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
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