Hubster Melissa has sent us this wonderful “Event ReporT” from her trip to “Mavis Staples in Conversation with Stephen Colbert” at the Montclair Film Festival on Friday, May 8th, 2015.
On Friday May 8th I attended the Montclair Film Festival where I saw “Mavis Staples in Conversation with Stephen Colbert“. I had an amazing time. The town of Montclair is beautiful. Driving through the town I saw the Montclair Film Festival signs that were a bright green color, and instantly got excited as I knew we were close by. I got a quick view of the town in the car while my cousin was driving, as we were running a little late. We had taken the wrong exit on the Garden State Parkway and got redirected (thanks google maps). After finding parking close by we made our way to the theater. Outside the theater they had the small red carpet, and MFF green background set up by where Stephen and the guests take their pictures. My cousin and I then got checked in, and went upstairs as we had balcony seats. We first went to the bar to get our drinks which weren’t badly priced, $8 for a Malibu Bay Breeze, much better than Manhattan prices. After we got our drinks we went to find seats . The tickets stated that it would be first come first serve seating in the area you purchased for. We found seats not too far up in the balcony, as I wanted to be able to see the post Q&A with Stephen. After all this is why I was here, and why I dragged my cousin along with me who had no idea who Stephen or Mavis was, but she being in good spirit is always up for anything new. Shortly after we sat the program began.
A guy from the board for the MFF spoke a bit, and so did the director of the film Jessica Edwards. I didn’t know too much about Mavis Staples going in, but after the film I began to love her. The film was really interesting, and it gave you an insight to who Mavis is as a person and her career. She is such a funny lady on and off the screen. The film will be available on HBO in the coming year so look out for that. After the movie they set up the interview stage and then about 2 minutes later Stephen and Mavis were introduced.
It was great to see Stephen do an interview as himself. It gave me an insight about what to expect when he does this on The Late Show. I’m going to try to remember as much as I possibly can from the interview. So during the interview Stephen asked Mavis questions about what she thinks the difference between Soul, Gospel, and Jazz music are. This is when Mavis explained what she believed to be the differences between them, and began to sing one song in the three different styles. I believe this is when Stephen joined in to sing with her as well. They sang a song I cant remember the name of sorry, but they did sing Amazing Grace together. It was amazing!! (no pun intended) Stephen’s singing is even better in person. He is able to harmonize so quickly he’s so talented.
After that Stephen asked Mavis more questions like what it was like to work with Bob Dylan. Mavis told a hilarious story about the time Paul Shaffer asked her to sing on The Late Show with David Letterman. Stephen also asked Mavis about her childhood. She told a lot of different stories about her growing up. She told one about how she integrated the laundromat in a town she was in. Back then everything was still segregated , and Mavis went to do laundry and she noticed all the machines on the colored side were full. So she went to the non colored side, and did her laundry there since the machines were empty. This caused for a fuss, and I believe it was when her grandfather found out he asked her about it, she was so confused, because where she came from it wasn’t like this. Then I think someone in her family said well you integrated the laundromat (the story was much funnier when Mavis told it).
Stephen and Mavis then talked about her sister who goes with her everywhere. Stephen recalled a time when Mavis came to be on the Report. When they were back stage Mavis’ sister went up to Stephen, and introduced herself first before Mavis and said I’m the sister. It was funny. Stephen was like I knew after that she was in charge.
Mavis then sang again, and Stephen joined in. I forgot the name of the song sorry. Then Mavis and Stephen were talking about the new show for a few minutes, and I think Mavis said something like well you didn’t ask me to be on the new show. Stephen then asked her if she would come on the show. Mavis was like you don’t mean it. Stephen was seriously asking and said no I mean it, and she then said okay that she will go on the show. Stephen then talked to Mavis a little more. Oh, also during the entire interview Stephen kept making jokes, cause Mavis was doing most of the talking, and the audience was laughing. Mavis was like why are they laughing , and Stephen said I think they are just surprised that someone is able to shut me up for so long. They really had this natural funny chemistry between them. I hope she goes on the show, because their interview would be great. After that Stephen ended the interview, and thanked everyone for coming. He then helped Mavis off the stage which was so nice of him, a true gentlemen.
My cousin and I then left the theater and waited outside, because they had barricades set up. I thought maybe Stephen would come by. A few people waited and you could see like down the alley where the barricades were set up that Stephen was talking to Mavis. Mavis then came by the barricades said hi to everyone waiting and got in her car. Stephen was still talking to people and they took the barricades away, and it looked like he wasn’t coming by that way so my cousin and I left. Overall, it was a great event! I would definitely go back to the film festival. Everyone at the theater was really nice and helpful.
Just from this interview I can tell that the real Stephen is going to do an amazing job at The Late Show. Also after this event my cousin now likes Stephen and Mavis. On the way back we were talking about the event, and she was saying how good of a singer Stephen is, and I then played in the car from my iPhone a few other songs Stephen sang. My cousin loved it and she is now a Stephen fan , and wants to see his new show.
