Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2008 had been a fantastic year!
I've had countless adventures I've experienced with family and friends, there was never a dull moment!

The top 10 most memorable moments of 2008


10. Meeting Ed Harris

Ed Harris was so nice to stop and talk to me and autograph my poster after the Q&A when I saw Appaloosa.


9. Meeting Patrick Wilson

Believe it or not, after I saw Phantom of the Opera, the first person I Googled was Patrick!
I can't wait to see Watchmen!


8. Meeting Danny Boyle

Slumbdog Millionare has all my support for it's Golden Globe nominations
Best Movie, Danny Boyle for Best Director


7. Going to the Nim's Island Premiere



The only photos I could take were outside, all of our cameras and cell phones had to checked in before we went inside the theater. I wish I had had it though, Gerard was great, he was the sweetest with the little girls we had brought, he autographed their Nim's Island books and took the time to answer all their questions. I don't know who was more thrilled, my niece's classmates or Gerard meeting his new fans.


6. Meeting Allan Rickman

I can't believe I met him! LOL!
My knees were shaking and I can't remember what I said to him.



5. Meeting Michael Fassbender

Michael was a thrill to meet and so generous with his time.
The Academy better not overlook his performance in Hunger!



4. Meeting James McAvoy

I still can't believe I told him I loved him! LOL!


3. Seeing Jeffrey at Comic Con

When Jeffrey was signing my Watchmen poster he said, "Hello! Nice to see you again!"
I'm going with that he remembered me when I met him at the PS I Love You Premiere after party and I told him I still haven't gotten over him dying in Grey's Anatomy. LOL! Then Jeffrey said, "Neither am I!" And then next thing I knew he was hugging me!

After the autograph signing Jeffrey was so sweet, even though the security guards were trying to whisk him away, he ignored them, wrapped his arm around me, and posed for the picture.


2. Seeing Gerard at Comic Con, how could I not? I was sitting in the second row!

Kisses are my favorite chocolate!


And the #1 most memorable moment in 2008 was...

1. Talking with Gerard at the RocknRolla Premiere

Joy and Allen were trying to get him into the Escalade after the premiere, but he stopped to say hello even though he knew it would cause a flood of fans to ask him to stop for autographs and well wishes. He autographed my favorite picture from Comic Con talked to me for a bit.
Gerard said, "I never forget you"
I'm surprised I didn't faint and actually remember the conversation. He said goodbye and got into the Escalade.

I wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Here's to 2009, the year has already started off well.

Cheers!

Fun Filled Weekend with Friends

What a week! The AFI Film Festival and the annual midnight screening for The Phantom of the Opera at the Crest Theater in Westwood. After seeing five movies in one week, I'm exhausted! Slumdog Millionaire, Julia, RocknRolla (yes again!), The Phantom of the Opera (only my 4th time in the theater), and Defiance. I think that's a record for me!

Here's pictures from the weekend with the girlfriends.

At lunch, Lois & me

Lynne & Jane

Having a drink at the bar before dinner, Annette & Lori

At dinner before the midnight screening of The Phantom of the Opera

Lynne & Jane

Sharon, Annette, & me

And lastly, lunch the next day

Back to Reality

Usually the beginning of a quarter is enough to exhaust me, but throw in on Monday a Parent Orientation at my son's college, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the RocknRolla movie premiere, another screening of RocknRolla on Wednesday, working two days at the factory making patterns, and then the first day of the Fall Quarter with four classes, not to mention my son's first day of college (yes, my baby started college!), it's a wonder I didn't collapse by Friday night! But I wouldn't have traded any of it!

Now back to reality...

My son loves his classes, which makes me very happy. He came home with loads of supplies; Prisma markers and pens, erasers, sketch pads in various sizes, Pantones, paint, exacto knives, and books. I think he's a little overwhelmed with how much he has and got right to work reorganizing his room. He might even take out his two recliners to make room for a drafting table so he has plenty of room to work. I was shocked when he told me because he prides himself in having the recliners like Joey and Chandler from Friends. All his friends think his bedroom is cool.

I have a great vibe from my students, different from the past Summer quarter. I think the Summer students were hard pressed to concentrate, which I totally understand, I had the same problem. This new group seems motivated and ready to learn which always makes teaching more fun!

The Arclight added an exhibit of Gerard's costume he wore in RocknRolla




My girlfriends and I in front of the Montalban

The Montalban posted pictures and video from the screening of Rocknrolla, check them out!

