Everyone I know somehow knows Vincent Gallo.

He’s like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon for the indie sect.  Literally, everyone I know has some sort of story from a collaboration to an impression making interaction.  Although I was behind him in line for pizza once on Fairfax Ave in LA, I don’t know the fella – but in my five minutes of alone-time, contemplating my hits of the festival – he is a standout – to my surprise (and after Brown Bunny, slight chagrin).

A standout because both the film he stared in – a Jerzy Skolimowski’s Polish slowburn that captivates even a restless mind with little sleep called Essential Killing and the film he made Promises Written in Water – a glorious self-indulgent ode to Cassavetes and Godard films that just added plum cool to TIFF’s line-up, were two of my surprise favorites.

I promise I don’t even think he’s that handsome.

But, intriguing because while in Toronto for the festival, he simply opted not to show up to his premieres (although he had time to go for a coffee with a friend of mine), instead releasing this statement on the Promises website  “Vincent Gallo has forever rejected any explanation of the concept, story, process or rumors surrounding the making of his new film, stating, ‘None of it would fit easily into tabloid format, and so writers and journalists would be forced into simplistic interpretations to avoid their own shortcomings and the shortcomings of the press in general.’

A-MAZING!

Rude, ungracious, self-absorbed if not self-flagellating and yet I sheepishly admit as a new artist a tiny bit enviable and brave.

Often-time the whole point of the work is cause you just can’t find the words.

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Sometimes it's better not to go jogger-chic

Thank goodness I didn’t go with my gut.

I was getting ready to go to the annual Canadian Film Center’s BBQ – which attempts to rival Diddy’s white party in the Hamptons (‘BBQ’ is misleading, it suggests hotdogs and campfires, not VIP sections and gourmet cupcakes).

I was getting ready. All I wanted to wear was a dirty blue American Apparel t-shirt and grey cotton sweatsuit short shorts. I was going to juxtapose the jogger look with vintage tan boots and my trench coat, but it was still going to be a brave choice considering the BBQ was in part to celebrate the short I made through the Mr. Jewison’s school.

The exhaustion and pace of the opening weekend of TIFF encourages what my gut was saying, “wear something cozy, be yourself”…Jogger-chic isn’t exactly myself, but it was that morning.

I go against myself and throw on a standby 5 year old Marc by Marc last minute – crankily, begrudgingly.

I chomped on a Lick’s burger (my writer Ryan Cavan, politely telling me when I had mustard on my face), trying my best to hide in a corner. Tokyo Police Club takes the stage. Boom! The CFC PR person comes rushing to me – “you need to get to the VIP section now! Norman (Mr. Jewison) is leaving and we need to get your picture with him”.

They usher me to this roped off section while the band plays. Tell me that they’d like to introduce me to Paul Haggis – that little director of the Oscar winning film Crash – and get a ‘photo-op’ with him first.

My gawd the mustard on my face. I don’t even have lipgloss. Where did my friends go? Why am I roped off like cattle with a guy who looks like David Cronenberg (but isn’t)?

Middle aged gentile looking women in Holt Renfrew dresses are asking me about my film, while the band thrashes on and I wait for Paul Haggis and sweet Mr. Jewison. I’m yelling to the ladies, likely with mustard on my face, “it’s called How To Rid Your Lover of A Negative Emotion Caused By You! It’s a love story with some chloroform and blood.” They smile and nod, “Oh! How lovely!”

The PR pulls me to Paul Haggis. We do one of those things I’ve only seen on television where you sort of ‘meet’ on camera for the ‘photo op’. I tell him I’m a big fan, he congratulates me on my film, we smile like we’re ol’ friends for the camera…

I keep thinking about the mishap that would have been known as jogger-chic-gate.

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Kristjan Hayden is the sweetest.

He has been one of my best friend’s since we I was 9 years old. He is a gifted makeup and hair artist. And when you call him for a favor that involves him waking up at 5:30am he shows up as a friend. Makes you look prettier that you thought you could be. And makes you giggle when you are nervous (so much you often mess up your makeup that he is so effortless putting on you.)

Daniel Bekerman also is the sweetest.

Not only did he produce How To Ride Your Lover Of A Negative Emotion Caused By You! (my directorial debut premiering tonight at TIFF to a SOLD OUT Isabel Bader Theatre!), Daniel also woke up at 6am to take me to meet Mr. Norman Jewison on Canada AM this morning. Beckerman – as I like to call him- didn’t even get upset on the car ride home when he told me I forgot (in my overwhelmed state) to introduce him to Mr. Jewison!

