The Cannes
International Film Festival Is the Place for
Flimmakers to Step Up Their Game
Academy
Award winner Russell Crowe is the latest actor to portray Nottingham's
outlaw hero, in Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood."  | The 63rd
Cannes International
Film Festival opened with "Robin Hood" by Ridley Scott starring
Russell Crowe,Cate Blanchett, and William Hurt. This is the third big
budget
American film to open Cannes in five years. The other opening films were
"Up"
and "The DaVinci Code," proving that the Cannes International Film
Festival
brings worldwide publicity to a project like no other event outside of
the
Olympics or World Cup.
With over 2,000 buyers and distributors
and 5,000 plus journalists
covering the
festival, it is a springboard for launching a film or product. Star
power
is the
heart of Cannes. Mick Jagger, Cuba Gooding Jr., Eva Longoria, Terrence
Howard,
Ludacris, Woody Allen,
Chris Tucker, Jennifer Hudson, Winnie
Mandela, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Aishwarya
Rai Bachchan, Nia
Peeples, Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro are among the luminaries in
Cannes often playing
the "Cannes PR Games"!
In recent
years sales have been
slow, especially for smaller budget indie films. Phil Gorn CEO President
of
Wonderphil, an independent film sales and production company
(www.wonderphil.biz)
observed when we spoke at Cannes Marche du Film, "the economy is down
along with attendance which impacts sales, but
the Cannes International
Film Festival is always worth attending."
John
Michael Reefer film
producer and director expressed another point, "The Cannes International
Film
Festival provides a larger opportunity for African Americans to
bring their
stories to the world marketplace expanding beyond the 500 or so
theaters. In my experience contrary to what we
are told in the U.S., the world is ready to hear our stories of
insiders,
outsiders, the oppressed and the powerful. We
have stories of comedy, drama, romance and fantasy like
everyone else in the world." Reefer also added, "I think it's time for
African Americans to
stretch
beyond their insecurities and up our game to speak more than one
language so
that we can connect with buyers, writers, directors and talent. In my
experience in Cannes last year and this year, I found Arabic and French
were
the most helpful languages for me. Reefer's film "US: A Love Story" about an
interracial romance
was in the
Cannes Short Category last year and this year "Father's Day" about the
struggle
of a young man to support his family outside of gang activity was in the
Cannes
Independent Film Festival. Reefer
said his point for going to Cannes this year was to seek financing for
his film
"Seducing Leyla" which is scheduled
to begin production in Egypt in
September.
This year
winner of the Palmer
de' Ora was "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" a film by
Thai filmmaker, Apichatpong WeerasethakuWinner of
the Palme D'Or at Cannes, Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul takes the
top prize for "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives." Click
Image  | l.
The Thai film industry had big presence
in Cannes see the Thai Party in
the
Cannes coverage clip at www.Lahitz.com (click
the TV icon). There are over 60 countries
and more than 15,000 films in the Cannes marketplace; some films of
note,
Mexico:"Biutiful" by Alejandro Gonzalez Iarritu, Russia: "The Exodus" by
Nikita Mithalkov, US: "Life Outside the Pearl" by Haitian born
director Johnny Desarmes, China: "Poetry by Lee Chang-dong, Chadian
Director Mahamet-Saleh Haroun receives Jury Prize at Cannes. Click
Image.  | Chad:
"A Screaming
Man" by Mahamet-Saleh Haroun, (Cannes 2010 Jury Prize Winner) and the UK
with
two films set for release next year, "One Love-The Remix" starring Idris
Elba
and Amonity Marley and "Precipice" by Julius
Amedume with Haitian born actor
Jimmy Jean-Louis,
who plays the "Haitian" on the NBC show
"Heroes."
LaHitz
Media continues its theme from Cannes to keep Haitian Relief in the
forefront. In January LaHitz teamed with Wright Enterprises to organize a
fundraiser for the NAACP involving actor and activist Danny Glover to
also help Haiti. The event was titled "Soundtrack for a Revolution Oscar
Nomination Hopeful Celebration" in honor of Glover, the executive
producer of the film.
Jacquie
Taliaferro Speaks with Jimmy Jean-Louis in HP Pavilion @ Cannes 2010 in
short clip of Cannes' coverage. Click Image.  | A
short clip of Cannes coverage begins with Jimmy Jean-Louis speaking to
Jacquie Taliaferro about "Hollywood Unites for Haiti." With respect to
many
of the
larger relief agencies, LaHitz Media along with Wright Enterprises
promotes
organizations such as Jimmy Jean-Louis' Hollywood Unites for Haiti, SAG-AFTRA member Dr. Joseph Marcel-St.
Louis Demertine's organization, ServiMed Haiti,
HUP Helping Haiti Foundation, Dr. Kenya Numan's Stepping Together,
Inc. Dr. Numan spoke at LaHitz's event just days after the Haitian
Earthquake to garner
public
support. Dr. Ramona Tascoe, a board member of the Northern California
Interreligious Council is slated as is Dr. Numan to return to Haiti.
LaHitz believes the entertainment
industry should do more when it comes to philanthropy. Those
interested in helping
grassroots efforts for Haiti should follow the links read about what is
happening
and
donate to the cause.
Hollywood
Unites for Haiti: www.hufh.org
ServiMed
Haiti: www.servimedHaiti.org
HUP
Helping
Haiti Foundation: http://www.hupfoundation.org/Home.html
Stepping
Together:
http://steptog.wordpress.com/hatian-relief-efforts
This
article is written by
Jacquie Taliaferro of LaHitz Media and
Jackie Wright
of Wright Enterprises |
| | |
