The OFFICIAL Monaco and French Riviera Thread.
Any more?
#673
05-21-2013, 04:29 AM
Cannes Film Festival 2013
Cannes Hit by Second High-Profile Burglary
China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang had all of his luggage stolen from his rented Cote d'Azur apartment, leading the senior exec to tweet: “This film festival is not worth mentioning!”
China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang canceled plans to preside over a press conference on Monday with Keanu Reeves for the actor’s directorial debut Man of Tai Chi after all of his possessions were stolen from his rented apartment at Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach Residence.
The senior executive first exposed the burglary in a post on his official Weibo account (China’s version of Twitter) on May 16, saying that he got back to his apartment after dinner to find his door ajar and all of his luggage gone.
Zhang said the staff at the hotel brushed off his pleas for assistance and said they could change the locks but he would have to contact the police himself. “Security in France is so bad, and the [people] are so arrogant,” he wrote.
The episode seems to have spoiled Zhang’s Cannes experience. “This film festival is not worth mentioning!” he added.
As second in command at the China Film Group, the dominant State-owned film conglomerate, Zhang is likely the most influential Chinese industry player in town this week.
He was slated to appear with Reeves and producer Lemore Syvan at the Majestic Hotel Monday morning to promote Man of Tai Chi, which China Film Group co-produced with Wanda Media, Village Road Show Pictures, Universal Pictures and Company Films.
Zhang’s post was widely retweeted by Chinese film fans, with many weighing in to respond with their own travel horror stories and experiences with “impolite” French people in the past. He later tweeted a post about having to travel to Marseille to apply for new travel documents, and wrote again on Saturday saying the municipal authorities, the Cannes film festival and the hotel had all reached out to him to apologize.
“We can see how China’s Weibo service now has influence outside the country,” he added. “I’d like to remind compatriots to take note of how to protect their own rights when travelling abroad for business and leisure.”
The Cannes Film Festival declined to comment on the incident. Local police had no comment.
What he says above is quite accurate...... Specially this: Security in France is so bad, and the [people] are so arrogant. They could have done a lot more to help him. I have a lot of similar examples....
Cannes
Cannes Hit by Second High-Profile Burglary
China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang had all of his luggage stolen from his rented Cote d'Azur apartment, leading the senior exec to tweet: “This film festival is not worth mentioning!”
China Film Group vice president Zhang Qiang canceled plans to preside over a press conference on Monday with Keanu Reeves for the actor’s directorial debut Man of Tai Chi after all of his possessions were stolen from his rented apartment at Pierre & Vacances Cannes Beach Residence.
The senior executive first exposed the burglary in a post on his official Weibo account (China’s version of Twitter) on May 16, saying that he got back to his apartment after dinner to find his door ajar and all of his luggage gone.
Zhang said the staff at the hotel brushed off his pleas for assistance and said they could change the locks but he would have to contact the police himself. “Security in France is so bad, and the [people] are so arrogant,” he wrote.
The episode seems to have spoiled Zhang’s Cannes experience. “This film festival is not worth mentioning!” he added.
As second in command at the China Film Group, the dominant State-owned film conglomerate, Zhang is likely the most influential Chinese industry player in town this week.
He was slated to appear with Reeves and producer Lemore Syvan at the Majestic Hotel Monday morning to promote Man of Tai Chi, which China Film Group co-produced with Wanda Media, Village Road Show Pictures, Universal Pictures and Company Films.
Zhang’s post was widely retweeted by Chinese film fans, with many weighing in to respond with their own travel horror stories and experiences with “impolite” French people in the past. He later tweeted a post about having to travel to Marseille to apply for new travel documents, and wrote again on Saturday saying the municipal authorities, the Cannes film festival and the hotel had all reached out to him to apologize.
“We can see how China’s Weibo service now has influence outside the country,” he added. “I’d like to remind compatriots to take note of how to protect their own rights when travelling abroad for business and leisure.”
The Cannes Film Festival declined to comment on the incident. Local police had no comment.
