Hey folks, Harry here with Treb's coverage of the T3 press conference at Cannes with Andrew Vajna and Mario Kassar. Apparently they're confirming that there will be no advance screenings of T3 anywhere... That means one of two things... Either there's a huge secret to the ending that they want under wraps.... or this thing sucks the chrome off the bumpers of cars on interstate freeways. Here ya go...
Harry, people of film,
It's a bizarre place here in Cannes. There are lots of people, not linked to film at all, but still wishing to gain attention for something. For example:
A moment ago, i saw a hot girl, dressed in pink feathers, walking a pink colored poodle. If I was a dog, then i would think the poodle looked kinda hot too, but alas, I am no poodle. There's also this guy who.. Well, it's an extention of those guys who try and do their best to do a portrait of you in the street and sell it to you for lots of money. This guy, however, he has tree trunks and chisels out your likeness into a bloody tree stump. Okay, talented stuff, but who on Earth wants and could, take a tree stump of their face home with them?
Today is the May 17th. I'm at the Variety head quarters where a T3 conference is soon to commence.
The tech guys test out their mics. A hot Variety chick decides where to place the name cards. Mario Kasar, Peter Bart, Moritz Borman and Andy Vajna. She exits the room and returns quicker than i cqn breathe out, shaking her head and tutting.
She removes Mario's name card and a tech guy says: "he's not coming?" - she shakes her head, tutting. A Brit journo shouts "Surely he can wake up in time! It's gone half ten!" The name cards are re-arranged once more.
I overhear that Kevin Costner is in town, arriving yesterday and his first visit to Cannes. He's here to promote his, no doubt Costner-length, Western, Open Range. I peer over a copy of Moving Pictures and see some fantastic screen shots of the film. It looks gritty and raw. I like Costner. I liked Waterworld. I say to myself as I wait. Everybody is so late. I look at the freebie stuff I was handed on the way in. A DVD of all of the BMW films. I then wonder if Clive Owen will be James Bond and then my mind wanders some more. I am so bored upon my metal seat.
I stare at Vanja's name card and think about his involvement with Die Hard 3 and my past conversations with his development guy regarding my probably too much covered Die Hardest script. "Call when T3 and 4 are done." Said the creative exec. That was a polite way to say call us in two years time.
Such suspense for a bloody press conference. And here we go. Vanja sits five feet away. It's close anyways. I could burp and he could smell it, that how close he is to me. Not a good example, but hey.
Peter Bart from Variety quizzes Andy and Mori about T3 about a host of topics. "Why is it an R rated movie?" Asks Bart. "Because my name isn' Spielberg." Replies Vajna. The audience laugh as he lights his cigar. "We haven' submitted it yet, so who knows what the rating will be? The Matrix is an R" He continued.
Bart asks if there are plans for another Rambo movie. "We spoke to Sly about it many times, but we dont own that franchise anymore. Miramax does." Says Vajna, continuing with; "Maybe he'll just give it to us." Bart then came back with; "Maybe Harvey can be Rambo!"
They're asked on budgets for T3 and Vajna wouldnt and has never discussed it. "Around 22 dollars" He says jokingly. Bart then asks why there isn't any plans to show any test screenings or clips. "The press were shown 7 minutes or so, but I don't like doing that anymore." Says Vajna. He says it can ruin a film.
A question rose, asking what Jim (Cameron) thought or thinks of this project. "He's pretty pissed." Said Vajna. "We helped him out with T2 when his career needed a lift. I thought he was a friend, but obviously not." Said Vajna once more, re-lighting his stogie.
Bart asks if T4 is likely and Mori perked up. "Absolutely." He said, with Vajna butting in with; "I'm not that cocky. We'll see how this one fairs first."
A question from the floor from some guy who was beaten with the ugly stick asks if Arnold will be a good guy again, with Vajna quick to respond with; "He was good in T2. Just go see the move and you'll see some surprises."
A few Carolco questions are banded around. I raise my hand for a final question to this panel and ask. "Andy, you made a bunch of films with your Cinergi Productionns including the last Die Hard movie. Are you involved with the next one?"
Vajna replied; "Unfortunately not. I sold the rights back to Fox. There's one already being thought about and it'll do well. It's a good thing."
"Can I come to your party tonight?" I ask.
"Have you gotta ticket? If you haven't, how can I get in with you?" He replies, with the audience laughing and taking notes and fiddling with their cameras.
The panel are about to close, when Jonathan Mostow and Mario Kasar turn up, grinning, knowing they no doubt have a huge smash on their hands.
Mostow is quizzed on his filling Jim's so called shoes and says it was an odd and quick experience. He stated that him and his college room-mate rewrote the script twice and everybody was happy. We'll see how it goes" He said.
We will indeed see how it goes.
I get a picture with Andy, saying; "This is probably the closest i'll get to work with you." - "You don't know that for sure." He said, joining Mario as he walked away.
Treb
