Notes from Switzerland!

Week two...

I can’t stop eating chocolate! Not that I don’t eat chocolate in LA, but the chocolate here is almost as good as the cheese and the bread so clearly, I’m in trouble.

I had a break from my current digs in Switzerland and went to Cannes for a few days. It’s been twenty years since I first came to Cannes for the festival when my short film, SLICE played in the basement of the Marche du Film. Back then, it was set up in a dark little cubby like a peep show for one. I was happy to see that now the short film corner has viewings in an open room with monitors that still can only be viewed by one person but the shame aspect has diminished. I was actually in Cannes a few years ago when Beth Dewey and I shot the ending of my current feature, HANCOCK PARK and now it was in the Marche du Film with French subtitles.

Une femme fatale des temps modernes s'installe chez sa petite sœur et le mari de celle-ci. Elle joue avec séduction le rôle de sa vie, dissimulant ses véritables intentions tout en s'accrochant à son rêve de célébrité - et ce, au tendre âge de… cinquante ans ?

I even squeezed in a quick premiere at the Palais des Festivals.

Being in Cannes at the festival twenty years later was an opportunity to see that I’ve grown not only as a filmmaker, but as a person. For me, the experience was different in that I wasn’t trying to get anyone’s attention, approval or to make a deal. I was just happy to see a few friends and enjoy the beauty of this beautiful part of the world. It’s great to be around film folks but again, it was very different from when I was trying to get my first feature, PERFECTION made and all the stress of feeling like tadpole in a an ocean of sharks. The truth is I had some wonderful meetings, and I’m so happy to be in a place in my life today that is more about trusting the process and being in the flow instead of pushing.

The South of France, one of my favorite places! The weather is similar to LA but the vibe is so much better. There’s something about the Mediterranean sea that warms my heart and makes me feel like I never want to leave but leave I must!

Helene kindly picked me up from Geneva and we drove two and a half hours back to the town of Sierre. We talked about the themes in my screenplay GRACE while I admired the unbelievably beautiful mountains, rivers and gorgeous green trees. Everything looks like a postcard come to life.

Back in Sierre, there’s a music festival happening here at the Castle. The weather is suddenly warm and it’s a gorgeous night. I loved being in Cannes but life here is pretty amazing too!

Cynthia and I look at each several times a day and just laugh. I’m very grateful for this incredible experience and it’s not lost on me on how lucky we are.

BTW, the screenplay for THE EXIT is going great and I’m excited to dig back into GRACE in the next few days while eating more delicious chocolate.

Wishing everyone a beautiful week!

More soon…

xo

Christina