What he says above is quite accurate...... Specially this: Security in France is so bad, and the [people] are so arrogant. They could have done a lot more to help him. I have a lot of similar examples....
Cannes
#674
05-21-2013, 05:42 AM
@MB So you are probably quite busy these days with Cannes and the F1 in Monaco 
Btw. some of the watches that go on auction for the OnlyWatch charity auction after the Monaco Yacht Show this year are now shown on there website. The watches - Only Watch
Btw. some of the watches that go on auction for the OnlyWatch charity auction after the Monaco Yacht Show this year are now shown on there website. The watches - Only Watch
#677
05-25-2013, 12:52 PM
Cannes Film Festival 2013
amfAR gala part 1
Glitzy amfAR gala raises $25 million for AIDS research; Stone plays host.
CAP D’ANTIBES, FRANCE — With an apt rendition of Goldfinger, singing legend Shirley Bassey roused celebrity revelers to dig deep into their pockets at the 20th amfAR gala in the Cap D’Antibes, helping to raise an estimated $25 million for AIDS research.
The British-born singer was one of several performers including Duran Duran who sang at the gold-themed auction event near the Cannes Film Festival, hosted by actress Sharon Stone.
The annual gala has for two decades attracted the film and fashion industries’ rich and powerful. This year was no exception, with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Chastain, Janet Jackson, Milla Jovovich and Goldie Hawn sitting side by side.
Items auctioned included an Andy Warhol lithograph of Elizabeth Taylor, a chance to have a family portrait taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz, a week in fashion designer’s Donna Karan’s Caribbean hideaway and a shimmering 53-carat diamond necklace.
The AIDS support group says AIDS still affects some 34 million people worldwide.
“Yes, you can think it’s a silly little dinner, you can deride it as full of celebrities dressed up,” said Leibovitz. “But that’s missing the point. $80 million amfAR has raised since it began. That’s the point. It has saved lives.”
Weinstein took the mike several times to praise the film industry’s commitment to AIDS, stressing that while two decades ago the illness was a “looming plague,” a cure might well be seen within “our lifetime.”
For the second time in amfAR’s history, the event’s penchant for excess translated rather well into a glimmering catwalk show, curated by stylist Carine Roitfeld. It featured some 38 gold and black looks from designers such as Dior, Chanel, Lanvin and Prada worn by models such as Karlie Kloss, Karolina Kurkova, Angela Lindvall and Alessandra Ambrosio.
The standout dresses were a custom gold embroidered long-sleeved gown courtesy of Valentino, and a custom gold pleated minidress from Givenchy. All the dresses went to a single bidder, selling in just a couple of minutes for $1.56 million.
Though celebrities were in a generous mood, news that thieves outsmarted 80 security guards and made off with a necklace that creators say is worth 2 million euros ($2.6 million) — the second such jewelry heist during this year’s Cannes — had celebrities clinging more closely to their jewels.
“Well yeah, I’m going to be watching how much champagne I drink,” said Jovovich, smiling. “Because you never know somebody might come up and just shwoop, take it off.”
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
amfAR gala part 1
Glitzy amfAR gala raises $25 million for AIDS research; Stone plays host.
CAP D’ANTIBES, FRANCE — With an apt rendition of Goldfinger, singing legend Shirley Bassey roused celebrity revelers to dig deep into their pockets at the 20th amfAR gala in the Cap D’Antibes, helping to raise an estimated $25 million for AIDS research.
The British-born singer was one of several performers including Duran Duran who sang at the gold-themed auction event near the Cannes Film Festival, hosted by actress Sharon Stone.
The annual gala has for two decades attracted the film and fashion industries’ rich and powerful. This year was no exception, with movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessica Chastain, Janet Jackson, Milla Jovovich and Goldie Hawn sitting side by side.
Items auctioned included an Andy Warhol lithograph of Elizabeth Taylor, a chance to have a family portrait taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz, a week in fashion designer’s Donna Karan’s Caribbean hideaway and a shimmering 53-carat diamond necklace.
The AIDS support group says AIDS still affects some 34 million people worldwide.
