CEO Gregg Schwenk
(left)
"The thing I noticed about an audience like a Newport audience is they're enthusiastic about film in general. They're astute and curious. They want to know about process," Executive Director & CEO Gregg Schwenk asserted to a local publication prior to the opening of the Newport Beach Film Festival.
It's too bad he turned his patron base this past week by being totally ignorant to their needs.
Although an interesting roster of films have screened to date that have appealed to a few discerning film buffs (for the most part; there were quite a number of stale old projects amateurish in nature) over the past week, tensions have been mounting at the Theatre due to a lack of planning and incompetence on the part of Gregg Schwenk and his inexperienced staff.
For example, on occasion Schwenk's staff were inclined to coral theatre-goers in a small cramped holding area outside on the patio without sufficient space to allow the guests to distinguish one line from the other.
The confusion -a much-talked about fiasco - has been a big turn-off (especially in view of the fact the Newport Festival boasts that it is a world-class film fest).
Hogwash!
Judging by what I've experienced this past week, festival organizers are a bunch of farmers with no class!
Consequently, filmgoers ended up emotionally upset and angry about the chain of disturbing events that have gone down.
Notwithstanding, it was rare that ticket-holders were ever led into the theatre on time.
"It's so cold out here. When are they going to let us in," seemed to be the plaintive cry of the day!
In fact, a large percentage of the films started late amid a lot of discomfort - which caused mean-spirited grumbling - among the disgruntled filmgoers.
"I'm not returning to the festival this year," one pi**ed patron angrily sniped.
"It's not worth it."
The volunteers were polite and courteous throughout the frustrations and in spite of the fact guests were venting the brunt of their anger on them.
I was also embarrassed for Mr. Schwenk at a screening last night when the Festival's lack of professionalism signaled the week-long event was fast-evolving into a sorry joke.
For example, when a film touted as a highlight of the festival sprang to life on the screen, the sub-titles were askew and "falling off" the screen!
Technicians couldn't get it right for the longest time.
Worse than that, perhaps, were the continual nuisances created by Festival Staff who acted in an ignorant, ill-mannered, thoughtless manner throughout the film.
Ad nauseam the hired Festival hands pushed the theatre doors open wide - and on each obnoxious occasion sent a blinding light from the foyer into the back ten rows - much to the annoyance of the paid ticket-holders trying to enjoy the film.
Earlier in the evening, the rude staff also managed to insult pass-holders and members of the press, too.
Even though it was apparent that the movie was sold out, the handlers continued to send pass-holders and members of the press into the long lines snaking around the Theatre walkway.
When it came time to seat the audience, one co-ordinator barked out:
"Pass-holders and press people you have to wait. Paid ticket holders, only."
One press person grumbled that she was giving the festival thousands of dollars of free publicity and was quite emphatic that she didn't like being treated like sh**.
Actually, in my opinion, letting the ticket-holders take seats first was the right thing to do.
I recently reported in a post that ticket-holders at the Dallas Film Festival didn't get into screenings because passholders essentially "stole" their seats from underneath them.
At that time, I noted that ticket-holders should be seated first.
But, it was the way the situation was handled last night, that was downright insulting to passholders and the press.
The staff's conduct was totally demeaning to the individuals involved!
In fact, the situation even got worse, if you can believe it.
Once paid ticket-holders were seated, the press people were herded into the theatre and told to grab a seat.
But, get this.
Shortly after the die-hard few scrounged around for a seat, and located one, a rep for the Festival gruffly ordered the pass-holders out of their seats!
"Go to the back of the theatre, we're bringing in a bench for you."
At this juncture, the insulted film buffs slunk to the back of the theatre, as paid ticket-holders guffawed and made fun of the situation.
Reprehensible conduct by Festival staff, wouldn't you agree?
Meanwhile, Mr. Schwenk - caring professional qualified CEO? - sat there with all the personality and gumption of a worm.
No sir, he didn't even apologize for insulting the passholders or even the members of the press.
It boggles the mind to think that Schwenk, his staff, and festival organizers could act in such an unprofessional insulting fashion.
They're a bunch of incompetent a**holes, that's why.
In the final analysis, if the Newport Beach Festival wants to attain world-class Film Festival status , they'll obviously have to ditch Schwenk and the losers who fall in rank below.
