Our fifth issue of Hollywood Authentic marks a full-circle moment and point of change. We first created a simple rag of a magazine – 32 pages, no staples – and took it to Cannes two years ago. This year, we’re bringing our bigger, more beautiful evolution of the magazine back to the festival, now with an expanded team and content.

This issue, we welcome our new contributors shining a unique light on cinema – both the making of it and the enjoyment of it. Gary Oldman and his wife Gisele Schmidt join us to talk through their shared passion for film photography and the shot that sparked their romance. Abbie Cornish parlays her foodie passion into reviewing must-visit restaurants. Legendary costume designer Arianne Phillips provides insight into iconic on-screen wardrobes – having worked with Tarantino on Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood, she interviews Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction costumier, Betsy Heimann. And Esquire’s UK editor-in-chief Alex Bilmes sings the praises of his favourite movie, In The Mood For Love. We’ve also expanded our editorial team and I’m proud to welcome film journalist Jane Crowther as editor-in-chief. Plus architectural photographer (and my college classmate) Mark Read brings his cinematic use of light to the bricks-and-mortar gem of a golden-era picture palace, the United Theater, in downtown LA. 

With more pages we’ve been able to tell more stories of the craft, dreams and drive that inspire practitioners in the movie industry. Zoë Saldaña, who graces our cover, invited me to the beach to talk mortality, process and feeling like a diamond. Her ballerina training was evident as she danced across the sand. Also in California, Adria Arjona took me on a DIY journey round LA that provided insight into her acting process. I also hung out with Jack O’Connell in his local London neighbourhood, discussed inspiration with Julia Roberts in her trailer, followed the making of Mothers’ Instinct on set with Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain in New Jersey, and talked ‘A Little Nonsense’ with Stephen Merchant. 

I would like to say a big thanks to our advertisers for their support in making Hollywood Authentic a reality – I even shot the L’Oréal one you will see in the print edition ;). It’s all quite the glow-up from a garage enterprise to the fully fledged periodical you’re holding in your hands. We made this magazine for those obsessed with cinema and aim to provide an insider’s perspective of the dream factory.