Re: The Back-Up Plan, part 9 - SPOILERS
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:54 am
redwinter101 wrote:So here goes. First off, this is an open thread so I'll make a plea - this is my account of this afternoon, with my pics and my video - please don't repost anywhere else without asking me, 'k?
I'll put the video up on YT so anyone can see it, but the rest is just for everyone here. Pics to follow SOON...
So, I arrived in Leicester Square about 2pm and they'd just started setting up. I'd underestimated what a big deal this was going to be - seriously underestimated - and I'm glad I arrived early.
There were big screens already up showing the trailers and they were just in the process of erecting the barriers. For those who've never been, Leicester Square is pedestrianised, with gardens in the centre, with statues and benches and so on, and shops, bars and cinemas around the outside. The premiere was at The Vue, which is just off one side of the square.
By three o'clock the crowds were already starting to gather, even though the advertised start time was 5.45 so I made my way to what I thought would be the best spot - in front of the stage. I met two charming (well utterly delightful actually) J Lo fans, Jo (without an E but a lovely young man nonetheless) and Charley. The poor blokes - they were interested in Alex even though they only had the vaguest idea who he was. Big mistake. They got an hour of me regaling them with his wonders!!!
Anyway, the setting up continued - a huge stage, dancers rehearsing, dry ice, pink confetti, the works. By 4pm it was really starting to get busy - the trailers were going down well with the crowd, the sun was shining, all was set.
The show started pretty much on time. The host was Spoony (who will be unfamiliar to anyone outside the UK - he's a DJ, sports broadcaster, talk show host..) and he got the crowd warmed up and explained that both J Lo and Alex would be there, as would Alan Poul. Then we had the dancers - Jo and Charley are both dancers and they were resolutely unimpressed, but I digress - and clouds of pink confetti. By this stage they had laid the pink carpet and I was really starting to worry that we'd chosen the wrong spot as it bypassed us completely (it was really hard to tell where they would be arriving, and if you stood right in front of the cinema, you couldn't see the stage).
Anyway, a little late (but not much, Alex arrived by limo. I was sad to see that on the UK posters, which were all around the red carpet area, his name isn't above the title. I'm not that surprised as he really is unknown here, just a little sad. He then went up on stage to be interviewed - I've got video and I'll post the link once it's uploaded - and I thought he too sounded a little downbeat - he knew most of the crowd were there for J Lo rather than him.
Anyway then he started to make his rounds of the crowds, signing autographs etc. and I have to say I do NOT know how these guys cope with this - people screaming and so much noise and flashing cameras. For one horrible moment I really thought he was going to head straight up the carpet and therefore miss us! But one of his assistants (there were 2 tonight) directed him towards us - with some help from my new chums I think we managed to attract some attention
. He made his way up the line - Jo took my camera at this point as my hands were shaking too much
. He was wearing a dark navy suit, dark purple tie (top button undone
) and it looked like he had on the Williams boots - or something similar.
I gotta say at this point, he is beautiful. Not mere mortal beautiful - godly beautiful. Tall, slim (SO few men could get away with pants cut that slim) and totally immaculate - complete with a little goatee. He'd made his way along the barriers and the announcer was building up to J Lo's arrival. I managed to catch the same assistant's eye and she steered him our direction. So he was signing pics and smiling for pics and then got to me as I held out my "Plan B" script (the original script for the movie). He did a bit of a double-take and asked me where I'd got it from (with The Voice) as he signed it. I swear to God, if my life depended on it, I can't remember what I replied. Then I thanked him, wished him well for the evening, Jo took a pic and Alex moved on.
As a teenager, I had posters on my wall; I had my TV faves and musical heroes - but this is the first time I've ever done "the fan thing". The whole time I had a little voice inside telling me how ridiculous this all was - but I really don't care. Alex was beautiful and charming and lovely and I will always treasure the memory of a delightful experience.
Then J Lo arrived and all hell broke loose (note that Alex stopped what he was doing, turned and applauded, long and loud, as she got out of her limo). She did her interview (more video to be posted later). Then she worked her way round the rope line to us. Jo and Charley were beside themselves when she stopped for a little chat. I have to say, up close, two things struck me: one, she is TINY. Two, she really is incredibly beautiful. She was delightful and charming and seemed very happy with the whole event. Her pen hovered over my script, but she didn't signI think it was that she was expecting pics and the blank piece of paper threw her - but it's a minor disappointment overall.
There were TV interviews going on and then Alan Poul arrived: (I'll add the video once it's uploaded)
I really wanted him to sign the script too, but he didn't do any autographs (not in a nasty way - I just think he thought it wasn't expected). Meanwhile everyone else was working their way down the rope line, ending up with the press photographers at the cinema entrance.
And that's pretty much it. The video upload is taking longer than I expected so I'll add the links later.
I had a fabulous time. It was SO worth the standing and the crush and the bruises. I feel all giddy - and that's rather wonderful.
Red
I just had to have a little re-re-re-read of this, this morning. I get something new out of it every time... this morning the part that made me giggle the most is the part where JLo alllllllllmost signs your script, her pen hovers above it, then she fails to sign. Your response? That you think the fact it wasn't a pic threw her AND that her failure to sign is, for you, a minor disappointment. 
To MOST of the peeps at this event, this would be soul-crushing, but here, at MLA, we get it, BabyGirl. You'd already had your Alex moment.
Nothing else really matters... 
