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Cannes Journal
Two more days before I leave for the Cannes Film Festival and I am not even close to being ready. Aside from needing to do some serious shopping (no Hollywood grunge dress in Cannes!), I am woefully behind on emails to set up meetings, phone calls to find the good parties and reservations for my vacation to Italy after the grueling (okay I won't be suffering all that much) 10 days is over.
I can tell you this festival out does any other film festival, including Sundance which is a pretty fun romp in itself. The sheer volume of films alone is daunting. Besides a heavy screening schedule in the competition sections, there are hundreds of exhibitors trying to find European distribution for their projects. The Palais has several floors of small screening rooms which continually screen projects throughout the day. Distributors move from room to room, catching 10 minutes or so of a film, and determining in that space of time if the project isworth their interest. I find it fascinating and a little scary, that a film can be discarded or pursued based on a random 10 minutes in the projection. I spent a day last year popping in and out of screenings, trying to get a sense of how one might make such a determination and I may spend a morning this time and try it again. It's a great education and illustrates how absolutely important every frame of a film is.
I won't have as much time to wander though, as I am set up with more meetings this year. I have several projects I am bringing over, that I want to find financing and co-production partners for. I have been emailing like crazy, contacting financiers andcompanies that look interesting and asking for a meeting. Some of them have actually agreed and it will be a good experience that with any luck will also result in some success.
Then there's the parties of course. We are down for a few good ones, but I worry about not getting invitations. My husband reminded me, however, that last year the best invitations came, in some cases, a day before the party, and in one case - a party on Harvey Weinstein's yacht, literally 2 hours beforehand. (That party was the least interesting of all that we went to, though. It was held to promote his investment in a dating website for the ultra rich - as a result the party was filled with bored Europeansocialites. Parties on the yachts are fun though, cause you trade your shoes for boat shoes and everyone walks around dressed up with slippers on!)
Then there are the premieres. This year we are coming prepared. Last year we had to turn down two premiere invites, because my husband didn't bring his tux. They are ultra strict about that. If you are walking up that red carpet women MUST wear a gown and men MUST wear a tux and black tie - as in a black bow tie. Nofancy colors or brocades, no long ties, but a black bow tie. They will turn you away if you are not in compliance. Seems rigid, but Hollywood has gotten so far from elegance and class that a formal dress code seems like a breath of fresh air. I'll have to try onmy favorite glamour gown and make sure it still fits before I pack it!
The rest of the time we'll be hooking up with friends, having decadent meals with way too much bread, cheese and red meat and lots and lots of wine and cocktails. When it gets a little heavy (and the bank account starts draining) we go to a pizza joint by the marina that is cheap, easy and cheerful. There's lots ofwalking which helps counteract the calorie count, and I think this year I'll take my running shoes, get up early and take a run on the Croisettte. That is the walkway along the ocean. One side is lined with super expensive shops and it's fun to stroll thatside,because they change the clothes in the windows on almost a daily basis. The other side, though, the beach side is initially lined with the Village Pavilion Tents. Each of these tents are designated to a different country to promote filming in thatcountry. Eventually they end and it opens up to a gorgeous view of the ocean on one side and flowers and trees on the other. It'll be a good way to start the day I think.
Tune in starting Thurs. the 18th. I'll be sending a Cannes diary on as regular a basis as I can manage to fill you in on all the goings on while I am there.
Jane Clark
Writer/Director/Producer
FilmMcQueen, LLC
323/654-0115 W
323/633-8193 C
filmmcqueen@yahoo.com
www.filmmcqueen.com
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