Big Break Diary: The film director

BBC News Online's Big Break Diaries follow a group of people hunting for their big break in the arts and entertainment world.

This week, filmmaker Jan Dunn, who is currently trying to find finance for her film Action Movie.

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Friday 2 March

Jan Dunn: Heading for Cannes Film Festival

Had lunch with Jessica Lange at The Sugar Club, organised by women in film and television. Rather posh for me. Had too much to drink considering I was going on to a meeting with a film financier immediately afterwards.

Meeting with film financier - Mr R - at Patisserie Valerie, Soho. He seems to have £10m to make 10 low budget features over the next two years. Wants me to bring him a script! Good start to the month.

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Saturday 10 March

Went to see The Gift with Danish film-maker friend, Lisbeth Lynghoft. Both truly enamoured by Cate Blanchett. Film a bit obvious - Knew who murderer was within five minutes, enjoyed anyway.

Trying to find somewhere to stay in Cannes.

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Monday 12 March

Saw Chocolat, wondering if it clashes too much with Cake, film I'm developing with Georgia Pritchett. Doesn't clash other than re-decorating old shop. Juliette Binoche is just too, too beautiful!

Tuesday 13 March

Met with graphic designer re brochure for Action Movie, which I'm taking to Cannes to find some development money for. Looking good.

Submitted Joan to Cannes Film Festival - fingers crossed - British Council will ship the print for me

Contacted 10 different hotels in Cannes, all fully booked for the festival.

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Wednesday 14 March

Global Café for Peeping Tom's monthly screenings, standard high, Sex and Death favourite - directed by Cat McKiernan, nice style to it.

Met with the short film people from Sky - Rob Daniel and Sam Whittle, both really sweet and complimentary about Joan - which Sky are screening in May.

Told me it was likely I may get a meeting with Emma Berkofsky who develops films for Sky Pictures now that they've bought Joan - yippee!

Hope she likes something I take to her. Submitted Joan to Cannes Film Festival. Fingers crossed. British Council will ship the print for me if it gets accepted.

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Friday 16 March

Emma Kennedy as Joan in Jan's production

Interviewed by journalist for local papers, Muswell Hill Journal/Crouch End Journal/Tottenham and Wood Green Journal. Apparently one interview does for all. All useful for the press pack.

Got a call from Kevin Franklin at the British Council while she was here. Dresden Film Festival want the 35mm print of Joan for the Comedy section. Have to pull my print from a cinema screening for that, but that's ok.

Evening meeting with Producer Bev Cook from Gauntlet Pictures to discuss cutting down the story part for the brochure for Action Movie. What a brilliant editor she is, already looks much better than my version.

Going with Bev to Cannes also with other project, All About Steve, got fantastic writer on board, Bryony Lavery.

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Saturday 17 March

Found somewhere to stay in Cannes, at last. Thanks to Dawn Sharpless at The Short Film Bureau (sales agents for Joan).

She found an apartment for me and Bev just a short walk from the Croisette (main section of the festival), with its own pool.

She found the apartment in The Lady magazine - hadn't thought of looking in there myself.

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Sunday 18 March

Drink with director of photography Ole Birkeland and editor Sotira Kyraicou, all frustrated still not got the £45,000 needed for the Don Juan project. (Another brilliant script from Georgia Pritchett - already got pre-sales and a star cast etc.)

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Monday 19 March

Screening of The Contender. Took Ole, bit confused at the beginning, wasn't sure who's political side Gary Oldman's character was on - worked it out 45 minutes in. Joan Allen and Jeff Bridges also both excellent. Too American schmaltzy in places for me.

Dinner with Ole afterwards both wondering if I should try to persuade Mr R to come in early on Cake to get the script written. I'll try but I doubt it.

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Tuesday 20 March

Networking night tonight. Not many people but met a documentary film maker from the BBC who might be able to make some funding suggestions for my Dora Holzhandler documentary.

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Wednesday 21 March

Friend director Kate Cheeseman offers me a few days work assisting on a shoot. Shooting next week for a few days. Basically I'm just a runner - but what the heck, I don't care - I get to watch her at work and she's a good director.

Bev's found some flights to Cannes. All a bit early in the morning and complicated though. I asked her to find something cheap, so we have to leave at 5am...