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08/01/2006
N.Y. staff helps with event'Sicko' assistants in TC helping out Michael MooreSpecial to the Record-Eagle TRAVERSE CITY — Minutes after the Traverse City Film Festival box office opened a month ago, the call went out for backup. "The computers crashed and we had lines around the block," said festival founder Michael Moore. "I had to make a quick decision. We were looking at the trains not running on time, so I asked my staff if they wouldn't mind taking a break." Shutting down his New York City office, Moore flew about a dozen of the staff working on his next film to Traverse City to help meet the record-breaking demand of a film festival with growing pains. With 95 screenings and 36,600 tickets — more than 40 percent of which had sold by the second available day — numerous VIPs and directors coming, daily panel discussions, awards ceremonies and workshops, the local staff said the mini New York invasion is the main reason things are running smoothly. "They are doing wonderful things," said Deb Lake, the festival's general director and only paid full-time employee. "It's much bigger than a one-person full-time staff." In the midst of producing Moore's upcoming movie "Sicko" — a critical look at the U.S. health care system — the New Yorkers found themselves pressed into every corner of the festival office. "We were pitched a vacation in Traverse City and now we're putting in more hours," line producer Jennifer Latham said, laughing. Most of the visiting staff bike to the festival office. Helmets are stacked on top of folders and equipment in almost every corner. Several are bunked at Building 50 on the old state hospital grounds; others are in new condos near the Holiday Inn. Grady McGahan, a Georgetown University graduate and self-styled "overlord" of the office, said he's spending most of his time here putting out fires. "If I'm not solving problems, I run around and make sure there's not going to be any problems," he said. "These volunteers work hard. Some just need a little relief." He said he's enjoying the opportunity to let the juices simmer on "Sicko." Moore, notorious for giving away little about his films during production, has drilled his staff to follow suit. "What new movie?" McGahan asked with a straight face. Field producer Terri Hardesty was a little more forthcoming. She said over the past couple years, the crew has met lots of people who have been ensnared by problems with medical coverage, many of which have lead to bankruptcy, eviction and even death. "You really see how big the problem is," said Hardesty, who is doing festival media relations. "It almost makes you feel helpless. This is a good break from that."
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