In 1994, Turner Classic Movies debuted on cable television sets across the nation, introducing an impressive library of cinema to new generations. 

Now, 30 years later, TCM has become a classic in its own right with the endorsement of not only its loyal fanbase, but also filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Greta Gerwig, who have collaborated with the network in restoring films from the golden age of Hollywood and made guest appearances on the channel discussing their cinematic influences. 

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TCM celebrated its third decade at its 15th annual TCM Classic Film Festival this past weekend on the bustling Hollywood Boulevard by inaugurating films — many from the ’90s — into the elite library of “classics,” with screenings of films from “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), “Se7en” (1995) and the opening night selection, “Pulp Fiction” (1994).  

The 932 seats of the historic TCL Chinese Theatre filled up with ecstatic fans of all generations for the 30th anniversary screening of Quentin Tarantino’s groundbreaking film, “Pulp Fiction,” alongside a panel discussion with a reunion of the main cast.

The moderator and TCM host, Ben Mankiewicz, called “Pulp Fiction” a “demarcation point” in the history of Hollywood.

“Like ‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939) and ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ (1962), ‘Pulp Fiction’ changed our imagination about what movies could be,” Mankiewicz said.

The festival also honored contributions of artists who have shaped some of the most iconic films of all time. This year’s honorees included actor Billy Dee Williams (known to many as Lando Calrissian from “Star Wars”), who plays opposite Diana Ross in “Lady Sings the Blues” (1972); prolific makeup artist Lois Burwell; and actress Jodie Foster, whose handprints and footprints were immortalized in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre. 

In commemorating these respected artists, the festival highlighted selected films from their careers with conversations from the beloved TCM hosts. 

Academy Award winner Lois Burwell, who won for her work on “Braveheart” (1995), became the first makeup artist to receive the festival tribute. With over 50 years of experience, Burwell has collaborated with notable directors and actors, including Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise. 

“It’s the excitement of actually working as a group; that’s what I really like,” Burwell said of her job. “It’s telling the story that interests me … and working collaboratively with other people.”

“Almost Famous” (2000) and “Lincoln” (2012) were screened to showcase the breadth of Burwell’s talent. While both represent the more contemporary films shown at the festival, Burwell’s makeup work transported audiences back to the 1970s music scene and the Civil War, respectively. 

In an interview with the Daily Trojan, Burwell discussed her process for creating a sense of realism with her characters’ look. The first step was writing what she called a “makeup script.”

“I write down my notes,” Burwell said. “For example, if someone has been up for 48 hours or they’re standing on the top of a hill in inclement weather, what would they look like then? Would there be pink eyes or shadows under the eyes?” 

As a fan of TCM herself, Burwell expressed gratitude for the opportunity to spotlight her work at the festival. 

“[This honor] is truly wonderful because I love TCM and the opportunity to see films that aren’t just current. You can go into different genres and learn details about the films,” Burwell said. “I like both of those films so very much. They were both such wonderful experiences.” 

This year’s theme, “Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film,” and the centennial tributes for MGM Studios and Columbia Pictures, gave audiences the chance to see a diverse range of films in rare formats. 

On Saturday alone, fans could start off the morning with the classic MGM Studios musical “Annie Get Your Gun” (1950), shown on nitrate in the beautifully restored Egyptian Theatre; spend the afternoon watching Cary Grant climb down Mount Rushmore in the world premiere restoration of Alferd Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” (1959); and conclude the evening with prison mates Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, who both showed up for a Q&A discussion at a packed screening of “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994). 

Even Steven Spielberg, one of the most outspoken advocates for TCM, made an appearance at the festival. Prior to a screening of the director’s cut of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977), Spielberg expressed his admiration for the network.

“The great benefit of TCM is that it’s a time machine, because we actually go back in time to watch our cultural heritage,” Spielberg said in an interview with TCM. 

Returning to the festival for a second year, Ella Grace Rodriguez, a senior majoring in film and television production, said she found inspiration for her filmmaking career through watching classics on the big screen. Rodriguez said TCM influenced the overall style and design of her senior thesis, a short film titled “Siren Salon” (2023) that takes place in the 1950s. 

She cited how the set design, performances and “flair” of films she watched for the first time at last year’s festival, such as “The Music Man” (1962) and “Carmen Jones,” (1954), had an impact on her. 

“There’s so much to learn from the past,” Rodriguez said. “There’s a lot of beauty in seeing the way the forefathers and foremothers of cinema really took it to what it is today.” 

However, what makes the screenings so memorable for Rodriguez is the sense of community she encountered among the fanbase of classic film lovers. 

“It’s kind of awesome seeing a diverse range of people. Even just the conversations I would have with strangers in line — they didn’t become strangers because they would end up chatting,” Rodriguez said. “Seeing [these films] in the theater and [with] other people, where it screened decades ago, in another century, I felt so lucky to have experienced that.”