Open Your Eyes

Sometimes love or lust makes us do the craziest things. Often we disregard the conventional way of thinking, acting or even driving when wrapped up in that special moment. In 1976, Claude Lelouch directed a world famous short film of a high speed drive through Paris where the rules of the road seemed meaningless. Red lights, one way streets, the safety and well-being of pigeons and of course speed limits were of no value when it came to the driver reaching his final destination.

C'était un rendez-vous is an 8 minute film beginning in a tunnel of the Paris Périphérique at Porte Dauphine and ending at Sacré Cœur. Shot in a single take during the wee hours of the morning, one camera attached to the front bumper of an unknown vehicle passes historic landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra Garnier, Place de la Concorde, the obelisk and the Champs-Élysées. Much controversy surrounds the making of the film as the actual driver is never unveiled. Some believe he is an unnamed F1 racer, a taxi driver or even Lelouch himself.

The very first time Lelouch granted usage rights to anyone was only a few years ago. The band, Snow Patrol, were the lucky ones using the footage for their music video to "Open Your Eyes". Enjoy and drive safely readers!

Think You Can Wait

OK I confess- I am slightly obsessed with The National. They have easily earned their spot in my top 3 favourite bands at the moment. I'm finding it difficult to listen to anything other than Matt Berninger's sonorous voice lately. Not only has that baritone voice become a defining characteristic of the band, but he has also been referred to as the sexiest voice in indie rock. Berninger's wife is one lucky lady. If I was married to this guy, he would definitely be singing and talking our days away!

The band which formed in Ohio recently recorded a song for the new indie film Win Win starring Paul Giamatti . It has been said that the song "Think You Can Wait" was written after the band saw the movie and became inspired by Tom McCarthy's themes of "very normal and good people trying to do their best and the struggle to be good."

Most National songs are melancholic because they hold a lot of emotion and depth. I can appreciate a really great slow song and although they depress some people, I find them to be quite relaxing. It's the perfect sound to unwind to at the end of any day.

If you like this song I highly recommend listening to their latest album - High Violet. Specifically "England", "Conversation 16", "Sorrow" and "Runaway".

Room Service

It seems like anything Karl Lagerfeld touches turns to gold. This was the case when the world famous fashion and perfume designer was commissioned to brainstorm a campaign for Dom Perignon.

The short film he directed is based on a contemporary fairy tale where two solitary and seductive hedonists cross paths at one of Paris' finest hotels - George V hotel. Eva Herzigova wears three of the most stunning white dresses, drips with jewels and indulges in the sweetest of French desserts. The stranger next door, Brad Kroenig, isn't too bad on the eyes either. Lagerfeld shot photographs of the couple's erotic encounter while Johan Renck shot the film.

Not that Dom Perignon needs the extra attention or advertisement, but perhaps the campaign was created to show the world its true origin? With Dom being tainted in every hip hop and rap video around, thugs and strippers don't exactly portray the class behind the beverage. Sometimes we have to be reminded of the sophistication and glamour that an incredible bottle of vintage Champagne can bring.

Film Festival continued

I realize I'm a bit behind on this post, however I still had to include my grand adventures during the Toronto International Film Festival this year. Here are some of the events I attended during TIFF and some of the wonderful people I was lucky enough to bump into.

ALLIANCE FILMS PARTY

My first TIFF event got me hooked. Held at South of Temperance in the midst of the hustle and bustle of downtown, this red carpet event was packed with industry names on a strict guest list. With an open bar and chefs serving gourmet snacks, miniature hot dogs and a trolley full of gelato, it was pretty easy to have a fun-filled night .

The majority of party goers were from California, but everyone seemed to have the same love for Toronto as I do. I met Charles Heaphy and his colleagues from City National Bank who were scoping out TIFF films to finance. They were very friendly and I was happy to spend more time with them at Nikki Beach and the CAA party just days later. I left the event with friends to pursue an after hours lounge called Fubar. One of the wonderful things about TIFF is almost all restaurants and lounges are open and serving until 4 am. We made sure to grab gift bags on our way out which included chocolate, cookies, various gift cards, designer makeup kits, Stella Artois glass sets and much more.

