Women With a Purpose Global Summit

The Women With A Purpose Global Summit kicked off on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 on the Island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten.  Women from every corner of the world were in attendance for six days and five nights of networking, seminars, inspirational speakers and parties.

Evelyn Bakon-Wheeler and Director of Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution, Deborah Riley Draper at Sonesta Maho Beach Hotel

Attendees at Evening Soiree at the Bliss Club

Opening day began with registration and a seminar "How Our Faith and Belief Influence Personal and Business Decisions",  led by multimedia personality Danita Patterson, CEO and principal content developer of Destiny Unlimited, Inc.  A fun and informational speed networking was part of the getting to know you event. Formulated similarly to speed dating, each participant spent 3 minutes speaking with the person across the table from them and then moved down one chair to the next person.  The evening was topped off with an opening soiree at the Bliss Club where attendees were welcomed by representatives from each of our host islands, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Anguilla and Saint Barthelemy. Delicious food, exotic drinks and festive music were in abundance and everyone received a lovely gift bag at the end of the evening.

Day 2 - Media Day

The first day of seminars were held on day two featuring guest speakers starting in the morning with a Media Roundtable Discussion - "As Women In Media, How Do We Negatively or Positively Impact Our Image Worldwide", led by Soledad O'Brien, Carmen Wong Ulrich and Lynn Norment.

Later in the morning a Leadership seminar "Looking at Leadership Through a Different Lens" with keynote speakers Judy Smith  and Joyce Roche. 

Valerie Norman-Gammon, Judy Smith, Joyce Roche

The afternoon included a Power Luncheon with keynote speakers Soledad O'Brien, Carmen Wong-Ulrich and Hon. Sarah Westcot-Williams, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten and Inocencia Manoel. 

Luncheon attendees

 Director Deborah Riley-Draper

 

 Elynor Williams, Evelyn Bakon-Wheeler, Shirley Evans-Wofford

Day 3: Luxury Villa Day

A luxury fashion show and Luncheon at Le Chateau Des Palmiers "How Your Fashion Decisions Affect Your Business Brand", and a late afternoon workshop with Iyanla Vanzant "Your Next Act - Are You Leveraging All Your Talents?

Deborah Riley Drapers film "Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution closed out the evening with a screening poolside at Sonesta Maho Beach.

 

Deborah Riley-Draper, McGhee Williams-Osse, Evelyn Bakon-Wheeler

Day 4: Spa Day in Anguilla

We were transported from St. Martin via ferry to Anguilla for spa day at two resorts Cuisinart Resort & Spa and The Viceroy Anguilla. I spent my time lounging around the pool at the Cuisinart Resort with my friends.

An unforgettable evening of dinner, music, dancing and entertainment at a White Party at Club Bliss.  We were entertained by Tchina Arnold who gave a dynamic performance. 

Tchina Arnold performing at the Bliss Club

Tchina Arnold 

Shirley and McGhee and a friend engrossed in a digital photo of...

McGhee Osse

Shirley Wofford and McGhee Osse

Evelyn Bakon-Wheeler and McGhee Williams-Osse

Deborah Riley-Draper enjoying the white party

Day 5: Shop til you drop in St. Barths.

Transferred via plane and ferry to the Island of St. Barthelemy for shopping and lunch at a beachfront restaurant, and then to St. Jean and a rendezvous at Nikki Beach St. Barths.  I ran into Bebe my favorite waiter from Nikki Beach Cannes who is now working in St. Barths after an eight-month stint at the Las Vegas Nikki Beach. 

St. Barths Airport

WWP attendees lounging on beds at Nikki Beach St. Barths.

Shopping til we drop in St. Barths

Read more at this link: Judy Smith, Soledad O'Brien at the 2013 Women with Purpose

66th Cannes Film Festival 2013

Even though the rains came again this year it didn't stop the parties here at the Cannes Film Festival. Everyone, including me, brought their best dresses and be damned we are going to wear them, monsoon or not.

Fan Bing Bing at Chopard Party at the Hotel Martinez

Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Linda Obannon with 3 Chainz Manager

The Carlton Lounge (my favorite spot other than Nikki Beach Cannes) has been turned into a virtual nightclub in the evening. The Hotel hired a DJ who is drawing unbelievable crowds. I can't believe how this once laidback lobby bar and lounge has now become party central.

Linda Obannon hanging out at Carlton Lounge

Evelyn Bakon-Wheeler in Carlton Lobby heading out to the Chopard Party at the Hotel Martinez

Director Chrystle Roberson at Carlton Lounge

Chrystle Roberson, Linda Obannon at Carlton Lounge

Actress Sydelle Noel on the red carpet at the British party in Cannes

Actress Sydelle Noel

Producer Mychal

Evelyn Wheeler on the red carpet at the British Film Party

Fan Bing Bing at Chopard Party in Cannes

Fan Bing Bing at Chopard Party

Solange Knowles performing on stage at Chopard Party

Other stars spotted in the Carlton Lounge:

Jane Fonda heading out to a screening;
Bruce and Laura Dern heading to the screening of Nebraska;
A J Calloway just hanging out waiting for the rain to cease;
Akon;
Tyga and his crew;
Robin Thicke passing through on his way to who knows where;
Jerry Lewis finding a table along with some of his people;
Bokeem Woodbine just enjoying the lounge

66th Cannes Film Festival - Days 1 and 2

Once I arrived in Cannes, met up with two of my friends from Chicago who are new to the Cote d'Azur and attending the Festival for the first time.  The Great Gatsby is the opening film for the festival and even though it is raining it will still be quite a big event. 

