There was a lot of electricity in the air last night as filmgoers streamed into the theatre to catch the premiere of "People like Us" - starring Chris Pine, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Elizabeth Banks - at the LA Film Festival.
Securtiy was tight!
At the door ticketholders (and members of the press, too) were body-searched and required to turn in their video cameras which were summarily bagged, tagged, and secured until the credits crawled at the end of the screening.
At one point, when a guest flipped out their cell phone to send a last tweet before the lights went down, they were reprimanded by black-suited security guards.
"If anyone is caught talking on their cell phone, they will be escorted out of the theatre," one gruff employee barked at the startled guests.
"He's bad," wailed the gentleman sitting next to me.
Personally, I was thrilled to slip in the door, since I switched gears last-minute to attend the screening (and passed on "Beasts of the Southern Wild).
After all, the "rush" line (consisting of hapless film buffs without reserved seats hanging around waiting for a "no show") started snaking around the lobby at the Regal Theatre one hour before "showtime".
Uh-huh!
The house was sold out!
The event caused such a buzz that the Director of the Festival was inclined to turn out to introduce the celebrated guests in attendance personally (which included the film's director - Alex Kurtzman - and actors Chris Pine (hunk of-the-hour) and Elizabeth Banks.
Kurtzman's immediately noted that he had never gone the Festival route before, and thanked the LA Film Festival for agreeing to sneak peek the flick at their venue.
He also thanked Dreamworks and Disney for being supportive.
"They were very brave."
Chris Pine looked dashing - attired in black slacks teamed with a classy-looking sportcoat (and open-collared dress shirt) - when he stepped into the spotlight to welcome the audience.
By the way, a short while later - when a gent seated next to me dashed off to take a whiz - he returned with a "glow" on his face.
"Chris Pine was in the mensroom," he gushed.
"Lucky you," I chuckled.
But, the film was underway, so I didn't quiz him for all the delicious details.
Elizabeth Banks looking stunning in a black jacket and gold "sparkly" cocktail dress.
At the top of the event, it appears that people got their money's worth, juding by their ecstatic reactions before the lights went down and the flick splashed up on the silver screen.
"People like Us" turned out to be quite a well-crafted drama (its allegedly based on true events) which I shall pen a review on in a day or two.
Earlier in the evening I also caught an entertaining documentary aptly titled the "Queen of Versailles".
Here, the filmmaker tossed an insightful lens on Dave and Jackie Siegel - a wealthy Florida couple - who unwittingly end up building the biggest single-family dwelling in America (to the tune of $100 million).
Mr. Siegel is known for being the brains behind Westgate - the largest time-share real estate entity of its kind - in the world.
During the course of the filming, one of the wealthiest men in America - not only suffers a shift in fortunes - but manages to let slip an intrigue or two along the way.
For example, at one point early on, Siegel boasts that he helped George Bush (Junior) get elected!
"How did you go that?" the filmmaker probed.
"I don't know if it was legal, so I can't answer that question," he grinned, like a Cheshire cat.
Later, he appeared to have some regrets about that endorsement, however.
"I wonder now about the wisdom of that decision now," he confided to the interviewer.
"After that, came the War on Iraq, and all our troubles began."
His wife Jackie was quite the fascinating character, too.
A review will follow.
Later today, I plan to take in a doc on Vampira.
It will also be interesting to see what "unfolds" for me at the Festival today.
Usually, when I stroll into an event, half of the guests recognize me right off-the-bat - at which point - they stare and point me out to friends, then whisper up a storm.
Then, some stranger next to me in line, turns out to be clueless about who I am.
"Are you a filmmaker," they innocently ask out-of-the-blue.
I chuckle to myself at this point.
There will always be someone who doesn't know who you are (or could give a damn either!).
Like, last night, for instance.
When I politely asked a black female volunteer about a gala party, she snarled at me - "It's by invitation only" - in spite of the fact I was wearing my press pass (which she gave the evil eye) which established my right to access.
I was reminded - at that juncture - that John Lennon was loved by millions of fans around the face of the earth.
It only took one demented person to shoot him dead.
Unfortunately, that's life!
Stay posted, eh?
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