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.