While a tour book about your festival destination will contain the best regional information, I’ve learned some tried-and-true tips along the way that will enhance your travel experience. Sometimes, I’ve learned the hard way.
STUDENTS CAN GET TO CANNES CHEAP
There is a student volunteer program through the American Pavilion that allows students to work at the pavilion at Cannes while staying at dorm facilities during the fest. The American Pavilion is the hangout for anyone traveling from the United States and will give you amazing access to filmmakers and celebs attending Cannes. Plus, as a volunteer you’ll have easy access to scam tickets and get party passes from attendees. Get details at: www.ampav.com.
RESERVATIONS. For hotel, car, plane, the works. You cannot overdo it when it comes to reservations—and that includes dinner reservations. Be sure to check the restrictions, which means cover your butt and make sure to find out if there are penalties for late cancellations. Remember, the further in advance you make the reservations for flights, the more money you will save. Flights fill up fast, so reserve your ticket early. Do not wait until the last minute. Making advance dinner reservations is key as well; you don’t want to wait more than hour for a table. Robert Redford’s restaurant, Zoom, is always booked up months before Sundance. Also, sign up for every frequent-flyer plan in existence. You’ll be surprised how quickly those points and free trips add up. And also be sure to check on restrictions for flying standby. Some airlines will tell you over the phone that you must pay $75 or more to change your return flight. If you just show up to the airport and wait on standby, you can often bypass this flight-change fee altogether. It depends on the type of ticket you purchase, so be sure to check.
PLANNING. Get the festival schedule in advance from the festival website and make a plan. Don’t be afraid to modify the plan as you go; you can always pawn off a few tickets to a movie you discover you want to avoid. I type up a schedule before I leave so I know what films I’m seeing when, what parties I’m going to (or crashing), and whom I’m meeting with and when. I never follow my plan exactly, but it helps me to start with some kind of structure before I begin to deviate from it by crashing parties.
ADDRESS BOOK. On my schedule, I also print a mini address book. Essentially, this is just a collection of local phone numbers and the cell phone numbers of pals I plan to meet. This is all printed in very tiny type, and I make multiple copies so I never lose it. The info is printed small enough so it fits right in my wallet. (Is it just me, or am I sounding like a compulsive geek?)
BACKPACK. You have to have one. It’s the guy’s version of a purse and totally essential to navigating a festival. Or a man purse. Which are very fashionable, I might add. I’m prepared for anything with my pack in tow. Mine always contains the all-important address book, festival schedule, lip balm, water bottle, cell phone, pens, flyers, a folder of party invitations, something to read, energy bar (emergency meal), camera, map, tape recorder, notepad, batteries, breath mints, business cards, matches, headache pills, eyedrops, eyeglass cleaner, tissues, comb, sunglasses, mini flashlight, and a hat. (The hat is used for early morning screenings. When bed head is at its worst, a hat can be a lifesaver.)
VITAMINS AND WATER. Film festivals can get exhausting very quickly. Plan on sleeping less and drinking probably more alcohol than normal and know that you’ll be surrounded by cigarette smoke at every party. During Sundance, I get about four hours of sleep a night. I make it a point to drink lots of water and take extra vitamins. (I’m partial to vitamins in the B category myself.) I also keep a bottle of pills with a mix of capsules that includes Tylenol, aspirin, Pepto-Bismol pills, sinus headache medicine, migraine headache medicine, Tums, and plenty of other remedies all crammed into one bottle. Sometimes my friends think I’m nuts—until I whip out this pill bottle and cure them of what ails them.
CLOTHES. Obviously you should be prepared to bring clothes that match the climate for the festival. Wear mainly casual clothes, but it’s also important to bring at least one dressy outfit so you’re ready for a meet-and-greet event at which you have to impress. Also, keep in mind that clothes make the filmmaker. Be unique. If you want to stand out from all the other filmmakers wearing the artist’s favorite uniform—you know, black—choose something really outrageous to wear. A bright hat, a loud jacket, or a bold pair of shoes is not a bad idea. When members of the audience run into you during the festival, your unique “look” will be remembered. Clothes are about image building, so have fun with it.
FOR TRAVELERS: STUDY THE PROGRAM GUIDE
Be sure to research the films you are about to see. If you depend on the cryptic descriptions in some official program guides (which are often confusing and sometimes have little to do with the actual film) you may end up seeing some really bad movies. Look for buzzwords like “earnest,” which can often translate into “boring.” Also, be sure to find out which films are opening later in the year or will be playing on HBO or PBS next month. You can skip these films and see them when they are out in commercial release or on television. I always try to catch features or documentaries without distribution since they may not be in theaters or on TV for years to come. And when I say “research,” I mean talk to your fellow festival-goers on the street. You’d be surprised what you learn by listening to the “buzz.”
LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE FAST. When you’re traveling to a foreign country, it’s extremely helpful to get one of those quickie learn-a-language courses on tape. While learning the language is crucial, be sure to pay as close attention to local customs, which can be even more important than words. Reciting phrases over and over again is great for getting pronunciations correct, but you might want to try my own personal favorite way to learn another language—by watching movies. Many movie geeks like myself have the dialogue for certain films memorized from beginning to end. Purchase a DVD with foreign language tracks, a foreign language version of your favorite video, or a DVD with closed captioning, or even watch television with the SAP mode turned on. By watching your favorite flick in another language over and over, you’ll know that “Que la Fuerza te acompane” means, “May the Force be with you” in Spanish. You’ll be quoting popular movie lines to all your new international pals in no time! And after all, movies are the international language.
SEE THE WORLD. While you’re traveling, don’t forget to take at least a day away from the festival to see the local sights. You may never be back to this part of the country or the world. It’s also refreshing to take a break from the fest and get away from people constantly talking about movies. But only for one day!
Use basic common sense when traveling. Don’t hesitate to ask a festival staffer or a local for advice or help when lost. You’ll almost always find them ready to give you the information you need.
FOR TRAVELERS: MAKE A PLAN B
Each morning make a list of films to see and an alternate list in case those screenings are sold out. And leave time between screenings for one decent meal, which is all you’ll have time for.