The 3W Podcast
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The 3W Podcast
The 3W Podcast: Twilla Brooks - Part 2
The Bentonville Film Festival celebrates its 11th year with an ambitious lineup of films, celebrities, and free family-friendly events spanning multiple downtown venues. Twilla Brooks with Bentonville Film Festival shares insider details about this year's theme "Find Yourself in Film," celebrity appearances including Al Roker and Lucy Liu, and the expanded "Homegrown" section highlighting Arkansas filmmakers.
Hey everybody, welcome back to part two of The 3W Podcast with my friend Twilla Brooks. I hope you caught the first episode where we dove into how giant of a badass that she is. And she has her own company, Lynette Create and Innovate. I was going to say Incorporated.
Speaker 1:I knew there was an I and I normally know, I typed it, I know, but when I speak I don't know. So that's awesome because I don't think before I speak. We all know that anyways. So Twilla is here. For bff, which it's june, finally it's. Hopefully the sun has come out indefinitely and we're gonna have an amazing bentonville film festival. So happy 11, happy 11, yeah, yeah, so excited. Let's start with b, let's start with all things bff, we're turning 11. The theme is find yourself in film. Yep, find yourself in film, which I love that we love it.
Speaker 2:and you'll see as it ties to homegrown big time homegrown. But you'll see us kind of use, find yourself at a spotlight, find yourself in amazement at the outdoor theater Just a few to kind of like highlight. But what's so great about it is it's the opportunity for you to see yourself.
Speaker 2:It is yes, especially in a world where you know right now there's just so much adversity out in the world. You know right now there's just so much adversity out in the world and it it gives you a great opportunity to just kind of take a beat where you might be super excited, you might laugh, you might cry, you might be deep in thought. And there's a lot, trust me, I've seen a lot of these films and, um, they're gonna tear at your heart for so, okay, so kleenex, yes, I would say for sure, depending upon the one that you're gonna go see, make sure you bring your kleenex yes I would say for sure, depending upon the one that you're going to go see, make sure you bring your kleenex and some of them are sold out some of them are sold out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're looking at. I know we're so excited about that, like um uh rich river is sold out showings are sold out, the librarians are sold out, and so, uh, which is amazing for us, that's yes, we typically wouldn't have. Yes, you know screenings already sold out until next week, right?
Speaker 1:so 11 years ago, when y'all started the festival, we didn't even have a movie theater. Yeah, 11 have sold out screenings today, right now. It's amazing, it's amazing. Yeah, I love it. So june 16th through the 22nd, june 16th through the 22nd we pray for good weather. We pray for good weather. We we're activating momentary crystal bridges fading.
Speaker 2:Yes, so we're going to go across. So our headquarters will be at the momentary right. So all things BFF will be at the momentary. We're so grateful that with partnering with the community, we're going to be at so many different venues. Obviously we'll be back at Skylight. We cannot have the Bentonville film festival without skylight. You can't right, mom and so from the movie theater standpoint and scott and jared and the entire team at skylight, they're so giving to the bentonville film festival I mean you've wrapped the outside of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they wrapped the outside of it. Um, crystal bridges, we're back again.
Speaker 1:We'll talk a little bit about a couple of those conversations that we're having at crystal bridges, uh, one was just made public today, yes, which I know this airs in june, but one was just made public today, made public today, like right before I got here I was uh.
Speaker 2:Obviously we'll be back at theated uh for june and friends. So thank you so much to uh the team at theated. Our opening reception will be at blake.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, I'm shocked. Yes, we're also watching that. We will be at doing a panel at the Walmart Museum. Oh, with the newly unveiled. Yeah, so you'll see us try to. You know, this is a community festival, right, and we wouldn't be here without the community of Bentonville and the fact that they've been so open to allowing us to use their venues and our festival hotel is the motto oh, even perfect, because we just talked about in part one how your favorite restaurant is Junto, yeah, and the bottom, so can you imagine all the filmmakers are downtown, they can walk around, they can really be like engrossed in the bentonville culture, uh, and and we're having one of our after parties, uh, at the record person.
Speaker 2:So that is seven locations, I love that?
