Paris. Wednesday 24th of March. 1.30pm

I sit in the plane. Pills, deep sleep.

Los Angeles. 5pm

After 12 hours I take my first steps in California.

Sunny. Noisy. I am far, so far from Home... I’m nervous and excited... lost too and lonely...will they send someone to pick me up? I really don’t know where I am. My mobile rings. Rachel is here to collect me... I'm fine! They didn’t forget about me! Right away I have a great feeling with her. She’s so sweet, nice, simple. She‘s a young director and speaks French.

Thursday 25th of March

No time to waste, we went straight to the Welcoming Party. Traffic, drop the bag...and here I am eating tacos and
meeting the Festival's team; Don Franken and Vladimir (adorable with me) introducing me to everybody...I won’t be
alone during the fest, that’s for sure - pictures, smiles, phone numbers... They’re all extremely organised over here;
directors, producers, shorts, features, screenings...

11 cards and postcards in one night! Can’t recall any names!!! I am so jetlagged! But happy and relieved. The spirit
is great. I know I‘m going to love this place. Obviously I miss Paul and Jonnie - being here without them is nonsense...
I would have felt secure, less exposed, and we would have enjoyed this precious moment together ...but I know how
hard those last 2 years have been for them... So I have to make the best of this adventure, for the film, for them, the
crew, the team...all.

Friday 26th of March

The next few days have been just happiness. Happiness to watch good films, be with talented and passionate people, brilliant actors, it feels so good to be among them... No matter where we’re from, we’re all in the same battle, fighting to be able to do our work, our dream. It‘s so challenging, I love this city. The energy, the nature, the sun, the mountains ...

Sunday 28th of March 11am

I’m stressed. I must have slept just 3 hours.

From the morning it all started wrong. I ran late to go to a 10am screening, no breakfast... just ran. Mistake - it was 10pm! Gosh! Starbucks coffee, where the hell is my phone?? Missing ! “Damn! Today is the screening. I need my phone to call everybody and make sure they’re coming.”

2 hours later I found it... in the car. I ran to an acting workshop, anything and everything to not think of the screening of DEP today.

3pm

It‘s time now to jump in a dress, big smile on my face ...let’s go! Pics, friends... trying to look relaxed.

8pm

Don Franken took me in. They’re all there. I take the mic and try to explain how extraordinary it is to be here with the
film then I read Paul’s letter. Black. Then came the hardest part - 1hour and 47 mins of stress. I didn’t realize how it
would feel to be seen by so many people on such a big screen... They’re here to see our story...what a feeling! I
probably lost 2kg just worrying.

The reaction from the audience was incredible. They enjoyed it so much! They laughed, laughed, laughed at the office
scenes. The charisma of Marc Warren was obvious. Each sentence, each look he gave. It was a big, big hit!
Electrifying! He is so lively, surprising and dangerous...it’s huge. Then the forest part. I observed the audience -
easier than watching me! They’re really listening.

Wouah. Lights on. I felt that I’d prefer to die than go and speak to them...where are you my Paul?

Right away they have so many questions! The Q and A lasted 30 minutes. They wanted to know everything, the lake, the cold, the forest and I tell them all those crazy stories that was our daily life back then. WHAT A DAY!!!

Tuesday 30th March

I’ve learnt that I’ve been nominated as Best actress...what a surprise! What a piece of Luck! I can’t believe it!! But I’m facing among others; Laura Linney and an extremely brilliant actress Lily Holleman. It’s going be tough!

I’m sure I won t get it...

Wednesday 1st April

I wasn’t really nervous as I knew that I wouldn’t win. We arrived at the ceremony. It was kind of disorganised,
messy... all of a sudden they started to give the awards...and I realized that they had added a new category,
a last minute category...the jury couldn’t agree, so besides the best actor and actress awards they created
a Best acting in a low budget film award... and the award goes... to… Julie Dray!!! My heartbeat was fast and
hard....

I am sooo happy! Thank you life, thank you Paul, thank you Jonnie, thank you to the entire crew who has
worked so hard... the rest is just a blur, my joy…

Plane to Paris. Thursday 2nd April

Sadness and melancholy to be flying back. But pure, pure happiness inside... L.A. was such a beautiful
adventure...

Julie Dray