Tribeca Film Festival
May 3rd - 11th, 2003
New York City
 This
year's Tribeca Film Festival was better than ever! And why not? With
such key players as Co-founder Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthaland
Craig Hatkoff, and Film Institute Board Member Kevin Spacey, I was
sure to expect an even bigger schedule than last year, not to mention
a bigger selection of events, public and premiere screenings, panel
discussions and films from all over the world. The American Express
sponsored festival took place in a variety of locations throughout
all of Lower Manhattan
 something
which Empire State Development Chairman Charles A. Gargano couldn't
have been happier about, as he expressed his thankfulness to
all of Tribeca's co-founders for not forgetting about the City's
tremendous
need for an economic boost. Co-founder Robert De Niro expressed,
very inspirationally, how thrilled he was with last years turnout,
and with the fruition of what was just an idea a little over a decade
ago. Co-founder Jane Rosenthal also expressed how happy she was about
the more than 150,000 folks from around the globe who have traveled
to New York City in order to experience this grandeur event, her
focus being "something for everyone to enjoy." The festival
gave more than 100,000 NYC-based filmmakers an audience (surely,
a powerful boost--Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office
of Film, Television and Broadcasting, commented on De Niro and Rosenthal's
tremendous leap forward in making the festival accomplish this).
Thousands of film enthusiasts were able to the experience the excitement
of seeing movie screenings prior to their commercial release, with
their stars and directors in attendance. 
2. Highlights of the festival included live performances such as
the MTV/VH1Rock & Comedy concert, entitled "100% NYC: A
Concert Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival", Peter Scarlet's
(Exec. Dir. of TFF) diverse list of more than 200 premiere feature
films, documentaries and shorts as well as restored classics, a rarely
seen screening of Al Pacino's "Chinese Coffee", a conversation
with Al Pacino about his career and his other interests, dozens of
panel discussions (with lots of actors, producers and screenwriters),
Family Festival premieres such as "The Lizzie McGuire Movie", "Pokemon
Heroes" and the Salma Hayek directed "Maldonado Miracle."
 3.
I just loved the screenings I went to see, especially Maddin's "Cowards
Bend the Knee"
(Sunday, May 11 @ 10:00am, United Artists Theatre, Cinema No. 16)
, a silent film whose aesthetics ran a very fine line between being
ridiculed and being adored.
I especially enjoyed "The Maldonado Miracle"
(Saturday, May 3 @ 12:00pm, United Artists Theatre, Cinema No. 5)
. Salma Hayek, a wonderful, beautiful actress from Mexico, and one
of the leading movie superstar actresses in Hollywood, made her debut
as director with this wonderful film." In my opinion, this was
the most impactful plunge I've ever seen an actor/actress ever take
into the masterful art of film direction.
4. I must say that it was very, very difficult to choose a panel
from among all of the available panel discussions that were featured
at Tribeca this year. Since I had to make a choice, I chose "The
Return of the Superhero.", given the nostalgic nature of the
topic. The panel did an extraordinary job of discussing, in detail,
the superheros of yesteryear--Batman, Spiderman, X-Men and The Daredevil.
I say "nostalgic" because of the longing Americans have
for the superhero idols featured in the comic books they read in
their childhood lives. Seeing how advertisements in comic books have
gone from promoting bubble gum years ago to promoting vacuum cleaners
today, it's quite apparent that the superhero idols of yesteryear,
thusfar, haven't lost any of their savor among the American community.
Highlights of the discussion featured Kevin Misher's
(Pres. Misher Films)
commentary, in which he stated "Americans seek now, more than
ever, after the 'Hero' idol as both a role model as well as for their
own security and peace of mind." Mark Steven Johnson
(Dir. "The Daredevil")
, when asked by the audience "Why is Hollywood seeing today's
superhero films generate such high numbers at the box office?" indicated
that the success is largely due to the fact that Americans can readily
relate to the very heros they grew up with. I, then, personally asked
Mr. Alan Cumming, the well-known actor from Scotland, who starred
as "Nightcrawler" in the superhero action film "X-Men
II" if the immense following of superheros stops at America's
borders, or goes on to span the globe. His reply, which immediately
indicated that there are no boundries, was that superheros are embraced
by fans from all over the world, and this is what accounts for the
industry's huge success with these films on an international scale.
