Film Festivals
Cannes 2007
Oak Tree Films this year attended the 60th Cannes International Film Festival with their slate of feature film projects.
Day 1
J' arrive.
Actually, that should be nous arrivons, but let's not worry about the intricacies of French grammar… just yet.
As ever Cannes is awash with stars and red carpets, meetings and parties.
Day 2
Our first full day here has to be considered a success if only because we managed to snag invites to three different parties in the evening. We spent most of our time though at a party in a flat that had a fabulous view over the red carpet.
We then broke up in to groups. Graham went to see "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" ("The Umbrellas of Cherbourg") at the Cinema de la Plage, which is an open air cinema on the beach. Sitting down in the warm summer evening, the only noise interrupting the film being the sound of the sea, it's not a bad way to relax at all.
Our first star spot of Cannes 2007 came in the form of Darryl Hannah in the Majestic Barriere hotel bar. Let's hope for more like this.
David and others went to see Dario Argento's "Suspiria", and were very privileged to have the director in attendance to introduce two hours of technicolour lunatic horror. With a rubber bat (the flying kind).
Tomorrow is meetings and a trip to see the Film Agency for Wales.
Day 3
A good day spent around the Marche and the international pavilions; networking and trying, yet failing, to avoid getting sunburned. After then having a meeting on a sailboat that once belonged to TE Lawrence (that's Lawrence of Arabia for the uninitiated), we attended a great networking event at the Wales Screen Commission, enjoyed a drink at Majestic Barriere including a walk-by from The Edge (of U2) in the lobby.
But it doesn't end there. We, and some select friends, then popped along to the Palais, with a stop at one of the food kiosks - so Dave (et al) could have a "Cannes flan" - to watch The Edge (him again) and his mates in that band called U2 (yes, THE U2) perform a couple of their ditties, before they then popped off to watch "U2 3D": a film of them in concert - in 3D. And all this after the premiere of Michael Moore's new documentary, Sicko.
A great way to end a Saturday night.
Day 4
Another
sunny day and all is well in Cannes.
A quieter day - and to tell the truth, we needed the rest. A couple of the guys went to see Sicko and enjoyed it. Fiona was particularly proud to have a Sicko promotional plaster on her NHS plaster cast. Again, Mr Moore has made an entertaining, informative and shocking film.
There were more parties to attend and a few drinks to consume in the Grand Hotel; finishing off with a cheeky one (well half) for the road at Le Petit Majestic. And talking of cheeks, the highlight / lowlight [please delete as appropriate] were the Troma fans in the crowd mooning (that's pulling their trousers down to their ankles and not some scientific lunar activity!!) at all the Bentleys and taxis that fought their way through crowd of drunkards.
It's Rob's last day in Cannes, so let's send him off with a bang tonight.
Day 5
Not the most dynamic of mornings; sat nursing a hangover in the apartment.
But, Cannes beckoned us to her and we all eventually got in for lunchtime,
duly split up and either had lunch at the Carlton, lunch at the pavilions,
lunch at the kiosks (Pan Bagnat anyone?) or lunch at a restaurant just off
the Croisette with an old friend. Was it mentioned that we did lunch?
Whilst everyone had a few free drinks at the short Film Corner, Graham
went to see Andrej Wajda's excellent and at times gruesome "Kanal"
- now 50 years old and remastered for its birthday. The film depicts a metaphorical
and physical hell for a group of Polish guerrilla fighters during 1944 in
Warsaw. German troops command the city. The uerilla fightrs are charged
with finding a vantage point by moving, crawling and, for most, suffering
through the city's sewers. Slowly, each character disintegrates into their
own hell; their hopes being dashed with every turn of the retched tunnels.
And back to the order of things. We ended up at the NPA party at the Kodak
pavilion. More networking with not a drop of vino spilt in making more filmmaking
contacts. Does anyone know why Rio Bravo played last night instead of Andrej
Wajda's "Man of Iron" at Cinema de la Plage? Not that we're complaining;
it was great to see the other man of iron, the Duke do his thing in this
classic Western.
This served as a precursor to what turned out to be the most entertaining 30 minutes of the festival so far. Whilst our extended group sat in the bar at the Martinez hotel, Roman Polanski walks in. 10 minutes later it's Gerard Depardieu's turn, closely followed by Michelle Rodriguez. Edgar Wright then stands around looking for someone. By the time we spot him he's moving away (and for ardent Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fans that we are, it was a disappointment that he disappeared into the crowd and we couldn't have a chat with him).
After a lull of, well, 5 minutes, the buzz of the chitter-chatter in the lobby gets shattered by a screeching wolf whistle from one of the bar's clientele. Rosario Dawson has just entered the bar, along with Quentin Tarantino (you might have heard of him). They hung out for a quick chat before doing an Edgar (i.e. disappearing off in to the bar crowd!).
Now, you'd think that'd be enough, but to add the icing on this most surreal of cakes, Sam Allardyce saunters by (you couldn't have missed him in a tangerine orange silk shirt to rival the bar piano player's bright red and yellow suit). For those with a less than average knowledge of English Premiere football managers, Mr Allardyce was last year touted for the England manager's job before Steve Maclaren got it; then flounced out of Bolton Wanderers FC twoweeks ago and now works for Newcastle United. Wonder what part of the new job package has him talent spotting in the world's premiere Film Festival? Negotiations at Antoine Sibierski's Cannes villa perhaps?