Speaker 1:yeah, because the bentonville femme festival is downtown bentonville exactly. I mean, uh, a million years ago there these were before teslas were like exactly being driven around everywhere. They were testing them down here and I would get in a tesla, you know where. The doors would flip up like a delorean right. It would drive me at one hotel and it would drive me to the record where everything was activating, like in year one or two. Yeah was so cool and I'm like to see it. Not to see it evolve, yep, but to still stay right around the square still stay around the square.
Speaker 2:we're not as much on the square. Obviously, the square is, uh, under construction, a little torn up, but that's okay, you know, we're still, uh, we're still utilizing blake street, still utilizing 21c. Uh, I think that the great thing about the festival also being over saturday, saturday is that a lot of people get to experience the farmer's market Right when, if you remember, a couple years ago, we had some celebrity chefs in town and they were like obsessed with the farmer's market. It's the quaintest thing ever, exactly. So, so there's a lot of cool stuff and I think we're also going to announce another party at Barclita. Okay, so, yeah, so it's like, yeah, think we're also going to announce another party, uh, at barclayda. Okay, it's so, yeah, so it's.
Speaker 1:it's like, yeah, we're super excited good, after you leave barclayda you can hop across to celeste exactly to try it exactly. See, logistically perfect for you. Let's talk about opening night, okay, uh, what's your film?
Speaker 2:so the opening night, the film is east of wall. It's a powerful story, where you know. It talks about, um, women and girls who kind of are, you know, inspired by their love of horses. Okay, and it takes place in south dakota. Um, I don't want to give too much away because the story um is really powerful, okay, and it talks a lot about rescue horses and different things like that, and so we're super excited about it. That's very unique for an opening film. Yeah, it's unique for an opening film, but it's a story that we believe must be told. Okay, we're looking forward to it.
Speaker 1:I like that. Okay, let's jump on to celebrities, because one jump on to celebrities? Okay, because one was just announced today. Yes, al Roker is coming.
Speaker 2:Al Roker is coming, he has a film, he has a series, a series that will air in September, but it's called Weather Hunters, which is apropos, you know, for so it follows the journey of a young girl, um, and there's amazing, uh, talent in it, uh, like wanda sykes, holly robertson, p, shirley ralph, and so he's got the perfect and I've got to see a little bit of it. It is so funny, good, but so it's almost like she's a storm chaser, but she's a weather hunter, okay, so it's super cool. And then, how lucky are we that he's going to be doing a conversation at Crystal Bridges on Tuesday, june 17th, Opening day. Opening day. He's going to, you know, fly in, and you never know, he might pop up on the news here to do the weather, we don't know. So he has that conversation. So we're super, super, super excited to have him. And he's gonna speak at crystal bridges. Right, he's gonna speak at crystal bridges on tuesday, yeah, in the afternoon. Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1:And then we, um, I announced also we are honoring lucy lu and it's saturday, okay, so side note, yeah, it's not important at all, okay, but my dream job still to this day is to be a Charlie's Angel.
Speaker 2:Oh, my God, I think so it's so funny because this is now, we're both showing our age. But, like I was so obsessed with Charlie's Angels, with Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore oh, obsessed and I just wanted to be Lucy Liu's character because I felt like she was like, so put together, she was and like everything and she could kick some serious butt and her hair was always perfect, her makeup was always perfect and she had the cutest boyfriend. Yes, he was adorable. What's his name, wasn't it Lee? Yes, yes, of Wilson. So we're super excited about that. But she also has Wait, no, no, that was Cameron Diaz's boyfriend.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that waseron diaz's boyfriend. Oh yeah, that was uh joey from friends. Oh yeah, what's joey? Yes, you're right, right, right same same but thank you, yeah, yeah. But I'm like, oh, when you mentioned that she was coming, I was like, oh, I'm aging myself.
Speaker 2:I'm sure she's done many amazing things since charlie's angels, right, but that's well, she has a great well, she has an amazing film called rose bead and this is the one you need to bring your tissues super, super powerful about being a mom and dealing with, uh, what your child's going through, okay, and she's coming into town and she'll be here, okay, yeah, so she'll be awarded, um, uh, be given an award or closing gala, um, so she will be here saturday night. Saturday night, yes, and then, uh, we just announced today variety that bre that Brenda Song will be here, and so most people know Brenda Song, as some people know her as Bacalli, as wife, yes, and she's also on this super witty show on Netflix called Running Point with Kate Hudson, and it was just weird, for she was phenomenal.
