I declined because I decided that it was best to leave the character on the screen and not go and do parties. However, it was a very funny and interesting invitation. I think it was to show his sense of humor about the whole thing. I understand that the President is anxious to see the film and would like to see it, but in private. Nichols said that the real-life White House scandal, which most thought would help the film, hurt it instead.
People see it on TV and every time they open a newspaper.
Escalating fees paid to stars threaten to blow up the film industry, Martin Scorsese told a news conference in Cannes Wednesday. Scorsese, who is serving as president of the Film Festival Jury, indicated that he felt a sense of relief that his films were largely unaffected by the burgeoning demands of actors, who, he said, are generally willing to take a salary cut in order to appear in more interesting projects. Screenwriting guru Robert McKee , whose seminars have been attended by the diverse likes of Lawrence Kasdan , William Goldman , Joel Schumacher , Keenan Ivory Wayans, David Bowie , John Cleese and Kirk Douglas , lashed out Wednesday at the quality of current film writing. McKee's first feature, based on Noel Coward 's Hay Fever, is being promoted at Cannes. Hong Kong Phoenix Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan , who told Business Week last month that he had agreed to star in a U.S.-made film, Rush Hour, because the Hong Kong film industry was in a downward spiral, has indicated that he has not turned his back on his homeland.