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Burton Gilliam, Justin Hilliard and Arianne Martin, Rachel Shepherd and Farah White, G.W. Bailey and Barry Corbin, James Faust, and James J. Miller and Constance Marks… those were just a few of the people on the opening night red carpet for the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival. The film that kicked things off at the luxurious Winspear Opera House in Downtown Dallas was the amazing documentary BEING ELMO, already a critical hit at both the Sundance and South by Southwest Film Festivals. Local celebrity Burton Gilliam (known for memorable roles in BLAZING SADDLES and GATOR) was the first the walk the carpet, getting things off to an ethusiastic start. I was particularly pleased to talk once again with Barry Corbin (NORTHERN EXPOSURE) and meet for the first time the great G.W. Bailey (THE CLOSER, POLICE ACADEMY), who clearly are long-time close friends aside from being great actors. After the press had their moment with the attending filmmakers, the Winspear was filled with 1000 moviegoers, all of whom were taken in by the undeniable charm of BEING ELMO. It was quite simply one of the best opening nights DIFF has ever seen. Check out our video interviews below, and if you haven’t already, take a look at the fantastic films playing in the festival lineup (link to the official DIFF page under the vid).
Also big thanks to Rachel Parker with DFWLive.org for shooting this.
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Red carpet interviews in order of appearance:
Burton Gilliam (BLAZING SADDLES)
Justin Hilliard (THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE) and Arianne Martin (WUSS)
Rachel Shepherd (director of TRAVELING) and Farah White (producer)
G.W. Bailey (THE CLOSER) and Barry Corbin (NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN)
James Faust (Artistic Director of the Dallas International Film Festival)
James J. Miller and Constance Marks (director of photography and director of BEING ELMO)
For more information on the Dallas International Film Festival click HERE.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