Speaker 1:She is that or not.
Speaker 2:not movie, but that series I love that series, but she kept kate in check, she can let her go, but brought her back and I also feel like she empowered kate to kind of be the badass woman.
Speaker 2:She did, I loved her character when kate didn't know she was. Yes, you know what I mean. And so she's coming. We just announced, in partnership with variety magazine, which is huge, which is huge for this year, for this year, so variety is our partner right, and so they're giving her the variety virtual award. And so, just about her accomplishments, about, you know, uh, her, her life as being an asian american woman in the public eye, as an actor, and so, uh, and we will be announcing something else that she'll be a part of, uh, but right now, we just announced, uh, that she's going to be given this award. Oh, I love that. So I love really good dynamic, uh, celebrities, um, and obviously, you know we talked about sovereign um and you know, uh, and you never know, dennis quaid and nancy travis could be here.
Speaker 2:They could be, we shall see.
Speaker 1:And so, yes, I hope you all are reading between the lines on twilight space. Yeah, just just saying yeah exactly.
Speaker 2:So those are just some, um, some fun stuff, yeah let's so.
Speaker 1:you brought up Sovereign, and if somebody decided to skip ahead to Part 2 and didn't see Part 1, sovereign is part of the Homegrown which Bentonville where it's really highlighting voices and filmmakers and films that were shot in the state of Arkansas. I love this, I feel like for the past 11 years. There's always been a tie. There's always been a tie, but not as much.
Speaker 2:Not as much because two years ago, obviously, we had Hard Miles with Matthew Lodine and with RJ Hanna, who was a director, and he went to Bentonville High School and his parents still live here. But this year is you'll see us highlighting films that are particularly, either, highlighting some that are made in Bentonville, literally Right, some that are Springdale and Fayetteville, a little bit out of Little Rock, um, and then we're also highlighting, um, some voices you know. So, if you think about Juneteenth, you know we're going to be celebrating, uh, a documentary short um called uh, traveling Mercies, um, and it's a short, not documentary, but it was built, it was filmed at Bentonville High School. You'll see there's a few scenes of it's downtown, on the square, which is amazing.
Speaker 1:It's always fun. So I have kids right, and so Freddie debuted at BFF and so that's why that was fun to watch, because you're like, oh my gosh, that's that tire Exactly. It's weird, it's good.
Speaker 2:It's weird to see it. But then you're like oh okay, oh, we're real. And then we also are highlighting Colbert All students can learn the first African-American superintendent in Fayetteville and he really helped with a lot of desegregation, and so you'll see us highlight that. I guess you don't need that, don't need that pen, so that's going to be good. So the homegrown section really is us paying homage I love this To the state of Arkansas and the goal is that you'll see more of it.
Speaker 1:It makes me happy because I'm a transplant, so I can only and you're a transplant too like, I can only imagine what people who are like, born and bred here, feel to see Arkansas so highlighted, exactly Because until you touch ground here, you don't know what the hype is.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:It's still backwards, right Outside of this little gold bubble.
Speaker 2:You know there's also because I saw ironically, it came about because I met a mountain biker who was a former world champion, who had had a brain injury because she got hit by a drunk driver talks about the adaptive trails and how people who were at the height of their careers as professional riders are faced with this adversity and the only thing that they really know that helps them thrive, that helps them get back on the horse is is riding, and so it highlights how, you know, this team have basically created these trails for adaptive riders and that's I mean, that's a feat in itself, even just the trail construction, just the trail, and it's become you know, obviously you know bit goals, become like the mountain biking capital of the world, but like the adaptive trails, people are coming from all over the world to highlight the trails and so stuff like that, that it takes a flashlight for that, because I didn't even know they existed so now we have our film.
