The Cannes Experience
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By Carole Keeney Harrington
Houstonians who journey to the Cannes Film Festival come away with a mix of memories – a job-well-done, ho-hum or the adventure of a lifetime. For the pro, Marian Luntz, curator of films for the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, it is a work day. For tourists like Tammie and Andy (Dr. Charles) Johnson, it’s a stop on the way to the fast track, Monte Carlo’s Grand Prix. And for Bailey and Todd Falk, accompanying their adorable children who star in a short film at the festival, it is a dream trip.
The average film buff, however, should expect traffic, high hotel and apartment tariffs and walking. The Palais – the main drag at the festival – is cordoned off for the film gentry to arrive in their Rolls Royces and decamp to the red carpet. Still, to catch a “sighting” and sample the tasty French food all along the avenues, the Cannes experience is, to most visitors, a memorable “happening” worth the complications.
The pro
Luntz was at the festival to negotiate – to choose films for MFAH’s Film Program, which runs all year. The 2018 festival was her fourth since 1987. The Houston Film Commission’s Deputy Director, Alfred Cervantes, facilitated contact with colleagues in the film business, and she paid for a badge, which gave her access to public screenings and to the market where films are bought and sold.
The red carpet, which Luntz skipped, is for high profile actors, VIPs or the resourceful cinephile. “There are people outside holding signs asking for tickets, and regularly I saw these people being successful,” Luntz recalled. Badge colors immediately identify whether one is au courant in the film business. Cannes officials decide who gets what. White is the pinnacle of prestige.
Without an invitation, good luck walking the red carpet at the big theater where premieres screen. When everyone who is someone has a ticket to see and be seen, the leftover seats are up for grabs via computers in festival headquarters. But they disappear in a flash. Other venues have seats if one is willing to wait. “People think it’s all glamorous, but I don’t mind standing in line,” Luntz said. “I have a strategy. You see great people and look at your phone.”
MFAH offers films every day. To see the results of Luntz’s chosen gems, ticket prices and an opportunity to join Film Buffs, go to https://www.mfah.org/films/ or call 713-639-7515.
The tourists
For the Johnsons, their 2017 Cannes experience was a stop on a travel bucket list. Beginning in Barcelona, Spain, they did the Mediterranean on the Silversea Cruise ship which took them along the French Riviera and to cities in Italy. With their own butler provided by the cruise line, glamour began long before the Cannes Film Festival.
For Tammie, the festival was a learning experience. “Make sure you know the right people so you can get into the right movies. Plan ahead. Do not procrastinate. Do not wait. The biggest disappointment was that I thought I was going to see Rihanna.” Promised tickets to the singer’s appearance at a party fell through. For festival-goers without connections, pavilions from various countries offer parties, people, and free food. The American pavilion charges to enter.
The Johnsons checked out one movie venue. “It’s not fancy,” Tammie said. “You just go there where they have wine, food, high top tables, and music.” Andy found the festival gig underwhelming, as his anticipated thrills lay at the Grand Prix. “My husband loves cars. He likes fast cars,” Tammie said. “He also likes ships. He would know exactly who owns what ship,” she said about the yachts moored at Cannes.
A stroll around the city offered more of what Tammie enjoyed. “I loved Cannes, the shopping, the food, the outrageous display of money, the cars that everyone drive,” she said. “Everything is very pristine, everyone dressed to the nines.” So would she go to the festival again? “I would if I could get onto the red carpet,” she said.
The actors
Pint-sized first-time thespians, the Falk children, showed the pros how it’s done in the short film, “Caroline.” The trio, Caroline, age 6, Sally, age 2 and Brooks, age 4 at the time the movie was made delivered performances that landed the movie in an exclusive spot. “Caroline” was the only short film Official Selection in competition from the U.S. and one of eight from 4,000 submitted from around the world.
On a Sunday afternoon, the Falk children sit down to answer questions like all celebrities must do. Brooks is too busy with games to talk – like the ones on the airplane screens that kept his enthralled. Caroline, now an articulate seven-year-old answered “My favorite part was when we sat out on the big terrace (at the festival). I think I had some crackers. I liked the view, but I’m glad I finally got to take a nap,” she said.
Caroline’s father, Todd, says his daughter is creative and has a big imagination. But the acting bug has not nipped quite yet. “I’m going to be a famous magician. Magicians are like actors because they perform for a lot of people,” Caroline said. Besides, she suffered the bane of stars who must endure discomfort for their art. “They wouldn’t let me brush my hair. And when I did, it was all tangly.” The youngest, Sally, remembered with glee the wolf she chose at the toy store in Cannes. She chanted, “The wolf said, ‘Let me in. The pig said not by the hair on my chinny, chin, chin.’”
The children’s proud parents worked with the filmmakers, who are long-term friends, on the story to ensure the children were up to the task. The trip of a lifetime to Cannes left the couple dazzled. “It was outstanding,” Bailey said. “It was just a dream – the beautiful and picturesque town. The best part was watching the other filmmakers and the media come up to the children, wanting to talk to them. It was surreal,” she said.
Todd enjoyed Sally’s reaction to the screening at the big theater. “That’s me,” she said pointing to the screen. Behind the family, a couple commented about the movie, “It should get an Oscar.” Apparently, the Cannes committee agreed. “There was never any question about the movie that it would have a spot in the festival,” Bailey said they were told by judges.
Filmmakers and partners in EOL Films from Brooklyn, N.Y., Celine Held and Logan George co-wrote the screenplay, especially for the children. They based it on true stories that happened in Florida, Texas, and Arizona about children left alone in hot cars. Held played the mother and George directed and edited the short.
Shot in Houston, the filmmakers did the film in three days. Horizon, the company that will back the couple’s feature scheduled to begin filming in the fall, also funded the $15,000 budget for “Caroline,” excluding color correction and sound. “Caroline” was proof of concept and cinched the deal for the feature, which will follow a 5-year-old girl living with her mother in the tunnels of New York.
The children never saw a script, George said.” We wanted to be sure we captured them acting authentically so they could see the story unfolding. At first, they were a little confused, but by the third day…” Added Held, “They were wonderful. They did a fantastic job.”
Look for “Caroline” on Vimeo in October.