True/False: Prom Night
The True/False Film Fest transforms downtown Columbia, Missouri and positions it into the world-wide documentary stage. T/F is also more than just films, many different forms of art showcased throughout in order to give attendees the full experience of diving into artistic culture. This was my first time participating in the festival,(I know fourth year in Como, first year T/F) I learned a lot and would like to share with you the most interesting aspects.
T/F has a unique system that the staff have planned every single detail for. Going a step further than traditional festivals where attendees just purchase tickets at the box office, T/F allows everyone the opportunity to get to see film by introducing Q lines. A Q line is other tickets, for around $15, which viewers can show up an hour early for to try to get a spot in the theaters. Making this is full experience, T/F has Q Queens at every venue, dressed in elaborate costumes, organizing who gets into films.
T/F also features select musicians to accompany movies and entertain audiences until showtime. T/F even has a special section of Hitt Records set up to sell music of the artists featured with the films. T/F also features sculptures set up on 9th street in Columbia that features art that contributes and adds to the theme for the year along with street vendors selling treats to enjoy while standing in line for films. T/F also has special events like concerts, a parade, drink and music pairings, and virtual reality pieces. T/F creates their own podcasts an introduction to the public to what the theme is and what events will be happening and featured.
Like all film festivals, T/F has films that premiere world-wide at the fest. One of the films that premiered touched a personal favorite subject of mine, prom. Midnight in Paris, a documentary by Roni Moore and James Blagden, took seven year to finally premiere. Paris is about Northern Flint High School’s, in Flint Michigan, graduating class of 2012 seniors going to prom. Moore and Blagden wanted to focus the film on the joyous time these kids were experiencing instead of the misfortunate news about Flint which seems to be the only apparent narrative about it.
Other than blogging, I also write reviews for Vox magazine. I was privileged enough to have this film be my assignment. This was my first ever T/F film and I absolutely loved this movie! It gave me a nice nostalgia as a now college senior to my high school days along with the reminders of going to an inner-city school district. I found it to be an accurate representation as to what I remember 2012 to be. The amazing dresses will leave you in awe and the amount that the community supports these teens made me rather jealous. When arriving to prom, the attendees walk through a parade where they get to show off their rides and their outfits to the entire community. 20 to 30 people gather around each couple to take pictures and everything is planned down to the last detail.
The film directors spoke after the showing and commented how the kids involved did all of the on-screen antics themselves without being prompted. They treated the documentary like their own MTV Sweet 16 special. The parents and kids had candid interviews where in true teenaged form, the teens couldn’t believe their parents opinions. Their facial expressions and attitudes throughout the process give the film a funny and light hearted atmosphere the audience can just absorb and enjoy.
The film received some negative feedback during the Q&A regarding the showing of teenage subjects drinking and smoking marijuana. However, the directors said they felt that the documentary showed an accurate portrayal of the seniors’ lives and wanted to show that this was something perceived as normal; their activities were facilitated by a parent.
Overall, I loved and would recommend this hilarious movie to any adult looking to riminess on their high school experiences.
