Time flies. I can't believe this trip is over. I feel like I just got here. I don't know how I feel, actually. I'm excited to go back home and see family and Graham, but I'm really going to miss everyone and living in JLP. I like living in towns where you can walk anywhere you need to go. Leaving is bittersweet. Luckily there will be a few of us on the same flight back. It's late and I have to get up in a couple hours.
Today we went to Eze and Nice. Eze is beautiful. We took a bus to the top of the mountain and walked around. Jemma's dad told her that we needed to go to the Golden Goat restaurant. It was really expensive (we just got coffee/hot chocolate), but the view was fantastic. I also got some gifts. Nice was okay. There were a lot of clothing stores, and I liked Ventimiglia's rock beach more than Nice's. We tried climbing this mountain to find a waterfall, but it didn't work out. Finding the train station was an interesting experience. Not really. It was kind of stressful.
I had to write an advice paper for next year's students. I was kind of lazy with it. The advice papers don't help. You just have to experience everything on your own and you'll learn along the way.
I'll probably finish the "Trip to Venice" story when I get home. Aw. Now I'm sad again.
Fun Fact: I turn 21 on Tuesday (June 9th)!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Experiential Paper
I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN
By Morgan Pelligrino
The train has become a neglected means of transportation in America. All of the MARTAs and Subways are convenient for inner-city travel, but they lack the adventure that the European trains easily provide. Before I arrived in France, the only information I knew about the train system was that they were never on time and the workers occasionally went on strike.
I never had a hair-pulling experience while traveling back and forth from Juan les Pins to Cannes. Sure, they were delayed a few times, but it was never terribly inconvenient. I found my inner rebel when we all decided to stop paying for tickets to Cannes. The first ticket-less ride was ten minutes of over-the-shoulder glances and anxious fidgeting. The goody-goody Morgan felt paranoid and ashamed, but I slowly buried her with a false confidence that my peers openly shared.
It took an impulsive trip to Venice for me to appreciate the TER (Train Express Regional). The TER makes its last stop in Ventimiglia, Italy…then TrenItalia takes over. Let’s put it this way: TER is to TrenItalia as Grandma’s homemade macaroni and cheese is to the bright orange slop in a school cafeteria.
Seven of us decide to take a day trip to Ventimiglia and had no problem paying the six euros and ninety cents to get there. The TER arrives at 11:45, and six out of seven of us hop on. The seventh member (let’s call him Luke) is still waiting in line to buy a ticket when our train rolls away from the Juan les Pins station. A couple of us nervously laugh while muttering sympathetic “aw”s. After realizing the next train to Ventimiglia arrives an hour later, we relax in the blue chairs of second class knowing we would eventually meet up with our friend “Luke.”
First Train: Juan les Pins to Ventimiglia 11:45 AM
Before the trip to Italy, I never took the time to examine the quality of the TER. Compared to the MARTA, with its urine-y aroma and plastic chairs complete with “I <3 Shayna” graffiti, this train was top of the line. Air conditioning flows freely from the side window panels. The seats are virtually stain-free and still have a supportive bounce. Trash is nowhere to be seen. Giant windows allow you to feast your eyes with the beautiful views of southern France. The two levels provide an abundance of seating choices. There is nothing like sinking into a blue TER chair after a long day of touring.
The one hour ride to Ventimiglia flies by. Our group discusses what we would like to do as soon as we get there. I look forward to practicing my Italian after taking a full year of classes. No one else on the trip knows any Italian, and I feel delighted knowing that I get to be a translator. There is never a moment during the short ride when I whispered a word of gratitude for the TER’s bright atmosphere. I am too busy sharing my excitement with my fellow travel-mates. We acknowledge that we couldn’t have picked a better group of people to go on a trip with. Gorgeous cliffs and luminous bodies of water catch our eyes and my heart skips with anticipation. This is going to make up for any instances of ugliness that had plagued me earlier on the trip. With our egos filled and wallets open, we step off the TER and enter a new country.
Second Train: Ventimiglia to Milano 6:50 PM
Venice! We’re going to Venice! Why the hell not?
It only took one hour in Ventimiglia for the group of us to come to the mutual decision that one Italian city is not enough. After exploring the charming markets, basking on the rocks of the Ventimiglian beach, and seeing nothing but smiles on the faces of the locals, there is no other option. We must delve deeper into the boot.
The second train is toasty—the bad kind of toasty. Forget ski lounge toasty and imagine being stuck in a latrine on a hot summer day…toasty. The males of our posse toss their shirts over their heads as the rest of us groan with a mix of disgust and jealousy. Small tables are situated between four chairs that face each other. A lid next to the window opens up to a trash can…or in my case…a temporary sandwich holder. The chairs are checkered blue with brown tinged headrest flaps. This is no TER.
The four hours begin with picture taking and end with delirious chanting and general silliness. Three of us make playing cards out of our unused, fake business cards. Despite the humid and dingy environment, we learn a lot about each other. As the trains get crappier, our fellowship grows tighter.
Third Train: Milano to Verona 12:15 AM
As we walk to our next train’s platform, two security workers inform us to get on the second car “for our safety.” On our way to the car we see that half of our train is pitch black. We question whether or not they meant the second car from their end or from the opposite side. The boys run toward us with McDonalds in hand, and we climb on a random lit car.
The seats are a close replication of the Ninja Rollercoaster at Six Flags. Thick, black plastic curves around the headrests. We were unsure if this was an attempt to hide oneself from the person seated next to them or if they served a higher purpose that we were never meant to learn. The armrests are fixed and destroy any hope of lying across two empty seats. Gone were the tables and sandwich holders. Our plans of sleeping are crushed, but our spirits are still high. One of the boys (we’ll go with “Bryce”) takes on the voice of an eighty-year-old woman with a delusional infatuation with Woodrow Wilson. We invest our creativity in a short film mocking The Real World. The green and blue striped seats provide a perfect backdrop to fake “confessionals.” Who needs sleep?
Fourth Train: Verona to Venice 4:50 AM
We need sleep. After a two hour layover in Verona, we decide that we will nap on the next train. The comprehension of what the next train actually consists of happens in slow motion. A hooded man hangs out the window of the only lit car. We keep walking in hopes of finding a decent car to sleep in. A station employee informs us that the last car is the only car we can stay in. Panic takes over. Is this the train that leads to our demise?
I guide the group up the train’s steps and slide a door open. A handful of people are sitting on the floor with their heads resting against the wall. There is a long row of closed rooms with numbers on them. None of the numbers match our tickets. I notice that each room has a group of sleeping passengers inside. They look so peaceful. I try to imagine what that feels like.
The lights burn my eyes and I slowly sink to the floor. This narrow hallway is going to be our place of rest for the next two hours. We shake our heads in disbelief. I lean over to the young stranger next to me and mutter, “Non mi piace questo treno.” He grins and nods in agreement. The remainder of the group awkwardly sits down and we begin to shuffle in search of comfort. Indian style is the only reasonable position. Sleep becomes a main priority, and stomachs and laps become headrests. Seven grown individuals are intertwined like a litter of newborn puppies.
As soon as we find a satisfying position, a woman approaches our cluster. An assortment of limbs blocks the path to the bathroom/exit. This is annoying. With a couple of slight movements, the woman is forced to hop through the obstacle course we have created. When two more people loom over us, we realize this isn’t going to work. “Bryce” moves outside of the door to create more room. We almost lose him when the exit door opens and he almost topples out.
I look at the mass we have generated and I have to laugh. Three weeks ago I had no idea who these people were. Now I’m using one of their butts as neck support while another one rests his head on my knee. I can’t be upset about our state of affairs. I realize I am going to remember this event for the rest of my life.
The train comes to a halt around seven A.M. I cup my hand to shade my eyes from the Venetian sunrise. The cool air wraps itself around our weary bodies. I stand on a bridge and smile. We’re in Venice.
Reflection
Some people might call this an unfortunate experience, but I refuse to see it that way. Those four trains did more than get us where we needed to go. I formed a solid connection with six other people who love adventure as much as I do. You get to know each person’s ticks and mannerisms. I am still amazed that we got along so well. I’m usually picky about friends, but each one of these individuals had something special to offer. I know. I’m getting mushy.
Instead of cursing the trains, I want to thank them. Thank you for letting me quench my thirst for exploration for little money. Thank you for inspiring gratitude for my privileged lifestyle. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to connect. Thank you for giving me a great story to tell.
Viva TrenItalia!
By Morgan Pelligrino
The train has become a neglected means of transportation in America. All of the MARTAs and Subways are convenient for inner-city travel, but they lack the adventure that the European trains easily provide. Before I arrived in France, the only information I knew about the train system was that they were never on time and the workers occasionally went on strike.
