After asking Peter Bogdanovich for three minutes of his time for a quick portrait in the lobby of the historic Golden State Theatre in Monterey, I snapped five frames and told him I was done.

"Well you have two and a half minutes left," he said in his signature deadpan, frank voice "Now what?"

The film director then headed upstairs for a book signing prior to introducing his classic 1971 movie "The Last Picture Show."

Bogdanovich is also known for such films as 1972's "What's Up, Doc?" and 1973's "Paper Moon," in which 10-year-old Tatum O'Neil won an Academy Award for best supporting actress.

During his film introduction to a crowd of around 150 movie fans, Bogdanovich spoke on the art of film and his career as a director.

This is the first year Golden State Theatre has put on the festival, which runs until Sunday, March 29. All the films are being shown as 35mm prints and some even are Fox Studio Archives, which are fresh orginals of the films to ensure high quality of image and sound.

"The film festival really uses the theatre appropriately, "says Jared Pacheco, general theatre manager. "By emphasizing the classic aspects of the theatre including Vaudeville and live performance from the 1920s."

Pacheco says he wants the creative elements of the films to educate the public with a new perspective through the different documentaries, premieres and classic movies shown in the coming ten days.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit the Golden State Theatre's website.