“Yes, you can think it’s a silly little dinner, you can deride it as full of celebrities dressed up,” said Leibovitz. “But that’s missing the point. $80 million amfAR has raised since it began. That’s the point. It has saved lives.”
Weinstein took the mike several times to praise the film industry’s commitment to AIDS, stressing that while two decades ago the illness was a “looming plague,” a cure might well be seen within “our lifetime.”
For the second time in amfAR’s history, the event’s penchant for excess translated rather well into a glimmering catwalk show, curated by stylist Carine Roitfeld. It featured some 38 gold and black looks from designers such as Dior, Chanel, Lanvin and Prada worn by models such as Karlie Kloss, Karolina Kurkova, Angela Lindvall and Alessandra Ambrosio.
The standout dresses were a custom gold embroidered long-sleeved gown courtesy of Valentino, and a custom gold pleated minidress from Givenchy. All the dresses went to a single bidder, selling in just a couple of minutes for $1.56 million.
Though celebrities were in a generous mood, news that thieves outsmarted 80 security guards and made off with a necklace that creators say is worth 2 million euros ($2.6 million) — the second such jewelry heist during this year’s Cannes — had celebrities clinging more closely to their jewels.
“Well yeah, I’m going to be watching how much champagne I drink,” said Jovovich, smiling. “Because you never know somebody might come up and just shwoop, take it off.”
Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
Last edited by MONACO BODYGUARDS™; 05-25-2013 at 12:53 PM.
#680
05-25-2013, 01:40 PM
Monaco Grand Prix 2013
I sure hope you will make it tomorrow.......
Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for Sunday's 71st Monaco Grand Prix with a brilliantly-judged drive in capricious conditions as he and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton locked out the front row of the grid.
The 27-year-old German delivered a fastest lap of one minute and 13.876 seconds in the final seconds of a rain-hit session to outpace 2008 champion Hamilton by 0.091 seconds.
It was Rosberg's third successive pole, the team's fourth in a row and the fourth of his career, and it set him up perfectly to attempt to become the first son of a victorious former Monaco winner to triumph on the streets of the Mediterranean principality.
His father Keke Rosberg, watching the action from the paddock, won the race 30 years ago in 1983.
"You know, it's always nice to hear statistics like that,'' Rosberg junior said.
"But it doesn't change much for tomorrow. Of course, I'm very happy.
"But, in Barcelona, we were struggling such a lot in the race (after starting from pole) and I finished 70 seconds behind the winner.
"We're improving step by step, but there are still a lot of questions remaining. It's still our weakness. But we will make the best of it and who knows.'' Hamilton, outpaced by Rosberg in all three practice sessions as well as qualifying, said: "I've struggled with the car and this is the first time that's happened since 2005. It's been a difficult weekend so I'm happy to have been able to lock out the front row for the team. It's been a massive improvement for me.''
On a day when two German clubs were to meet in football's European Champions League final, it was almost no surprise to see the Mercedes team dominating as they seek to become the first Mercedes works outfit to win in Monaco since 1937.
The Mercedes men, Monaco neighbours, good friends and keen rivals, qualified first and second ahead of a clearly disappointed defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who was third ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Australian Mark Webber, last year's race winner.
"It was very close. Mercedes were very quick all weekend. We know they're quick one lap. I don't want that to sound like an excuse,'' said Vettel.
"There was more than a tenth missing - I think I had that today, but it didn't come together on the last lap. If anyone is to blame, then it's me.
"The car was very good. I'm not entirely happy with my last lap but happy there's not a Lotus or Ferrari ahead so therefore sitting in third I think is still a good result and should be a good opportunity to win the race.''
Finn Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, was fifth for Lotus ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, Mexican Sergio Perez of McLaren and German Adrian Sutil of Force India.
Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, qualified ninth in the second McLaren ahead of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso.
Alonso's Ferrari team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa did not take part after mechanics failed to repair his car in time following a high-speed crash in the morning, and Frenchman Romain Grosjean qualified only 13th for Lotus after crashing in all three practice sessions.
