Platform

Mountain high: Telluride's Bay Area behind-the-scenes staff

By Hilary Hart

The Telluride Film Festival is world renowned for the unique and selective quality of its program and for the filmmakers who make the arduous trek to the southwest corner of Colorado each year. But some of the most interesting people are behind the scenes—and many of them live in the Bay Area. SF360 had the opportunity to interview 15 of the 50 Bay Area staffers in the week leading up to opening night, as they arrived by plane, train and automobile to prepare for the 36th TFF. Each year the Telluride staff is reminded that “you’re not paid enough to have a bad time,” so we wanted to find an explanation for the high recidivism of the Telluride family for the festival that this year’s Guest Director, Alexander Payne, calls the “older, non-druggy Burning Man.”

Allison Mobley
What is your job at TFF?
Assistant manager, Sheridan Opera House.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
I own a pet sitting service, Housepitality, in San Francisco.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
1988, staff at Sheridan Opera House
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
My brother Doug told me about it.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
I love it, can’t imagine Labor Day without the festival, and it’s my only chance to see movies because I’m so busy at work.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
My most cherished memory of the Telluride Film Festival is being one of about 230 people to watch Shirley MacLaine receive her tribute at the Sheridan Opera House in 1996. She received the biggest, longest standing ovation you’ve ever seen when she came out onstage and she was so honored and humbled—you could just see the emotion on her face. People started to get a little teary. It was a "WOW" moment, definitely!
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Helen Mirren
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
(Emphatic) Yes

Barry Jenkins
What is your job at TFF?
Production manager…though not THE production manager, I’m one of many.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
I try to make movies. I swear I do! (Barry directed the indie hit Medicine for Melancholy)
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
I first worked at TFF as a production intern in 2003, what the festival refers to as the Vespucci Dogs. The year before, I attended the Telluride Student Symposium with 49 other students as part of the festival’s education program. I consider that my true starting point with the festival; it’s the absolute best way to experience that festival. Well…aside from being an invited filmmaker.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
The Student Symposium. After that experience, I knew I wanted to attend the festival every year, as often as possible.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
At this point, it’s much more about the crew than the films (which are still amazing, don’t mistake me). This is my eighth year attending. It’s a family reunion every summer.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
The 2002 Symposium, unquestionably. I had a conversation with one of my three favorite filmmakers, Lynne Ramsay, heard Fernando Merreiles openly state his fear of moving from City of God to a Hollywood career. David Cronenberg, Tilman Butner, Dave McKean, not to mention the friends I crammed into a two-bedroom condo with over that weekend. Seven years on we still email everyday, have been to each other’s weddings and held each other’s children. Telluride fuses people together…and not just really rich people =).
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Fish Tank. I’m an Andrea Arnold fan and I think she’s a great case study for a filmmaker. Her short Wasp and first feature Red Road centered on female characters from the less glamorized areas of English society. Through the support of the BBC lottery funds, she’s had the opportunity to grow as a filmmaker by continuing to make work. I think it’s great that her films explore more or less the same themes, because you can see how through making successive films she’s finding ways to articulate those themes better. That’s essentially what happens in any craft person’s life, ideally, but it’s difficult for a filmmaker because of the costs involved in producing work. I’m expecting Fish Tank to be her best yet.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Are you serious?

Doug Mobley
What is your job at TFF?
Ringmaster (welcomes audience at start of each show, makes introductions and manages the front of the house) and sign shop manager.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
I’m the audiovisual administrator at Landmark Education in San Francisco.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
1987, I worked as a production assistant at the Opera House and helping to set up the sound systems for the noon seminars in Elks Park.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
My sophomore year at Dartmouth I joined the college film society, run by TFF cofounder Bill Pence, and another student who was studying film recommended the festival to me.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
Habit (laughing). I consider myself a part-time Telluride resident because I spend a month of every year here. TFF is ingrained in my life, it’s exciting, fun, rewarding, challenging and to not come would be too weird.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
I went to pick up Screamin’ Jay Hawkins at the airport and he arrived, but his bags were delayed, so he and I had dinner in Montrose while waiting for his luggage to come in on the next flight.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
The Road, and moderating audience Q&As.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Oh yeaaaah.