Day 6
Cannes Flan:
A (1) sugar based (well, it's pretty much pure sugar), (2) KBD (Kiosk Based
Delight), (3) Yellow in colour; a (4) egg custard desert, that is (5) eaten
at any time of the day (but is mainly eaten at night, after alcohol has
been consumed) and (6) contains... sugar. This particular variety is sold
at two of the three food kiosks just outside the pavilions (don't know why
the third one doesn't - ah the fools). It is totally addictive and (as far
as we know) legal to buy, legal to sell and legal to own here in France.
For two of us it was our first flan experience - and we're hooked. Rob even managed to get his first taste before his flight. Don't think he needs to eat for a few days now. Neither does Graham.
It was Graham's last night, and as tradition dictates, we also had the annual "beer on the pier". Iechyd Da.
Beer on the pier:
KBD beer consumed at the old port on the last night of attendance at the
festival. A look back (metaphorically, philosophically and literally) at
the festival; a post-mortem of business and festival activity whilst gazing
across the bay at the bright lights of the hotels and party pavilions drinking
cans of beer recently procured and smoking fine cigars.
This year the cigar was supplied by Graham's girlfriend's dad. A Punch cigar, no less; one that lasted through to the late night hotel visits. Thank you very much / Diolch yn fawr.
Most of the business seems to be done and the marketers (merchants?) on their way, if not already back home - so, you can now walk around without bumping your laptop bag against people's knees! And as the market is quieting down, it does mean there was more booze to go around at happy hour in the Short Film Corner - oh dear.
Anything else about last night? Ah yes, there was the quiet affair of the
Death Proof premiere!
Following our star fest the other night (see Day 5 for the account of that
night), we've come up with the theory that Michael Booth (Pleased
Sheep Productions) emits a star attracting noise or beam. Read on: Whilst
at the AmPav yesterday, Michael, whilst chatting with friends, when who
should be stood behind him, but THE Martin Scorsese (another of our heroes).
Michael was there in the Martinez on Monday night, and look at how many
"stars" came in to the bar there when we were having drinks! Add
to the fact that Malcolm McDowell has recently chatted to him too.
Another strand to this theory is that Michael needs a transmitter. This could come in the form of Paul Gordon, although the only tests have been conducted are those done here in Cannes.
But, we're definitely on to something here!
Day 7
Part I: Graham's last day
We (Graham and Dave)
spent an hour or so at the Short Film Corner, watching as many short films
as we could, including those in the official competition. We can honestly
say (despite inevitable but incorrect accusations of nepotism) that one
of the best films we saw was Gunplay, by our good friends Clive Ashenden
and Rob Wickings of Sick
Puppy Films.
Part II: That night
As Graham eventually jetted back to London (don't ask him about delays and
airport bureaucracy - please) everyone else attended the Straight8 Party
run by the people at Straight8.net. Nick
Scott and Fiona Brownlie (The Winners
Productions) had a film in the final. It was quite a breakthrough film
in Straight8 terms as it involved split screen and backwinding. However
special mention has to be made to Colin Dewar and his film "Everything
But...". An incredible animation that took two months to film, and
four months just to build the rig that the camera was mounted on. Behind
the scenes photos are here.
Here's a film that deserved a standing ovation.
Part III: The night turns into morning
After that we went to the after party and then on the Hotel Martinez, our
favourite haunt. Michael and Dave were blown away by the piano playing of
a fellow delegate. His playing of Ben Folds was so good that I went to check
it wasn't actually Mr Folds (in Cannes you never know!). Michael was so
stunned by his rendition of Jon Brion's "Eternal Sunshine..."
OST that we almost managed to convince him he had just complimented the
composer on how well he had played one of his own tunes. Best of all, the
staff at the Martinez told us they were keeping the bar open just for our
party.
We then strolled back up the Croisette for the final time that night, met
up with Nick and his girlfriend Claudia, then went home at about 5 am.
Day 8
Our final day at Cannes 07.
Cop and Michael went to see Death Proof - and disagreed with the critics.
Dave pitched "Angels in the Snow" to the producer of a Best Picture Oscar winning film.
And after starting to wind down on the beach for a while the guys went to see (and hear) Robert Duvall giving a talk and some very sage advice about directing.
But it didn't end there. It was then off to "number one kiosk" for a final time this year to get some Cannes flan to take home. Would airport security consider it a fluid and therefore require Dave to pack it in his hold luggage?
Either way, it wasn't a bad way to end another business trip to the trade convention that is the Cannes International Film Festival.
A decent birthday for the event we reckon with an excellent assortment of films this year… and not a drop of rain to dampen the festivities.
Happy 60th birthday.
Full cast of characters:
Graham Williams..........Oak Tree Films
David Maddison..........Oak Tree Films
Paul Coppack.............Shooters Media
Michael Booth............Pleased Sheep Productions
Paul Gordon...............Pleased Sheep Productions
Clive Ashenden..........Sick Puppy Films
Rob Wickings.............Sick Puppy Films
Fiona Brownlie...........The Winners Productions
Laura Smith............. The Winners Productions
Nick Scott................The Winners Productions