Tribeca TV Festival 2018 Day 2: Celebrating American Fashion, Entrepreneurship & Ray Donovan

Day 2 at the Tribeca TV Festival was packed with red carpets, world premieres and unbelievable panels. It was mind blowing the amount of talent the Tribeca was able to attract for their second annual festival. Hilarities ensued both on the red carpet and during panels, making this final day one to remember.

American Style World Premiere

Having watched Project Runway in its early days, it was exciting to have the opportunity to see Tim Gunn (and Joe Zee!) on the red carpet. A face synonymous with fashion, he was the perfect selection to be a member of the panel introducing the world premiere for American Style. A CNN Original series, American Style is a four part documentary that looks at the creation of American fashion and the impact it had, not only on the country but the world.

Much like film is dictated and inspired by the time period of its creation, so too is fashion. The world premiere episode focused on the time period of American fashion in the wake of World War II. Up until this moment in history, as is stated early on in the episode, American fashion found its success in copycatting what was popular in Europe. Yet with government imposed rationing and the need to send woman to work, freedom and ingenuity would make America a force in the fashion industry.

One of the most eye opening moments in the first episode was the creation and meaning behind the Zoot Suit. A long oversized jacket with oversized pants typically worn by minorities, the Root Suit became a bulls eye on the  backs of a population that was already fighting for an equal place in society. The extra pockets and “bling” associated with the Zoot Suits marked the wearer, in the eyes of many, as unpatriotic as it violated the rationing rules set out by our government during the war. Riots broke out, and those sporting the attire were beaten. Sadly, for myself, it was an eye opening revelation with regards to the meaning of the lyrics “Zoot Suit Riot, throw back a bottle of beer.”

From just the premiere episode alone, I highly recommend American Style. It was engrossing and captivating. There was so much history sewn into each milestone of fashion, many of which I had never known or heard about. Whether you are someone that is into fashion or not, each viewer will find they are able to take something away from this series.

Tribeca Talks: Celebrating 10 years of Shark Tank

It was a shocking revelation that Shark Tank had reached the 10 year anniversary milestone. While I hadn’t watched the series in the last few years, it had always been a favorite past time of mine having previously worked in a retail setting. Watching individuals pitch their ideas and prove their numbers had always been a highlight, reinforcing the importance of metric, entrepreneurship and hard-work within a business setting.

Starting with a short video highlighting the last 10 years, Shark Tank dove in head first, bringing out the panel that included: Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Lori ” The Queen of QVC” Greiner and Kevin “Mr. Wonderful” O’Leary, along with executive producers Clay Newbill and Yun Lingner. Sadly, Robert Herjavec was unable to attend. As the reminiscing began, the executive producers and cast looked back to how the casting had begun. With a formula already in place, Mark Cuban was a cast member Newbill immediately wanted, but Cuban was reject the first time, much to his and the executive producer’s dismay.

When asked why he was rejected he stated, laughing to himself, “we won’t go there”. Turning the question on the rest of the cast, O’Leary and Corcoran we happy to oblige. “They told me they were looking for an asshole – I said I’m your man!”, quipped O’Leary. As the audience laughed in response, Corcoran continued the replies, adding, “I had a very intense audition process. They asked to send in my financial statement. I did and they said you’re in!”.

As the laughter died down from the audience, the cast was asked what was more important to them during a pitch: the person or the product. O’Leary, unsurprisingly, was all about the product, while John, Cuban and Corcoran each stated for them they do put a lot of focus on the person. Cuban made an interesting point that even if they flub their pitch, it is important to remember the person giving it. He has hired individuals in the past who could not deliver on their pitch, but had qualities he was able to utilize that were beneficial for other areas of his company and endeavors. By seeing the individual, he was able to see the potential. Greiner stated she takes both into account, seemingly making her a complicated shark.

Keeping the conversation applicable to today’s societal concerns, Greiner and Corcoran were asked if future seasons should be sharks consisting strictly of females. Both responded in a resounding no (with O’Leary commenting that would be sexist) stating that it should be balanced. “I’m really in favor of gender equality. So that’s almost, I think, going too far,” Greiner stated, “Everything in life should be very 50-50, male and female. Women should have as much opportunity as men.” Creating a shark tank exclusively woman would be unequal and unbalanced. Corcoran did joke to the audience and her fellow panel that because she does “95% of the work in my house, I think the panel should be 95% female”.