I never had a hair-pulling experience while traveling back and forth from Juan les Pins to Cannes. Sure, they were delayed a few times, but it was never terribly inconvenient. I found my inner rebel when we all decided to stop paying for tickets to Cannes. The first ticket-less ride was ten minutes of over-the-shoulder glances and anxious fidgeting. The goody-goody Morgan felt paranoid and ashamed, but I slowly buried her with a false confidence that my peers openly shared.
It took an impulsive trip to Venice for me to appreciate the TER (Train Express Regional). The TER makes its last stop in Ventimiglia, Italy…then TrenItalia takes over. Let’s put it this way: TER is to TrenItalia as Grandma’s homemade macaroni and cheese is to the bright orange slop in a school cafeteria.
Seven of us decide to take a day trip to Ventimiglia and had no problem paying the six euros and ninety cents to get there. The TER arrives at 11:45, and six out of seven of us hop on. The seventh member (let’s call him Luke) is still waiting in line to buy a ticket when our train rolls away from the Juan les Pins station. A couple of us nervously laugh while muttering sympathetic “aw”s. After realizing the next train to Ventimiglia arrives an hour later, we relax in the blue chairs of second class knowing we would eventually meet up with our friend “Luke.”
First Train: Juan les Pins to Ventimiglia 11:45 AM
Before the trip to Italy, I never took the time to examine the quality of the TER. Compared to the MARTA, with its urine-y aroma and plastic chairs complete with “I <3 Shayna” graffiti, this train was top of the line. Air conditioning flows freely from the side window panels. The seats are virtually stain-free and still have a supportive bounce. Trash is nowhere to be seen. Giant windows allow you to feast your eyes with the beautiful views of southern France. The two levels provide an abundance of seating choices. There is nothing like sinking into a blue TER chair after a long day of touring.
The one hour ride to Ventimiglia flies by. Our group discusses what we would like to do as soon as we get there. I look forward to practicing my Italian after taking a full year of classes. No one else on the trip knows any Italian, and I feel delighted knowing that I get to be a translator. There is never a moment during the short ride when I whispered a word of gratitude for the TER’s bright atmosphere. I am too busy sharing my excitement with my fellow travel-mates. We acknowledge that we couldn’t have picked a better group of people to go on a trip with. Gorgeous cliffs and luminous bodies of water catch our eyes and my heart skips with anticipation. This is going to make up for any instances of ugliness that had plagued me earlier on the trip. With our egos filled and wallets open, we step off the TER and enter a new country.
Second Train: Ventimiglia to Milano 6:50 PM
Venice! We’re going to Venice! Why the hell not?
It only took one hour in Ventimiglia for the group of us to come to the mutual decision that one Italian city is not enough. After exploring the charming markets, basking on the rocks of the Ventimiglian beach, and seeing nothing but smiles on the faces of the locals, there is no other option. We must delve deeper into the boot.
The second train is toasty—the bad kind of toasty. Forget ski lounge toasty and imagine being stuck in a latrine on a hot summer day…toasty. The males of our posse toss their shirts over their heads as the rest of us groan with a mix of disgust and jealousy. Small tables are situated between four chairs that face each other. A lid next to the window opens up to a trash can…or in my case…a temporary sandwich holder. The chairs are checkered blue with brown tinged headrest flaps. This is no TER.
The four hours begin with picture taking and end with delirious chanting and general silliness. Three of us make playing cards out of our unused, fake business cards. Despite the humid and dingy environment, we learn a lot about each other. As the trains get crappier, our fellowship grows tighter.
Third Train: Milano to Verona 12:15 AM
As we walk to our next train’s platform, two security workers inform us to get on the second car “for our safety.” On our way to the car we see that half of our train is pitch black. We question whether or not they meant the second car from their end or from the opposite side. The boys run toward us with McDonalds in hand, and we climb on a random lit car.
The seats are a close replication of the Ninja Rollercoaster at Six Flags. Thick, black plastic curves around the headrests. We were unsure if this was an attempt to hide oneself from the person seated next to them or if they served a higher purpose that we were never meant to learn. The armrests are fixed and destroy any hope of lying across two empty seats. Gone were the tables and sandwich holders. Our plans of sleeping are crushed, but our spirits are still high. One of the boys (we’ll go with “Bryce”) takes on the voice of an eighty-year-old woman with a delusional infatuation with Woodrow Wilson. We invest our creativity in a short film mocking The Real World. The green and blue striped seats provide a perfect backdrop to fake “confessionals.” Who needs sleep?
Fourth Train: Verona to Venice 4:50 AM
We need sleep. After a two hour layover in Verona, we decide that we will nap on the next train. The comprehension of what the next train actually consists of happens in slow motion. A hooded man hangs out the window of the only lit car. We keep walking in hopes of finding a decent car to sleep in. A station employee informs us that the last car is the only car we can stay in. Panic takes over. Is this the train that leads to our demise?
I guide the group up the train’s steps and slide a door open. A handful of people are sitting on the floor with their heads resting against the wall. There is a long row of closed rooms with numbers on them. None of the numbers match our tickets. I notice that each room has a group of sleeping passengers inside. They look so peaceful. I try to imagine what that feels like.
The lights burn my eyes and I slowly sink to the floor. This narrow hallway is going to be our place of rest for the next two hours. We shake our heads in disbelief. I lean over to the young stranger next to me and mutter, “Non mi piace questo treno.” He grins and nods in agreement. The remainder of the group awkwardly sits down and we begin to shuffle in search of comfort. Indian style is the only reasonable position. Sleep becomes a main priority, and stomachs and laps become headrests. Seven grown individuals are intertwined like a litter of newborn puppies.
As soon as we find a satisfying position, a woman approaches our cluster. An assortment of limbs blocks the path to the bathroom/exit. This is annoying. With a couple of slight movements, the woman is forced to hop through the obstacle course we have created. When two more people loom over us, we realize this isn’t going to work. “Bryce” moves outside of the door to create more room. We almost lose him when the exit door opens and he almost topples out.
I look at the mass we have generated and I have to laugh. Three weeks ago I had no idea who these people were. Now I’m using one of their butts as neck support while another one rests his head on my knee. I can’t be upset about our state of affairs. I realize I am going to remember this event for the rest of my life.
The train comes to a halt around seven A.M. I cup my hand to shade my eyes from the Venetian sunrise. The cool air wraps itself around our weary bodies. I stand on a bridge and smile. We’re in Venice.
Reflection
Some people might call this an unfortunate experience, but I refuse to see it that way. Those four trains did more than get us where we needed to go. I formed a solid connection with six other people who love adventure as much as I do. You get to know each person’s ticks and mannerisms. I am still amazed that we got along so well. I’m usually picky about friends, but each one of these individuals had something special to offer. I know. I’m getting mushy.
Instead of cursing the trains, I want to thank them. Thank you for letting me quench my thirst for exploration for little money. Thank you for inspiring gratitude for my privileged lifestyle. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to connect. Thank you for giving me a great story to tell.
Viva TrenItalia!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Was I Just in Italy?
What was going to be a weekend of day trips turned into a voyage to Venezia (Venice). Lindsey already wrote the entire time line of the trip, so I am going to copy and paste the main parts onto my blog. I'm still sick...it turned into a bacterial thing...so the less effort I have to muster the better.
MAY 29
11:00 - Meet up with everyone, plan on going to Ventimiglia, Italy (only an hour away) and come back to Monaco for a night in Monte Carlo.
11:45 - Catch the train to Ventimiglia with Lindsey, Chris, Jemma, Bryce, and Jonathon. Watch sadly as Luke is left while buying a (useless) ticket.
Lindsey mourns the loss of Luke
12:04 - Arrive in Ventimiglia! Wander our way over to an amazing, cheap, authentic Italian restaurant.
Ventimiglia is absolutely beautiful and so very Italian. I wasn’t expecting to almost hop into a different world when we came. Since the city is the very South Western border to France, I assumed it would have a little bit of French flare (read: the people would still be snobby). However, we were all pleasantly surprised by the warmth of the Ventimiglians. As we were eating, we were astounded by how nice our waitress was. She was patient with us and our broken French/my one year of Italian/sign language as we ordered a 9 Euro meal consisting of bread, pasta, a drink of choice, dessert, and coffee. What a good deal. And what a great experience - the waitress, she smiled! She found us endearing. I’m pretty sure she didn’t even spit in our food, which is a great concern of mine when going out to eat in France.
This is all important, trust me. This meal set the precedent for the following thirty-something hours.
It is at this restaurant that we decided to film a mock Real World over the course of our three day weekend.
It is also at this restaurant where we decide we love Italy so freaking much, why not just stay here for a day or so more? We made a pact to not go back to Juan-les-Pins, at least for the night, and to wind up somewhere further into the nation of Italy. This will be an adventure. None of us have anything that could be slightly helpful for backpacking (or pursing?) through Italy. This just adds to the adventure.
13:04 - Luke arrives in Ventimiglia. We inform him of our plan to stay in Italy. We also give him his character assignment for our Real World: Italia.
