Festival Blog by Paul Hills Part One

The Marbella Poster

1.25pm Monday 11th October 2010

Marc and I are sat on a plane. Marc has that mad look in his eye again, the look I know so well and he tells me that I instil in him. We are on a plane to Malaga, on the way to somewhere we know so, so well. It all started about 8 years ago. Marc met Ronnie O’Sullivan at a party and befriended him. In snooker, Marc and I completely agree on whom we support. First and foremost we are Alex Higgins fans, then Jimmy and now Ronnie.

That chance encounter lead Marc and I to the Crucible in Sheffield (two weeks ago we were in that same building again to see John Simm masterfully play Hamlet) and from there to the front row when Ronnie lifted the World Championship trophy and then again to the winners table at the gala dinner afterwards. Astounded, Marc and I sat beside Ronnie’s family and friends including his coach, Ray Reardon. When Ronnie made his speech he said “Winning this means almost as much to me as my friendship with Ray”. Ray turned away from the stage, visibly moved. He looked me in the eye and I saw a tear roll down his face. An astoundingly moment and the culmination of one of the greatest adventures Marc and I have ever been on.

At that table was Michael “The Silver Fox” Senker. Marc and I befriended The Silver Fox immediately. He was a poker player like us and through him, we started coming to the south of Spain - to play the game. For a long period Michael owned one of the most beautiful poker clubs I’ve ever played in – A.C.E.S. We come at least twice a year and have done so since 2002 – not that it has ever been lucky for us – it hasn’t, ever!

In a way, we are in the Marbella Film Festival thanks to those encounters. We entered DEP mainly because I imagined I could kill two birds with one stone: play poker and attend the film festival. As chance would have it, on the same weekend as the festival there is a huge poker tournament in the Marbella Casino. Our friends, Donna (I call her “The Scouse Princess”) and Dave (“The Demon”) of the Marbella Mob are running it. My hope is to win both the festival and the poker tournament!

4.32am Tuesday 12th October 2010

It’s taken a while to find our apartment. Normally we stay in Las Boliches but this time we are further down the coast, just outside of Estepona. I’m more than ready for bed. We’ve just finished a tournament at a poker club called The Callahonda. It’s not Marc’s favourite club because as this is Spain, people smoke at the tables. The tournament was mainly full of Spanish players, which for me is fine but for Marc is just constant white noise. I finished 12th when a player I called “La Bruja” out drew my trip Queens with only three outs in the deck. Marc finished 9th, after going mental and playing any two cards. My aim is to win a small tournament or satellite to the main event on Saturday. Without that I cannot afford the large entrance fee.

7.02pm Tuesday 12th October 2010

This morning Marc and I did some writing. We are trying to write a script together. When I come to Spain I normally write alone during the day while Marc meditates or runs. I wrote “The Power” here for instance. Marc and I are quite complimentary in styles I feel but, as usual for me, we are trying to write something very challenging.

Midday I popped into the venue for the Festival, only to find out that it is actually the same venue as the main poker tournament. The hotel and the casino are just different sides of the same building! I met the
manager of the hotel and dropped off yet another screening copy of the film with subtitles. The original
ones seem to have gone missing. I also met Mac, the festival director, for the first time. He is a larger
than life jovial character whom I imagine doesn’t suffer fools gladly. He tells me of a press conference
tomorrow.

In the afternoon I started work on the advance press for our film. I don’t want our film to screen without
an audience so I see it as my job to drum up interest. Apart from leafleting bars, restaurants and hotel
lobbies, networking with people I know, I have been also working towards a radio interview. As our film
is screening Friday afternoon on the first day (maybe the worst slot possible) I feel this is needed more
than ever. Marc, who is now reading a book on existentialism, has a more fatalistic approach. He has
already said to me twice today “I don’t believe in any of it.”

Presently we are sitting in Caesars Lounge, our proffered Andalucian poker venue, waiting for a
tournament to start. There are many old faces here. It’s the site of my only two victories on the
Costa del Sol. The most memorable of which being when Marc and I ended up after 6 hours play
and a 50 player field, heads up against each other.

3.44am Wednesday 13th October 2010

In the tournament I was 7th. Marc was 6th. Still no cigar yet. As I crashed out, Marc shouted “I’ve
beaten you again!!” I have two more chances to win into the big one.

The bad news is that Julie texted me last night to say she couldn’t come to Marbella as she had a
commercial now on Friday. I was not surprised as I’d seen something in her eyes on Saturday night at
the Phoenix club. My guess is that she didn’t want to tell me then.

6.31pm Wednesday 13th October 2010

I’m currently doing some more leafleting. Earlier I put up posters in restaurants near to the venue and
on the sea front. The press conference was under attended by the press. Apparently everyone was at
the opening of a trial. The wife of the ex-Mayor of Marbella is in the dock for accepting bribes. If it runs
and runs, the festival will not get much coverage. I met an enthusiastic Argentinean director called
Gustavo. Like me, he has a feature film playing here. I promised to see his film.

I was also able to arrange a radio interview for tomorrow. The interviewer will be one of the judges of
the film festival. That means we will have to be on our best behaviour.

11.00pm Thursday 14th October

In another tournament last night Marc was 22nd, I was 15th.. I refrained from giving him the taunt that
he had given me the previous night. I now have just one more chance to play in the big one.

This morning, Steve Di Marco arrived from the UK so there are now three of us Elephants here –
although he is staying at the festival hotel. Marc has spent hardly any time with Steve so it will be
interesting to see how they get on. After doing our daily pages, we will drive to meet him, have lunch
and then do the radio interview.

4.15pm Thursday 14th October 2010

The radio interview is a good laugh. I ask Steve to take some pictures whilst we speak as he doesn’t
want to be on with us. Marc and I could talk for years like this, we barely need a question or any input
from the two interviewers. Allan, the judge and radio DJ, is a nice guy but he won’t give much away on
if he likes our film or not. My intuition tells me, though, that he does like it. We will see.

I barrack Steve for his bad compositions. Out of 27 shots, only 2 are in any way framed well! Afterwards we take Steve back to our apartment. While sitting around a table, Marc says to Steve; “You have a good energy Kid. I like it.”
“Thanks.” He replies.
Marc and I exchange a knowing wink.

Tonight is the best chance of winning into the big tournament - an official satellite. As Steve doesn’t want to play, we drop him at the hotel and head off for our final chance.

4.28am Friday 15th October 2010

Marc busted out of the tournament early and read his book. The tournament was full of professionals. For an hour or so I was in the zone. I cruise to the final table. “La Bruja” (my nemesis) went out in 9th. I get down to last 5 players. The last 3 will win a spot in main event. Suddenly, when I’m medium stacked, I’m put in a huge decision by Paul “The Marbella Kid” Zimbler, the best player on the Costa and a seasoned professional. I read him right but talk myself out of the call for chip preservation purposes. It was the defining moment, a clear cut mistake. Later, an idiot who would call any amount with any two cards takes me out.

As I walked away from the club, I take this as a message. I will not play the tournament. I will do the festival properly and give it my full attention.

2.22pm Friday 15th October 2010

We are on our way to the festival and our screening. Today it all starts. It’s the moment of truth again. Will anyone come? I’m nervous as hell.

PART TWO CLICK HERE...

Sunrise on Costa Del Sol

The Marbella Beach