Given the restrictions of my seat assignment and security instructions which prohibited standing or removing myself from my seat, I was nevertheless greatly stoked about the opportunity! Arriving at 8am, star-studded red carpet activity not to begin until 2pm, I had many hours to sit and wait for things to happen. Waiting went faster than anticipated. Looking out over all the press, watching them set up their tripods and light diffuses, uncovering Oscar statues from their plastic protectors... it was exhilarating simply to see what happens in preparation for such an event..
I watched a crew setting up in front of my bleacher section, preparing to shoot a reporter there. Ryan Seacrest emerged and gosh those bleacher fans can yell. Ryan gave a shout out to us. I thought it amusing that he required cards cuing him to say: "Welcome to the Academy Awards, the world is watching". Duh. How do you need a cue for a line like that?
By about 2pm, Wolfgang Puck and a moving table of chef hands were bringing out a grand hors d'œuvres display for the stars. From that point, it was one thing right after another. Ann Hathaway and Cate Blanchett seemed to have very tight interviewing schedules as I could barely catch a shot of them as they bolted across the carpet. Many bolting celebrities were difficult to catch (Gwenyth Paltrow, Matthew McConaughey). I much respected the stars who made particular note to recognize and wave to the fans: Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Hillary Swank, Jeff Bridges, Justin Timberlake, Sandra Bullock, Colin Firth, Natalie Portman. Thanks guys! Everyone loves a celebrity who loves us back.
Searching for celebs was less like a monstrous 'Where's Waldo' than I thought it would be, especially when every notable celeb was heralded by the hundred voices of bleacher fans shouting "Saannnnnnnndra!!!"... "Milaaaaaaa!" just to get them to look over and wave to us. Pretty surreal to get some star attention, I have to admit.
Hollywood IS surreal. It's easy to see why, and it's simply because the magic of Hollywood is mostly fabricated. What it takes to make a magical movie is one part smoke and mirrors, one part digital effects and one part actor talent. Behind that curtain, Hollywood is an average, congested, smoggy town filled with gaffs, key grips, street blockages and gift shops. But it is also filled with talented people, and they are what plug the power into Hollywood. The realism of the magic comes out at these ceremonies, where the stars are not bound to keeping in character, and where the charm and talent of an actor can be wholly seen and recognized without green screens or digital effects.
Oh yeah and NO thanks, Academy, for illogically blocking off simple egress back to my car after the event, even though the ingress was simple enough. But thanks for the breakfast, lunch and dinner, and free viewing party in the El Capitan theater across the street!
