Twice a Week It's Bond, James Bond
Competing Film Festivals Have 1 Thing in Common

By Mark Berman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 19, 2008

All summer long, area residents can enjoy an exciting, innovative event -- a weekly James Bond film festival offering outdoor screenings of the super-spy's cinematic adventures.

Or, right down the street, area residents can enjoy an another exciting, innovative event -- a weekly James Bond film festival offering outdoor screenings of the super-spy's cinematic adventures.

Seeing double? You're not alone, because two different Bond film festivals are in the area, separated by 3.7 miles.

The Rosslyn Business Improvement District is presenting its festival, "Once is Never Enough," on Fridays through Aug. 22 in Gateway Park.

The Crystal City Business Improvement District is offering its festival, "From Crystal City With Love," on Mondays through Sept. 22 at 18th and Bell streets.

The festivals, which offer the films at sunset, are free and are held rain or shine. Promotional materials encourage viewers to bring picnics and blankets. There are Metro stops a short walk from each festival site.

The festivals seem founded on the same idea, that sitting outside at dusk on a summer evening is nice enough on its own, but it's just plain terrific with an added dose of gratuitous violence, sexual innuendo and improbable gadgetry.

"It's a lovely evening in the city," said Cecilia Cassidy, executive director of the Rosslyn group. "You're sitting there in this lovely green haven in the middle of what is becoming the most urban area in the region. I think they really enjoy sitting out on the grass on a summer's evening and watching these kind of old-fashioned movies."

The people behind the two festivals do not view the dual festivals as a duel because they are on different nights of the week. There are key differences between the Arlington Bond festivals. The Rosslyn festival will air 16 Bond films, while Crystal City will run all 21 official installments, culminating with the most recent film just weeks before the premiere of the new Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace." And by the second week of June, they were no longer showing the same films within three days of each another when Rosslyn skipped the sole George Lazenby movie, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."

In Rosslyn last week, fans gathered more than an hour and a half before sunset in Gateway Park to watch "Live and Let Die," Roger Moore's inaugural Bond outing.

"You can't go wrong with James Bond," said Lou Mazel of Falls Church, set up on a folding chair in the park. "Even if you've seen the movies, it doesn't make a difference. You can always watch a Bond movie."

Mazel, 57, is a Foreign Service officer with the State Department and a self-described "Sean Connery purist." He planned all week to go to the film and came with his wife and sister-in-law, who was visiting from New Zealand.

Rick Ysasi of Rosslyn brought his 10-month-old son, Ruben, settling down near the back where he could park Ruben's stroller and let him amble about.

"When we get a guy's night out, this is a perfect guy's night out," said Ysasi, 27, an accountant. "Undoubtedly, Ruben will be watching James Bond movies when he's old enough."

But maybe not for a little while, he added. "Even the old ones, they weren't short on violence," Ysasi said.

"Live and Let Die" opens with three consecutive deaths, followed in short order by Bond's appearance in bed with a naked woman and some naked innuendo.

Content is something the festivals are keeping in mind. Monique O'Grady, the communications director for the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, said advertising for the festival has been in bars and newspapers, aimed at working adults. Angela Fox, president and chief executive of the Crystal City Business Improvement District, said that since the films start after dark, younger children are usually in bed, so they see a lot of dates in Crystal City.

"I understand that for their day, they were pretty cutting edge," O'Grady said. "Now, some of the older ones aren't quite as cutting edge. But for kids who are going to see PG-13 movies, I think they can easily see many of these movies in this series with their parents."

The Bond films began in 1962 and predated the modern ratings system. The films moved from a rating of PG to PG-13 in 1989 and never turned back. O'Grady said that the films offer a way for parents to connect with their children, specifically their teens and young adults.

"At a time where sometimes parents lose connection with [their] teens, it might be a way to bring them together, especially for the earlier movies, which are a little milder," O'Grady said.

They also offer a connection between people who live and work in the areas alike. Angela Fox said each week's movie has a local tie-in, whether it is a spa treatment linked to "The Living Daylights," or a shaken-and-stirred martini night. The goal is to intertwine businesses with a fun happening in Crystal City, she said.

"They couldn't have picked a better series, because everyone can relate," said Frank Forgione, 43, of Annandale at last week's Rosslyn screening. "Everyone has their favorite Bond trivia, their favorite Bond song, their favorite Bond. It's a great icebreaker."

Forgione, who works in Rosslyn for the State Department, sees the film festival as another way for co-workers to mingle.

"Besides happy hour, there's really not enough you can do with your co-workers," he said. Forgione is a big Bond fan. He put up posters in his office and encouraged co-workers to attend. "I have the whole office talking Bond this week," he said.

The festivals in Rosslyn and Crystal City each reported crowds of more than 400 for some screenings. Organizers of the events said they're considering doing it next year, although whether Arlington winds up with mirroring film festivals remains to be seen.

For now, Angela Fox said she is keeping the theme for next year a secret.