Elaine Buckholtz
What is your job at TFF?
Festival Lighting Designer.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
I am a Light Artist, teach light art at Stanford University and touring lighting designer for Meredith Monk, and other music and dance companies mostly in San Francisco.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
About ten years ago, Lighting Designer
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
Love Telluride and films and lighting.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
I like the wonderful atmosphere of the Festival and the people and the friends I have made outside the Festival by returning regularly.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the outdoor cinema with the starlight and mountains in the background.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
A smooth installation and watching films.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Most likely I will be back!!!

Bay Area residents Richard Parkin, Allison Mobley, Jesse Dubus, Doug Mobley, Meg Ocampo, Paul Burt and Joe Tran have collectively logged nearly 100 years working for the Telluride Film Festival, held every Labor Day weekend in Colorado. (Photo by Hilary Hart/SFFS)

Erin Klenow
What is your job at TFF?
Schlep scheduler and production inventory manager.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
Freelance writer and editor, travel writing mostly, now I’m starting to branch out.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
2004, production assistant
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
At a time in my life when I was looking around for interesting things to do I went to the movies and saw the trailer for The Triplets of Belleville, which ended with the “Telluride Film Festival official selection” logo. I went home, researched TFF and decided to go.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
Two months in a mountain town keeps me sane; wonderful people; interesting diverse friends.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Watching Elvis Mitchell interview Michel Gondry. In answer to a convoluted, probing question about his film Gondry replied simply “I don’t know.”
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Fish Tank because I really liked Andrea Arnold’s short Wasp.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
I hope so.

Jesse Dubus
What is your job at TFF?
Staff writer, shipping department staff and open submissions coordinator.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
Film festival carney: film programmer, editor, writer and print traffic coordinator for various film festivals across the country including Mill Valley and San Francisco International.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
I first came to participate in the Student Symposium program in 2000.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
I had heard great things about TFF while studying at Pittsburgh Filmmakers.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
The quality of the program is unmatched, the town is magical and I’ve developed a strong group of friends here. I also come to hike and bicycle. Before I came here I was a city boy.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
As for favorite festival memories, it’s hard to top my student year in 2000. I remember walking home to the Viking Lodge after the late show Saturday and, as I was walking past the San Miguel River, just becoming overwhelmed with emotion. I was actually brought to tears by the intensity of the festival that day and how beautiful the moonlight reflecting off the water was. It was the only time I’ve ever had what I’d call an epiphany—at the time I was a music student in college and hadn’t had the courage to switch focuses to film, but at that point I knew it was what I had to do. Hearing Werner Herzog talk that day about the importance of following your dreams was certainly influential. Of course, I was operating on very little sleep since the student schedule goes from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m., and I was staying up late into the night talking about film even after that, so the fatigue definitely made me more susceptible to being emotional, but the festival has a unique kind of magic that was a big part of that. The last Monday of the festival was also incredible—I started the day at the Masons Hall Cinema seeing Stan Brakhage’s new film premiere with him in the audience, followed by Chris Marker’s Andrei Tarkovsky film. Marker is possibly my favorite filmmaker. And I finished the day as one of the last few people who got into the TBA screening of Yi Yi, which was a revelation and to this day is one of my favorite movies. I found out a year later that one of the patrons who didn’t get into that screening actually bit the theater manager trying to get past him! Perhaps that’s not a good thing to put in print!
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I think I’m most looking forward to seeing Sleep, Furiously, which is a beautiful film that I saw on a screener and will be amazing in 35mm. Also, since I’m probably as passionate about food as I am about film I can’t wait for the Ermanno Olmi doc about the Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini and the panel that will go along with it.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
I can’t imagine not.

