Grand Performances Off to a Great Start

By Eric Richardson
Published: Saturday, June 25, 2005, at 12:40AM

Eric Richardson

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — It was a great turnout tonight for the first night of Grand Performances. They were screening Mad Hot Ballroom, and the crowd really seemed to enjoy it. Words of advice I wish I had gotten earlier: come really early and bring a jacket.

One thing I have to say, though, is that whoever thought that was a proper screen size for the venue needs to have another think. And then to make things worse the film was letterboxed onto a 4x3 screen. Tisk tisk. There's not a ton that can be done about the viewing angles for people over on the sides, but more screen area would have done everyone some good.

Tomorrow night is the 1944 film Double Indemnity. 8pm, at the California Watercourt.

Update (Monday): Leigh Ann from Grand Performances dropped by to comment that the next screening -- Les Choristes on July 16th -- will have a substantially larger screen. I look forward to making it out for that.

Comments

jim winstead writes:

i absolutely agree about the screen size and getting there early. i got there at the last minute, sat where i had no hope of seeing the screen so i could at least watch the pre-show entertainment, and took off before the movie started.

the crowd was amazing, though. i wonder if there was something special about mad hot ballroom, or the crowds are going to be like that all season. i have a feeling that the ozomatli show might be crazy.

just $2500 for preferred seating for four at all of the performances.

# on Jun.25.2005 AT 07:47 AM

leigh ann writes:

you are both correct - the screen was far too small for the stage. our next movie is on july 16, the charming french film, "Les Choristes", and we will have a tested a substantially larger screen for that work. the smaller screen was recommended to us as a way to prevent wind sail as the plaza can be quite breezy and we were concerned about the screen waving in the breeze.

thank you for supporting the series. this friday nite will be huge - and terence blanchard's set on saturday evening will be exceptional.

leigh ann director of programming, grand performances

# on Jun.27.2005 AT 11:32 AM