AFI Dallas just celebrated its third illustrious year on the Festival circuit.
Already, the AFI chapter out of the Lone Star State, has proven to be a creative (and marketing) force to reckon with.
For example, when the festival wrapped last year, ticket sales were tallied at a whopping $100,000.00.
But, get this!
Before AFI Dallas even swung open its screening doors at the two venues playing host this year (NorthPark & Magnolia Theatres) the box office had already managed to rustle up the staggering sum of $100,000.00 plus in sales receipts.
Understandably, AFI Dallas is currently going through growing pains, especially in respect to the booking process.
For example, shortly after I left the red carpet one evening, two film buffs dashed up and angrily waved a couple of tickets in my face.
"Sir, this festival is selling seats that aren't any good," he hollered with a tinge of frustration in his voice.
Say what?
Apparently, the filmgoer and his girlfriend purchased two tickets for "Gigantic" at Victory Park, then proceeded to stand in line with all the other excited ticket-holders the night of the much-anticipated screening.
After about thirty minutes later, they were turned away without explanation (along with about thirty other disgruntled movie buffs in the same situation).
"It's not the money," he lamented.
"My girlfriend and I made the plans for the date earlier in the week and intended to make a romantic night of it with dinner and everything."
Then, he made an important observation.
"There was no notice on the ticket that said we might not get a seat. And, they didn't inform us that even if we stood in line, we might not get in."
Boy, was he pi**ed!
I noted for the record that I was in their corner all the way.
In retrospect, it appears that a pass-holder (an individual who buys a pass for access to all films during the course of the AFI Festival for a set fee), Festival big-wig, or a member of the Press was given priority in spite of the fact the young couple paid well-in-advance with cash in hand.
That stinks!
In addition, a handful of volunteers who were promised passes to a couple of films in exchange for their services throughout the day, found themselves SOL on occasion, too.
Frankly, in my opinion, those tickets should have been honored along with the rest.
If not, the least the Festival could do is promise cash in exchange for the face value of the ticket, to ensure volunteers are properly compensated for their generous contribution to the success of the Festival.
Don't you agree?
Notwithstanding those glaring irregularities which need a quick fix, a couple of John Wildman's staff in the publicity department were not only incompetent (and prone to tell lies), but rude and insulting to members of the press, on occasion, as well.
For instance, although I received an invitation to attend a noon-hour event sponsored by the YMCA for underprivileged kids, details about the red-carpet event were not forthcoming from Tanya Wright (who was in charge of organizing the press).
On the night prior to the outing for the young ones, I hadn't received specific details to facilitate coverage of the event, so I queried Miss Wright about the schedule for the next day in person at the Magnolia venue.
"I'm organizing that now," she excitedly chirped, "And, will send out the information tonight."
When the info failed to arrive by 9 a.m. in the morning, I zipped off an e-mail to Wright with a request for the info.
In a response e-mail, which arrived about an hour later, John Wildman's right-hand woman suddenly did an astonishing about-face.
"There isn't any event scheduled for the lunch hour," she insisted in her curt reply.
At this juncture, I dredged up the e-mail invite from the AFI mailbox, and inserted the information into a follow-up communication that essentially noted for the record that she was obviously mistaken.
Within minutes (and shortly after firing off an e-mail to John Wildman about the discrepancies) Ms. Wright e-mailed back.
"Okay. There is a function. You are welcome to attend. Show up on the red carpet at 11:45. See you there."
Duh!
I arrived at NorthPark just in the nick of time, as hundreds of kids bounced off bright yellow busses, and on to the red carpet for photo ops with popular actor Patrick Warburton.
When Ms. Wright spied me taking notes, a curious look crept across her face.
Then, she dashed over and made an odd comment in view of the aforementioned facts.
"Oh, you came!"
"Of course," I replied sternly, "I was invited."
After the fun-filled event wound down, and the kids were happily seated in the theatre munching on snacks, I proceeded to check my e-mail.
In one hasty communication, John Wildman tried to gloss over the obvious, and took a position in which he sought to exonerate himself and Miss Wright of any blame for the alleged misunderstanding.
