AlessandroRea @ruhanirabin @Minervity @FixedOpsGenius @brasonja thanks so much!

Jason_Pollock: @Pollock_Rocks :)
Jason_Pollock: @Pollock_Rocks :)