Speaker 1:I had no idea that it even existed until I met, uh, annika right, who is a part of this film, and then, ironically, the past worked out that they were creating this documentary, and so, but yeah, I love it, yeah, and then we have allison de la jose who spoke and I we talked about her for just one second in part one, but I like the lineage that she was a another transplant to northwest arkansas and showed up to, I think, year one, so 11 years ago, to one of the panels like In Charge of your Own Destiny I'm sure I'm butchering the title, but Anne realized this was her destiny, was to immerse herself in Bentonville and to ride a bike and find the story. And now she's done Ridge to River, yep, yep, yep. River to Ridge, river to Ridge I butchered it a hundred times and the arkansas traverse. So I'm like if it's almost goes back to if you can see it, you can be it exactly, you know which exactly days of bff, yeah, which we're bringing it back.
Speaker 2:It'll be a panel too, so yeah, I've left.
Speaker 1:Okay, so talk about. Do we have any? Do we have any announcements? We finally announced the date and time for Gina and Friends.
Speaker 2:Yep, gina and Friends On Friday night, I feel like we have not announced although I know, but we have not announced the cast yet. Everyone's dying to know it's going to be exciting. I know who they are, so the cast's going to be exciting. I know who they are, so the cast is going to be great.
Speaker 1:You're not going to give one tease.
Speaker 2:Gina.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, gina has to be there, because Gina is the name said at the festival. Someone who's getting an award may be a part of Gina and Friends we may have mentioned her, we may have mentioned her, we may have talked about her, and that's going to be at Thaden again.
Speaker 2:That's several years in a row, we love that partnership for Thayden and that's going to be there. Yep, that's our spot, yeah, so we're super excited about it okay, let's talk about how family driven this festival is yeah, so you know, this is the part that there's so many parts of the festival that I love, but one of the parts it's hard to zero in on your favorite.
Speaker 1:It's so hard to zero in on your face. It's so hard to zero in Because it's like this and there's something for everyone, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, this is the part that you know we, you and I, are so fortunate that we have so many opportunities, right. But if you are a family of four and you don't have a lot of money but you're looking for something to do, right, a lot of money, but you're looking for something to do, right, you could come out when the jana davis outdoor theater opens up on, uh, thursday. On thursday, which is june 19th, uh, and it kicks off with wild robot, right, you can bring your family out. You could kind of sit down, which is at the moment, which is at the momentary, okay, yes, right, uh, there's free hot dogs. We're doing sausages this year in partnership with cm's club, because they're providing all the condiments and the, the hamburger buns and the hot dog buns and chips, right. Also to coca-cola is this is our, obviously our presenting, yes, sir, so all the drinks you can have, not to mention, there will be candy and you can enjoy it and guess what? It's all free, it's all free and a movie and a movie.
Speaker 2:And not only are we doing it on thursday, we're doing it friday and we're doing it saturday oh, there's two films and there's two films so just a quick shout out to our sponsors. And so, on thursday night, we have the wild robot, and then we have Beetlejuice, which is the newer one, which is the newer one. If you remember, last year we closed it out with Beetlejuice, the original, with the original. So then, on Thursday, we have Dogman, which you know, I don't even know what that is.
Speaker 2:But it was a book, kids love it. And then we also have Minecraft Minecraft movie, which has taken over the world Chicken Jockey. And then Saturday we have and we'll talk a little bit about the special performance later, but the Outdoor Theater opens at 12 o'clock with a partnership with Walmart, the Walmart Toy Corner, where there will be 35 plus activation.
Speaker 1:What's it called in November?
Speaker 2:Toyland. Toyland, but different and bigger and better, yeah, so this one's more about creating experiences and you being able to do things. I mean, obviously there'll still be a bunch of giveaways, yeah, but you'll be able to ride some of the newest bikes Like we have like bubble blasters and segways and just it's going to be crazy. And Peppa the Pig I was just going to say Peppa's coming Is bringing their entire like activation where they travel across the country will be there. Not to mention, we'll also have dora bluey's coming oh bluey is huge gabby.
Speaker 2:We have a professional skateboarder that's also coming. Oh, that's so. It's going to be insane. And that's just for the outdoor theater, right?
