Movies Til Dawn

Forget the fact that none of us were invited to Korea for the 14th Annual Pusan International Film Festival for what I assume must be the Korean Premiere of "City Island"; I didn't even know there was such a festival. I won't kick and scream as I did about Rio because frankly I don't think I could have handled traveling to South Korea. Still, had I known a bit more about the lovely participants at the festival (above)...scratch that. I'm a married man. Here's an awfully nice blog review of "City island" by somebody named McGarmot who saw it at the Pusan festival. Big time thanks for the nice words. Give me a call sometime if you need a reference. And here's more about the Pusan International film festival then you ever need to know. Turns out they were the first film festival ever to exist in Korea--and that they only began in 1996. I wonder why it took so long for them to catch on to what the rest of the worlds chamber of commerces had a...

Well, before I could say "If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium", the invaluble JC has managed to locate press and photos of our trip to Ghent that are so recent, they seem to have been pubiished before having actually occurred. Actually, two nights ago was the gala screening of "City Island" and the lifetime achievement award for Andy Garcia. Note that his actress/co-star/daughter Dominik was with us and that Andy wore his trademark "wintertime only" beret. Thanks, JC, for posting this link in a language I can't identify (Flemish?) If you want more photos and stuff, go to the comments section of my last post and scroll to the bottom; JC has helpfully provided links for all to share. Ghent is a candy-box city, literally, As beautifully crafted, modeled and sweet as the chocolate which its country is so famous for making. I made the tactical error of telling one of our hosts upon arriving that I couldn't wait to see neighboring Bruges (as in ...

Sorry for the serious lag in updates, posts, entries, what have you. I've been on a major writing roll with my new screenplay and have, literally, been too wrung out from writing every day to post. I took today off so here I am. Plus which I have a story which may amuse some of you. It certainly didn't amuse me. But first: the good news is that the screenings went extremely well in Rio--EVEN WITHOUT HAVING ME OR STEVEN STRAIT OR THE PRODUCERS PRESENT. But I'm past all that. Really. One door closes, another opens--he says zennishly. I'm delighted the Brazilians liked the movie and one of these days I may actually deign to visit their country. Assuming of course that they buy me a big fat first class tickets and pay for the hotel. The other good news is that the generous and lovely organizers of the Ghent Film Festival asked if I'd still like to be their guest. To which I replied: hell yes! So I'm leaving this Wednesday for a five day excursion to a country I'...