Now, we wander around Ventimiglia, which is known for its outdoor markets. It’s beautiful, the people are refreshingly nice – even when they hit on you, it’s all in a jesting, laid back, perfectly Italian manner… as opposed to the greasy, scumbag way of blowing air kisses from creepy old Frenchmen. Everyone buys a new shirt/dress (depending on gender) since we’ll be staying somewhere overnight. This was a very good decision.
14:45 - We reach the end of the market, which just so happens to overlook the breathtaking view of a rock beach. After exploring the beach, we all decide to get in the ocean. Jemma and Lindsey run back to the market to purchase a bathing suit (well, to purchase the closest, cheapest equivalent - spandex sports bras and underwear for ten euro). We swim around and lay out on the rocky beaches like iguanas for hours.
These hours are the happiest of my entire study abroad. We write on the rocks, reenact Baywatch scenes, come to the conclusion that Baywatch was very smart not to film on rocky beaches, lay out with the ocean lapping at our feet.
17:00 - We decide to pack up our things and head to the train station in order to plan (note that I use the term “plan” very loosely) our adventure. On the way, we grab essentials to our journey: chocolate, contact solution, deodorant. We are ready to go.
17:30 - The people at the train station are still very friendly, despite our constant questions of “and when does this train leave? and how much will that cost? and what about a train going here?”. This makes me love Italy even more, as anyone in France would have kicked us out of the information office by this point (you might argue, but it’s an information office. their job is to provide you with information. to this I will respond, but we’re in France. their jobs don’t really count).
After a good half hour of this intense research, we decide to go to Venice, via train, stopping in Milan and Verona. We are ecstatic.
19:30 - We get on our train to Milan. We have the entire cabin to ourselves. It’s very hot, and we wonder if it will be this hot in each of the trains. I wish that some future-seeing prophet would have told us that the temperature of the trains would be the least of our worries. But, like I said, we were the only ones on the train - no future-seeing prophets.
The guys stripped due to the heat
21:30 - After resting we begin to grow antsy. We’re halfway to Milan. Jemma, Jonathon, and myself have made playing cards out of business cards. I don’t know where Bryce and Luke are during this time. Chris and Lindsey discuss mutual acquaintances in his fraternity.
22:30 - We are mere minutes away from Milan. We have all gone crazy. We are making short films and singing about others. We are singing the theme song from Nickelodeon’s “Gulla Gulla Island”. It’s around this time that Bryce creates his alter-ego, Grandma. This will be essential to our happiness/the bane of our existence over the next eight hours.
23:00 - We arrive in Mulan. Yeah, Mulan. Like the Disney princess.
23:30 - We buy tickets to our connecting trains. Jonathon and Luke run off to McDonald’s and barely make it to the train on time. This stresses me out. Our train is not nearly as nice as the first one. We complain about its sketchiness and how the chairs are similar to the seats on the Ninja rollercoaster. This is concerning, but if the future-seeing prophet had been here he would have told us to shut up and enjoy seats while we still had them. Foreshadowing? Yes.
MAY 30
0:00 - It’s midnight.
0:45 - It’s now past midnight and we are filming our rendition of The Real World. Grandma Bryce shows up. So does British football fan Jonathon. I have not laughed this hard in a really long time. My words and retelling of the stories don’t even begin to capture the hilarity. So, we’ll have to wait until the videos are edited and uploaded.
2:20 - Verona! We have a two hour layover here, but we’ve already figured out how to kill time before even arriving. Verona is known as the setting for Romeo and Juliet, so there has to be some kind of awesome attractions, even at 2 in the morning. Also, Verona is a college town, so there has to be something open right now. We have already planned to find a place to sit down and enjoy the Shakespearean city.
2:23 - Mission failed. Verona is completely asleep. There are a few groups of teenagers walking around (every single one wearing a leather jacket. I kid you not), but other than that, this college town is severely deprived of a thriving nightlife… even on a Friday. It makes me miss Athens. It also makes me miss twenty-four hour restaurants, like Waffle House. I’m so hungry at this point that I would kill for a chocolate chip waffle. Or even just a chocolate chip.
Our choices are as follows: continue walking through Verona, or go back to the train station to join the sleeping homeless people. We choose the former.
3:15 - After walking around the silent town, we finally see the lights of a bar… called Bar Bra. Is this an oasis? By the name, is this a strip club? Are our sleepless minds playing tricks on us? When we walk into the bar and find that they serve food (“it IS possible!”) and not lapdances, I’m convinced it must be a dream, since it’s exactly what we were looking for.
4:00 - Bar Bra starts shutting down. That’s alright, we’ve got to get back to the train station, anyway. We take our time, as we have a few minutes to kill. We realize we look like idiots and Bryce looks like a homeless man, as he is carrying around an open beer bottle and wearing a tux jacket over his polo. We take pictures. Jonathon’s alter-ego comes out to play.
Favorite quote from this city:
“It’s so freaking boring here, no wonder Romeo and Juliet killed themselves… too soon?” - Morgan Pelligrino
4:35 - We are now staring at the train. We have not gotten on yet. We are shaking our heads in disbelief.
The train is overbooked, all of the rooms are full, people are hanging their heads out of the windows. There is a hallway approximately one and a half feet wide that we are expected to sit in during the next two hours.
Certainly this is not our train.
4:40 - This is our train.
Oh, crap. This is our train.
Bryce has adopted his homeless persona and is now sitting in the area that connects the two trains. For the next two hours, we will occasionally see his head pop up behind the glass door, bottle in hand, goofy smile on face (this is why I love Bryce). At some point, Morgan, Luke, and I (the only ones awake for the majority of the ride) come to the conclusion that he is no longer Bryce. Somewhere along the train ride he has turned into Kramer from Seinfield. I’m alright with this.
5:20 - Everyone has passed out like dominoes on top of one another. I have never felt this close to six human beings in my entire life. I cannot tell how it is physically possible that Chris is laying in my lap while Jemma and Jonathon are both in his lap. It just doesn’t make sense. Despite the foot traffic of passersby looking for the bathroom, everyone is dead asleep.
Except for Luke, Morgan and I, who find our delirious mindsets and the situation so hilarious that we cannot sleep. Also, Bryce could or could not be awake. I have moments where I wonder if he is even on the train anymore, as he could have easily rolled out of the door and into some random Italian city.
5:27 - Some man has B.O. so intense that when he walks by, his stench lingers in our hallway for at least twenty minutes. It is so bad that those of us awake (still only me, Luke, and Morgan) get out my Icy Hot and rub it on our noses.
5:29 - My nose is simultaneously icy and hot.
6:20 - On a stop shortly before Venice, people leave a train room open. Four of us hop into the room and share it with a mother and her two daughters.
For the next fifteen minutes, I get the closest thing to sleep that I’ve had all night. It’s a groggy state of slumber. I don’t know what language the family in the room with us is speaking, but I wish they’d shut up.
6:50 - The train comes to a stop. We sleepwalk into the train station in Venice. We get a little lost before even making it out of the station, despite the fact that it was a straight shot to the outside world.
6:55 - I am looking at a Venetian sunrise. It is spectacular.
More later...
And we're back. Everything above is from Lindsey's blog. Now I'm going to take over for the Venice part of the excursion.
The water is literally sparkling. I try to take everything in but I'm so sleep deprived that nothing matters. My main priority is finding a place to sleep. Jemma and I decide to search for a hotel while everyone else explores the city. But first things first...food.
7:30- Jemma and I go to a small bakery/caffe and order croissants and cappuccinos. The man asks us if we would like to sit and we nod eagerly. He then informs us that we would have to pay almost three euros extra to sit down. I have never heard of a place that requires you to pay extra to sit.
So we stand. It was awkward. I'm feeling like death at this point. I woke up with a sore throat on Friday morning and it has progressed into the painful swallowing point. The pharmacies open around 9, so we have an hour and a half to kill.
8:00- We continue our search for a place to stay. All of the hotels are expensive and won't let us check in till 11. We keep searching. After talking to the other group on the phone, we decide to meet at the Piazza San Marco.
8:30- Still no luck with the hotels.
9:00- I find an open pharmacy and try telling the man that my throat hurts. "Mi fa male la gola," I whisper. My voice is shot. He hands me some chewable tablets called "Gola Action." They don't help.
9:30- I'm falling asleep on a step next to the gondolas in the Piazza. The rest of the gang shows up on a water taxi. Jemma and I tell them about the one bedroom available in a hotel nearby. It would cost 20 euros each, but the room is tiny. At this point we are desperate. We go for it.
10:00- Jemma and I purchase the 140 euro room. The next challenge is to sneak five more people up to the room. I go outside and Lindsey and Chris follow me into the lobby. The man at the front desk stops me and says they can't go up there--only two people allowed in the room at a time. Crap.
