CNN

Hi everyone,

I’ve come all the way to New York to cover the Tribeca Film Festival and it’s just been the most incredible three days! I’ve managed to seek out so many places where they’ve filmed movies that it feels like I’ve been living on a movie set while I’ve been here!

One dream for me was to stand in Grand Central Station, just because it’s so iconic. So many films have been shot there. I also went over Manhattan in a cable car, which brought home the power that New York has as a filming unit, and took a ride around Central Park in a horse drawn buggy, which was another dream come true. Everyone has seen a movie that featured a scene in Central Park. There’s just so much energy here.
We had a great opportunity on our first day here to go on the film set of “August,” Josh Hartnett’s new movie. Not only is he acting in it but he’s producing it as well, so it was a real treat to see the man at work and to sit on a real live movie set. It was just fascinating for an outsider – the attention to detail was phenomenal. It’ll be a very interesting movie. To cover the period just weeks before 9/11 is an interesting concept.

But I know what you really want to hear about.

Today’s the day that I met De Niro.

When I woke up this morning I beat the alarm clock, which is not very usual for me, but I was so excited. I mean, De Niro is king among kings and there’s not one person in any demographic or generation that doesn’t admire him. He’s made such an impression, not just on my own life, but on a lot of people’s. He is a legend, and rightly so.

A lot of people who’ve interviewed him or know him well say that he’s actually quite a shy man; when somebody is deemed an icon, that’s a lot of pressure. Well, it was incredible. He talked and talked: he was very animated. He’s a lovely bloke. He gesticulated as you’d want him to in one of his gangster movies -– the “You talkin’ to me” thing -– and did the New York shrug -– I liked it a lot!

He has an amazing passion for the Tribeca Film Festival. It’s something of a phoenix that grew from the ashes of 9/11 not only for him but for most New Yorkers. The 9/11 aftermath was so depressing for so many, but Tribeca gave them some light and he provided that.

He has been described as peerless, and I agree: who else can rival De Niro? He provides a lot of hope for people, a lot of entertainment. He is the daddy! He was the ultimate interview for me –- so warm, so charismatic, so friendly. I’ve seen him in so many roles, and it was so nice just to meet him as he is -– a very charming man.

Catch my interview with Robert De Niro on CNN's The Screening Room this weekend. Hope you enjoy it -- and see you next month!

~ Myleene

Labels: film, klass, movies, myleene, new york, robert de niro, tribeca