In so many words, Wildman asserted that the info on the event was not forthcoming because he and Miss Wright were under the impression I would probably not be interested in attending an event crawling with hundreds of kids (!).
Then, he took a dishonest leap, and made a wild statement that since the Tattler wasn't the kind of publication that was interested in news items pertaining to school kids, that AFI Dallas elected not to follow through and provide the information promised.
Mr. Wildman obviously never reads the Tattler.
If he did, he'd know that I have penned stories on Kids First, for instance, an organization that sifts through films in search of ones that meet the right set of criteria for the youth market.
In addition, I have reported on workshops for children that are held from time to time at the David Geffen Playhouse in Westwood.
Likewise, I have written posts on children's books, the dangers of lead-poisoning in toys, face-painting and costume-making at the Grove mall, and so forth and so on.
I always endeavour to reach out to the community, no matter what the age group!
In a follow-up e-mail, I pointed out that I was disappointed that Wright would lie to me to cover up her shortcomings and save face.
That evening, Miss Wright (obviously stung by the remarks I made to John Wildman earlier in the day) continued with her lies and deception.
Although I informed her that I did not wish to discuss the matter further - after all, she was causing a scene on the red carpet in front of other journalists, the paparazzi, and Festival-goers - she became belligerent.
In a burst of rage, she retorted angrily:
"No wonder no one likes you!"
I was shocked by her unwarranted mean-spirited remark which was totally unprofessional.
In fact, her wild assertions were not true!
Almost daily, I have received complimentary remarks in response to a myriad of posts - and, likewise, regularly receive a raft of e-mail communications in which fans note how much they do, in fact, like me.
Needless to say, I didn't attend AFI Dallas to win a popularity contest.
A few minutes later, I happened to bump into John Wildman on the red carpet.
Holy mac!
He refused to believe that his self-indulgent assistant uttered the nasty comment.
"She didn't say that," he angrily asserted.
Fortunately, a journalist who was present when Miss Wright aimed the ugly slur at me, happened to stroll by at that precise moment.
So, I grabbed his arm and pulled him Wildman's way - at which point - he confirmed what had transpired earlier.
"I'll talk to her," he promised.
I guess he followed through, because on the heels of the incident, I began to also experience problems with Miss White's associate (Michael Devous).
Was he retaliating against me because of my run-in with Tanya Wright?
Although John Wildman assured me details for two big gala events would be forthcoming in an hour or so from the desk of Mr. Devous, no confirmation on time schedules and locations were sent out.
Finally, I drafted an e-mail to Mr. Devous in which I noted for the record, that for some inexplicable reason the information was not forthcoming.
Mr. Devous reacted like a flippant Queen.
In an communication fired off a few seconds later, Devous "pasted" a page from the dictionary which spelled out the precise meaning of the word "inexplicable".
Then, the catty little man had the gall to infer that the e-mail address on file for me (which I provided weeks ago) was probably the reason for the mix-up in question.
In sum, Devous tried to thrust the blame on me by alleging that I gave him an incorrect e-mail address, which accounted for the failure of information to arrive safely in my mail box.
What a load of hogwash!
The e-mail address he was referring to was - in fact - correct.
If the bombastic little sh** had a higher IQ, he would have surely noticed that the e-mail address he was referring to "forwarded to" my yahoo account.
In a nutshell, the two e-mail accounts were merged together, so there would be no need to check both accounts individually each day.
Indeed, every e-mail Mr. Devous sent out since we were first in touch weeks ago not only arrived without incident, but was promptly responded to.
How do I know?
I forwarded all the e-mails to myself so there would be copies on file.
Of course, I am not surprised by the bit**y conduct of Mr. Devous - especially after witnessing his personality on the loose in the AFI Lounge now and then during the course of the fest.
For example, on two specific occasions I was witness to, the PR flunky was drunk and disorderly in front of a roomful of celebrated festival guests, members of the press, and AFI staff.
Yup, the swirling dervish made a total a** of himself!
Time to clean house, Mr. Wildman!