 Fan Bing Bing on red carpet at Gatsby opening

Watch Gatsby red carpet video here:

http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/mediaPlayer/12818.html#
(courtesy Festival de Cannes)

Watch the trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Czk0IJGoLeg


I was excited to attend the Fruitvale Station screening today, Thursday, the second day of the Festival.  Fruitvale Station is a film based on the true story of Oscar, a 22 year old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and decided to get a head start on his resolutions by being a better son to his mom, who was celebrating her birthday, and a better partner to his girlfriend and mother of his 4 year old daughter.  Unfortunately he is killed by an Oakland transit policeman after celebrating with his friends on New Years Eve.  It is riveting and spectacularly filmed by first time filmmaker Ryan Coogler who is vying for the Camera d'Or. He's up against some strong competition but I am rooting for him.  Fruitvale Station won the Grand Jury Prize and the Public Prize at this years Sundance Film Festival.

Actor Michael B. Jordan and Director Ryan Coogler

Watch the official trailer for Fruitvale Station here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZxUJwJfcQaQ

I also attended the Chopard Party this evening at the Hotel Martinez.  Chopard is the most coveted party ticket in Cannes during the festival, second only to the AMFAR Party at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc in Antibes.  Both are highly coveted events.  The fact that I was able to secure entry for this years event is a big notch in my belt.  Chopard is the designer of the coveted Palme d'Or award that is given for the best film screened at the festival.  They also supply most of the jewelry worn by the stars on the red carpet during the Festival.  This year they are also in the news because of a heist of some of their jewelry from the Novotel Hotel in Cannes today, the same day of the party.  It appears that thieves removed the safe containing more than $1 million worth of jewels from the hotel room of a Chopard employee by entering through an adjoining room.  The employee is of course being questioned as it appears to be an inside job.  But none of this stopped the women attending the Chopard party from displaying some of the most dazzling jewelry I have ever seen up close.  They were literally dripping in jewels. One woman was so bedazzling, that when asked if  she would take a photo, she politely said "I'm flattered, but no."

I am not making much headway with writing my blog this year, as there is just so much going on that I am involved with that I am left with very little time for writing.

2013 Cannes Festival

I attended another screening today, Friday the third day of the Festival, of a film starring Rob Pralgo and Tom Sizemore called Remnants.  This film is about the tragic and devastating aftermath of a giant solar flare that disables the entire worlds electrical grid.  The film shows the reaction of humans when they lack the everyday access to food and water.  The film leaves one with little hope for mankind.

Evelyn Bakon Wheeler and Actor Rob Pralgo

My friends and producers from Machete Cine in Mexico have finally arrived on the Croisette for the screening of their film "La Jaula De Oro (The GoldenCage) directed by first time filmmaker Diego  Quemada-Diez scheduled to screen May 22 in Salle Debussy Theater.  This is the same production company that produced first time filmmaker Michael Rowe who screened here in 2010 with the film "Ano  Bisiesto (Leap Year)" that won the Camera d'Or. This team of young producers, Edher Campos and Luis Salinas are making remarkable strides here at Cannes.  They have informed me that they have reserved me a spot at their screening.  Nice to have friends in high places.  I'm predicting very big things for these young men.  Stay tuned.

Getting Ready For Cannes 2013

Well the bags are packed and my tickets are printed, so I guess I'm ready to hit the red carpet in Cannes again this year. There will be a lot going on this year in Cannes with some of the biggest pictures and  the biggest names in film making appearances. I have been given the pleasure of assisting Yolonda Brinkley the visionary creator of Beyond Borders: Diversity in Cannes Symposium and Short Film Showcase.  This is Yolonda's fourth year hosting her symposium and the first year for her Short Film Showcase. We are trying to make some hookups for parties during the festival, which is the trickiest part of the entire festival, but we will not be deterred. We are going to get into a party in Cannes even if we have to crash one of them.

Several of my friends will be in Cannes this year.  The production company Machete Cine will be making their second appearance in three years with a new film from filmmaker Diego Quemada-Diez (La Jaula De Oro "The Golden Cage") in competition Un Certain Regard (First Film).  Their last turn in Cannes 2010 with filmmaker Michael Rowe (Ano Bisiesto "Leap Year") won the Camera d'or.  Diego Quemada-Diez is vying for the same award this year.

My friend Deborah Riley-Draper, writer, producer and director of the award winning documentary Versailles 73: American Runway Revolution (which I have been raving about since I first saw it in Cannes last year and have attended four screenings here in the U.S.)  is also returning to Cannes this year in a different capacity. Also a couple of friends I met since Cannes last year and who were enamoured by recollections of my experiences in Cannes are making the trip to see for themselves.  Linda and Dina whom I met on the Vineyard last summer will be walking the Croisette with me this year.

Evelyn Bakon Wheeler, Michael Rowe

Deborah Riley Draper, Evelyn Bakon Wheeler