So you’ve already caught the helicopter to cut the travel time between Nice international and that first glass of crisp rosé, but are still finding that getting around Cannes itself puts a little too much strain on the feet. Assuming you’re not the sort of film exec who can simply command the industry to come to your hotel door, what do you do?
John Baca, head of Artificial Intelligence Entertainment and an 18-year veteran of the fest, has a suggestion: Get a skateboard. “I can get from the Carlton to the Majestic in about two minutes on this,” he says, pointing to his new skateboard, a small, 1½-footish variety that fits neatly into his backpack.
Baca brought the skateboard for the first time this year, having been inspired by fellow enthusiast Max Rothman of Cannes Concierge. But he’s overjoyed at the results.
“I’m going to start bringing it to every market,” he says. “In AFM, it’ll take about a minute to get to Shutters, while in Berlin I can go from the Ritz to the Adlon.”
The festival’s new(ish) four-wheeled transport addition comes as skateboarding in Cannes is on a roll, following the 2015 opening of an “experimental” skate park just several blocks up from the Martinez, which received the full support of the city. Baca expects to see many more skateboards at the festival next year.
And there’s one major advantage for anyone who has blown their budget on too many Ubers: “This cost me about $100 at Target.”
This story first appeared in the May 21 Cannes daily issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.
