Going it Alone

London Frightfest 2013 has been and gone, this forum is available to post film reviews, chat, etc. from the festival.
jamesmcrosby
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Going it Alone

Post by jamesmcrosby »

This year will be my second year at FrightFest, and I will be going alone for the second year. Last year was fantastic, but I spent most of the time sitting/standing back and observing rather than really mucking in. This year I'd like to hopefully reach out and make acquaintances with more folks, so I'm just wondering what advice people have. Everyone seemed very friendly who I did speak to, but I don't want to be that annoying guy who butt's into groups/conversations and won't go away. I know there are a few pubs and bars people meet before and after films, but I didn't really know where I was going last year. Where are the best places to go at what times? Any other people going alone this year?
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by DJBenz »

Speak to the people you're sitting with and build a rapport. In the lobby you can pretty much talk to anyone, if there's people hanging around on their own go and have a chinwag. As you know, it's very friendly, you're certainly not going to put anyone out by striking up a conversation. :mrgreen:

There's also usually a pre-festival meetup organised through the forum, so look out for the thread closer to the time.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by bump3r1 »

The first year I went on my own I missed the last movie on most nights & went to the phoenix club for a pint, I met a lot of people this way as folk are abit more sociable when they have had a beer - however this was 2010 when the late movies were things like alien vs ninja, this bit of advice wouldnt be very suitable to last year as the late movies included grabbers & maniac.

The other thing is to like the facebook page & maybe get chatting to people before hand, makes it abit easier to break the ice when u see them in person then.

Just make an extra bit of effort and you'll be fine, there's always that smelly old dude if worst comes to worst :)
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by TheDukeAbides »

I go by myself.

To be fair, I actually sometimes go with friends, but I don't sit with them.

I actually treat FF like a Total Recall experience - a holiday from myself.

Walking around the square and going into nearby pubs on the Thursday before it starts, its like bus drivers passing each other, a knowing look to everyone with a laminate or t-shirt or older festival bag and this continues for the rest of the days I'm there.

Have always got on with those around me and somehow I've managed to do it without ever exchanging names.

I'm not so sociable in the foyer, but in the times I go into Discovery I actually find that to be a bit more talky than the main screen, but this is probably all relative to the amount of beers I've had.

But to be honest, I'm their for films so I'm not the best person to give advice on talking to (or liking) fellow homo sapiens.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by Rue-morgue Jay »

TheDukeAbides wrote:I go by myself.

I actually treat FF like a Total Recall experience - a holiday from myself.
I'm the same way Duke. i meet up with people sure at the festival but it's all about me in the end. Come monday night i'm anyones! :green:
This year as a special b-day present i'm taking my bro on the saturday. i tell my sister and he about it so much and they always say 'i wish i could go', well now he can for a day. My sister wanted to go FULL HOG and jump straight into a full weekend cold turkey. She can just about watch two films in a row. I said no dice. I'll get you a one dayer next time or when a one dayer is next on, but you don't jump in full hog. The way i did it back in the day was.

HOSTEL DAY(one dayer)- ALL NIGHTER-glasgow frightfest- FULL August weekend pass.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by jamesmcrosby »

Thanks for the words of wisdom. For the most part I am indeed grateful for the time away from the "real world" so to speak, and it's certainly about the films more than anything. I saw every film on the main screen bar a couple which I skipped for Discovery screenings instead, and intend to do the same this year.

What time do people tend to hang out at the Pheonix Club? May pop in one evening if there are people about after the late screening still.
I plan on going to the pre-festival meet up again too. I went last year but only had time for a quick pint as I was rather late in catching the train to London.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by TheDukeAbides »

Rue-morgue Jay wrote: I'm the same way Duke. i meet up with people sure at the festival but it's all about me in the end. Come monday night i'm anyones! :green:
This year as a special b-day present i'm taking my bro on the saturday. i tell my sister and he about it so much and they always say 'i wish i could go', well now he can for a day. My sister wanted to go FULL HOG and jump straight into a full weekend cold turkey. She can just about watch two films in a row. I said no dice. I'll get you a one dayer next time or when a one dayer is next on, but you don't jump in full hog. The way i did it back in the day was.

HOSTEL DAY(one dayer)- ALL NIGHTER-glasgow frightfest- FULL August weekend pass.
I went the whole (full) hog for my first time attending.

But I used to be a projectionist - so sitting in the dark watching a whole days worth of films was/is nothing new.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by Wolfshade »

I went alone for the first 3 years, and 2008 and 2010 I had a great time and met loads of really nice people and have a crowd I regularly sit with now as a result. In 2009 I had the misfortunate of sitting next to a complete twat with major social problems who ruined most of the films for me, but after that year I thankfully haven't seen him back at the festival since, so no one will have to go through the experience I did that year. I've always found it very friendly for people going by themselves and seeing as your sitting in the cinema the major of the time, a group of people of hang around with isn't really a necessity. I've never been to the Pheonix, but I find hanging around the bar at the Empire I usually get talking to random people and never feel alone or left out.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by Wiltaim »

I always go alone, it is my escape too !
Frankly, I'm always up for a pint & a chat, I tend to go the the Phoenix on Saturday & the last night ( as it busiest then)
Other than that I go to Imperial as close by (between films) & chat .... but I'm not very socialable !! :)

Wolfshade, I think sat next him one year too ?? maybe I was sitting the other side ....turn up 20 minutes into a film & leave 20 minutes later !!!
Thankfully I got the off time work for this....it was not looking good.

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Re: Going it Alone

Post by Lou_Roll »

I have been on my own the past two years and it suited me fine.

I am a very social person so may try and attend the pre drinks or eve drinks this year.
I have found the Frightfest crowd to be hit and miss.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by Jimmer »

First year (2011) I went for one day by myself. Last year I went the whole hog by myself and was lucky enough to be sitting next to some great people that I've stayed in touch with since.

For me, as with everyone else that's posted here, it's all about the movies. The weekend moves along at a pretty frantic pace, so aside from popping out for food etc between movies I don't see there is much time to 'socialise'.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by halloweengirl »

I've been going regularly full time since 2005 (after seeing just a couple of films on the off-chance in 2004) and over that time I've gradually gone from nodding acquaintance to making some excellent friends. So if I feel like socialising I can but I'm also comfortable wandering around on my own. Or with the old man if I can drag him along - he's not a great horror fan - or sometimes my daughter. It's just great that you can be at FF however and feel at home.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by zur-an-arrh »

If I see you around mate, I'll say hello and ask you what you thought of Insidious 2 or whatever.

What will you be wearing so I know its you?

Its a funny one the old socialising- I've always found FFers to be nice people, but the pace of the festival makes it difficult to have a chat.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by jamesmcrosby »

zur-an-arrh wrote:If I see you around mate, I'll say hello and ask you what you thought of Insidious 2 or whatever.

What will you be wearing so I know its you?

Its a funny one the old socialising- I've always found FFers to be nice people, but the pace of the festival makes it difficult to have a chat.
I will likely be wearing a horror t-shirt of some kind... or a grey-ish blue hoody if it starts to rain like last year. Finger's crossed it won't do though!

My twitter thingy is down in my signature so feel free to follow and be followed alike.

I'll be at sleepy queue too, but possibly not until early morning time.
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Re: Going it Alone

Post by Lou_Roll »

This year I might just skip through the crowds with a basket of kittens and smile at everyone.
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