Until then, they're just a bunch of wanna-bees blowing smoke up their a**.
It's too bad he turned his patron base this past week by being totally ignorant to their needs.
Although an interesting roster of films have screened to date that have appealed to a few discerning film buffs (for the most part; there were quite a number of stale old projects amateurish in nature) over the past week, tensions have been mounting at the Theatre due to a lack of planning and incompetence on the part of Gregg Schwenk and his inexperienced staff.
For example, on occasion Schwenk's staff were inclined to coral theatre-goers in a small cramped holding area outside on the patio without sufficient space to allow the guests to distinguish one line from the other.
The confusion -a much-talked about fiasco - has been a big turn-off (especially in view of the fact the Newport Festival boasts that it is a world-class film fest).
Hogwash!
Judging by what I've experienced this past week, festival organizers are a bunch of farmers with no class!
Consequently, filmgoers ended up emotionally upset and angry about the chain of disturbing events that have gone down.
Notwithstanding, it was rare that ticket-holders were ever led into the theatre on time.
"It's so cold out here. When are they going to let us in," seemed to be the plaintive cry of the day!
In fact, a large percentage of the films started late amid a lot of discomfort - which caused mean-spirited grumbling - among the disgruntled filmgoers.
"I'm not returning to the festival this year," one pi**ed patron angrily sniped.
"It's not worth it."
The volunteers were polite and courteous throughout the frustrations and in spite of the fact guests were venting the brunt of their anger on them.
I was also embarrassed for Mr. Schwenk at a screening last night when the Festival's lack of professionalism signaled the week-long event was fast-evolving into a sorry joke.
For example, when a film touted as a highlight of the festival sprang to life on the screen, the sub-titles were askew and "falling off" the screen!
Technicians couldn't get it right for the longest time.
Worse than that, perhaps, were the continual nuisances created by Festival Staff who acted in an ignorant, ill-mannered, thoughtless manner throughout the film.
Ad nauseam the hired Festival hands pushed the theatre doors open wide - and on each obnoxious occasion sent a blinding light from the foyer into the back ten rows - much to the annoyance of the paid ticket-holders trying to enjoy the film.
Earlier in the evening, the rude staff also managed to insult pass-holders and members of the press, too.
Even though it was apparent that the movie was sold out, the handlers continued to send pass-holders and members of the press into the long lines snaking around the Theatre walkway.
When it came time to seat the audience, one co-ordinator barked out:
"Pass-holders and press people you have to wait. Paid ticket holders, only."
One press person grumbled that she was giving the festival thousands of dollars of free publicity and was quite emphatic that she didn't like being treated like sh**.
Actually, in my opinion, letting the ticket-holders take seats first was the right thing to do.
I recently reported in a post that ticket-holders at the Dallas Film Festival didn't get into screenings because passholders essentially "stole" their seats from underneath them.
At that time, I noted that ticket-holders should be seated first.
But, it was the way the situation was handled last night, that was downright insulting to passholders and the press.
The staff's conduct was totally demeaning to the individuals involved!
In fact, the situation even got worse, if you can believe it.
Once paid ticket-holders were seated, the press people were herded into the theatre and told to grab a seat.
But, get this.
Shortly after the die-hard few scrounged around for a seat, and located one, a rep for the Festival gruffly ordered the pass-holders out of their seats!
"Go to the back of the theatre, we're bringing in a bench for you."
At this juncture, the insulted film buffs slunk to the back of the theatre, as paid ticket-holders guffawed and made fun of the situation.
Reprehensible conduct by Festival staff, wouldn't you agree?
Meanwhile, Mr. Schwenk - caring professional qualified CEO? - sat there with all the personality and gumption of a worm.
No sir, he didn't even apologize for insulting the passholders or even the members of the press.
It boggles the mind to think that Schwenk, his staff, and festival organizers could act in such an unprofessional insulting fashion.
They're a bunch of incompetent a**holes, that's why.
In the final analysis, if the Newport Beach Festival wants to attain world-class Film Festival status , they'll obviously have to ditch Schwenk and the losers who fall in rank below.
Until then, they're just a bunch of wanna-bees blowing smoke up their a**.
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