1. Nico Rosberg (GER/MER)
2. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/MER)
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/RBR)
4. Mark Webber (AUS/RBR)
5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/LOT)
6. Fernando Alonso (ESP/FER)
7. Sergio Perez (MEX/MLA)
8. Adrian Sutil (GER/FOR)
9. Jenson Button (ENG/MLA)
10. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/TOR)
11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/SAU)
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/TOR)
13. Romain Grosjean (FRA/LOT)
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/WIL)
15. Giedo van der Garde (NED/CAT)
16. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/WIL)
17. Paul Di Resta (SCO/FOR)
18. Charles Pic (FRA/CAT)
19. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/SAU)
20. Max Chilton (ENG/MAR)
21. Jules Bianchi (FRA/MAR)
22. Felipe Massa (BRA/FER)
I sure hope you will make it tomorrow.......
Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for Sunday's 71st Monaco Grand Prix with a brilliantly-judged drive in capricious conditions as he and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton locked out the front row of the grid.
The 27-year-old German delivered a fastest lap of one minute and 13.876 seconds in the final seconds of a rain-hit session to outpace 2008 champion Hamilton by 0.091 seconds.
It was Rosberg's third successive pole, the team's fourth in a row and the fourth of his career, and it set him up perfectly to attempt to become the first son of a victorious former Monaco winner to triumph on the streets of the Mediterranean principality.
His father Keke Rosberg, watching the action from the paddock, won the race 30 years ago in 1983.
"You know, it's always nice to hear statistics like that,'' Rosberg junior said.
"But it doesn't change much for tomorrow. Of course, I'm very happy.
"But, in Barcelona, we were struggling such a lot in the race (after starting from pole) and I finished 70 seconds behind the winner.
"We're improving step by step, but there are still a lot of questions remaining. It's still our weakness. But we will make the best of it and who knows.'' Hamilton, outpaced by Rosberg in all three practice sessions as well as qualifying, said: "I've struggled with the car and this is the first time that's happened since 2005. It's been a difficult weekend so I'm happy to have been able to lock out the front row for the team. It's been a massive improvement for me.''
On a day when two German clubs were to meet in football's European Champions League final, it was almost no surprise to see the Mercedes team dominating as they seek to become the first Mercedes works outfit to win in Monaco since 1937.
The Mercedes men, Monaco neighbours, good friends and keen rivals, qualified first and second ahead of a clearly disappointed defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who was third ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Australian Mark Webber, last year's race winner.
"It was very close. Mercedes were very quick all weekend. We know they're quick one lap. I don't want that to sound like an excuse,'' said Vettel.
"There was more than a tenth missing - I think I had that today, but it didn't come together on the last lap. If anyone is to blame, then it's me.
"The car was very good. I'm not entirely happy with my last lap but happy there's not a Lotus or Ferrari ahead so therefore sitting in third I think is still a good result and should be a good opportunity to win the race.''
Finn Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, was fifth for Lotus ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, Mexican Sergio Perez of McLaren and German Adrian Sutil of Force India.
Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, qualified ninth in the second McLaren ahead of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso.
Alonso's Ferrari team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa did not take part after mechanics failed to repair his car in time following a high-speed crash in the morning, and Frenchman Romain Grosjean qualified only 13th for Lotus after crashing in all three practice sessions.
1. Nico Rosberg (GER/MER)
2. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/MER)
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/RBR)
4. Mark Webber (AUS/RBR)
5. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/LOT)
6. Fernando Alonso (ESP/FER)
7. Sergio Perez (MEX/MLA)
8. Adrian Sutil (GER/FOR)
9. Jenson Button (ENG/MLA)
10. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/TOR)
11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/SAU)
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/TOR)
13. Romain Grosjean (FRA/LOT)
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/WIL)
15. Giedo van der Garde (NED/CAT)
16. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/WIL)
17. Paul Di Resta (SCO/FOR)
18. Charles Pic (FRA/CAT)
19. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/SAU)
20. Max Chilton (ENG/MAR)
21. Jules Bianchi (FRA/MAR)
22. Felipe Massa (BRA/FER)