Joie Tran
What is your job at TFF?
Production Labor Pool/Operations.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
I’m currently a Sale Operations Associate at Yelp.com
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
I went to the Student Symposium in ’06, and came back last year to work for Production/Operations as a staff member.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
To be honest, the badges are too expensive to return as a patron, so becoming a staff will allow me to catch some of the films during the fest.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
I love returning to this quaint little town in the Rockies every year, plus I consider it a necessary boot camp. After doing office work for the rest of the year, it’s nice to have a breather in manual labor for one week.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
My most cherished memory was sitting right in the front row during the Penelope Cruz tribute at the Palm during my student symposium year.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Carey Mulligan, who stars in An Education.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Definitely or in the words of Paul Rudd, totes magotes.

Jonathan Allen
What is your job at TFF?

Lighting Director.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
The rest of the year I direct awards shows and product launches, mostly technology, auto and pharmaceutical; still teach lighting design occasionally at university; theatre consultant for architects; and technical director for corporate shows.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
1998. Lighting.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
Production Manager Brandt Garber asked me to help out the first year after we met doing the Telluride Jazz Festival. I actually slept in his van the first year for the whole time, and showered at the high school locker room. Crazy. I decided to work the festival because I love film and it was a challenge to streamline the operations and budget, to evolve the lighting department into something that was a positive experience for the interns.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
Every year I return because of the people, a tight group of friends.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Sitting on the park bench in front of Steaming Bean cafe, talking with Ken Burns about raising daughters as single dads or maybe lighting Peter O’Toole at the Sheridan Opera House, so unassuming and courteous, or watching my 8-year-old daughter develop over the years into such an integral part of my experience here, seeing the town through her eyes.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Friday night opening.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
I never know if I’ll be back. Talk to me in May 2010 :)

Kate Sibley
What is your job at TFF?
I am the Dean of Education Programs for the Festival, which includes a number of separate programs both at the festival and through the rest of the year in Telluride (these are run by Erika Gordon, who is local).
What work do you do the rest of the year?
I am the executive assistant for the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission, which oversees bounty changes between cities.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
I purchased passes the first two years, and started working the third year. In those first two years, I was working for Bill Pence, cofounder of TFF, at The Flick movie house in Denver, so I almost felt as if I was working the festival.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
I figured I could work and see the films for free—what better deal could that be? I was supposed to split the job of ticket-seller with someone else from The Flick that year, but she never showed up because she ended up in jail for the weekend, so I sort of cemented my place in the festival right off the bat.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
This festival is part of my heart and soul. It’s my life’s blood and it renews me each year. Also, as the person in charge of the education programs, I get to see the festival fresh each year through 70 new pairs of eyes. It is incredibly rejuvenating and energizing, and it always makes me appreciate the festival as if it is new again.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
My very first favorite memory is from the first festival. I had purchased the special tour package, which included roundtrip bus fare from Denver, lodging at the swank Oak Street Inn (a very early iteration of that place) and a festival pass. Because our bus got us into Telluride just moments before the opening tribute to Gloria Swanson, I was late getting into the Sheridan Opera House. There wasn’t a seat to be found, but this very courtly gentleman rose from his seat in the box just to the right of the door and offered me his chair. It turned out to be James Card, cofounder of the festival, whom I adored forever after. He was a truly lovely man.
Each year we end our student programs with a wrap-up session wherein each student is asked to say something about the weekend’s experience. I recall one young woman in the college program many years ago who waxed rhapsodic over the films and her fellow students, but ended with a statement to the effect that she had “never seen so many stars in her life,” at which point she broke down in tears, as did we all, because we knew she was speaking of these spectacular Telluride skies and not the guests. This doesn’t sound like a particularly effective memory, but it has stuck with me all these years, because it has always been symbolic of what happens with our students here.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Seventy-plus new students and shorts filmmakers to turn on to the festival!
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
They’ll have to pry me out of here with a crowbar…so YES!

