Today dawned cloudy, cool and a bit rainy. Such a difference from the past week. Dodging raindrops and the frequent tiny doggie land mine, I headed to the train for my last trip to the Palais. Just as I finally figured out the advanced calculus book that is the train schedule, I have to leave! I was heading to the American Pavillion to meet Yasmine Hannani, a friend of my brother Andy's. She was in Cannes with her company "Without a Box" which manages festival submission for film producers. She was a sweetheart and provided me with some yummy chocolate croissants via her company's pull with the Pavillion. The American Pavillion is an interesting place. You can pay to hang out during the day, or after 6:00 pm for free. English speakers from America and beyond congregate to have hotdogs and snicker bars (sacrebleu!). I was informed by a British filmaker that this beats the pants off of the UK tent. He didn't go into details, but four words...toad in the hole...draw your own conclusions. There is also free wifi which was key, because I got a very friendly text from AT&T alerting me that by checking my email a few times a day I have a current bill for data only of $460.00. Thankfully, because it was only several days usage, they put me on an international data plan and erased the charges. I guess one too many stories in the news about some poor guy's $3000 phone bill causes a bit of a PR nightmare.
After my breakfast meeting, I wandered back to the Palais and watched as many more short films as I could. There was a catergory for critic's favorites, so I watched an animated film called Love Patate about a love triangle between a young man, a concession cart girl and a potato. It did not have a happy ending. There was another about a Scottish farm laborer that involved necrophilia and oddly enough potatoes (in a very minor role). It also did not end well. I attended a private screening for a DC production called "Hushed" about a band of evangelists, no potatoes, which also did not end well. The producers were a nice bunch of folks and we found out we are staying in the same hotel. I had a nice chat with one of the owners who is shortly moving to Norwood. His girlfriend is a neuro specialist at Boston's Childrens Hospital...small world!
The sun returned full force, and I decided I'd had enough of the Palais. So, I headed into the old city for a late lunch. Yasmin had recommended a restaraunt on Rue Sequet, which is a narrow, windy, cobblestone'd street that makes its way up, up, up. It is dotted with cafe's and brasseries with the occasional boutique, and it looks an awful lot like Diagon Alley from Harry Potter, minus the owls and wizards of course. I had my best meal of the trip at a small place...Beignets de courgette (fried eggplant and squash blossoms) and Salade de Cherve, chaud (warm goat cheese salad on grilled, buttered baguette slices). The server was a lusty old dame (no other way to describe her) who flirted and cajoled customers and potential customers alike.
It was time to pack it all in. I made one last swing through the Palais, bought some trinkets at the Boutique Officiale, bumped into Terrence Howard having difficulty getting through security, and headed to the train. I had one last stop to make before I left, however. I had stumbled down Rue Notre Dame one day while looking for a photo shoppe. There is a toy store that even the most jaded old Scrooge would love. It looks like Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (if the emporium was the size of a modest bathroom). In addition to wonderful wooden toys and knick knacks, they had the most amazing collection of antique style tin toys. I got nostalgic looking at a wind up rocket ship very similar to the one I had as a wee lad (then I had a panic attack thinking that I once owned a brand new toy that is now considered an antique). I picked up a few presents for the kids and headed out of town...
Back at the hotel, I took a much needed nap before heading back to the beach for dinner. Restaraunt Estrelle was empty, so the waitstaff was glad to see me. My usual seat at the sand's edge was available and I enjoyed a carefree meal of grilled ribeye and frites. It was a sad stroll back to the hotel, the ever present scent of honeysuckle accompanying me up from the water, but I am looking forward to seeing my beautiful family, and wonderful wife, who insisted that I go in spite of the fact that she couldn't come along.
So, my stay here is coming to a close. It has been a fantastic opportunity, and quite a thrill to have had this experience. I would be remiss if I didn't thank the Glasseye Films team directly for creating fun, and excellent films year in and year out. Our director, Scott Palmer swears each year is his last. Leah Romig produces the heck out of the projects, sometimes aided by the likes of Beth Flis and Condee Russo, while her husband Tony is often busy on the writing team with Scott, John Fremer and myself. We've had tremendous support over the years from DP's such as Stu Vose, John Coyne and Jim Flis. Brian Corbett has put his skills as a grip to the test on occasion. The Wearing of the Cans has been shared with skilled sound engineers Chris Engles and Brian Iacobucci. Brian is also a talented sound designer and musician. Jennifer Dunlea came on this project as a very capable stylist. Pulling it all together and making sense of the footage has fallen to the effervescent Barry Clegg (as well as the equally effervescent Theo Mitropolous) and outstanding graphics provided by the always cheerful Michael Powers. We were awarded, in addition to Best of Boston, Director, Screenplay and Cinematography, the award for best Ensemble Acting. This year our team of thespians included perennial fave Kevin Banks, John Fremer, Matt Wiffin, Steve Broadly, the lovely and zany Ms. Erika Rettman Welch, myself and introducing Sara Faith Alterman of the San Francisco Altermans, and sweet but feisty Ms. Jodi Sharpe Powers. All of the above mentioned people (my sincerest apologies to anyone I've missed) are a joy to work with, and I look forward to each new project. I feel inspired to create a new film outside of the 48 hour constraints, and perhaps make it back here. I hear Sundance is nice, too...
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