From left - Nikki, Charles Heaphy (Senior Vice President, Entertainment Division, City National Bank) & colleagues.

The amazing gelato trolley

FOCUS FEATURES PARTY

The next day I ventured to the Focus Features event held at Brassaii. I enjoyed the party with two very close girlfriends, Nikki and Paula, and a great network of people from Apple including Michael Huntsman. A very special thank you goes out to my friend, Michael, for providing us with fake names to get into the event that night. Everyone sipped on vodka water bar limes made with pomegranate vodka. They tasted exactly like a liquid form of sour tart candy which was a little dangerous as the beverage went down too smooth. The chef also convinced me to try decadent brownies displayed on a tray of sweets and ice cream. After he explained they were made with one of the finest chocolates of the world, I knew I had to try it for myself. He didn't exactly have to twist my arm on that one.

Everyone had a blast playing around and joking on the red carpet. Inside guests filled out comment cards with personal funny stories. They could then describe the story in detail and on camera in the spirit of the film It's Kind of a Funny Story starring Zach Galifianakis .

Left - Nikki, Paula and I arriving at the Focus Features party

Right - Nikki and Paula holding up their "It's Kind of a Funny Story" comment card

Left - Michael Huntsman (the face of Apple) and I

Right - Joking around on the red carpet. These girls are hilarious and I always have the best time with them.

NIKKI BEACH

Later that night our group hit Nikki Beach. Despite being a major city, Toronto doesn't officially have a Nikki Beach. For those of you reading and new to this club concept, Nikki Beach is the ultimate beach club where dining, fashion, music and entertainment combine to create the ultimate party. This club is internationally known and enjoyed in major cities including Miami Beach, Saint-Tropez, Saint Barths, Marbella, Cabo San Lucas, Marrakech, Koh Samui, and New York City. It has even been deemed “The Sexiest Place on Earth” by the London Observer. Having experienced Nikki Beach in St. Tropez and Miami, I was anxious to see what my city had to offer when Toronto annually transforms C Lounge into Nikki Beach for TIFF. The venue had indoor and outdoor cabanas and a beautiful pool lined with palm trees.

Once inside I was introduced to Oscar-winning producer, Nicolas Chartier. When I found out he was originally from Paris, we had a long chat in French about life and his film, The Hurt Locker. I was quick to notice his down-to-earth demeanor and was fascinated once he explained his story. He told me his life had drastically changed after The Hurt Locker reached stardom. Once a janitor in Paris who lived a very modest life, he took an extremely large risk and mortgaged his house on the film. His talents and risk were luckily rewarded when his film was a success. He now lives a completely different lifestyle in LA with much more income than the average janitor would earn. The Hurt Locker was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won six including Best Picture and Best Director, but it was Chartier's modest and grounded persona that I was most impressed with.

I asked if we could get a picture together, but he gracefully declined as the producer has had his share of negative press including being banned from the Oscars for breaking Academy rules. The great conversation still continued, but I've had to include a picture of Chartier accepting his BAFTA award, as apposed to one of us at Nikki Beach.

The Hurt Locker producers (from left) - Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow, Greg Shapiro & Nicolas Chartier

CAA EVENT

Sunday night was devoted to the CAA party which was held in Yorkville under a large white tent. It had the best dance floor of TIFF parties I had seen all weekend, but the highlight of the party was definitely the larger-than-life chess set outside. My friends Nikki and Gary Garfinkel, Senior Vice President of Content and Acquisitions for Showtime Networks, put their chess skills to the test. Despite Gary talking a big game, it was Nikki who took home the champion title. I hope Gary brushes up on his chess skills before TIFF 2011.

I was also introduced to Terry Dougas, a very talented producer in Greece, who just so happened to be born in Vancouver. He's produced such films as The Invention of Lying, The Box and Swing Vote to name a few. Dougas, who is currently working on many projects in LA, had a great energy about him. He's so lovely to chat with because he has one of the best sense of humours I've encountered. I wish him all the best in his upcoming endeavors.

