Speech vs. Swan

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The Toronto Film Festival is offering one press screening of Darren Aronofsky's hotly anticipated Black Swan, which pulverized nearly all discerning critics at the Venice Film Festival. It happens on Friday, September 10th, at the Scotiabank theatre at 9:30 am -- great.

But wait. Another highly anticipated film, Tom Hooper's The King's Speech, which excited many viewers yesterday at the Telluride Film Festival, is also having its one and only press screening at nearly the exact same time -- 9 am -- on the very same morning, and at the same venue.

Each film has at least two open-to-the-public showings, but further into the festival grid and conflicting, naturally, with other important films and events. So there's no catching both of them early, press screening-wise. It's one or the other.

But why? Why not press-screen them on 9.10 so they don't conflict? What could have motivated Toronto Film Festival programmers to show two films to journalists that they knew were going to be hot tickets right up against each other with no alternatives except for two subsequent, hard-to-crack public viewings each? They had to know they'd be causing problems.

If you miss a press screening of a major film in Cannes it always shows the next day at the Salle du Soixantieme. And there are always...okay, usually two or three press screening opportunities to catch a must-see at Sundance.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 4, 2010 at 11:44 PM

comment #1

Caged Horse says ...

America is welcome to watch hagiographies about our disfunctional royals if only you'd stop sending over movies about sports that nobody in Britain plays.

Posted by Caged Horse at September 5, 2010 4:08 AM

comment #2

Sean O'Connell says ...

Bad scheduling, indeed, but there is a second SWAN p&i, if that helps make your decision.

Wednesday, September 15th 9:00am Press and Industry TIFF Bell Lightbox 1

Posted by Sean O'Connell at September 5, 2010 4:30 AM

comment #3

Bob Violence says ...

this is just how festival programmers get their kicks

Posted by Bob Violence at September 5, 2010 4:54 AM

comment #4

EDouglasCS says ...

"this is just how festival programmers get their kicks"

In fact, they all just had to take a drink cause Jeff complained about the scheduling on his blog.

Posted by EDouglasCS at September 5, 2010 5:00 AM

comment #5

Bob Violence says ...

I like how you can always tell when the spammers have struck, because the comment count on every story increments by one

(non-ironic liking, not hyperbole)

Posted by Bob Violence at September 5, 2010 7:02 AM

comment #6

Jeffrey Wells says ...

Wells to Sean O'Connell: That second Black Swan press & industry screening -- Wednesday, 9.15 at 9:00am at the Bell Lightbox 1 -- is no help if you're scheduled to talk to Darren Aronofsky the day before.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells at September 5, 2010 8:04 AM

comment #7

Sun Damaged Quiff Man says ...

Unless you also have a meeting with Tom Hooper that same day, looks like you've solved your own problem.

Posted by Sun Damaged Quiff Man at September 5, 2010 8:09 AM

comment #8

Jeffrey Wells says ...

I'll figure it out, but idiotic scheduling like this always causes problems. Friday, 9.10 is a relatively light (i.e., not that competitive) day. It would be great to be able to get both of these films out of the way early & be done with them. Because there are always many other urgent things to do, so you wind up having to chose Peter over Paul two or three days later and it just messes everything up -- it's a scheduling domino effect.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells at September 5, 2010 8:17 AM

comment #9

mrksltsky says ...

I have this problem at TIFF every year but I don't see how it's avoidable considering the limited time and number of films they program. It's not like everyone's been dying with anticipation to see THE KING'S SPEECH all year or anything... I mean really, don't you think they consider this stuff? There's only so much they can do.

(There do seem to be less P&Is this year, I don't know if it's the festival's fault or what. And I'm still annoyed that they stopped doing P&Is at night. Okay, maybe I'm sort of on the same page.)

Posted by mrksltsky at September 5, 2010 8:52 AM

comment #10

Sean O'Connell says ...

With all due respect to Mr. Hooper, I still think the chance to see the new Aronofsky wins that head-to-head battle. I really liked "Damned United," and have heard tremendous things about "Speech." But new Aronofsky is just that ... new Aronofsky. A must, even without the Venice buzz.

Posted by Sean O'Connell at September 5, 2010 9:12 AM

comment #11

C.C. Baxter says ...

I know that The King's Speech was well-liked at Telluride, and it certainly sounds like awards show fodder, but take a look at the filmographies of Hooper and Aronofsky, and the decision is a no-brainer.

Posted by C.C. Baxter at September 5, 2010 9:13 AM

comment #12

baboo says ...

Um, Hooper is as much a master at humanizing musty historical figures (HBO's John Adams and Elizabeth I) as Aronofsky is a whiz at making visual his characters' internal demons. Both are must-sees!

Posted by baboo at September 5, 2010 9:30 AM

comment #13

The Winchester says ...

Maybe they figure that press would have seen one film or the other at one of the other festivals?

It's still stupid, though, and damn thems and all...

Posted by The Winchester at September 5, 2010 10:17 AM

comment #14

MechanicalShark says ...

actually, I would go with The King's Speech if I were you. Firth+Rush+Bonham Carter is an awesome actor combination, and I want to know if this is the real deal as an awards contender, or a pretender.

Posted by MechanicalShark at September 5, 2010 10:22 AM

comment #15

petunio says ...

You'll have to see it in an average theater like the rest of us mortals, perhaps?

Somehow its hard for me to empathize with you on this one Jeff.

Posted by petunio at September 5, 2010 11:14 AM

comment #16

Bob Violence says ...

Jeff should see The King's Speech and ask Aronofsky a lot of questions about Robocop

Posted by Bob Violence at September 6, 2010 5:58 AM

comment #17

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