Meg Ocampo
What is your job at TFF?
Concessions delivery driver.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
Archivist at Pixar Animation Studios.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
I was part of the student symposium in 2006, and then I returned as a “dog” (TFF slang for intern) in 2007.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
It all started with my experience with the student symposium. My professor at the time, Linda Williams (at UC Berkeley), encouraged me to apply. Once I was selected and came to the beautiful small town in the mountains, I was in pure bliss. I slept, ate, and talked film in a beautiful town. I was with my peers, watching films and getting the rare opportunity to talk to actors and filmmakers immediately after watching their films. At the end of the symposium, I knew I had to come back and not just to watch films. I wanted to learn how it all worked! I learned about the Production Apprentice/Dog program then and knew that it was going to be the best first step towards getting a glimpse at the inner workings of putting up the festival.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
Working as a dog, which is exactly how it sounds, I got to see a lot that your average pass holder does not. I love every minute of it and I got to meet some of my closest friends today through my work at the festival. While I always return to the festival for the guaranteed list of great films to watch, I truly return for the people. TFF is definitely an annual reunion of friends for me.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Overall, I think my first ride on the gondola during my time as a student symposium member. I was on a high after a day of watching films and talking to filmmakers I admired and the time on the gondola to just look at my surroundings just made me really reflect on the wonderful opportunity I was having. Another memory was the morning screening of Volver my student year. After exiting the theater, I witnessed a teary-eyed Penelope Cruz and Laura Linney hugging outside of the Palm Theatre. Laura was congratulating Penelope, the two were just so moved after the screening. Aside from the celebrity factor, I couldn’t help but think how great film is to evoke such emotion in people. I felt the same emotions and to see it in front of me felt good and comforting.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
The same every year—the unveiling of the year’s lineup and reuniting with all the friends I’ve made at the festival throughout the years.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Absolutely! I’ll keep returning until I can no longer! I think the amount of exclamation points throughout this entire questionnaire illustrates where TFF lies in my heart.

Paul Burt
What is your job at TFF?
Head film inspector.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
Projectionist for Dolby Labs, San Francisco Film Centre, and Maui, Hawaii and San Francisco International film festivals.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
1978. That year I was the festival’s only film inspector. The workload was overwhelming.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
I was in the same river-rafting co-op with someone who worked at TFF, and I knew TFF cofounder Bill Pence, because we were both film collectors.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
I like my coworkers and the programming is unsurpassed.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Projecting Napoleon on three projectors in Elks Park while Abel Gance watched from his hotel room window across the street, and the tribute to Peter O’Toole, who was such a wonderful raconteur that I went to see the tribute twice.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant and the Serge Bromberg program. As I inspect the prints I will be intrigued to see more on screen.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Of course, good lord, how could I not.

Richard Parkin
What is your job at TFF?
I’m part of the staff that manages the Press Tent. We provide press kits, information and support to attending journalists.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
Full time M.F.A student in Film Directing at UCLA.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
I’m relatively new to Telluride. I started at the 34th Festival as a member of the press staff. Although, I first attended the 32nd Festival while I was an undergraduate at U.C. Berkeley as part of the Student Symposium.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
I lived in Berkeley for many years and gradually became involved with the Bay Area film community. I attended the Pacific Film Archive weekly, worked at the San Francisco International Film Festival for roughly four years and slowly became aware of Telluride and its local connections. Like the others, Telluride has such a rich history and unbelievable programming. It made sense to want to be involved with another Bay Area institution.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
The community of old friends and the opportunities to meet new ones. Now that I’m in Los Angeles, going to Telluride each year is one of the only ways for me to catch up with friends from the Bay Area. And then, of course, the Festival itself.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Too many! Running into Lou Reed on Colorado Ave. Being introduced to the films of Jan Troell and then meeting him at the Labor Day picnic. Seeing Brokeback Mountain for the first time in the beautiful Colorado Rockies, a perfect setting.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Eagerly awaiting the announcement of this year’s program, but every year I pray for a Tom Waits tribute. Maybe’s he’s already had one, but he would be the ideal tributee. As would Chris Marker. One can dream.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Definitely. When I was deciding between different graduate school programs, two of the three would have prevented me from attending Telluride. It’s no coincidence I’m at the program that poses no conflict. Of course, other considerations were in play, but Telluride was certainly one of them.