Left - Nikki and Gary playing an intense game of chess

Right - Terry Dougas and I

THOMPSON HOTEL

The following weekend, while most of my new friends had left town, I continued with the TIFF celebrations. A loft warming party at my new place was the starter to a wonderful night. My girlfriends and I ended up at Thompson Hotel which has become one of my favourite spots in the city. The hotel features a beautiful main lounge, underground club and rooftop bar. Lindsay and I just so happened to bump into George Hickenlopper, director of Casino Jack. I was shocked and saddened to hear about his recent passing at the end of October. Although we only met for a brief moment, he seemed like such a genuine and interesting individual. He bought Lindsay and I a beverage on the rooftop and told us about his close friendship with Sienna Miller after filming his movie Factory Girl. I know he will be remembered as an outstanding film director and man.

Close friends - Sienna Miller and George Hickenlopper

Rooftop view of Thompson Hotel in Toronto

Lindsay and I on the gorgeous rooftop overlooking Toronto

As a rookie on the TIFF scene, I rate my overall experience as an A ++. I hope to stay in touch with all the amazing people I met and hopefully see them again before next years TIFF approaches.

Toronto International Film Festival

If there's any excuse to throw a party, I'm the girl who will surely find it some way or another. It's a very exciting and special time of the year as Toronto International Film Festival takes over the city again. What better occasion to conjure up an event to acknowledge and celebrate the talented producers, directors, actors and crew involved with TIFF. CityVIP and I had the pleasure of organizing and hosting a wonderful night devoted to the festivities Tuesday.

The event was held at Bohmer restaurant located in the heart of Toronto's art and vintage district. Co-host Yossi Kaplan and I couldn't think of a more fitting location to host the upscale reception. Bohmer is not only beautiful due to it's grandeur and elegant setting, but the fact that its interior is made of reclaimed materials makes it that much more appealing.

The restaurant features tables made of recycled wood, industrial pipes and intricate chandeliers mixed with branches and jeweled lights. My favourite attribute is the large wooden table in the centre of the restaurant which seats separate small groups who come in to enjoy the fine cuisine. This is a great way to make new friends and a highlight of the night for any social butterfly like myself as the groups are able to freely mingle amongst one another. Open for only six months, Bohmer is no longer a secret. Many A list celebs wined and dined at the location during TIFF including Ryan Phillippe who reserved the private back room before my event began.

From left - Paul Bohmer (owner & head chef) and staff

Suits and beautiful cocktail dresses filled Bohmer. I was all smiles wearing my extraordinary dress created by a Toronto-based designer, Daja Graham (pictured bottom left). I recently modeled her fall clothing lines for HAUS boutique and fell head over heels for the golden tube dress accented with a detailed material flower. She was more than happy to lend it to me for the evening and I couldn't be more grateful. My hair was styled by Loriebelle Urrutia from Salon Escape. Loriebelle did such an amazing job on my hair during Fashion Week, I just had to use her expertise again.

The night featured two DJ's, Marc-Paul Guthier and Sadeq, spinning a mix of house and lounge music. The guests sipped on Champagne and cocktails and chatted all night. Thank you to everyone who helped make this night a huge success. Now onto some pictures from the main event!

From left- Heather Williams, Paul Bohmer, me, co-host Yossi Kaplan

Gary Garfinkel (Senior Vice President of Acquisition Showtime Network) and I. Despite all the annual film fests, Gary confessed that TIFF is by far his favourite time of year.

It's obvious Yossi and I had a blast being the hosts for the evening.

A TIFF event isn't a TIFF event without gift bags!

From left - Me, Johnny Brower and Jamie. Johnny Brower is a screenwriter who ventures back and forth from Toronto and Los Angeles. He is currently launching his creation "John Lennon Ate My Lunch" into a film. Stay tuned as I will feature his screenplay on my blog very soon.

CityVIP is a private members social club that caters to urban professionals in the media, fashion, entertainment, legal, business, finance, health, non-profit and related industries. For more information on events in and around Toronto please go to www.cityvip1.com.