Following responses from both Greiner and Corcoran, Cuban commented on the issue and the prospective idea of exclusivity and management. “It’s not just about gender,” he said, “It’s also about ethnicity, where you’re from, perspective, life experiences. Everybody brings something different to the table.” Launching from this discussion, O’Leary made it known that out of the companies he invests in, those headed by woman gave him a greater return, citing, with John agreeing, woman typically are more capable of warding off decisions that could be influenced by ego. “They say if you want something done, ask a busy mother. There’s something to that”.

What was serious one moment, became a burst of hilarity another. Greiner began to reminisce about the funniest memories and pitches from the series, immediately recalling the time an entrepreneur pitched a Squirrel Zapper – pitched as Squirrel Boss. Greiner was literally in tears retelling the story. John continued the good humor recalling the pitch he found the funniest, a tongue like object you put in your mouth in order to lick your cat called “The Licki Brush“.

And as hard as they tried, the sharks could not help sharing teasers for the upcoming tenth season – well, specifically Greiner and Cuban, almost revealing a future pitch that he shouldn’t have (something to do with keeping coyotes away from dogs). There were, however, teasers the panel, specifically Lori and Mark, were at liberty to reveal to the audience. New judges will be joining this season, including a mystery shark who’s humble beginnings started as an entrepreneur pitching to the sharks years ago. It was stated Herjavec‘s scream, according to Cuban, is even louder this year, to the dismay and humor of the panel.

Also, a pitch to look out for that they could share, a man attempting to sell a security system. During his pitch he states that every 18 seconds a home is broken into, proceeding to demonstrate an individual kicking down a door – except the door does not open. After 20 attempts, he never getting the door open – a teaser that had the entire panel in laughter. Greiner concluded the teasers stating there is one pitch viewers should be keeping their eye out for this year as it is one of the most touching pitches of the series.

Ray Donovan Season Premiere with Panel

Ray Donovan would be the last event of the evening, as well as the last event of the festival. What an event to close out with. Starting with the red carpet, there was an air of excitement, both through the reporters and attendees. First to arrive was David Hollander, who left after pictures and brief interviews to watch the world premiere with the audience upstairs. Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight followed, with Voight leaping in front of the cameras waving his umbrella. His excitement and good fun spread through the carpet, Liev Schreiber joining him shortly after for a brief faux sparring match between the two. There was nothing but good humor and spirits as the carpet concluded.

If there was an award for enjoying the moment, it would go to Jon Voight. His vivacious spirit was not left on the red carpet as he was one of the most entertaining of the panel. Handed a mic after the panel had seated, and after questioning had begun, Voight interjected, wanting to know why he was the only one who had been given a microphone, Schreiber playfully trying to swipe it from him as Voight casually played keep away – to which it was quickly answered the mic on his jacket had malfunctioned. His spirited antics was followed up shortly after as he broke out a newly created lullaby for the crowd (set to the tune of “The Hills are Alive”), letting the moderator, who had continued with the interview, know he hadn’t even begun the second verse. Liev Schreiber warned,”He will sing it”.

Though he was not the only one in a spirited mood. At the start of the panel, Schreiber remarked, with Voight holding his microphone out for him, on how squeaky the sound the audience chairs were and how surreal it was for them to hear it up on stage. Encouraging the audience to “do it all simultaneously”, the room erupted in a chorus of squeaking chairs and laughter.

Much of the night surrounded Ray Donovan moving from LA to NY for season 6. When asked about being in NY, Schreiber responded, “it’s great! This is my home town, I am from here!”- drawing a chorus of applause from the audience. After praising the photography for the series in capturing the city, the question was turned on Voight, who quickly responded, “Yes, for me too”. Shortly after, Voight was asked if filming in NYC  took him back.

He reminisced to the audience about his roots, being from Yonkers, NY, and once having the opportunity to visit his childhood home while on set filming for the upcoming season. The world would get a little smaller later in the evening as one of the audience members asking questions revealed that she and her husband currently own his childhood home. “Every time you come on screen, my husband yells, Yonkers in the house!”.

This concludes our coverage of the 2018 Tribeca TV Festival. More TV coverage can be found daily on Film Inquiry.