After having such a great time at last year's Nashville Film Festival, we doubled our pleasure this year and attended two different premieres with stars in attendance.
Friday night, April 17, we attended the world premiere of
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet. This incredibly interesting documentary entails the creation of a ballet based on the Grammy-award winning music written by William Shatner and Ben Folds. Both were in attendance as well members of
the Oak Ridge Boys and the lovely Sheryl Crowe. We got close proximity to all of these folks on the red carpet area of the festival as well as in the theatre where Mr. Shatner, his wife, Elizabeth, and Ms. Crowe sat directly across the aisle from us during the film. After the credits
rolled, there was a Q&A session with the director, world-famous choreographer, Margo Sappington, and Mr. Shatner, who was also presented a festival award by Nashville Mayor Karl Dean - a beautiful hand-painted Gibson guitar. The only star scheduled to be there that didn't make it was Brad Paisley, whose also-celebrity wife, Kim, went into labor earlier that morning (we f
igured that was a decent excuse for missing the premiere).
On Saturday, May 18th, we were joined by our friend, Caroline, for the world premiere of
That Evening Sun, a stirring drama set and filmed entirely in East Tennessee starring Hal Holbrook. Mr. Holbrook, looking vibrant and chipper despite his 80+ years in age, was in attendance. His long-time star wife, Dixie Carter, was scheduled to attend but had to cancel last minute because she won t
he role on a TV pilot that was filming at the same time (another pretty good excuse). Also in attendance were a couple of other minor stars, Walton Goggins and Ray McKinnon (both of Southern heritage and both producers of the film as well). All the stars and the director took Q & A again after the film which was quite interesting and entertaining.
The festival continues this week, but we will be unable to attend any more due to travel plans, but we will defintely plan on going again next year to this wonderful cultural event.
After having such a great time at last year's Nashville Film Festival, we doubled our pleasure this year and attended two different premieres with stars in attendance.
Friday night, April 17, we attended the world premiere of William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet. This incredibly interesting documentary entails the creation of a ballet based on the Grammy-award winning music written by William Shatner and Ben Folds. Both were in attendance as well members of
the Oak Ridge Boys and the lovely Sheryl Crowe. We got close proximity to all of these folks on the red carpet area of the festival as well as in the theatre where Mr. Shatner, his wife, Elizabeth, and Ms. Crowe sat directly across the aisle from us during the film. After the credits 
rolled, there was a Q&A session with the director, world-famous choreographer, Margo Sappington, and Mr. Shatner, who was also presented a festival award by Nashville Mayor Karl Dean - a beautiful hand-painted Gibson guitar. The only star scheduled to be there that didn't make it was Brad Paisley, whose also-celebrity wife, Kim, went into labor earlier that morning (we f
igured that was a decent excuse for missing the premiere).
On Saturday, May 18th, we were joined by our friend, Caroline, for the world premiere of That Evening Sun, a stirring drama set and filmed entirely in East Tennessee starring Hal Holbrook. Mr. Holbrook, looking vibrant and chipper despite his 80+ years in age, was in attendance. His long-time star wife, Dixie Carter, was scheduled to attend but had to cancel last minute because she won t
he role on a TV pilot that was filming at the same time (another pretty good excuse). Also in attendance were a couple of other minor stars, Walton Goggins and Ray McKinnon (both of Southern heritage and both producers of the film as well). All the stars and the director took Q & A again after the film which was quite interesting and entertaining.
The festival continues this week, but we will be unable to attend any more due to travel plans, but we will defintely plan on going again next year to this wonderful cultural event.
