The Story

So here I am in Cannes for the 3rd year, on my own expense. After a couple of exhausting weeks. Lost a train in Milan at arrival. French railways started their strike at 1 o'clock in the night while I'm in Nice, I have to pay a 90 euros taxi trip to Cannes. Instead of arriving at 8 PM I'll arrive at 2 AM. My hotel closes at 10PM, it's a small one. I have to call them. I have the wrong number, good thing I got the idea of calling some friends to pick my keys from the hotel.Got into my room after 2AM, but... "I just got into Cannes about a while ago, took a look around see which way the wind blows".

Cleaning lady is making a terrible noise in the morning up the stairs. It's Tuesday. I'm in no hurry to getting to the Palais cause I'm so afraid of getting the "your application was rejected" (as I can't cover all my expenses I made a deal with the local station of Radio France Internationale to cover the festival for them but I don't have an answer to my journalist accreditation application, which probably means a "NO"). It was a YES, but "B" type, which means I don't have invitations at the Galas - I need to do something to get one for the Oppening Gala in the next hours. Spent the rest of the day studying The Delegate Book to see where and to whom I could drop some portfolios at the concierge and made a preliminary list. Got an invitation to the Opening Gala after midnight.

Droped 2 of my portfolio books at The Majestic for Mortier in Belgium and DDB in Paris. Shit, the rest of them in my bag are breaking my shoulder. Brought with me 25 the first year, 15 the next year and only 8 this year but I printed them on a heavier paper. Cigarette in front of The Majestic. Another one. Call my mother. Another cigarette. Another. Fuck, I can't take this anymore. Where the fuck is the next garbage can cause I won't have this no more!!! Dropped the rest of the portfolio books in a Croisette garbage can. I'm relieved. (kept 2, thought) Let's do something fun: this famous funny faces idea maybe?!? Yeah... it's good.. seems fun but also hard so I'll get my satisfaction if I'll get to convince them.

WOW.. they're willing to do it, Ted Royer wanted to, Ben Palmer said "I'll do it" even before I finished the explanation, Piyush Pandey makes the funniest, Eugene Cheong is the greatest guy and some others too. Drunker and drunker at the Gutter Bar. Cabral refuses. No matter how hard I drunkenly try to convince him he still refuses. Bob Greenberg refuses too. It doesn't matter, I have some, I'm drunk, I'll go to sleep.

Thursday: "Coffee. One more, the American espresso this time, please. Stupid stupid stupid! 50 funny faces idea is stupid! AAAGH! You stupid pathetic idiot, stop embarrassing yourself!" Too good Boxy, my former CD arrives in the evening and it's always a good time with him in Cannes.

Friday morning: Mark Tutssel passes by me in the Palais but I'm afraid to ask him. Then Judee T. but I'm afraid to ask her too. Then Bob Isherwood. Maybe he'll remember me from last year. He did. He agreed to do it. I got some courage now. Waiting to ask Mr. Sorell after Cannes Debate but here's Khai, I'll ask him. He sais ok.

Friday night: I'm in sort of doubt... I lost the courage to ask again, but I don't seem to see any magasine cover faces around anyway and "hei, this is a good pretext to have a small chat with some good looking girls" - I got the "fuck off" from a friend of one, but that's ok.

Saturday: You came here for nothing, you imbecile. Get your shit together! Got it. But Droga refuses. It's The Gala. Well... try and have at least 50 anyway! 62. Ok, you didn't come here for nothing.

2AM. Miss the last morning at the Gutter Bar?!!? Can I live with that? Well.. you got to get some sleep till 6AM when you'll leave Cannes.

Mesdames et Messieurs.. au revoir.