I go upstairs and inform Jemma of the situation. We start to freak out. She goes downstairs and outside to meet the rest of the group as I try to relax for a few minutes on the bed. I feel miserable.
Alright, forget what time it was.
Luke and Bryce come up to the room (somehow) and tell us we need to cancel the room. This makes me feel a little awkward. We all go downstairs and the guys tell the front desk man that they are part of our group and they decided to leave today instead of tomorrow. The man doesn't give us a refund. They argue. I am embarrassed. We leave.
So that was a lot of money down the drain. Close to $200 US dollars.
I eat an amazing mushroom pizza.
We sit next to the water. Bryce wants to go to Henry's for a bellini (the place that originated the drink). I go inside with him and try some. It tastes like grapefruit juice. 15 euro grapefruit juice.
Lindsey and Chris decide to head to the trainstation. We say we'll meet up with them.
Somehow we get lost and end up walking around the entire city until we find the station.
The rides back were not as pleasant. Lindsey and Chris were nowhere to be found, so it's just five of us. I am sick as a dog. I have no voice. I have never been so happy to be back in JLP.
But what an adventure.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Top 12 Films to See from Cannes
(According to indieWIRE)
(Not in any particular order)
The ones in bold are the ones I've seen. I know I talked about how awful Antichrist was, but the more I think about it...the more I realize how much it really affected audiences. Everyone was talking about it for days. Maybe it's just one of those films you have to see to really understand what everyone has been saying about it. The White Ribbon won the Palme d'Or this year. Only two people out of our huge group saw it and one of them fell asleep. I loved Dogtooth. I hope it comes to some of the art houses in the U.S.
We have to write an experiential paper for Kohn's class which basically means we pick one experience that we've had while staying in France and expand on it. I'm still unsure about what I would like to write about. I don't want to do anything cliche like the red carpet experience. I'm not even sure I want to write about the festival. I was thinking about the way this random group of students have been able to form great connections with no silly drama involved. Everyone gets along with everyone. I am always fascinated with how humans interact with one another. I've learned more about people on this trip than the movie business...and sometimes they overlapped.
Tonight we are doing a potluck dinner. Everyone is contributing. I bought ice cream toppings because I don't have a kitchen and I can't cook.
Here's a picture of my weird shower:
Pink Toilet Paper:
Talking Disemboweled Fox from Antichrist:
(Not in any particular order)
- Antichrist
- I Killed My Mother
- Enter the Void
- The White Ribbon
- Go Get Me Some Rosemary
- Dogtooth
- A Prophet
- Mother
- The Time That Remains
- Police, Adjective
- Vincere
- Like You Know It All
The ones in bold are the ones I've seen. I know I talked about how awful Antichrist was, but the more I think about it...the more I realize how much it really affected audiences. Everyone was talking about it for days. Maybe it's just one of those films you have to see to really understand what everyone has been saying about it. The White Ribbon won the Palme d'Or this year. Only two people out of our huge group saw it and one of them fell asleep. I loved Dogtooth. I hope it comes to some of the art houses in the U.S.
We have to write an experiential paper for Kohn's class which basically means we pick one experience that we've had while staying in France and expand on it. I'm still unsure about what I would like to write about. I don't want to do anything cliche like the red carpet experience. I'm not even sure I want to write about the festival. I was thinking about the way this random group of students have been able to form great connections with no silly drama involved. Everyone gets along with everyone. I am always fascinated with how humans interact with one another. I've learned more about people on this trip than the movie business...and sometimes they overlapped.
Tonight we are doing a potluck dinner. Everyone is contributing. I bought ice cream toppings because I don't have a kitchen and I can't cook.
Here's a picture of my weird shower:
Pink Toilet Paper:
Talking Disemboweled Fox from Antichrist:
Update
Without the festival going on I keep forgetting to update my blog. But I'm alive. I promise. Classes take up my whole day. I kind of miss the freedom of the festival. It's hard to believe that this trip is almost over. I had a dream I was back home last night and I felt sad. I missed the city life. I'm looking forward to seeing family and friends, but I hate the suburbs.
Tomorrow we get to do our own traveling for the weekend. I think a few of us are going to take day trips around the south of France. That way we don't have to deal with getting a hostel and paying hundreds of dollars for plane or train tickets.
It's so beautiful outside and I'm sitting in the classroom. I'm looking forward to exploring for the next few days.
Monday, May 25, 2009
First Day of Official Class
So Cannes is over. Classes have begun. I'm still sick. La dee da.
A few of us were chosen to read our reviews in front of the class, and I had to read my Misfortunates one. That was sort of neat, but I think that was probably my best review. I don't expect to read my others.
I did laundry at the confusing laundry place. The instructions were not very clear and the options on the machines didn't make much sense.
I also managed to make it to the grocery store and got a few things like Nutella and bread. I have paid for crappy meals the past two nights, so I'm probably going to eat in for the next couple of days. I thought my pizza was supposed to have artichokes on it, but instead it had anchovies. Not so good. I made a work of art, though:
Last night, a few of us shared some escargot, which I enjoyed:
Red Carpet Premiere of Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus:
George and I in front of the Palme d'Or inside the Grand Lumiere
Tonight is another night of review writing. This upcoming weekend is a three day one and we get to travel. I'm still unsure where I want to go. Some people are going to Florance and some are taking a couple day trips arond the South of France. Either way, it's going to be pricey. I would like to see Italy and practice my Italian, though. We'll see.
A few of us were chosen to read our reviews in front of the class, and I had to read my Misfortunates one. That was sort of neat, but I think that was probably my best review. I don't expect to read my others.
I did laundry at the confusing laundry place. The instructions were not very clear and the options on the machines didn't make much sense.
I also managed to make it to the grocery store and got a few things like Nutella and bread. I have paid for crappy meals the past two nights, so I'm probably going to eat in for the next couple of days. I thought my pizza was supposed to have artichokes on it, but instead it had anchovies. Not so good. I made a work of art, though:
Last night, a few of us shared some escargot, which I enjoyed:
Red Carpet Premiere of Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus:
The crowd at the premiere from inside the Grand Lumiere
George and I in front of the Palme d'Or inside the Grand Lumiere
Tonight is another night of review writing. This upcoming weekend is a three day one and we get to travel. I'm still unsure where I want to go. Some people are going to Florance and some are taking a couple day trips arond the South of France. Either way, it's going to be pricey. I would like to see Italy and practice my Italian, though. We'll see.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Feeling the Heat
Greetings. It is 88 degrees.
I have been busy the past few days with a cough. Friday we met with Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and he gave us some tips on how to write reviews. He also told our teacher to make our reviews shorter. Right on, Mr. Phillips!
That night I got into the premiere of Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. It was Heath Ledger's last film. It was so-so. I had mixed feelings. Overall, I thought it was a weak movie. Nothing special. I'm about to write my next review on it.
Afterward, everyone went to the pub to sing karaoke, but I was feeling too sick to stick around.
I was forced to move out of my room b/c of a complication with reservations, but I get to move back in today (I think...I hope). Yesterday, I went to the beach for a while and hung around JLP trying to rest.
And today is the last day of the festival. Tonight they are showing Coco Chanel and then the closing ceremonies. We're going to head over there early to eat dinner for Lindsey's birthday. I'm at the Best Western trying to get started on my next film review, but I'm still feeling a little ill. It's really hot in here.
It's weird that the festival is almost over. I'm not sure how I feel about it. In a way I'm glad because it's been stressful and draining, but I think I'll miss it.
That's all for now.
I have been busy the past few days with a cough. Friday we met with Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and he gave us some tips on how to write reviews. He also told our teacher to make our reviews shorter. Right on, Mr. Phillips!
That night I got into the premiere of Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. It was Heath Ledger's last film. It was so-so. I had mixed feelings. Overall, I thought it was a weak movie. Nothing special. I'm about to write my next review on it.
Afterward, everyone went to the pub to sing karaoke, but I was feeling too sick to stick around.
I was forced to move out of my room b/c of a complication with reservations, but I get to move back in today (I think...I hope). Yesterday, I went to the beach for a while and hung around JLP trying to rest.
And today is the last day of the festival. Tonight they are showing Coco Chanel and then the closing ceremonies. We're going to head over there early to eat dinner for Lindsey's birthday. I'm at the Best Western trying to get started on my next film review, but I'm still feeling a little ill. It's really hot in here.
It's weird that the festival is almost over. I'm not sure how I feel about it. In a way I'm glad because it's been stressful and draining, but I think I'll miss it.
That's all for now.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
It's that Time Again!
Film review writing time. That's what I have been doing all day. Well, that's not true. I slept for half of the day. Few films are playing in Cannes today, so I decided to stay in JLP to write my reviews. I've just completed my first one on Antichrist. Now I'm trying to decide which film I want to do my second review on. That's pretty much it. I will write more tomorrow.
More Pictures:
My Fancy Badge That Gets Me Nowhere
Movie on the Beach!