Event ReporT: Mavis Staples in Conversation with Stephen Colbert
Hubster Melissa has sent us this wonderful “Event ReporT” from her trip to “Mavis Staples in Conversation with Stephen Colbert” at the Montclair Film Festival on Friday, May 8th, 2015.
On Friday May 8th I attended the Montclair Film Festival where I saw “Mavis Staples in Conversation with Stephen Colbert“. I had an amazing time. The town of Montclair is beautiful. Driving through the town I saw the Montclair Film Festival signs that were a bright green color, and instantly got excited as I knew we were close by. I got a quick view of the town in the car while my cousin was driving, as we were running a little late. We had taken the wrong exit on the Garden State Parkway and got redirected (thanks google maps). After finding parking close by we made our way to the theater. Outside the theater they had the small red carpet, and MFF green background set up by where Stephen and the guests take their pictures. My cousin and I then got checked in, and went upstairs as we had balcony seats. We first went to the bar to get our drinks which weren’t badly priced, $8 for a Malibu Bay Breeze, much better than Manhattan prices. After we got our drinks we went to find seats . The tickets stated that it would be first come first serve seating in the area you purchased for. We found seats not too far up in the balcony, as I wanted to be able to see the post Q&A with Stephen. After all this is why I was here, and why I dragged my cousin along with me who had no idea who Stephen or Mavis was, but she being in good spirit is always up for anything new. Shortly after we sat the program began.
A guy from the board for the MFF spoke a bit, and so did the director of the film Jessica Edwards. I didn’t know too much about Mavis Staples going in, but after the film I began to love her. The film was really interesting, and it gave you an insight to who Mavis is as a person and her career. She is such a funny lady on and off the screen. The film will be available on HBO in the coming year so look out for that. After the movie they set up the interview stage and then about 2 minutes later Stephen and Mavis were introduced.
It was great to see Stephen do an interview as himself. It gave me an insight about what to expect when he does this on The Late Show. I’m going to try to remember as much as I possibly can from the interview. So during the interview Stephen asked Mavis questions about what she thinks the difference between Soul, Gospel, and Jazz music are. This is when Mavis explained what she believed to be the differences between them, and began to sing one song in the three different styles. I believe this is when Stephen joined in to sing with her as well. They sang a song I cant remember the name of sorry, but they did sing Amazing Grace together. It was amazing!! (no pun intended) Stephen’s singing is even better in person. He is able to harmonize so quickly he’s so talented.
After that Stephen asked Mavis more questions like what it was like to work with Bob Dylan. Mavis told a hilarious story about the time Paul Shaffer asked her to sing on The Late Show with David Letterman. Stephen also asked Mavis about her childhood. She told a lot of different stories about her growing up. She told one about how she integrated the laundromat in a town she was in. Back then everything was still segregated , and Mavis went to do laundry and she noticed all the machines on the colored side were full. So she went to the non colored side, and did her laundry there since the machines were empty. This caused for a fuss, and I believe it was when her grandfather found out he asked her about it, she was so confused, because where she came from it wasn’t like this. Then I think someone in her family said well you integrated the laundromat (the story was much funnier when Mavis told it).
Stephen and Mavis then talked about her sister who goes with her everywhere. Stephen recalled a time when Mavis came to be on the Report. When they were back stage Mavis’ sister went up to Stephen, and introduced herself first before Mavis and said I’m the sister. It was funny. Stephen was like I knew after that she was in charge.
Mavis then sang again, and Stephen joined in. I forgot the name of the song sorry. Then Mavis and Stephen were talking about the new show for a few minutes, and I think Mavis said something like well you didn’t ask me to be on the new show. Stephen then asked her if she would come on the show. Mavis was like you don’t mean it. Stephen was seriously asking and said no I mean it, and she then said okay that she will go on the show. Stephen then talked to Mavis a little more. Oh, also during the entire interview Stephen kept making jokes, cause Mavis was doing most of the talking, and the audience was laughing. Mavis was like why are they laughing , and Stephen said I think they are just surprised that someone is able to shut me up for so long. They really had this natural funny chemistry between them. I hope she goes on the show, because their interview would be great. After that Stephen ended the interview, and thanked everyone for coming. He then helped Mavis off the stage which was so nice of him, a true gentlemen.
My cousin and I then left the theater and waited outside, because they had barricades set up. I thought maybe Stephen would come by. A few people waited and you could see like down the alley where the barricades were set up that Stephen was talking to Mavis. Mavis then came by the barricades said hi to everyone waiting and got in her car. Stephen was still talking to people and they took the barricades away, and it looked like he wasn’t coming by that way so my cousin and I left. Overall, it was a great event! I would definitely go back to the film festival. Everyone at the theater was really nice and helpful.
Just from this interview I can tell that the real Stephen is going to do an amazing job at The Late Show. Also after this event my cousin now likes Stephen and Mavis. On the way back we were talking about the event, and she was saying how good of a singer Stephen is, and I then played in the car from my iPhone a few other songs Stephen sang. My cousin loved it and she is now a Stephen fan , and wants to see his new show.