The Man the Film Stars Trust in Locarno
Published: Tuesday, Aug 8th 2023, 14:40
Updated At: Friday, Oct 13th 2023, 14:12
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Thomas Bisig has been working as a VIP assistant at the Locarno Film Festival for 15 years. During the 11-day festival, he often drives between hotels, receptions and the Piazza Grande with actors and producers. He rarely has time to eat, so he eats Gelato to keep his blood sugar levels stable. He says that the most important skills for his job are having the right distance from the celebrities and being able to say no without being rude. He also needs to be creative, as he often has to think on his feet. For example, when Faye Dunaway was about to miss her Piazza appearance in 2013, he ran to a restaurant to get her a plate of Risotto. When Ethan Hawke wanted to cross a wild river to get to the famous Lavertezzo bridge, Bisig jumped in the water in his shirt and trousers to make sure the group stayed together. He says that most celebrities are not as difficult as their reputation suggests, and that they appreciate it when someone is just "normal" with them. He also stresses that he never takes advantage of the contacts he makes during the festival.nnnnnn
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