Right – so did Canada AM with Norman The Hurricane Jewison. No biggie. (BIG BIGGIE).

Mr. Jewison is of course one of the most elegant and yet irreverent (two qualities I admire most in a director) directors. He talks about issues with class but fervor. He also founded the Canadian Film Center – where most of our industry has gone to be ‘inducted’ so to speak. (Where I made my TIFF film!)

He’s also the sweetest man.

Head over to festival headquarters for a BravoFACT bruch to toast all of us shorties. See and meet so many cool people – but the coolest is when Magali Simard (one of the programmers) confesses to me that after all the swank industry parties she like to go home and dance it out by herself to disoc music! If that isn’t the best How To Survive TIFF Tip I have ever heard!!

What a cool woman.

As for me –well I’m skipping the pre parties tonight before my premiere.
La Palette, some steak tartar and a glass of Gewürztraminer, good friends – Jay Z on the ipod getting ready – that’s how we roll.

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Last night I swung by the Canadian Filmmaker’s party with lovely PR gal Suzanne Cheriton. Suzanne was responsible for the infamous grass roots ad campaign for a film I was in a few years ago called Monkey Warfare (some of you Torontonians may recall…) The campaign’s slightly..um…risqué…to mention here, but it’s worth a google .

Anyway, Suze and I are in bed by 10pm (not together). She’s with her son and husband. I’m eating popcorn and chocolate in my jammies alone.

“No I can’t come to the party on the rooftop of the Drake, Ed Gass Donnelly! (director of Small Town Murder Songs premiering Sunday Sept.14) I am a director now and have to be responsible!”

“Go to sleep little jedi knight,” Ed replies.

This morning I sleepily run into actor/director/Company Theatre founder Philip Riccio and veteran no nonsense actor Nicholas Campbell at an early morning interview with Suzanne (again). They are mounting a play smack dab in the middle of TIFF called Through the Leaves. A play. Not a film. Bold.

I then head home to get ready for a day at press central, Hotel Intercontinental. I’m pretty beat. Feeling fluish. Photographers (who also look beat and fluish) take my picture as I walk in the front door ( I assume it’s only because I am wearing red lipstick and look relatively ‘arty’)

Things pick up in the E Talk lounge – an oasis of gifts!

I’m still swooning over my Joe Fresh faux fur fall coat and this perfect counter-the-ball-gown-look with a kookie little watch by PlastiChic.

Over lunch between interviews we spot the Fubar fellows (will the hijinx ever cease?) They tell me the liked me in Monkey Warfare. I tell them I wish my hair was that long.

I leave Hotel I to my next appointment – a photographer comes running after me yelling “Nawa Nawa – I didn’t get your photo!” He takes it on the streets. I don’t know who Nawa is but this lipstick is sticking with me for the rest of the fest…work work work!

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You Are Here director Daniel Cockburn and I have eggs

Woke up at 7am this morning – as I will be every morning for the next week for various TIFF reasons.

Today the early rise was to get clothes dry cleaned/shortened (I’m my own intern and my boss is an annoying slave-driver who at 5”2 needs every piece of clothing shortened!!!)

It’s funny how the friendliness of a seamstress, who promises she can hem 5 dresses in 24 hours can really brighten your day, though. I liked them so much I might just stop in during the festival for some smiles and giggles. They were so RELAXED. I envy them. Rosedale Cleaners !!!

Apres seams, I do a pre-interview with CBC Metro radio (…because it’s super important to get live radio seamless?)

I mosey aka rush on back to the neighborhood for a 10 am National Post interview/photoshoot at the Lakeview with You Are Here director Daniel Cockburn. I acted in Daniel’s feature debut, which premieres in Canada at TIFF Wednesday Sept. 15th.

Last night Daniel and I text eachother – “let’s meet at 9am and catch up! Yeah!”

This morning at 9:45 am we simultaneously text each other – “Running behind!” Yeah.

We meet at 10am.

I’m now on a ten minute lunch break (my intern is annoyingly busy and never actually has anything for me to eat, mind you!)

I have a nap scheduled after that for 30 minutes, which I won’t be able to take due to the copious amounts of caffeine it takes to run this tight ship.

Tonight Canadian filmmaker party at Spoke Club.

Hey intern? Yes boss? What we be wearing ce soir?

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