Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with our pal, Truthgame, who is currently battling the photographers and studio execs to find the good word at Cannes this year. The poor little guy missed out on a ticket to FAHRENHEIT 9/11 (if you have a spare and want to help a fellow geek out, you can get in touch with Truthgame here!!!), but he did make it to Peter Bart's interview with Michael Moore. Below are the rumblings of a deranged geek! Enjoy!!!
Harry
Strange festival this year Maybe I'm just going to wrong places and talking to the wrong people but there is no buzz this year. There are no movies that have got everyone talking. From the ones I've seen Troy was dull as fuck, Bad Education good, but not even close to Talk to Her. Life as a Miracle was not even close to Underground or Black Cat, White Cat. 2046 may well be too esoteric, although Chunking Express is one of my favourite films of all time -sadly I'm back in London before it screens. Shrek 2 was a strange choice for but a fun film and so on like that.
Although I missed the screening for Old Boy and that is one that has a few people talking about. The parties have been good, but not in the same league as Moulin Rouge or Lord of the Rings Launch. I didn't even bother with the MTV bash last night.
Most importantly the business side of Cannes is quietly going great. Most of my friends that came here to sign a deal have signed and those that have come here to sell have sold. Lots of production has been initiated. On the serious side of Cannes, all the usual suspects of financiers, banks, accountants, lawyers and bond guarantors are busy in meetings signing off on deals. That is what Cannes is really about - Buying, selling and initiating films.
There is only one film that has EVERYONE talking about, Fahrenheit 9/11. And it's that I want to talk about I don't have a ticket for the premiere tomorrow night but I did see a 1 hour interview with Peter Bart and the great man himself at the Variety tent.
I didn't take notes but I will say a few things from memory
Moore wants the film released on July 4th! He wants America to see it. He wants America to see it now - before the election. Later on he talked about a DVD release in October
9/11 has sold EVERY territory apart from Taiwan and Hong Kong and USA!
The film was originally set up at Icon films (Mel Gibson's company) but apparently wither Mel or Bruce Davey got a call from a "senior republican" and were told to drop the film or forget about going to white house dinners (this humble filmmaker thinks the threat was probably some tax or trade deal being squeezed)
When Icon dropped out Michael Moore's agent - who does all of these negotiations this all happened last April on the night of Seder the Jewish festival.. Michael was incredibly witty and a great public speaker. Lots of talk about his agents Seder being ruined and then as a deal needed to be reworked immediately Harvey Weinstein had his Seder interrupted Michael said his agent called with good news and bad news Icon out. Miramax in. A better joke would have been Good news - Miramax are doing the film and the bad news Miramax are doing the film
Michael was an impassioned speaker. When he started talking about his contract, a word he yelled out, with Disney he was impassioned. He seemed furious and alarmed as the film has not been sold yet. And as he wants a July 4th - that's 7 weeks from now
Moore talked about how financially rewarding his films are $120m for Bowling for Columbine on a $4m budget. Take a hint Capitalist US Distor outfits all.
The audience was made of typical liberal film makers in fact from the moment I arrived in Cannes I have not met anyone who doesn't hate Bush. Everywhere, at parties, in meetings, in queues to get into screenings - everyone talks about hating bush. In fact - it's a great icebreaker when meeting new people.
Moore talked about France being a great friend of America something I didn't ever see that way, until he said that only a good friend can tell you when your fucking up... interesting point
Moore talked a little about what to expect about his film: Camera Crews inside Iraq! Bush families worldwide profiteering while 18 year old soldiers die
Moore said he wants to films about the American Health Care System, about Israel and the Arabs and more films about Bush and Bin Laden
Moore also said he feels that today - the day before he screens - feels like the last day of the rest of his life.
I bumped into, I mean I literally bumped into Harvey at the Hotel Du Cap the other night. I simply said "don't fuck up Fahrenheit 9/11" Harvey said he wont and that was the depth of conversation I had with him. But from one filmmaker to another I think we shared a moment.
Michael was wearing shorts and kept fiddling with this spot on this leg I don't think he realised he was doing it. Nothing to complain about but from I was sitting- 3rd row I think I saw too much.
Peter Bart, a Hollywood legend, (read The Kid Stays in the Picture for some interesting Peter Bart insights) held court well despite Michael Moore repeatedly telling him to hold the microphone closer to his mouth
Peter talked about budgets out of control. The financial disappointment that is Van Helsing and how this bodes bad for a summer of $150m+ productions. He came across like quite a film lover not the big business, bottom line exec that is driven by marketing reports and fast food tie ins to govern filmmaking decisions.
Peter also said that this year was too Hollywood he compared Shrek 2, which premiered last night to last year and Gus Van Sants Elephant. He asked Michael for thoughts and Michael said he liked Hollywood movies, too.
Michael then said he had dinner with Max Von Sydow the other night and they reminisced about a great thriller - Three Days of the Condor and how so few intelligent thrillers are being made.
Sadly I don't have tickets to Fahrenheit tomorrow night but it's by far the hottest ticket in town. Anyone wanting to give this young man a ticket can do so by emailing truthgame_in_cannes@hotmail.com
I apologise of there is anything I missed out my memory is a fragile thing
No reviews to give in, but this experience today was profound, interesting and entertaining enough for me taking 10 minutes out and writing about it and also helping a man do a great thing getting rid of the inbred halfwit that is George W Bush.
Truthgame
