In my last post, I talked about all of the days seeming like groundhog day. Well if I could have picked any day to groundhog day, it would have been yesterday. My boss gave me the day off and I was finally able to sleep in a little bit. My friend Keith and I were then invited to go out on a small boat to a St. Margarit island about 15 minutes away. The boatride was one of those times where I just paused and took everything in. I could see the city of Cannes off in the distance with the backdrop of the mountains and surrounding me were million dollar yachts in the water. This was just first of the many moments I took in during the day.

Upon arriving to the island we ate at a restaurant on the beach called La Guerite and it was amazing. I had my first taste of calamari as well as completely fresh fish that was caught that day from the sea. I’m normally not a huge fish guy but this was the best fish I’ve ever eaten. After the meal was done, let’s just say the check cost more than Keith and I have in our bank accounts combined.

Keith and I then changed into our swimsuits and went to explore a little bit. We started climbing around all the rocks surrounding the island and we ended up finding this small cove. The scenery was so gorgeous and it almost felt like a dream to witness all that we were seeing. Afterwards we decided to suck it up and swim in the freezing cold ocean. The water was too beautiful and being in the south side of France made it a must to jump in. The water was even colder than I expected and it took the wind out of me. It was crystal clear enough to see the bottom but I could barely enjoy it because I was so cold. After getting out as soon as I could, it was great to catch some sunrays and just think about everything happening on the trip.

Once we finished drying we took a speedboat back to the mainland and it was time to get ready for the Fair Game premiere. It was my fifth and final time going up the red carpet and it was a little bittersweet knowing it would be the last one. The movie was pretty good and the fact that it’s a true story made it very compelling. I actually fell asleep for 20 minutes and it marked that every movie I’ve seen in the Grand Lumiere theatre this festival I’ve fallen asleep at. The chairs are so comfy and it’s so dark it’s hard not to fall asleep after a long days work.

When the screening was over we headed over to the Fair Game afterparty. Naomi Watts and Doug Liman were in attendance and Keith and I set our goal to meet Miss Watts. We finally found her as she was leaving and Keith stepped up to the plate and asked her if we could get “one last picture” before she left. She thought about it for a second and agreed. I told her I worked for Summit and was very nice even though we spent probably only two minutes together. Even though she looks a little old, she is still very gorgeous and beautiful. We really have no idea how many high class people were at that party last night.

After the party was over we met up with some people from our class and found another party and the DJ was killin’ it. He was playing all house music and doing a really great job at mixing. Keith, Jessie and I got up on the couches and the tables and started dancing and going crazy. The DJ started playing Billie Jean and Keith started busting out his MJ moves. It was truly an amazing day, from the beach, to red carpet to all the after parties. I am seriously having the most incredible time of my life right now. I have never even been “hooked up” like this ever in my life. My boss even said, “What you’re experiencing is not a normal Cannes experience.” It is so astonishing to hear that and humbling to be apart of Summit Entertainment and benefit from working hard for them. This trip has been beyond anything I could ever imagine. If you had told me the experiences I would be able to do during this time I would never have believed you. The Lord has blessed me beyond what I could ever dream. It’s been so great to see all of my hard work pay off. Stuff with Summit is pretty much all wrapped up, so I will be able to enjoy a couple days of vacation. I’m looking to go explore the town a little more and go to the beach again. It’s Keith 21^st birthday tomorrow and we’re looking to go to an exclusive club called VIP where 50 cent will be playing. It should be a great last night in Cannes. I don’t want to come home, but I know this is not real life so the train has to stop eventually. I’ll be sad once its over but it will be good back to reality and take everything I’ve learned and apply it.

The Wolfpack...

Dessert at the Ritz

Party with the Brazilians

All the days seem to be the same lately. I heard someone describe this whole film festival process as “Groundhog day”. I really can’t think of a better example. This experience has been amazing but it’s very easy to lose track of what day it is or even the time. It’s such a fun and crazy lifestyle but I’m not sure if I could do this all the time.

I can do what I was able to do last night, partying with the Brazilians. My friends and I escorted my boss to this Brazilian distributor party. We went to this incredible house and there was lots of music, drinks and fun involved. The highlight of the night was being introduced as some of the new stars in the Twilight movie, specifically in Taylor Laughnter’s Wolfpack. My boss is pretty high up in Summit so, it was really funny having her introduce us as that. After that, we went and hung out at the Ritz Carlton for little while and had some great conversation with some people in the industry.

During the day I was able to meet with one of the head sales agents from Summit and we had a great conversation about the business side of the movies, especially distribution. It’s very complicated process but exciting new stuff to learn.

