I’ve shared previously how joining TCM Backlot changed my life, but I’ve not told you that in December of 2018 I became the president of the fan club’s Sacramento chapter. Essentially I help Turner Classic Movies fans in the greater Sacramento area gather together for fun events. Another local chapter president, Louie Jordan of Des Moines, IA, spotlights fellow presidents in the TCM Backlot Members/Local Chapters Facebook group. This Friday was my turn. I’ve re-posted his interview of me below!
What do you do?
By day, I sell textbooks and related services for a wholesale distributor. By night, I write about movies. My film writings can be found at my blog Spellbound by Movies, its social channels, film festival programs, and my town’s magazine Discover Rio Vista.
What’s your favorite part about your city?
When I first moved to California, I lived in a city, but I’m originally from a small, historic town in Massachusetts, and now I live in Rio Vista–a small, historic town south of Sacramento in the River Delta. It’s rich with film history, particularly from the silent era when Hollywood studios would come up to film near the Sacramento River. A lot of Mark Twain adaptations were made here! My home is pretty cool. I rent an apartment on the second floor of what used to be an Art Deco movie theatre. I feel like I’m keeping my home’s traditions alive any time I watch classic movies!
What’s your favorite part about movies?
I love falling into the world of a movie and being moved by the extraordinary creative talents that crafted the experience. I’m open to a lot of genres, so I’m not looking for any one emotional experience. If we’re talking about classic films in particular, they often offer gorgeous visuals between the performers, costumes, sets, and titles cards, and the best films were not afraid to use imagery to communicate. A pitfall of some modern films is an over-reliance on dialogue and too much telling versus showing. Look at how much Slavko Vorkapić was able to communicate in his montages for classic film era studio-made films!
What’s your favorite part about your chapter?
Social media has been a great way for me to make friends with fellow TCM lovers, but they’re spread all over the country. If I’m lucky, I get to see some maybe once a year at the TCM Classic Film Festival. It’s great to have the chapter as a way to make new friends who share the love of movies and live nearby!
What’s your favorite part about TCM?
I can’t believe the TCM is only twenty-five! It feels like its been a part of my life longer than that. I love the access to classics it gives me, and I like how the network remains committed to the legacy and standards of Robert Osborne, who set the bar on being someone I was happy to invite into my home to chat about movies. No one can replace Mr. TCM, but neither should they have to. I enjoy how the latest hosts get to be themselves, and each have their own areas of expertise. My favorite official hosts are Eddie Muller and Alicia Malone, and my favorite contributing host is Illeana Douglas. I guess my favorite part of TCM is the whole package!
Who’s on your Movie Mt. Rushmore?
I had a hard time cutting down my list to answer this question, so I’m going to cheat and name more than four! They’re Alfred Hitchcock, Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Rita Hayworth, and Musidora.
What is an interesting memory of yours relating to movies?
I was once press at a KCET premiere of a JAMAICA INN restoration. I met Hitchcock’s granddaughters and Norman Lloyd. He was and is such a flirt! He was very excited when he started to sing a vaudeville tune called MR. GALLAGHER AND MR. SHEAN, and I was able to complete the lyric with him. I have a recording of the moment, which I treasure.
What is your favorite movie?
Another hard question based on the sheer amount of movies I love! I’ll say Louis Feuillade‘s crime serial LES VAMPIRES starring Musidora. It has everything that’s wonderful about the cinema. There’s action, plot twists and turns, danger, stunts, gorgeous costumes and ultra visually textured sets that look straight out of an Edward Gorey carton, secret passageways, codes to be cracked, Apache dancing, and the battle between good versus evil. There’s a breakout star, too. Musidora gives a badass and charismatic performance as crime queen Irma Vep. The serial’s lasting cultural contribution to cinema is its dream-like quality which influenced the Surrealists.
Any residents of Sacramento that are interested in joining the chapter can contact Beth Ann!