More Pictures:
Gary Coleman!
My Fancy Badge That Gets Me Nowhere
Movie on the Beach!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
No Tarentino For Me
When I told people I was going to Cannes in May, several told me "GO SEE TARENTINO'S NEW MOVIE! ARE YOU GONNA?"
Today was the premiere. I honestly have no interest in Tarentino. I don't understand why people are so crazy about the guy. I can do without excessive violence.
Yesterday I saw Oh My God, which was a documentary on...well...God. This guy went all over the world asking people what they thought God was. It was very interesting. I wrote down some of the responses that I liked the most. I didn't have time to write down who said them, so if this movie gets picked up--you can see for yourself!
"Why is the God of one club more important than the God of another club? Do I need to be in a club?"
"God is ONE."
"The ocean can be God, but God cannot be the ocean."
"War is always over two things: religion and land"
"There are four major things we use God for:
1. An explanation for creation. How did we get here?
2. As a policeman. He watches over us and we do good deeds to please him.
3. Death. No one knows what comes after we die.
5. Scapegoat. If something bad happens, people always say 'It's God's will.'"
"Borders are created by Man. We own NOTHING. We are just caretakers."
"God is between us. He is the gap."
"God is money."
"He is the essence of nature."
"God is our best ally who guides us on our path."
"He is like a smile."
"If anyone tells you who God is...mistrust them."
"God is LOVE."
"He is the glue."
They gave me a booklet with some quotes in it as well.
"If you put Buddha, Jesus Christ, Socrates, Shakespeare, Arjuna, Krishna at a dinner table together, I can't see them having any argument."
-Hugh Jackman
"It's rubbish. Why are you looking for a reason?"
-Sir Bob Geldof
"Our knowledge is very, very limited. We think we know a lot. We may be learned but we are not wise."
-K.P.S. Gill
"God to me, my God is my life, God is love."
-Ringo Starr
"Over the years, I have chosen to see God in people."
-Seal
"Religion is politicized. Hindu-Peace; Islam-Peace; Christianity-Peace. They're all peace."
-Idapedanda Gede Putra Telabah
Director's statement:
Yup.
AS FOR TOOODAY.....
I saw three movies: Looking for Eric, Dogtooth, and Hierro.
The first two were pretty good. The last one was a little cliche as far as scary/psychological thrillers go.
I did get harrassed in the theater during Dogtooth, though. This creepy older man sat next to me before the movie began and he reeked of cologne. He took up the entire armrest and slowly had his hand hanging off on my side. I felt his hand against my leg, so I scooted over a little--thinking it was just an accident, or whatever. Then I felt his hand again. I guess he was slowly creeping it closer to me...I scooted over AGAIN..and sure enough....
So I start freaking out a little. I want to get up and move, but I'm right in the middle and people are on both sides of me. I looked over at Melanie, but she was watching the movie. I tried writing down what was going on and passing it to her, but she didn't read it all and was confused. I started pushing his arm as a I shifted my body. Then he would come back. So I pushed again. This lasted for an hour. I didn't want to make a scene. I didn't even know if this guy spoke English. I made one last attempt at shoving and put my notebook against my leg as a "barrier." He got the point, got up and left. If I see him on the street, I am going to kick him. I can't seem to get through one day here without having a person disappoint me.
I decided to come back early. I have 2 more reviews due on Friday, so I should probably get started on those.
Goodnight! Sorry if I spell things wrong. I don't use much brain power for these entries because I save it all for my film reviews.
Oh yeah. Here are some pictures:
Square Toilet--Paper was in there before
Random Westie!
Hanging out with Scorsese and Roger Ebert
Heart Sunglasses and Gelato!
Today was the premiere. I honestly have no interest in Tarentino. I don't understand why people are so crazy about the guy. I can do without excessive violence.
Yesterday I saw Oh My God, which was a documentary on...well...God. This guy went all over the world asking people what they thought God was. It was very interesting. I wrote down some of the responses that I liked the most. I didn't have time to write down who said them, so if this movie gets picked up--you can see for yourself!
"Why is the God of one club more important than the God of another club? Do I need to be in a club?"
"God is ONE."
"The ocean can be God, but God cannot be the ocean."
"War is always over two things: religion and land"
"There are four major things we use God for:
1. An explanation for creation. How did we get here?
2. As a policeman. He watches over us and we do good deeds to please him.
3. Death. No one knows what comes after we die.
5. Scapegoat. If something bad happens, people always say 'It's God's will.'"
"Borders are created by Man. We own NOTHING. We are just caretakers."
"God is between us. He is the gap."
"God is money."
"He is the essence of nature."
"God is our best ally who guides us on our path."
"He is like a smile."
"If anyone tells you who God is...mistrust them."
"God is LOVE."
"He is the glue."
They gave me a booklet with some quotes in it as well.
"If you put Buddha, Jesus Christ, Socrates, Shakespeare, Arjuna, Krishna at a dinner table together, I can't see them having any argument."
-Hugh Jackman
"It's rubbish. Why are you looking for a reason?"
-Sir Bob Geldof
"Our knowledge is very, very limited. We think we know a lot. We may be learned but we are not wise."
-K.P.S. Gill
"God to me, my God is my life, God is love."
-Ringo Starr
"Over the years, I have chosen to see God in people."
-Seal
"Religion is politicized. Hindu-Peace; Islam-Peace; Christianity-Peace. They're all peace."
-Idapedanda Gede Putra Telabah
Director's statement:
We are experiencing days of religious turmoil, of fundamentalism, fanaticism and the breakdown of spirituality through technology and reason. After the collapse of the piety that was rooted in religion, cult, occult and ancient myths, I ask the question, "What is God?" It's not so much "Who is God?"; but: "What is God?"
Over a period of three years, I traveled across 23 countries asking this question; to see what this entity that goes by the name of God means to individuals from children, to religious leaders, to celebrities, to fanatics and to the common Man. The film is not about religion and the tribes in which people eke out their lives; the film is about what God means to people.
The results of this journey are sometimes predictable, and sometimes surprising. From birth and throughout our education we are conditioned as human beings-- influenced by our parents, school and the religious beliefs of our home country. If we have religion, perhaps we should spend a little longer studying our chosen belief instead of blindly following other human beings who claim to have the authority of God. It seems evident that Man has taken the power, the concept of God and politicized it; for agendas that are the antipathies of the dignity and tolerance that the prophets of all the major religions preached in their day.
Did Man create God, or did God create Man?
-Peter Rodger
Yup.
AS FOR TOOODAY.....
I saw three movies: Looking for Eric, Dogtooth, and Hierro.
The first two were pretty good. The last one was a little cliche as far as scary/psychological thrillers go.
I did get harrassed in the theater during Dogtooth, though. This creepy older man sat next to me before the movie began and he reeked of cologne. He took up the entire armrest and slowly had his hand hanging off on my side. I felt his hand against my leg, so I scooted over a little--thinking it was just an accident, or whatever. Then I felt his hand again. I guess he was slowly creeping it closer to me...I scooted over AGAIN..and sure enough....
So I start freaking out a little. I want to get up and move, but I'm right in the middle and people are on both sides of me. I looked over at Melanie, but she was watching the movie. I tried writing down what was going on and passing it to her, but she didn't read it all and was confused. I started pushing his arm as a I shifted my body. Then he would come back. So I pushed again. This lasted for an hour. I didn't want to make a scene. I didn't even know if this guy spoke English. I made one last attempt at shoving and put my notebook against my leg as a "barrier." He got the point, got up and left. If I see him on the street, I am going to kick him. I can't seem to get through one day here without having a person disappoint me.
I decided to come back early. I have 2 more reviews due on Friday, so I should probably get started on those.
Goodnight! Sorry if I spell things wrong. I don't use much brain power for these entries because I save it all for my film reviews.
Oh yeah. Here are some pictures:
Before the UP Premiere
Square Toilet--Paper was in there before
Random Westie!
Hanging out with Scorsese and Roger Ebert
Heart Sunglasses and Gelato!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Day of Two Antichrists
Comment ça va?
It's a beautiful morning in JLP. I am currently sitting at my desk letting the sun creep in with the window open in front of me. Yesterday was a full day, so I didn't have time to write. Je regrette beaucoup.
We left for Cannes around 9ish to pick up our temporary market badges (woo hoo!). Now we have access to the Palais (where many theaters are located and where production companies set up booths and display their one sheets) Some of us decided to beg for tickets for the 11:30 showing of Antichrist with Willem Defoe and directed by Lars von Trier (a former Dogma 95 participant). Here's some of the review from Reuters:
It's a beautiful morning in JLP. I am currently sitting at my desk letting the sun creep in with the window open in front of me. Yesterday was a full day, so I didn't have time to write. Je regrette beaucoup.
