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Thanks Haley, and an article from Giffoni

Author: Fair
Date: 07-24-05 01:31

It has been an exciting few days around here... most of which was dominated by the coverage of the "35th Giffoni Film Festival". What an amazing place to hold such an event, and it really makes me happy that Haley and family were able to experience yet another part of this big world. Hopefully Haley and family were able to spend the rest of their holiday at some secluded Villa somewhere, all the while enjoying a nice isolated beach or something. I think that was a big part of the trip, for the whole family to just get away from the silliness that surrounds them everyday in LA. The fall will once again be quite hectic at the Osment house, what with both kids again involved in their own projects, so it is nice that the whole family was able to spend some quiet and private time together before ramping up their public lives one more time.

I'm not sure about anyone else, but I thought Haley's trip to Italy was a great success. It is so nice that he was invited to attend such an amazing event, and just like everything else, Haley gave back as much as he could. How silly that just about all of the North American media chose not to cover an event such as that... like the only "real" film industry is confined to Hollywood. Of course Haley understands and appreciates that cinema is a global experience, and so he would naturally want to be a part of something like Giffoni... and naturally the Giffoni Film Festival would want to include someone like Haley.

As great as it was to see the images of Haley surrounded by so many fans from all around the world, and the images of Haley and family, and even the images of the event itself... I'm sure most were happiest when it was confirmed by Haley himself at the Film Festival that he would be starting a new film project at the end of August. It has been three years since he was last in front of a camera, and although I'm sure we all came to truly appreciate how remarkable and amazing his previous films are, there is nothing quite like the excitement and anticipation for a new Haley Film! So that is why I just wanted to say thanks Haley, you have made a great many people very, very happy. It is the one thing I've noticed in speaking with friends and family since the new film was mentioned at Giffoni... probably more than any other actor, you are the one that everyone has missed the most.

But, before I get too carried away... we do have this one brief article as reported by Variety, and can be found here, along with a few extra pics from the festival. It is a nice little article in which some of what Haley talked about during his Q&A session on 17-July-2005 is revealed... I hope you like it, and enjoy the pics.

Quote:

Posted: Thurs., Jul. 21, 2005, 5:48pm PT

No child's play for Osment at Italo's Giffoni Fest
Actor talks up filmmaking with a jury of 1500 kids

By SHERI JENNINGS

GIFFONI VALLE PIANA -- Young actor Haley Joel Osment had a busy day at the 35th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival near Italy's Amalfi coast. That's because he met with a selection of the 1500 all-kid jury to talk about filmmaking and the competition titles. Although he was meant to be presented as a role model to the kids the young thesp said the kids' ideas about the movies "was much more interesting than what I had to say to them."

As if that wasn't enough to keep him occupied, journos covering the fest had some heavy questions for him -- probably heavier than the ones his mom would ask him if he stayed out past curfew.

They wanted to know what he thought of the state of the world, and of the often value-laden American films? How had he planned to levy a successful career as a kid actor into a successful career as a young actor? If that didn't work, what was he going to do? And, they wanted to know, what would he do were Quentin Tarantino to ask him to be in a film?

"With the terrorism in the world we should concentrate on more festivals like this one," he said. He doesn't like "films that try to tell you what to think" and, that he "plans on picking projects with care," but if acting doesn't work out, he will keep working in the arts as a writer or director. As for Tarantino, Osment respects the helmer for branching out. "Diversity is the future of the industry," he said.

The actor hasn't been in a film since 2003 but announced his next project, a Rusty Gorman pic entitled "House of the Giants" about the importance of basketball to a group of high schoolers.

The film "is very much a part of this transitional period," he told Variety.

But before getting back to work in September, Osment will spend a week's vacation on Amalfi with his family.

Oh... and in case you were wondering what the Amalfi Coast in Italy looks like... well there is this particular view as a possible place that Haley and family might have spent the rest of their vacation... simply amazing.