Speaker 1:in addition to free food, which is also free with its food, but like this toy corner. Yes, free, so like your saturday is planned for you for free right, it is for.
Speaker 2:And then for the adults that need a little bit of a break, we also have a huge activation with men of aid hard cocktails, right. So you know, your kids get to go crazy. You know, hopped up on something, yes, you need to if that's what you want to do. Yes, you get to go crazy. You know, hopped up on something and you need to. If that's what you want to do, you get to have a nice little drink. So, and then Saturday night we're showing the original Superman yes, wait you said original.
Speaker 1:That was going to be one of my questions, but then you just said original as in, like when you and I were growing up. Original, yeah, that 18th.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that I teach. Yep, oh, yep. So we're showing that in partnership with Warner Brothers, because you know, there's a new. There's a new one coming out, yes.
Speaker 1:So, oh, and that new Superman is so cute.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we have some fun stuff that we'll do with Crypto Dog, and then our nightcap will be a dress up sing-al on version of Wicked Wicked and so, and then which let's touch on Wicked for a second.
Speaker 1:I just purchased something. We're not going to talk about what that something is, but I purchased something from an auction last week. Yep, american Heart Association We'll shout them out because you are super involved with them From Wicked Yep, talk about your connection to Wicked.
Speaker 2:Oh gosh, you know, um from wicked, you know, talk about your connection to wicked. Oh gosh, you know, right, when I left walmart, uh, you know a part of the things that there's so many great things that I got to do when I was at walmart, but one of the things that, ironically, is a thread for the bitmo film festival as well that I was a part of was the entertainment council, so I got to work with connections before you went and contracted bfa, exactly, which is weird.
Speaker 2:Which is the whole thing is more fate, which is which I think it's fate. Yeah, I do think it's fate. But you know, right after uh I was done uh with walmart, you know I got a call from a friend of mine who works for universal uh, and they were like we would love your help on uh, just idea brain brainstorming, because you know we have wicked and we have this amazing cast. At the time, you know, they were like ariana grande. And then they said cynthia revo to me and I immediately knew who she was and they were like well, what do you mean? And I was like well, you know, harriet? And I was like she's.
Speaker 2:And then I said the first time I got to experience her was color purple on broadway. And they were so excited that I knew her so immediately I was like there's so much you can do with her. It's just she's super talented. And so they were like we want you to go to la to meet with the team. And I was like what, okay? And I didn't even charge them. I was like, okay, I'm going right, so I go this is more of that.
Speaker 2:Like I work for free, I work for free yeah, because I was just super excited and I was talking to them about all these ideas about what you could do and I was like it's kind of like and ironically the evp of universal was at disney, uh, when black panther was started and I kind of helped walmart, green light, black panther.
Speaker 2:So I I don't want to say that I was the reason why they moved black panther to february, uh, but I had a lot to do with it of having black panther come out on black history exactly. It's all about how things and and I believed in Black Panther so much and I believed in Wicked so much and at the time exactly, and at the time they thought that they were going to do maybe a couple hundred million dollars in product for Wicked and I was like no, no, no, no. I said this is the Black Panther of our generation. I said they have a multi and then I was already obsessed with the fact that Michelle Yeoh, she had just won the Oscar. So they were freaked out about how much I knew about it, right, super fan.
Speaker 2:You were the super fan. Yeah, I was, I wasn't, and so I got the opportunity to. So they presented me with the opportunity to go to London, to go to set, and they didn't even know why I was going there. Most people were like who is this person? And I just love Rafa. He was like we just want you to be you, we want you to come to set, take it all in like and come up with a merchandise strategy and just give us your ideas. And I was like this is what I'm doing, this is what I want to do like. I want to be able to use my creative mind to come up with ideas, to think outside the box, to figure out how to scale it, but also to to introduce people to certain things that they would never, ever, ever get to see and do or think of, and and there is when I really on my way back, because I was only in london for 48 hours, that's it uh-huh I in my head, you were on that step for
Speaker 2:a week. No, uh-uh, no. I literally was in la. I flew to la on monday, met with the universal team on Tuesday, they flew me home on Wednesday, flew to London on Thursday, landed on Friday, had to go straight to Universal to get like, because I had like 15 COVID tests, because this was COVID time, yeah, covid tests, industry party that night. And then you had to then wake up early to take another COVID test, okay, and in order for you to be able to get on the bus to go to the set was two and a half hours outside of London.
