Faking it and making it.

I went to sleep Tuesday night knowing that the next twelve days would be unlike anything I had ever experienced. Yes, I know that is high expectation to hold, but the past two days have lived up to it. 

Right now I am sitting in the Lumiere Theater waiting for Rust and Bone to begin. The giant screen in front of me is playing a live stream of the red carpet that I just walked down. Sadly my seat mate will not be Marion Cotillard, but I still feel quite glamorous in my upper balcony seat. Even though I’ve been in France for nearly a week, I still feel like I shouldn’t be here. After all, I am no one. 

Well that’s not true, I am someone. Someone who will beg her high heeled feet off to get a ticket to a red carpet premiere. Someone who wants to keep to a four movie a day agenda, because anything less seems wasteful. And someone who has always been that person who has loved movies a little too much. 

Although I still think it’s insane that I am here, I am following the wise words of Cannes kids who have gone before me, “Fake it ‘til you make it,” and that I have. Yesterday when a random man walked up to me, shoved a ticket in my hand to the Moonrise Kingdom premiere, and instantly disappeared into the crowd, did I scream my head off like some fan girl? No! I acted calm. I acted cool. I acted as if getting a ticket to the opening ceremonies of the Cannes Film Festival happened to me every day. 

Then when I had no idea how to actually get onto the red carpet and into the theater, did I panic and miss my entrance time? No! I did what any normal Cannes kid would do. I texted Anna Beaver and then found me a random frenchman to be my escort. Making my first premiere on my first night a rousing success. 

Now I know everyday may not go as smoothly as the past two days have, but I am prepared for that. In any moment of doubt, frustration, negativity, or homesickness, I will remember one simple thing. I am at the Cannes Film Festival. Cheesy, but effective. 

The live feed is now showing footage from inside the building. Marion (I’d like to think that if we met she would let me call her Marion) and company have finally made it down the red and into the theater. Everyone is clapping for the director and his cast. I usually hate clapping in theaters, but this is the one time where applauding a film makes sense since the filmmakers involved are actually there to receive their praise. However, the film hasn't played yet. How do they know it’s going to be applause worthy? 

No, that is negative. It doesn’t matter if they are applauding before or after the movie. For the next ten days only one thing really matters. I am at the Cannes Film Festival.