We left for Cannes around 9ish to pick up our temporary market badges (woo hoo!). Now we have access to the Palais (where many theaters are located and where production companies set up booths and display their one sheets
Jeers and laughter broke out during scenes ranging from a talking fox to graphically-portrayed sexual mutilation.
Many viewers in the large Debussy cinema also appeared to take objection to von Trier's decision to dedicate his film to the revered Soviet director Andrei Tarkovsky. Applause from a handful of viewers was drowned out by booing at the end.
Antichrist opens with a heavily stylized, black-and-white, slow-motion portrayal of the child's accidental death set to soaring music by Handel.
Dafoe's character, who is a therapist, tries to help his wife deal with her grief and encourages her to come off heavy medication that sedates her for weeks after the death.
They decide to go to an isolated wooden cabin in an unspecified forest to recover, but the woman Gainsbourg portrays loses control of her senses.
The abuse she submits herself and her husband to drew shocked gasps from the audience.
The reaction suggested that von Trier, who won the top prize in Cannes with "Dancer in the Dark" in 2000, could be in for a rough ride from reviewers and journalists on Monday.
One U.S. critic said he and others found the film "offensive," and questioned why it was included in the main competition of 20 films in Cannes.
In production notes for Antichrist, the 53-year-old director said that the movie was a "kind of therapy" for depression he was suffering from two years ago.
---------------
It was AWFUL. I took copious amounts of notes and wanted to walk out towards the end. I have issues with walking out of movies, though. If I managed to get as far as I did, surely I could make it to the end. The film was on the brink of being pornographic (they showed everything) and it suddenly turned into a SAW movie around the last third of the movie. I can't even say the things I was forced to see...I get lightheaded again. I think someone passed out, because as I was leaving I saw EMTs frantically run in the theater. It wouldn't surprise me. People were exiting the theater in packs during the film. This movie was a perfect example of what Paul Cox meant when he said "There's a lot of shit out there."
ANYWAY
We met with another speaker around 2 named Duane Byrge. He is a critic for the Hollywood Reporter. I actually read his article on The Misfortunates the night before while I was writing my own review. Didn't even realize I would be seeing the guy the next day.
Even though I am not a journalist, I found his discussion very interesting. He got a job working for the Writer's Guild when he was only a second year film student. When that went kaput, he got a call from the Hollywood Reporter shortly after. He told us to take advantage of every opportunity and you never know where you are going to end up. He was a good guy. I liked him.
Afterwards, Sarah and I went to the booth for Lymelife and asked if we could get tickets. The film's executive producer is Martin Scorsese and the cast includes: Alec Baldwin, Keiren and Rory Culkin, Timothy Hutton, Jill Hennessy, Cynthia Nixon, and Emma Roberts. The theater it was playing in only had 40 seats, so we thought our chances were slim. BUT, the lady at the booth said if we came 10 minutes early she would give us tickets.
We went to eat food at Cafe Roma--it was delicious.
A lot of us managed to make it in to Lymelife, and it was pretty good. Very American Beauty-esque. I thought it was cute and kind of quirky. One of those indie movies.
When we walked out of the film, we noticed two women watching one of the TV's on the wall. It was showing who was currently on the red carpet. Once and a while a person would pass in front of them (it was a public space, after all) and one of the ladies would shout a rude comment like "Learn some manners baby" or "Were you raised in a barn?" One woman was about to cross in front of them and the evil lady took her by the shoulders and turned her in the other direction. "Walk around!" she said. We stood in disbelief that this old woman was so rude. Causing a commotion about something as small as a person crossing in front of your view (IN A PUBLIC AREA!) is inexcusable.
Finally, Anna spoke up.
"Maybe you should stand closer to the TV."
"Why are you getting yourself involved in this?"
"Or maybe you could put cones around you..."
"Funny. You're funny."
"Well, you're being really rude."
"You're rude for calling me rude!"
"You just asked that woman if she was raised in a barn!"
"We're so lucky to have your generation following ours."
I won't write Anna's response, but it was hilarious. The woman flicked her off when Anna walked away. That was the second Antichrist. How can people have such a false sense of entitlement? I can't believe people like her exist in this world.
After that ordeal we went to the movie on the beach, which was Ziggy Stardust. The band Blue Foundation played first, and they were awesome. No one was up and dancing, though. Only one guy outside the barrier with a beer in his hand was rocking out. I thought that was unfortunate, and had the impulse to go up and dance. I was a little nervous about dancing alone, but I remembered what Mr. Cox said about fear. So I leapt up and joined the dancing bum. He was pretty filthy and didn't speak a word of English, but the barrier separated us. He was pretty harmless. Elisa joined me after a few minutes and then some guys from Spain decided to come up as well. The rest of the people just watched and smiled. It was fun.
After the Bowie showing, we all went back to JLP and I passed out.
Today, we have a "master class" with the Dardenne Brothers. They did the movie L'enfant, which won the Palme d'Or in 2005. I haven't seen any of their movies, but I've learned from every speaker so far. I haven't decided which films I am going to see today, or if I am going to beg for premiere tickets. It's such an exhausting exercise and you always feel like crap when you don't get a ticket. We'll see.
A demain!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
I See the Light!
Today, my class had the honor of listening to Mr. Paul Cox speak. He is good friends with Dr. Kohn and Roger Ebert. He lives in Australia, and he his wonderful. He spoke of religion, politics, beauty, war, news, truth, and film making. Everything he said I loved. He managed to voice what I have always wanted to say so eloquently. Some people might think he was spitting out liberal BS, but I thought his overall message was brilliant. I wrote down some of the things he said. Jenn Smith (the other teacher) is getting a copy of his little speech, so I might be able to post it later. It was long, but excellent.
On movies today:
"There's a lot of shit out there."
"Being a film maker means you have a lot of responsibility."
"Invent, don't imitate."
On the news:
"Nothing is the truth in the news."
"Investigate everything."
On art/society:
"As aspiring artists, you have to be anarchists."
"We never learn from history."
"We have hideous people as our role models."
"Our identity has become the identity of the hopeless."
"We are a spoiled race."
"Lose all fear. Don't compromise."
"Follow your instincts and your heart."
"The history of Man is the history of madness."
"Art is a mixture of vision and kindness."
"Modern society has betrayed humanity."
He hates canned laughter on sitcoms b/c we are told when to laugh.
He is not a "professional" film maker. It is his hobby. Anyone who says they are a professional is full of crap.
On religion:
"Professional believers created the concept of 'God.'"
He spoke of a religious woman on TV who said: "God wanted me to have a facelift." It became his inspiration for his film Salvation.
He thinks Cannes is the whore of film festivals. I have slowly come to realize this.
These few quotations cannot do justice to what he said. I really hope to get his speech. It made me cry several times. It helped restore my faith that I lost last night. It was just what I needed. He spoke of how terrible the Grand Prix is. People race around in circles and waste so many resources--and for what? He spoke of anarchy. That we must shake the foundation to change the way the business works. I wanted to hug him. I just learned he is dying of liver cancer from Sophie, Dr. Kohn's daughter. She said he is like an uncle to her. The world needs more people like him, and it's a shame that he has to leave it too soon.
Now. I must write my reviews.
On movies today:
"There's a lot of shit out there."
"Being a film maker means you have a lot of responsibility."
"Invent, don't imitate."
On the news:
"Nothing is the truth in the news."
"Investigate everything."
On art/society:
"As aspiring artists, you have to be anarchists."
"We never learn from history."
"We have hideous people as our role models."
"Our identity has become the identity of the hopeless."
"We are a spoiled race."
"Lose all fear. Don't compromise."
"Follow your instincts and your heart."
"The history of Man is the history of madness."
"Art is a mixture of vision and kindness."
"Modern society has betrayed humanity."
He hates canned laughter on sitcoms b/c we are told when to laugh.
He is not a "professional" film maker. It is his hobby. Anyone who says they are a professional is full of crap.
On religion:
"Professional believers created the concept of 'God.'"
He spoke of a religious woman on TV who said: "God wanted me to have a facelift." It became his inspiration for his film Salvation.
He thinks Cannes is the whore of film festivals. I have slowly come to realize this.
These few quotations cannot do justice to what he said. I really hope to get his speech. It made me cry several times. It helped restore my faith that I lost last night. It was just what I needed. He spoke of how terrible the Grand Prix is. People race around in circles and waste so many resources--and for what? He spoke of anarchy. That we must shake the foundation to change the way the business works. I wanted to hug him. I just learned he is dying of liver cancer from Sophie, Dr. Kohn's daughter. She said he is like an uncle to her. The world needs more people like him, and it's a shame that he has to leave it too soon.
Now. I must write my reviews.
Bad Day...
It had to happen, I suppose.
Today began with the meeting with the Swedish producers of Let the Right One In. They discussed how they came across the novel and the process of turning it into a movie. It was neat.
A few of us went to see a Belgian film called The Misfortunates. Here's the "pitch."
