A lot of the familiar American faces were absent from this year's Cannes Film Festival, with less American stars attending the Hot D'Or and fewer American companies exhibiting in the market. Though such usual players as Antigua Pictures [with Todd Blatt and Al Thronton working the halls of the Noga Hilton]; Sin City [Mark and Josie Snyder and David Sturman at the Palais]; Wicked Pictures [Steve Vlottes] and others were exhibiting, relatively few companies were working the market.
Zane Entertainment, Channel 69 and Sunshine Films and their owners were in attendance and the Anabolic Pictures group with Chris Alexander, Greg Allan, Vince Voyeur and Mark Davis report that they spent two weeks shooting in England and France. [Voyeur and Allan, you might recall, traveled in Hungary together last year when Allan saved Voyeur in a stabbing incident.]
Voyeur enjoys Europe, but an old feud surfaced during his stay at the Royal Hotel outside Cannes when he and Chuck Martino got into a scrap. Seems that a four year battle heated up and observers report that Voyeur punched Martino after words were exchanged. Martino looked no worse for wear, all tanned and hanging with Katja Kean [new Sin City Euro beauty]. Martino's black eye was from a battle several weeks earlier when he was protecting his girlfriend in Palm Springs, not a Voyeur blow. Voyeur looked pumped and ready and in fighting shape.
Rocco Siffredi showed up at the Hot D'Or to pick up his special award, but was in Cannes promoting his starring role in the mainstream French film, "Romance," a hit in France earlier this year. The film was being sold to many foreign markets (U.S. deal is pending) and Rocco was thrilled with his mainstream acceptance.
"I can't believe it," Siffredi enthused. "I've been called to do many TV shows and it's the first time in Europe that someone truly crossed over. I did a real erotic scene in the movie show from a woman's point of view. They'll be trying to get an "R' rating, not an 'NC-17'." The story concerns a woman who is not satisfied with her marriage and takes several lovers looking for love.
Jenna Jameson, no stranger to crossing over, reports that she's this close to having a recurring role (three episodes) on the hit HBO series "The Sopranos." As those who've seen the show may recall, Vivid Video posters are all over the strip club that the mobsters in the show own. Great series and a good move for Jameson. Meanwhile, she's thrilled to be back making adult films again, looking better than ever.
Speaking of crossing over, the next starlet that's making the move is AVN Best New Starlet Alisha Klass. She reported in Cannes that she's appearing in three episodes of the new Showtime series "The Hoop Life," playing "the porn star who's the love interest of a basketball player and I teach him about tantric sex and his body."
Meanwhile, in a klass (sic) move, Alisha was one of the first to congratulate and hug Jewel D'Nyle on her winning the award for Best American New Starlet at the Hot d'Or. Serenity's news in Cannes was that she's starting her own line of sex toys and distributing herself. Husband Steve was enthusiastic about marketing the new company and Serenity believes her fame and marketing skills will carry the day.
Jill Kelly attended the Cannes screening of "The Girl Next Door," Christine Fugate's excellent documentary on the life of Stacey Valentine. The makeshift theater at the Carlton Hotel was packed for two screenings as part of the Slamdance on the Road traveling filmfest. When asked her opinion of the documentary, Kelly said, "It hit way too close to home. That's me. I really related to it."
The other documentary making the rounds, "Sex: The Annabelle Chong Story" is equally excellent. Both films are on the verge of U.S. theatrical distribution and both will be reviewed in detail in the August of AVN.
Max Hardcore was all around Cannes, filming for his Max series and introduced cute, little Melody Love as his "new recepticle." They were acting like a couple, though Melody said, "I'm not under contract, but I'm looking for one." The cute, natural brunette shot several movies for Matt Zane, before beginning her Max Hardcore career.
Christy Lake should take up a second job as a security director. Her work at the Video Marc Dorcel party on the beach at Cannes helped get the AVN staffers and their friends into the over-crowded party. Meanwhile, she's all excited about the response to her video line in Cannes. Antigua Pictures made great deals selling her "Fax Fuxxx" series overseas and thousands of fans exploded onto the Croisette when Christy gave out her flyers.
Matt Zane made his first Cannes appearance. He reports that his band Society One has gotten their album "Slacker Jesus" into Tower Records and Virgin Megastore. "Sexual Species 1 & 2" are being distributed in Spain in a boxed set along with the CD.
