First Day at the Festival

The first day of the festival sure was an experience. In short, I need to work on my begging skills. I also met a celebrity...

I took the train into JLP around 11am or so. After running into/meeting up with some people, we went to see a Norwegian film (brace yourself for a raunchy title) called Turn Me On, Goddammit! Despite it's synopsis that made it sound pretty much like an adult movie, it was really good. Shot very well, good actors, good story. It was cute.

After a quick panini lunch outside of the Palais, it was on to the next movie: an Irish documentary about bare knuckle fighting called Knuckle. Handheld and shaky, the bloody fights only added to my initial wooziness. I don't know if I quite enjoyed the film, but it was interesting. Clans physically fighting one another over something no one quite knows and drinking heavily, in summary.

In preparation for the opening ceremony and screening of Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen, after the documentary I changed in the Palais (after getting my dress from the tux/dress check...snazzy!). After I was all made up, I ran over to the American Pavilion to get my pass and take a look at the water. Out to the left of this were a lot of boats and yachts. So pretty.

After that, it was time to beg. Although our badges get us into pretty much any film we want to see, screenings at the main theater at nighttime require tickets. Outside of the Palais I held a sign that read "1 Billet pour <<Midnight in Paris>> SVP" (1 Ticket for "Midnight in Paris Please). After standing for about 10 minutes, a man walked by and handed Melanie, my begging partner, a ticket. We were so excited and thought getting another would be a piece of cake. An hour and a half later, not so much. While standing there, people would take pictures, laugh, videotape and even interview us. Although I felt a little bit pathetic, there was no shame; I reveled in the thought that I was dressed up, at the Cannes Film Festival, and darn-tootin' proud. After a while, I gave up and went to dinner with some others on the trip, then headed back to JLP.

Cannes really is a great place. It's very exciting and full of movement. Can't wait to see more films over the upcoming days.

First Trip to Cannes

Today was exhausting, surreal and a lot of fun. After morning class, we all got on a train at the station right up the hill from the Residence to Cannes. It's a really short ride--maybe 10 minutes or so. It was so cool to see a lot of the sights I've seen in pictures before the trip! Red carpet...yes please.

We got our badges for the festival in the same building where all of the screenings are held, and then we were free to roam around. I just walked around, did some window shopping, and took Cannes in. 

Here I am looking like true festival attendee (badge and all!) on one of the streets of Cannes:

At lunch time, like a good American, I had a "Le Double Cheese" at the McDonald's. However, our lunch was interrupted by a gypsy child begging for money, who followed us even after we got up. She also tried to put her finger in one of the other student's ice cream. Very uncomfortable, very sad. But, the mood was lightened by this dog, who's owner was playing fetch with him in a fountain:

After lunch there was much more walking, then took the train back to Juan-les-Pins to get some dinner and rest up.

Here's JLP at nighttime: 

There are many more pictures which I'll post later. The festival begins tomorrow, so I'll have much more to report then!

Beginnings of Life in Juan-les-Pins

So, I am FINALLY in France! It seems like just yesterday I was accepted into the program and now I'm really here.

The flights over all went very smoothly. I left from Atlanta at 5 in the afternoon on Friday, flew into Chicago, then got on the 8 hour flight to Zurich, Switzerland. It was on this flight I'm pretty sure I caught a bad cold, which kept me holed up in bed for the past couple of days. On the flight to Nice from Zurich I flew over the Swiss Alps, which was pretty amazing.

Once in Nice, it was on to JLP. We arrived at 2pm on Saturday, and after an 8 hour flight with no sleep, I was pretty exhausted. After the (silent) taxi ride (no English/no French) we got to the Residence Couleurs Soleil where we are all staying. I got settled in, had a bite to eat at the little restaurant across the street, then came back to settle in more. I know, exciting stuff. 

Here's one view from my balcony, the other side goes toward the beach:

Later on a lot of us went out for dinner, and came across some musicians playing on a corner near our Residence. They were playing all English songs, including those by the Rolling Stones and Coldplay, among others. They were tres cool. 

After that, I started feeling pretty under the weather, so for the next 24 hours I basically slept in my room. Namita, a woman who lives in France and gets things organized for us before we get here, took me to the drug store and the grocery store, which was super helpful. And let me tell you...these French meds are awesome. Now that I'm feeling more up to speed, I was able to enjoy the day! We had our orientation with our professors today in the solarium at the top of the Residence, then a group of us enjoyed tasty sandwiches at Master Burger...chicken panini=yummy. We ate in the park and then went grocery shopping. 

The festival starts this Wednesday, May 11th. I am excited beyond belief! Tomorrow we go into Cannes to get our badges and to look around, which should be fun. I will post more as more exciting things happen!

Getting Ready

I'm starting to realize that my departure for France is in about a month. Despite being aware that I have most of the necessities for the trip, I am still in somewhat of a state of panic. So much to plan! I'm not sure that it's hit me that I will be in Europe--a place I have always wanted to travel to--for 6 weeks. I know I'm going to love it, and I hope time goes by as slowly as possible once there.

This is mainly what I am most excited about, and am so hoping to be able to attend the red carpet premiere. Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life is bound to be amazing, and fingers crossed I can watch the premiere with the people who made it!