Today began with the meeting with the Swedish producers of Let the Right One In. They discussed how they came across the novel and the process of turning it into a movie. It was neat.
A few of us went to see a Belgian film called The Misfortunates. Here's the "pitch."
Gunther Strobbe, 13, lives with his father and three uncles at his grandmother's. There, he daily faces enormous quantities of alcohol, picking up women and shameless hanging out and doing nothing. Everything points to Gunther suffering the same fate. Or will Gunther yet manage to escape his misfortune?
It was pretty good. There were a lot of gross instances--lot of vomiting and such. It had funny and dysfunctional parts. Best film I've seen at Cannes so far.
Came back. Well. We waited at the train station for about an hour before getting back. I hadn't eaten anything, so that was painful.
THEN we came back to JLP (the town we are staying in). I changed clothes for the premiere of Taking Woodstock. Ate some foods. Then we made our way back to Cannes to beg.
After standing for a while with my sign, a German/French guy came up to me and said he had an orange ticket, so he wasn't sure if I would be able to use it. I said it was worth a try. Basically, if you have an orange ticket--you must have a market badge as well. If you have a blue ticket--you're in no matter what. SO. We get to the first set of guards. They let me through. We get to the second set--two young guys. They wouldn't let me pass. The German/French man started arguing with them in French. I stood there...feeling kind of awkward. They told him to try the balcony entrance.
We rushed over there, but no one was around. He decides to give the first entrance another try. We get through the first pair of guards again. Then the shouting began. The German/French man was screaming at the guard. The police had to come over and they told me to leave the line. They instructed us to try the "Last Minute Queue." We run over there and see a bunch of people with orange tickets standing around. I look up at the screen that broadcasts who is currently on the red carpet--and there's Demetri and Ang and Emile Hirsch. They go inside and we stand there for a few minutes. They tell us they can't let us in. I part with the angry German/French man.
Feeling rejected and exhausted from running back and forth in heels, I wandered back toward the train station. I got confused on my way there and started calling all the people I could think of that might not have gotten in. No one was picking up and I was getting panicky from being on my own. George finally calls me back and I meet up with him and Melanie. We get some gelato and visit the petit bar at the Carlton. Melanie's 21st birthday is tomorrow/today, so she got a glass of wine. We decided to go back to JLP, and on our way out I saw Jane Campion and the lead actor from her movie in the lobby of the hotel. That was neat.
We get to the train station and they say no more trains were going. We figure out that a bus was not coming for another hour, and no taxis were showing up at the taxi stand area. Sophie and Chris were down at another taxi stand, so we met up with them. Chris ran off to get a drink, so Sophie let the group behind her take the taxi. The next cab pulls up, and the group behind us tries to get in. They claimed we had jumped in at the front, when really Sophie had been waiting for much longer than they had. We all started arguing with them. I got pretty angry. My feet were sore from the heels, I didn't get to see the movie, and this group of rich nobodies were accusing us of something we didn't do. I started to tear up a little because this one woman was being really rude and difficult.
So, we made our way to the other taxi stand near the train station and finally managed to grab a cab home.
And when I looked in my mirror, I realized one of my earrings was missing. Hizzah.
I think people are going out for Melanie's 21st birthday, but I am too upset and tired to celebrate. I don't plan on seeing any movies tomorrow because I still have to write 2 reviews that are due on Monday.
I think I'm realizing how much I really hate the shallow, ritzy atmosphere of the film industry. I don't know if I'm cut out for this business.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Scorsese, Ebert, and Campion--Oh My!
Today began with an Asian film called Nanayo. It was about a Japanese woman who goes to this Thai village where she hangs out with this family who are really into the art of massage. It was a relaxing (but slow) movie. Nothing I would recommend.
One of the professors on the trip---Dr. Kohn---knows Roger Ebert and does...things...with/for him. They were having a little dedication ceremony at the American Pavilion around 2:15. Kohn managed to get all of us invitations. It was pretty exclusive. All 25 of us plus a few random people were in this little room with wine and snacks. Roger Ebert came in and we all stared and took pictures. He sat down for a while. Then Martin Scorsese just waltzes right in and shakes his hand. We were all pretty much standing there with our mouths open. Then Scorsese left as quickly as he came. (He had important things to do, I'm sure.) We stood around for a little bit...awkwardly...just eating bread and cheese and sipping on wine. And that was that.
A few of us walked around the Market International Village. It's basically an area with a bunch of pimped out tents, each one representing a different country. We checked out Turkey and South Africa. Nothing too spectacular. Nothing was really going on.
Catherine, Cory, George, and I went to the Carlton Hotel to change into our formal attire. George didn't have his tux, so he waited outside--where--low and behold--Martin Scorsese pulls up and walks in the hotel. We were changing in the bathroom during this time.
Catherine and I begged for a while for Jane Campion's new film Bright Star (a love story about John Keats). People laughed, took pictures, and sexually harrassed us with their eyes. HOWEVER...we got tickets to the premiere. The whole red carpet experience was a blur. People were guiding us...sort of rushing us along so that we wouldn't get in the way of the stars. As soon as we got into the theatre, we see Scorsese on the red capret. (The movie screen shows what's going on on the red carpet outside, so you kind of know when important people are about to enter the theatre). It was just a Scorsese kind of day.
Jane Campion arrived with the cast. People clapped. As for the movie...
Not impressed. The plot was unoriginal. It just seemed like a Jane Austin story. I really wanted to like it...but I didn't.
Tomorrow is Taking Woodstock (new Ang Lee film) with DEMETRI MARTIN as the star. I really hope I can find a ticket. We are also meeting with the producers of Let the Right One In, a Swedish vampire film that apparently is pretty good. I have never heard of it.
Anywho. It's 1:44 AM. I need to sleep.
G'night.
One of the professors on the trip---Dr. Kohn---knows Roger Ebert and does...things...with/for him. They were having a little dedication ceremony at the American Pavilion around 2:15. Kohn managed to get all of us invitations. It was pretty exclusive. All 25 of us plus a few random people were in this little room with wine and snacks. Roger Ebert came in and we all stared and took pictures. He sat down for a while. Then Martin Scorsese just waltzes right in and shakes his hand. We were all pretty much standing there with our mouths open. Then Scorsese left as quickly as he came. (He had important things to do, I'm sure.) We stood around for a little bit...awkwardly...just eating bread and cheese and sipping on wine. And that was that.
A few of us walked around the Market International Village. It's basically an area with a bunch of pimped out tents, each one representing a different country. We checked out Turkey and South Africa. Nothing too spectacular. Nothing was really going on.
Catherine, Cory, George, and I went to the Carlton Hotel to change into our formal attire. George didn't have his tux, so he waited outside--where--low and behold--Martin Scorsese pulls up and walks in the hotel. We were changing in the bathroom during this time.
Catherine and I begged for a while for Jane Campion's new film Bright Star (a love story about John Keats). People laughed, took pictures, and sexually harrassed us with their eyes. HOWEVER...we got tickets to the premiere. The whole red carpet experience was a blur. People were guiding us...sort of rushing us along so that we wouldn't get in the way of the stars. As soon as we got into the theatre, we see Scorsese on the red capret. (The movie screen shows what's going on on the red carpet outside, so you kind of know when important people are about to enter the theatre). It was just a Scorsese kind of day.
Jane Campion arrived with the cast. People clapped. As for the movie...
Not impressed. The plot was unoriginal. It just seemed like a Jane Austin story. I really wanted to like it...but I didn't.
Tomorrow is Taking Woodstock (new Ang Lee film) with DEMETRI MARTIN as the star. I really hope I can find a ticket. We are also meeting with the producers of Let the Right One In, a Swedish vampire film that apparently is pretty good. I have never heard of it.
Anywho. It's 1:44 AM. I need to sleep.
G'night.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Immaculate Conception
http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=fr&v=Xscm3Wp0M-s&gl=FR
What I saw today.
So, apparently you are not allowed to see anything unless you have a "Market Badge." At least for the first couple of days. Pretty much every movie was a market screening. A few of us decided to see if we could get into The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle. We read a short synopsis and figured, "why not?" Of course, it turned out to be a market screening...but...the lady at the door was super nice and spoke English. I asked her if the six of us could see the movie if there were still empty seats when it started. She said it was okay, and when we went in the theater there were only five or six people in there.
I have to write a review for one of my classes on the movie, so I'm not going to spend too much time or energy describing it. I might post my review when I'm finished. All I can say is that it had the girl who played Ben's daughter in LOST (Tania Raymonde), and the guy who was in Grind and Rat Race (Vince Vieluf) in it. And men birthed blue fish from their bums.
I saw dogs in a stroller today.
I bought overpriced flipflops because I forgot to pack mine.
I encountered a square toilet seat.
What I saw today.