I was also able to meet Doug Liman, the director of Fair Game and also of the Bourne Identity. He is a very nice man and a great director. The screening for Fair Game is tomorrow and there should be some exciting activities involved, especially the after party. I’m hoping to meet stars. Stay tuned for updates!

Appliance Direct

Well, I’ve finally figured out what the one thing I don’t like about Europe and Cannes: figuring out how to use European appliances. Whether it’s flipping a door lock the other way or trying to use the dishwasher or even trying to open a door itself. Well tonight showed itself the toughest challenge of them all, trying to use the washing machine. As Tom Garrett says, “You need a P.H.D to try and figure out how to use these things”. So I went to open the washer door and had zero clue that it was full of water. I opened the door and the floodgates just opened. It felt like an epic movie scene trying to close the washer door so that the water would stop pouring out. It finally shut and there was water everywhere. We only had 2-3 towels in the room so I had to find a big bed sheet to clean it all up. It was by the far the biggest epic fail of the whole trip so far. Thankfully it has to do with my living situation, not my internship.

The craziness at Summit has slowed down just a little bit. But things will gear up again as we get ready for their Fair Game Premiere, Thursday. The CEO of Summit got into Cannes today and I was able to meet him. It’s quite remarkable the amount high-end people I’ve met despite still being a student. The highlight of my day today was being treated to lunch by my sweet boss, Deborah. She took us the Majestic Beach restaurant located on the beach in Cannes. It was absolutely beautiful and I didn’t feel worthy to be at such a ritzy place. Deborah actually told me today that the reason she picked me for this internship was because of my opening statement in my resume. This flattered me very much and it was encouraging to hear that this business is not all about experience. She has been an amazing boss and such a joy to work with, I’m so blessed to have met her, yet alone work for her. She is very willing to help me in my career. The Fair Game screening is this week so stay tuned for those events!

Woody Allen Premiere

The Palais

My view from my apartment

Breakfast every morning...

Tonight, I was able to witness the beauty of cinema and the movie business. I was able to screen Woody Allen’s newest film, You Will Meet a Tall and Dark Stranger. I really had no idea going into the film on what it was about. I thought it might even be a horror film based on the title. But it ended up being a romantic comedy about life. It was a really fantastic film.

I think it really goes to show how great the art of cinema is and you can’t ever judge a film “by it’s title”. The Woody Allen film was so different than any of the other films I’ve seen here, but it still a great film. It’s funny how films can be classified as “great” but be two completely different type films. And that is the beauty of the art of cinema.

I’ve become very spoiled and been able to attend three Red Carpet Premiere Screenings. I would have been fortunate enough to go to one, much less three. It was funny waiting in line today looking at the people on the outside and having them stare and videotape me. All I could think was “I’m just an average person just like the rest of you” but here I am walking up the Cannes Red Carpet. I’m so thankful to even have the opportunity to experience this.

Next Thursday, Summit has a film in competition, Fair Game, starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts. Rumor has it, I’ll be able to attend everything for that, press conference, red carpet screening, and the afterparty. I might even be able to escort Miss Watts down the red carpet. I’m keeping my fingers cross.

I’ve been able to learn a lot about the movie business here and see how it is so much of a people business more than anything. From what I’ve observed, taking care of clients is the most important priority. The people at Summit are fantastic about this and have been a great example for me to follow in my young career.

Things have slowed down quite a bit on the Summit front, which has been nice. I really hit the wall today and started to feel pretty worn down. I hope to get a good nights rest and get refreshed for a new week full of adventures. I should probably stop eating these doughnuts I have every morning but they're simply too good to stop. The nice thing about Europe is that I walk everything and burn all those calories off. Tomorrow I'm off to watch Takeshi Kitano's Japanese ganster film, Outrage, I cannot wait!

Wall Street Premiere

What an unbelievable first few days it’s been for the opening week of the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. I was able to attend another major event tonight and that was the premiere of Oliver Stone’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, starring Michael Douglass and Shia LaBeouf. But not only was I able to attend, but was able to escort my boss and one of her friends down the red carpet with VIP passes. It was very dazzling to walk down with thousands of people on my right and left and have two ladies holding my arms as I’m dressed up in my tuxedo. I was able to sit in the famous and bottom “Orchestre” section about seven rows from the stage. I was literally sitting in the same row as Douglass and LaBeouf, they were just one section over. We were able to get my professor Tom Garrett and his wife, Lee into the screening and it was just a small compensation for all the work he’s done for us to get us to Cannes.

After the film was over, I sprinted to the entrance to try and see the cast as they walked out. It ended up paying off as I got some good video and was four feet from Shia LaBeouf as he walked by. But the ultimate was being able to get two feet from the man who sparked my interest in film making, Mr. George Lucas. Star Wars was my first love for movies and it was incredible to be so close to the man who sparked it all.