Roger Paul
What is your job at TFF?
General Manager, The Backlot Theatre.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
General Manger of the Balboa Theatre. This is a true busman’s holiday for me.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
Last year, same gig.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
Festival codirector Gary Meyer, who owns the Balboa, pretty much had to do with my coming here. Obviously I had heard a few good things about TFF over the years. There had been some reluctance on my part as I wanted to personally oversee the theater while Gary was away, but I’ve got a great staff so that obstacle removed itself.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
Last year I was blown away that many of my new colleagues were self-described newbies as they had only been there half a dozen years. So many multi-decade veterans. Impressed is not the word. I was amazed, awed even.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Meeting Danny Boyle was very cool. Telling Chas Ebert (Roger Ebert’s wife) that her writing from Cannes had moved me to tears was another moment for sure. And, I’d be remiss not to add, being made to feel like a full member of the Telluride Family from boo. The old timers were all too gracious for words.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I dunno, Telluride is about being surprised.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Natch.

Steve Marsh
What is your job at TFF?
Film inspector.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
Winery owner, Bridgeway Cellars.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
1987, film inspection.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
I was recruited by Paul Burt, the head film inspector.
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
It’s a whole lot of fun, and it’s the people.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
Watching Cab Calloway perform on the stage of the Sheridan Opera House in ’89 or ’90.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
Nothing specific, I won’t know what until I see them. Over the years my favorites are unanticipated.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
I do not know, possibly not. I might not come for the first time in 23 years because of a family wedding scheduled for Labor Day weekend next year.

Tammy Williams
What is your job at TFF?
Manager, Nugget Theatre.
What work do you do the rest of the year?
Samples Department & Office Manager, New Leaf Paper. NLP’s mission is to inspire a fundamental shift toward environmental responsibility in the paper industry.
What year did you first work at TFF? Doing what?
2001, I was tapped to open the Galaxy Theater as House Manager.
Why did you decide to start working at TFF?
Working at TFF had been a dream since my days working as a manager/projectionist for Landmark Theaters in Seattle. By the early ’90s, every theater had a computer, and we used to receive emails from various staffers traveling to or returning from film festivals around the world. My favorites reads were the emails relating tales of TFF programming and Telluride adventures. When Gary Tucker, then manager of theater operations, called in early 2001 to ask if I would be interested in opening one of the new theaters that Labor Day Weekend, I answered with a very enthusiastic YES!
Why do you return year after year to work at TFF?
Two reasons: the caliber of the programming and the beauty of Telluride itself. TFF replenishes my soul.
What is your most cherished memory from TFF?
2004: The year of the Fred Roos tribute at the Galaxy, I had my picture taken with George Lucas and Harrison Ford using my Polaroid camera. I’ll never forget the look on Lucas’s face when I asked if he minded Polaroid photos. Here I was asking the digital effects king to capture his image with some old-school technology.
2008: A close second was the year Happy Go Lucky was at TFF and having Mike Leigh up on stage in jeans and mountain wear addressing an entire theater full of TFF staff. Such access!
What are you most looking forward to this year?
The Viggo Mortensen Tribute and having Helen Mirren in the house for her film The Last Station.
Will you be back for the 37th SHOW?
Absolutely! I plan to be back every year that TFF will have me.

Hilary Hart, San Francisco Film Society Director of Publicity, is a longtime Telluride attendee and is working behind the scenes once again at the festival this year.

topics: activism, actors, festivals, film festivals, french cinema, genre films, hollywood, international film, world cinema

09.05.2009