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helloflux/sets/72157607733478859/

Video:
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/sportswear/en_US/view_post?country=US&lang_locale=en_US&blog=en_US&post=en_US/2008/10/01/cinema-tuesdays-rocknrolla-at-the-montalb-n

RocknRolla ~ Opening Night @ the Archlight

Originally, only a premiere was planned in London and at the Toronto Film Festival for RocknRolla so our group decided to celebrate by going to see the movie on opening night. When tickets became available at the Archlight, we were thrilled when the website announced that Joel Silver would be there for a Q&A directly following the movie. Well as the weeks drew nearer, Gerard was announced to be a guest at the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and then with less than a week's notice Warner Brothers announced a Los Angeles premiere.

Sunday morning the Archlight's website was updated with the news that Gerard would also be attending opening night with Joel Silver. Of course we were elated!

So last night was opening night! Yes, I saw Rocknrolla for a fourth time and I still enjoyed the movie! After the movie a moderator for the Q&A came out to introduce Joel Silver and then Gerard. The Q&A was great with Gerard entertaining and uncensored.

Spoiler alert!
In the movie a painting plays an integral role, connecting all the characters. The funny thing is, the audience never sees the painting as it passes from character to character.

When the Q&A was opened to the audience, a man asked, "What does the painting look like and will we ever see it in the sequel?"

Undoubtedly the best question asked! Firstly because I had wondered that very thing since I saw the movie for the first time and secondly the answers we were given!

Gerard answered. "I don't remember if there was a painting in the frame." I thought he was evading the question, but I then I remembered his character has the painting for a very short time.

Joel said something like, "If we do get to make the sequel, I would love the painting to be revealed and to be one of Johannes Vermeer's, you know the artist who painted the Girl with a Pearl Earring."

Gerard said something like, "I think the painting should be of a Vagina." I almost choked as well as the rest of the audience. "You know you can imagine every one looking at the painting, tilting their head to study it and saying how beautiful it is."

All I have to say is, classic Gerard!

Last night was the icing on an already fun filled week!

A Wonderful Day

Yesterday was a big day with weeks in planning. My girlfriends and I had VIP tickets to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno to see my #1, Gerard Butler. Gerard was a hoot as usual. He waved at us several times, he couldn't miss us, we took up a whole row at the center above John Melendez.



Watch Gerard Butler on Jay Leno:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/episodes/?vid=732141#vid=732141

Attending the Jay Leno Show is usually enough for one day, but we also had tickets to the Premiere of RocknRolla at the Cinerama Dome! We were concerned we would be able to make it from Burbank to Hollywood at 5:00 p.m. on a Monday afternoon during the height of traffic, but one of the girls, Annette came up with a brilliant idea, why not hire a driver? Annette's idea worked perfectly, Jamie, our driver, delievered us at the Cinerama Dome by 5:35 p.m.!

We settled into our seats and waited for the movie to start. A few of us went to the lobby to go to the restroom and we could see Idris Elba and Gerard through the windows (the entire front of the theater are windows) working the red carpet and then we saw Tom Hardy come into the lobby after finishing with his red carpet duties. We stayed as long as we could, but then the ushers began clearing the lobby to go to our seats. Shortly after we were back in our seats the movie began. The movie was great in that theater, large screen and terrific sound system.

After the movie was over we went to the lobby, it was very crowded. One of the girls, Lynnette said, "He just went outside." I was a little ahead of her so I made my way outside and there was Gerard at the side walk with Allen, his manager, and Joy, his handler. People were greeting and hugging him. I waited for him to be free and then he autographed my picture my friend Marcy had taken of him at Comic Con.



It was a wonderful day with all things Gerard and my girlfriends.

PS Check out pictures of Gerard on the red carpet at Just Jared:
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/10/07/gerard-butler-cinerama-dome/

Another Rocknrolla Screening

Although the people at the Montalban put on a excellent event on Tuesday night, I’m happy I had another opportunity to watch Rocknrolla last night. My experience hadn’t been the best, mostly because of me, the excitement of seeing the highly anticipated movie for the first time plus having to pee badly for the last half hour and didn’t want to leave my seat, and then add to that the bad sound quality.

Last night’s screening was low key, with all negative factors removed, I understood the storyline more. Guy Richie really packs in a lot of information in the first fifteen minutes, so you really have to pay attention. The whole cast is wonderful, but three stood out the most.

Toby Kebbell:
Even though it was hard to watch his drug-induced-trip-seizure performance, there’s just one word, BRILLIANT! I hope Guy Richie expands his character in the sequels.