Today was another awesome day inside of the Summit Entertainment Office. John Chu, director of Step Up and the newest Step Up 3D came in and we actually got to have an informal lunch with him. He is very down to earth and open to any questions we had for him. It’s refreshing to meet someone who’s ego is not too big to talk to some interns.

Even though this internship has been very demanding, it is very much worth it. The perks are very rewarding and I’ve done so much different stuff than most of my classmates are doing. Not to mention I’m making some great contacts with the fabulous people at Summit.

The coolest thing by far is seeing how much bigger all of this is than America. Of almost all the people that walk into the Summit Office, almost all are Non-American. A bunch of them are actually from Asia (HIYA!). But it goes to show even though America is so large, it is still such a small piece to this puzzle that is the world. It has been tough to have limited Internet and cell phone service, as I miss my family and friends but it’s been refreshing to get away from American Culture and experience a new one.

The Lord has blessed me in so many ways, I can’t even describe it. What I’m experiencing right now, most people will never in a life time and I’m only 20 years old. My internship keeps me so busy but at the end of the day when I go back and think about everything, it is truly amazing to see what I’m experiencing. I am so thankful that the Lord has blessed this opportunity upon me, for my wonderful parents sending on this trip and my professor Tom Garrett, who organized and helped provide this opportunity. The work is hard but I plan to keep pushing on as it will all pay off in the end. Stay tuned for new adventures that are bound to come…

Opening Night Of Cannes

Wow. What an amazing opening night to the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. Ridley Scott's Robin Hood was set to opening the festival and was basically sold out before it opened. There was two screenings available, the 7pm Premiere where all the stars would be and the later 11:30 show. I was not able to get a ticket for either showing and was really bummed out because that was one of the main movies I wanted to see.

So my boss at Summit Entertainment found out and told me to take the CEO's pass to try and get a ticket for the 11:30 show. I made the request and the told me to come back in an hour. So I came back and the lady told me they were able to get a ticket for the 7pm Premiere!! At this time it was 5:45pm and I needed to be in line for the movie at 6pm for a 7:10pm showing. So I sprint back to my apartment, throw on my tux in 10 minutes and spring back to the Red Carpet in 15 minutes. I'm absolutely drenched in sweat and I hand the guy my ticket and BOOM! there I am on the Red Carpet, in Cannes for the opening night of Robin Hood, all by myself. It was truly unbelievable and hard to believe.

From there, I went inside, wiped all the sweat off and found my seat in the nose bleed of the Gala theatre. They then introduced the jurors for the Festival, including Vencio Del Torre, Kate Beckensale and head juror, Tim Burton.

The movie began and it was quite good, not as good as Gladiator but still very entertaining and Russell Crowe is still as good as ever.

Today I was able to see the new Step Up movie which is very good and in 3D. Afterwards, I got to meet the director of it, John Chu and he was a very nice and some cool stuff to say about filming and shooting the movie.

Tomorrow, I'm working the market screening of the new Twilight movie: Eclipse and will hopefully be able to catch some of it. I will also be attending the premiere of Oliver Stone's Wallstreet starring Michael Douglass and Shia LaBeouf. It's been a crazy first few days and hopefully more stuff to come. I'm working very hard but the rewards are paying off. Stay tuned for more the adventures that lay ahead of me!!

Cannes Day 1

Wow. After an extraneous day of travel, we finally made it to Cannes. After a 6-7 hour delay in JFK Airport due to the Volcano Activity, we finally made it to Cannes after sleeping in the airport all day. It is so beautiful here and the weather has been really nice. My Internship is very hard but the benefits will be very rewarding. I'll be sure to update as Robin Hood Premiere is tomorrow night!

2010 Cannes Internship

Yesterday, I found out I was selected to intern for Summit Entertainment during my time at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. Summit Entertainment is a very prestigious company in the movie business and I am very excited to work with them.

They are a "worldwide theatrical motion picture development, financing, production and distribution studio for both it's own internal developed movies as well as acquired films. They release 10-12 films annually". Some of the films from Summit are: Academy Award Winner: The Hurt Locker, Letters to Juliet, The Ghost Writer and the newest from the Twilight Sage, Eclipse. From the email I received, my intern duties will include, "Being sent up the red-carpet, going to cocktail parties, press conferences and market screenings etc. and will be representing Summit. They also said they will be "allowing ET (Entertainment Tonight) to shoot from our Penthouse balcony and so we will have lots of talent, executives and Producers in and out of our offices and we pride ourselves on looking and being our best! Camera's will be on!". So I have a very exciting opportunity ahead of me that the Lord has blessed me with. Be sure to stay posted as I will be posting all of experiences in Cannes, it's only 8 days away!