So, apparently you are not allowed to see anything unless you have a "Market Badge." At least for the first couple of days. Pretty much every movie was a market screening. A few of us decided to see if we could get into The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle. We read a short synopsis and figured, "why not?" Of course, it turned out to be a market screening...but...the lady at the door was super nice and spoke English. I asked her if the six of us could see the movie if there were still empty seats when it started. She said it was okay, and when we went in the theater there were only five or six people in there.
I have to write a review for one of my classes on the movie, so I'm not going to spend too much time or energy describing it. I might post my review when I'm finished. All I can say is that it had the girl who played Ben's daughter in LOST (Tania Raymonde), and the guy who was in Grind and Rat Race (Vince Vieluf) in it. And men birthed blue fish from their bums.
I saw dogs in a stroller today.
I bought overpriced flipflops because I forgot to pack mine.
I encountered a square toilet seat.
Luh Pictuahs
Red Carpet Encore of Up
Group Picture
View from our Classroom
Tessa and Me with our Fancy Badges
Luh Premiere
Sooooo.....................I didn't get a ticket to the actual red carpet premiere of Disney/Pixar's Up. But I got a ticket to the encore showing at 11. We all held up our handwritten signs that read "Billet UP S.V.P." This girl Angela and I stood near one door and this old man gave us the 11 p.m. tickets. Then...I turned away for one second...and some guy slips her a premiere ticket. Blast.
A man that sounded creepily close to Borat hit on me a few times. He wanted to buy me a drink of the "FINEST WINE OF FRANCE!" Everything he said was really animated. He was Borat.
People would point and laugh at us begging. We didn't care. A few movie cameras filmed us just standing there with our signs. Some European camera and dude put a mic in front of me and asked how long I had been standing there and why I hadn't gotten a ticket yet with my nice dress and blonde hair. Apparently nice dresses and blonde hair do not get you far in Cannes.
We went to the Majestic after feeling pretty defeated. Three older men invited us to sit with them as they bragged about their documentaries and how they once got to sit with Leonardo for thirty minutes as he talked in different accents. They claimed they were invited to several of the after parties. One of the men gave me his card. It was one of those print-your-own business cards. Like mine. Not very promising. I guess our main goal is to make as many connections as we can, so...who knows...?
The half of us that did not get premiere tickets hung around an Irish pub until the time came to walk the red carpet. Of course it wasn't as glamorous as the premiere, but it was still pretty neat.
So, what did I think of Up?
I fell asleep...about 10 separate times....
I wasn't the only one.
It was kind of weak. The plot was random. Compared to Wall-E and Toy Story, it just didn't do the trick. I was pretty disappointed. I guess the 3D was cool.
There were about 10 of us who saw the encore, so we all split several cabs. I'm pretty wiped. I'll try to upload pictures soon!
A man that sounded creepily close to Borat hit on me a few times. He wanted to buy me a drink of the "FINEST WINE OF FRANCE!" Everything he said was really animated. He was Borat.
People would point and laugh at us begging. We didn't care. A few movie cameras filmed us just standing there with our signs. Some European camera and dude put a mic in front of me and asked how long I had been standing there and why I hadn't gotten a ticket yet with my nice dress and blonde hair. Apparently nice dresses and blonde hair do not get you far in Cannes.
We went to the Majestic after feeling pretty defeated. Three older men invited us to sit with them as they bragged about their documentaries and how they once got to sit with Leonardo for thirty minutes as he talked in different accents. They claimed they were invited to several of the after parties. One of the men gave me his card. It was one of those print-your-own business cards. Like mine. Not very promising. I guess our main goal is to make as many connections as we can, so...who knows...?
The half of us that did not get premiere tickets hung around an Irish pub until the time came to walk the red carpet. Of course it wasn't as glamorous as the premiere, but it was still pretty neat.
So, what did I think of Up?
I fell asleep...about 10 separate times....
I wasn't the only one.
It was kind of weak. The plot was random. Compared to Wall-E and Toy Story, it just didn't do the trick. I was pretty disappointed. I guess the 3D was cool.
There were about 10 of us who saw the encore, so we all split several cabs. I'm pretty wiped. I'll try to upload pictures soon!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Festival Begins!
What I did yesterday:
Today!
French Stereotypes that Have Turned Out to be True
- Class
- Ate ice cream
- Shopping with George Akers...except we didn't buy anything because everything was very expensive.
- Nap that was supposed to only last 20 minutes...
- Would have gone to Cannes to eat dinner with fellow trip-mates, but I slept instead.
- Slept some more
Today!
- Woke up at 7:30 and met up with everyone at 8:45 to head to Cannes.
- We get our cinephile badges (which are the lowest of the low "rank wise")
- We take a class picture on a grassy knoll near the Lumiere
- Went to the Majestic Hotel to get 3405390 free magazines
- Tried to get into The Girlfriend Experience (new Soderbergh film) but it was a Market film (which means you need a Market badge to get in. These films aren't in the competition. They are just trying to get picked up by a distributor.)
- Ate Asian Fast Food
- Went back to Juan-les-Pins
- Lied out on the beach
- Now I am back here getting ready for the "Up" premiere
French Stereotypes that Have Turned Out to be True
- They do wear all black. And all white.
- They smoke a lot
- They walk around with baguettes
- They walk around with little dogs
- They speak French
- They drive tiny cars (kind of a European stereotype)
- They still think spiking their hair is cool
- They wear sweaters around their necks
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
Juan-Les-Pins
Bonjour,
Yesterday, I arrived in Juan-Les-Pins (where we are staying). The cab cost me 70 Euros. No one else was on my flight, so I couldn't split it with anyone. The place we are staying for the month is quite nice. I was supposed to room with another person, but things got messed up. When they booked the rooms, they were told that all the rooms were the same size...but they aren't. Some of the rooms have just one twin bed and a kitchen and some have a full sized bed with no kitchen. I chose the bed over the kitchen. This only happened to a few people. The rest of the group got normal rooms. It's alright, though. I enjoy having my own space. The shower is a little strange. There's a bathtub with a glass door that only covers half the length of the tub. The shower head is in the middle instead of on one side. It's one of those manual...hand...do-it-yourself shower heads. I'm pretty sure I got water everywhere during the showering process.
I speak absolutely no French. It can get frustrating once and awhile. I feel like a stupid American. Some of the people I hang out with know a little French, so they help out a little.
Today was orientation, which only lasted an hour. Our classroom is at a Best Western a few blocks away. After that, some of us went to a little store called Schlecker's...? It's like a CVS with no pharmacy. We then went across the street to get a few groceries. You have to bring your own bags. That was interesting. I bought some brie and crackers. I seem to be on a bread and cheese diet. Not on purpose. It just seems to be working out that way. You can get a bottle of wine for 1, 50 euros, but coffee is 4 euros. It's an interesting system. Carding doesn't exist.
Today, a bunch of us were going around the circle figuring out which celebs we looked like so we could pose as them at Cannes. I got Brittney Snow, Chloe Sevigny, and Zooey Deschanel with blonde hair....?
Anywho. I need to finish an assignment for one of the classes. Adieu.
Yesterday, I arrived in Juan-Les-Pins (where we are staying). The cab cost me 70 Euros. No one else was on my flight, so I couldn't split it with anyone. The place we are staying for the month is quite nice. I was supposed to room with another person, but things got messed up. When they booked the rooms, they were told that all the rooms were the same size...but they aren't. Some of the rooms have just one twin bed and a kitchen and some have a full sized bed with no kitchen. I chose the bed over the kitchen. This only happened to a few people. The rest of the group got normal rooms. It's alright, though. I enjoy having my own space. The shower is a little strange. There's a bathtub with a glass door that only covers half the length of the tub. The shower head is in the middle instead of on one side. It's one of those manual...hand...do-it-yourself shower heads. I'm pretty sure I got water everywhere during the showering process.
I speak absolutely no French. It can get frustrating once and awhile. I feel like a stupid American. Some of the people I hang out with know a little French, so they help out a little.
Today was orientation, which only lasted an hour. Our classroom is at a Best Western a few blocks away. After that, some of us went to a little store called Schlecker's...? It's like a CVS with no pharmacy. We then went across the street to get a few groceries. You have to bring your own bags. That was interesting. I bought some brie and crackers. I seem to be on a bread and cheese diet. Not on purpose. It just seems to be working out that way. You can get a bottle of wine for 1, 50 euros, but coffee is 4 euros. It's an interesting system. Carding doesn't exist.
Today, a bunch of us were going around the circle figuring out which celebs we looked like so we could pose as them at Cannes. I got Brittney Snow, Chloe Sevigny, and Zooey Deschanel with blonde hair....?
Anywho. I need to finish an assignment for one of the classes. Adieu.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
About to Leave
Tomorrow I will be getting on a plane to Nice. I'm pretty nervous about traveling by myself. I've done it before, but never to a foreign country. I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something. I hope I bring enough things. I need to get some sleep. Goodnight.
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