October 15th, 2012.
Another day at London Film Festival, another premiere. I've even got a bit of a backlog, though my cameras are doing fine (thanks for asking!). Tonight it was the directorial debut of a man whose acting notoriety arguably started in 1967 with a star role in "The Graduate". Seven Academy Award nominatios for Best Actor (two wins) and clearly it's time to take up gardening or the harmonica. Or motion picture directing. Whichever.
Here's how it went down:
Day 5. It's the backs of four people. On the face of it, how hard could it possibly be to photograph *that* at a premiere?
Ah, The Once And Future Yellow Cap Guy. Only one man is capable of inheriting the Yellow Mantle these days, and he wears Blue Shoes. But I tend not to photograph him. He got me Charlize Theron's autograph more or less on the strength of zen and charisma.
Surveying their Domain - the heads of security (?) at most red carpet events (I'm sorry : I feel like I just leaked the two people on the top of the CIA's NOC list...)
"And remember : if any of you get bitten by an autograph hunter, you'll be shot so the infection doesn't spread..."
A mere few hours later, and we have our first arrival! Actor Tom Courtenay's film career dates back to Doctor Zhivago (1965), and if I'd known that at the time, I probably would have taken more photos of him...
Alternatively, this is Actor Tom Courtenay in which case he's held up remarkably well, age wise, and I still have no idea who the other guy is.
"If we didn't leave so late we'd have time to grab popcorns before the movie starts"
"Well, if you didn't take so long to put on your makeup this wouldn't be a factor"
OMG - It's Maggie Smith and Dustin Hoffman!
"Say something about a boy wizard. I DARE YA!" Maggie Smith played Professor McGonagall in all the Harry Potter films, but appears to have escaped the icy gravitation pull of that franchise that (say) Tom Felton and Rupert Grint have had more difficulty managing. I photographed her at distance the Hubble Telescope might have paused at attempting at the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"
"Actually, Dustin was a real PR1CK to work for as an director, but a fantastic actor. I've always said that. Wait, he's behind me, isn't he?" Dustin Hoffman got Best Actor Oscar Nominations for The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, Lenny, Tootsie, and Wag the Dog. And won the Oscar for Rain Man and Kramer vs Kramer. Sure, that might not impress Meryl Streep, but to 99.99999% of the rest of the planet that's pretty major.
Sherridan Smith appears to have acted in no end of British TV series I may have partially heard of but certainly never watched. That said, she's starred in something called "Hysteria" which is also my favourite Def Leppard song, so I am a bit interested. (Well, that and "Armageddon It")
Being the true director he was always meant to be (this is his debut), Hoffman kept sorting and resorting the lineup on the red carpet until pretty much everyone had occupied every position at least once. It pissed off the dealers who were shouting for him to come over, so it accomplished that much at least. (nb. far right, previously unidentified : actress Gwyneth Jones)
"Keep smiling. Or else"
"We're leaving space for Michael Fassbender. It's just this thing we do" Michael Gambon (Dumbledore in Harry Potters 3-7b) is also in this film, however he's busy doing theater, and you know those thespians don't thesp themselves.
"Mister Hoffman would like to remind you that he was NOT in Officer and a Gentleman and Pretty Woman, though he liked both films" Noted. I actually really like him in the underrated "Accidental Hero".
"You know, I've never actually killed a man with my bare hands before. I don't see what the big deal is" John Travolta, Broken Arrow. Also, possibly, Dame Maggie Smith, right here and now.
"You were in Harry Potter? Dearie, name one British actor who WASN'T"
"You want me to do an Elle Fanning Hair Swish? Sure" Billy Connolly is probably better known as a standup comedian, but I feel his choice of scarf design for premieres is what he really needs more acclaim for. And he seems to be a really nice guy!
"It's nothing. I've just got Eminem's 'Stan' going through my head for some reason. Damn. I think that guy was him"
Directing 101 with Dustin Hoffman. (I say he's ready for the Batman reboot).
"No, I believe that would make me a *Lepidopterist*, Tom. Look it up"
Pauline Collins' film career dates back to 1963 but I believe it's possible I've watched NOTHING she's ever been in. And her filmography reveals nothing that sounds like a Def Leppard song either....
"I believe it's called 'rain', Billy. You've been in LA too long"
So... that was another one! It was pretty fun. Tomorrow : not one but TWO more. And after that they get BIGGER. I think I'm getting RSI of the trigger finger..
Until next time!
It obviously joins the "Archive of Movie Premieres"
By the way, if you ever want to know when I post one of these journals feel free to follow me on twitter @berndt2_photo or on facebook at premieresdotco.