Mark Strong:
I know Mark Strong has been around for a long time, I first saw him in the British mini series the Jury, but I hated his character even though his performance was terrific. After seeing him twice within four days, Body of Lies and now Rocknrolla, I’m hooked. I think he had me with the way he said “My Dear” in Body of Lies. I came away thinking I have to add Mark Strong to my list of favorites (ya that’s all I need!).

Gerard Butler:
As I mentioned before, happily his Scottish brogue is back. My favorite storyline throughout is with Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy) and One Two (Gerard Butler). The interaction between the two after my favorite scene, when Handsome Bob tells One Two what he really wants, is hysterically funny with how Handsome Bob antagonizes homophobic One Two. Make sure you stay through the credits, I guarantee you'll laugh out loud!

All that said, I loved it, I can’t wait for the sequel!

Rocknrolla opens in limited release October 8th, wide release October 31st

Movie Review ~ RocknRolla

RocknRolla pre screening in Hollywood @ the Montalban

My friends and I had a great night in Hollywood last night. The event was sold out with many turned away. We of course arrived early and had no problems getting our tickets. The doors opened with a party, lots of food and drink as well as popcorn, candy, and sodas. The people from Flux, Nike, and the Montalban put on a wonderful event, I look forward to more events in the future!

The movie was bit delayed in starting, a man came out on stage to welcome everyone and to announce the film, he also told us there would be a Q&A after the screening with Idris Elba and invited us to stay for the after party.

Finally the movie began, unfortunately the sound system wasn't the best, which didn't help out me out with understanding the dialogue. For me, I was lost with what they were saying because the accents were soooo thick, including Gerard Butler’s wonderful Scottish brogue. The rest of my friends were fine, but I always have difficulty and have to watch British movies with subtitles, especially when they are speaking fast. I know, you'd think I wouldn't have any problems by now, but that just means I have to watch the movie at least a dozen times! LOL!

The movie was hysterical, the audience laughed out loud thoughout, I laughed so much that my thoat is a bit sore. The audience was a good mix of people, mostly young people which was great. The people in line ahead and behind us were there because they are Guy Richie fans.

I'll try not to give too much away, so spoiler alert!

The dance scene was a hoot! I want to see that scene all spliced together in a continuous loop, as well as the second dance scene! LOL! I hope Guy Richie has some great deleted scenes for us when the DVD is released. The scene between Handsome Bob and One Two is sooo funny, Gerard’s range of emotions; shock, anger, the sincere apology, and then -- typical guy, "What did you want to do to me?" (or something like that) LOL!

Afterwards we walked down the street and found a French cafe so we could unwind and discuss the movie without having to yell because of the loud music. I finally pulled up into my driveway about 1:00 am… a wonderful night in Hollywood with the Girls.

I can't wait to see it again tomorrow night! Thank goodness for another screening at the Grove, I know that theater's sound system will be much better and it will be a calmer environment so that I can really concentrate on the movie.

Check out the Flux site for future events: http://flux.net/ & http://flux.net/2008/10

Rocknrolla opens in limited release October 8th, wide release October 31st

Russell Crowe @ The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

I went to Leno Monday to see Russell Crowe, one of my friends, Marcy is a long time fan so I was able to get tickets. We had such a great time. Russell was sooo happy to see Marcy in the audience he waved several times and had such a huge smile on his face! We had the best seats, different from the last times I have gone. We were center, above where John Melendez sits, a straight view from Russell and Jay. It was perfect, I had never noticed that the cameras on the floor block the audience sitting at the front at floor level.

Before Jay showed the trailor to Body of Lies, which Russell was there to promote, Russell mentioned Mark Strong who is also in Rocknrolla. I was sooo excited, I almost yelled, "YAY!"

I said to Marcy, "I question my sanity, making myself crazy with the effort to see my favorite actors. But then when he sees you and makes a special effort to acknowledge that he knows you are there supporting him, you know why you do it! He has a way of hooking you right back in! LOL!"

You should have seen the huge smile on Marcy's face at dinner... Priceless!



Watch Russel Crowe on Jay Leno:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/episodes/?vid=711004#vid=711004

Free Movie Screening ~ Rocknrolla

I thought I'd share to help get the word out!
Rocknrolla free movie pre screening, looks like a fun night in Hollywood!



http://flux.net/cinema-tuesdays-september

The Montalban Theater
1615 Vine Street Hollywood
SEPTEMBER 30 @ 8:00 pm

Free tickets for you + guest
RSVP required, you must bring email confirmation with you, but does not guarantee admittance. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.

http://flux.net/rocknrolla/

COME EARLY, Box office opens at 6:00
Opening Reception with food and drinks
8PM - Screening
10PM - After Party with Benny Shambles from Part Time Punks