There and Back Again
So Zac calls Dustin and says "Ask Arnold if he's doing anything tonight and if
he wants to go to The Return of the King premiere and cast party. I cancel
all my appointments and immediately buy new shoes. We drive through
the LA rush hour... luckily we're going against traffic... and drive to some
veterans' hospital in Brentwood. They shuttle all of us over to the Bruin
theater in Westwood and on the marquis is the big Return of the Kings logo.
I thought this was a secret thing, but as it turns out, it's the north American
premiere of the movie. The red carpet walk is out for the celebs. We
inquire about the the way into the theater and by luck, we have to pass by a
Starbucks. This night is already turning out
better than I expected. We grab a few drinks and make our way to the
theater. We hang out around the ticket booth (we being Zac, his brother,
his cousin, Dustin, Dave Oh, me and Kyle). I wish I had brought my camera
but the tickets specifically said no cameras and cell phones. Grr.
Otherwise, some of you would have gotten sound clips :)
From the ticket booth area and amidst the ushers saying "you can't stand there" we see Peter Jackson, Sean Astin and Ian McKellen. To our left Elijah Wood and Billy Boyd are shaking hands with people behind the barricade and Liv Tyler arrives in her limo. So much excitement!
Before the movie starts, the people from AFI give their little speeches that no one wants to hear, but hey, it's their moment in the spotlight. Peter Jackson then comes on and gives some insight into the ending process, reveals they're still shooting some stuff for the DVD and then introduces the cast. After all the introductions are done, they stand for a moment in a line across the theater. Miranda Otto is beaming, Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom are laughing together and Sean Astin, with his daughter, looks a little misty and overwhelmed. They're all here except Elrond, Galadrial, and Boromir. As the cast leaves the theater, they pass within a foot of me, since I have an aisle seat. For a moment I think about extending my hand to shake hands with Liv Tyler, but it seems goofy and nerdy. I just smile and nod. And it begins.
So, we watch the movie and it's great. Believe everything they tell you. And that's all I have to say about that.
After the movie, we're shuttle back
to the vets' hospital to a huge tent pavilion (after a brief stop at the car to
get my camera). They've got the entry way
lit with the movie logo and two soldiers. Techno music is pounding and
lights are shining through the tent doorway. We make our way through the
checkpoint and the line to get in... complete with a walk through misty fog... and
enter the main room. Nothing here but dance floor, speakers and various
admin assistants looking for their bosses.
To the left, right and straight ahead, we different rooms, so we decide to do a quick lap to see what we see. The room to the right looks like Bilbo's party... big tent, lights, birds and forest sounds are heard. All through the room are food and drink stations... all courtesy of New Line :) Sean Astin walks by with his family. I am taller than Sean Astin. Liv Tyler is also here, having a cigarette. I think Liv Tyler is as tall as me.
We keep walking to the next room which is really a place for the smokers to gather under heat lamps. Miranada Otto is here talking with three of her friends. She's cut her hair short and it's a red color. She's easily found because she's wearing some sort of 1920s looking dress.
On to the next room and it's like the Shire room but a little more woodsy,
with tents and leather seats. They have pipers and drummers here for
Renaissance type music. I am sorely tempted to steal the sign that says
"Reserved for Viggo Mortensen". Alas, when I try it later, the sign is
gone and various single girls in their 40s who dressed up as hobbit women are
sitting there. I run.
The food is really good... I have a
bit of the lobster thermidor, Dustin and Dave are partial to the lamb. And
why not, Wolfgang Puck cooked it and is seen running around and checking
stations. Do I want his picture? No, he's no Emeril. We
continue to mingle and I make friends with a hobbit as seen here.
Billy is very nice and seems genuine when I mention how I liked him in Master and Commander. You can tell how excited I am. Look how wide my eyes are and how big I am smiling. I am taller than Billy Boyd.
We finally settle down to a table and nibble on some grapes. Kyle makes one more round and meets the lead singer of the Counting Crows, one of his favorite groups. Dustin sings "round here" the rest of the night. Low wattage celeb alerts: Jack Osbourne, Andy Richter, Christopher Lloyd (who rode back in the shuttle with us).
On the way out, we see Peter Jackson sign autographs but there's too much of
a mob. I am taller than Peter Jackson. WE head to the car and call
it a night, not realizing it's after two in the morning. All in all, a
good night.