Speaker 2:And one of the most magical things that I've ever experienced got to see Michelle Yeoh come in as Madame Morrible, because she was late to set, because she had been doing all the award shows for her oscar and she was stressed this had to be february. Oh yeah, right, oh yeah, she was dressed in all things, everything. And no, it was in march, right, because it's right after it was in march, right, and she pulls out her oscar and literally I have a good spot. She's right there because ralph is like come sit with me and I'm in the front row. So then I was like how I mean, you can't get any better than this. So then she whips away and goes back to set and who's like, literally 10 feet from me is Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and you can't take any pictures because they have locked up your phone somewhere. So I was like is this really what's happening? And right then, and there I said I know what I'm doing I love it.
Speaker 1:That was your aha moment.
Speaker 2:That was my aha moment.
Speaker 1:It was the most epic experience it wasn't just me, and still it. Yeah, that was your aha moment.
Speaker 2:yeah, I've had a lot of really good moments, but it was that one where I was like I could do this, yeah, and I and I have, you know, uh, cecilia raymond to thank for it. You know, she was the one who we became really close when she was at warner brothers, uh, we worked a lot to work through bringing licensing together, and then she was from la right and we had that in common and she fell in love with bentonville and moved her family here and then went to universal and so fast forward. And then, of course, rafa was at disney and I had a great relationship with him for black panther, uh, which they were all shocked that I knew who chadwick boseman was, and then he went to universal. So it's like all the stars just kind of aligned and I feel to me it's like always a connected thread, always, yeah, and I know we got off of BFF, but yeah.
Speaker 1:But no, we didn't, because Wicked is showing. You're closing out the outdoor theater with.
Speaker 2:Wicked and I was like we're closing it out with Wicked and then, hopefully, fingers crossed, we don't know yet. So the the wicked for good trailer is uh attached to the how to train your dragon, okay, which comes out june 13th, I'm kidding. So we're, we're, we're hoping that we'll also get to get you show it, uh, and show it, and then, right after wicked, it's fireworks it is fireworks first time or second oh, last year was the first time.
Speaker 2:Okay, my bad, yeah, shoot, yeah, well, no, last year we were stressed because we were like we can't set the parking lot deck on fire. No, but they'll never let us back again, for and it was so successful, we're doing it again.
Speaker 1:I love that. I thought that was so exciting, so I thought the fireworks were new. That's my bad, that's okay, okay. So I think that's a good place to wrap up, because what's the tagline? Come for the movie, stay for the magic.
Speaker 2:Oh, I might steal that from you. It's on your website, no, but I mean, you know, we're just so grateful. Uh, the marketing, the social, everyone, it's on point this year. Oh, thank you, it's on point this year. We're trying, we're learning every day and I'm sure is with you with 3w. It's like you do one thing and immediately you're like, okay, wait, no, I know I can be better. Like, oh, I saw this, I'm gonna do this, um, and so gosh, we're just, I'm just so grateful, um, and every day is different and exciting, stressful sometimes. Okay, and make sure you appreciate the highs, appreciate the highs and living in the moment, yes, having a blast that's what you have to do, right?
Speaker 1:that's authentic and life is life. Life is change. Got it? It's how you navigate, exactly. Yeah, I love it. Oh my gosh, thank you, friend. Thanks for having me. I love that you came and did this. You were so great to kick off like I were just resurrecting the podcast, so I love that you've brought this. You've kept come with me along this journey in the past few years. I'm glad you accepted my friend request. Yep, I did. Yes, thank yes, thank you so much. We've gone over time so I apologize if you've stuck with this this long. Thank you so much. I say that all the time. Thank you for supporting the podcast.
Speaker 2:Don't forget to go get your Hershey's salty snacks and don't forget, the Bentville Film Festival is June 16th through June 22nd.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's going to be there. It's going to be so great. Get your tickets now on our website. Yeah, absolutely. Keep inspiring the culture of giving till next time. Thank you, thank you.