Movie Natters: March 16, 2006 Archive

Strange pleasures

Posted at 5:41 PM on March 16, 2006 by Euan Kerr (2 Comments)

After attending a bunch of public sneak previews recently I have begun partaking of a guilty pleasure. These are the shows where local radio stations and publications offer freebies to listeners and readers. The hope is audience members will talk up the movie to their friends

There are many people who are regulars at these events, and they know they rhythm. Usually there is a brief introduction by the sponsors, and then the calls begin:

"TEE-SHIRTS!"

"TEE-SHIRTS!"

The radio station folks walk through the aisles hurling garments, carefully knotted to give them some heft, as far as they can into the crowd. The excitement just keeps mounting. The shirts bear some emblem or slogan from the film, probably not something you would spend your money on, but these are free!

Some in the crowd launch themselves into the air like NBA stars to catch their prize. The ripples of excitement roll back and forward through the gathering

There are usually various film critics and other writers sitting around in the crowd, trying to keep their heads low as the shirts fly. Ethical considerations mean they can't accept freebies, even if a shirt whacks them in the side of the head. Yet the competitive electricity in the air is hard to deny, and I wonder if the indifference displayed by the scribes is feigned.

I keep watching to see if, one day, one of them rises, Free Willy-like, to snag a tee. Just once, I'd like to see it!

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