The Subject: John Manulis, CEO of Visionbox Pictures.
Where: Festival HQ bus stop

So let's start with our standard Flavorpill Five questions. Why are you here — and from where?
I'm here from LA, which is also where I was born. I'm here because my film The Illusionist is screening and also to learn about new films.

Who paid for you to come here?
Oh, I did.

What film are you most excited about?
Ours!

Where'd you get your boots?
Venture Sixteen, in LA, five years ago. They're great. Waterproof. European-made. You know, I think I'm the only person who comes to the festival and still wears a ski jacket out at night. I've been coming for 18 years, since when people skied until 3pm and then went to movies until 3am.

Sounds like those were the days.
Oh, yeah. Things have changed.

So, have you seen any other movies?
I saw Friends with Money last night. It was good. Nicole makes good pictures. But everything coming out of LA is so self-referential, so obsessed with itself. Too bad it's so hard to get movies made in NYC. The few films that do get made there are interesting and original, but there are so few.

OK, the big question. What's the last song you listened to on your iPod, if you have one?
Bob Marley. But don't ask me which song!