5. One of the most prominent highlights of the Tribeca Film Festival
was the premiere of "Touching Wild Horses", a most beautifully
crafted film starring the multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winning
actress Jane Seymour, the lead star of television's internationally
acclaimed series "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." This is the
story of two "lost souls" that have been isolated from
the world, that are lead by a pack of wild horses into re-discovering
the beauty of the world. When tragedy strikes his family, young Mark
Benton is thrown upon the mercy of his enimatic, prickly Aunt Fiona,
who shares her home on a magical island off the coast of Nova Scotia
with a herd of enchanting, graceful wild ponies. For twenty years,
Sable Island has been Fiona's refuge from her own secret tragedy,
but she doesn't seem to have any mercy to spare, only rules. Mark
is not to call her Aunt. He must not tell lies. Most importantly
of all, he is never to touch the wild horses. But when a hurrican
kills a mare, leaving her colt orphaned and doomed, Mark discovers
that, by breaking Fiona's rules, he inadvertantly helps her and himself
to begin their lives again
On Sunday, May 11, 2003, at the Embassy Suites Hotel (New York City),
I had the distinct pleasure of conducting a one-on-one interview
with Ms. Seymour, who had attended the premiere screening of "Touching
Wild Horses," in which she starred. When I asked Ms. Seymour
why she chose to do this film, she replied that the story was too
captivating for her not to partake--it really touched her heart,
thus, she put her heart and soul into it. Ms. Seymour told me, quite
succinctly, "The money was of no bearing in this case because
I was very motivated when I saw the script, and I wanted to do this
under any circumstances."
 Ms.
Seymour is presently living in London with her husband, James Keach,
who is a director. Jane is helping him direct and work along with
him on the eight feature films they are working on. She is mother
of six childrenm, and works with different charities throughout the
world, including UNICEF and Red Cross to raise money for kids and
causes affecting these kids. She is also heading a Los Angeles-based
charity, which is called "City of Hearts." She was given
a QBE by Queen Elizabeth II. When I asked "Since you have won
multiple Emmy's and a Golden Globe, will we be seeing you in a role
that will get you an Academy Award?" She replied "I am
enjoying my acting while in my prime, and feel I still have plenty
of time".
I would like to conclude by saying that, were Ms. Seymour to receive
an Oscar for her stunning performance in "Touching Wild Horses",
I would not be the least bit surprised.
The Tribeca Film Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal
and Craig Hatkoff to celebrate New York City as a major filmmaking
capital and to contribute to the long-term recovery of lower Manhattan
after the attacks of September 11, 2001. The First Annual Tribeca
Film Festival took place May 2002 and attracted more than 150,000
to lower Manhattan for film screenings, panel discussions, an all-day
outdoor family festival and a free public concert in Battery Park.
The Tribeca Film Institute, whose largest event is the Film Festival,
was also created by De Niro and Rosenthal in order to create and
sustain ongoing initiatives that will foster the economic and cultural
revitalization of lower Manhattan. In addition to the Festival, the
Institute, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, will offer ongoing
programs and special events designed to stimulate discussions and
interaction among filmmakers about the filmmaking process, and to
provide a venue to showcase the best in world film.
Betty Coker, Chairwoman of the H.A.D. Organization of N.Y.C., Inc & Senior
Editor of the Liberty News Online, will write articles about modeling,
fashion design, fashion events, and how she co-founded the World's
Largest Community Fashion & Modeling Organization.
If any of you models, designers, festival promoters, or fashion show
promoters are interested in having an article written about you in
this section, please feel free to contact us using any of the information
below. If you are interested in modeling with us, or interested in
a free presentation (no experience necessary--we are presently looking
for models, for our New York Mega Show 2003, ranging in age from
3 to 60--including male, female, and child models, all sizes, heights
and ethnicities welcome), please feel free to visit my website.
Website: www.hadofnyc.org/models.
Email: LNSeniorEditor@hadofnyc.org
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