Today was a day for connection points.
Three MAJOR connection points happened today. One, I can’t tell you about. At least, not yet. The other two… they’re great stories!
The Dark Knight opens in theaters everywhere on Friday. So, true to Warner Brothers Studios tradition, this whole week there are screenings on the lot of the movie. Last night was a hoity-toity affair for the execs and their guests (open bar!), and this afternoon’s screening was also invite-only. But tonight… ah, tonight the masses came.
Whenever there is a screening on the lot, employees are allowed to bring one guest. Lines usually form around 5:00 or so for the movie (the theater holds 600 or so, and seats are first-come, first-serve). The Sex and the City screening was a little crazy, and I knew this one was going to be even crazier.
So I was a little stressed about getting in line in time (thanks, boss lady Dianna, for letting me take off early!!), and also about getting TWO of my cousins in to the movie. Luckily, one of my co-workers on a whim decided to go to the movie, so he was able to take in one of my cousins as his guest. Yay! So both Nate and Melanie got to see the movie with me. (More on the movie later, too tired and overwhelmed to write a true review now.)
The movie was good, the company great. Connection point number one. Seeing a movie like The Dark Knight at a movie studio days before its public release? A few bucks. Seeing said movie with two cousins who love movies just as much as you do and totally relish the history and awesomeness of such a screening? Priceless.
Connection point number two.
As we were leaving the studio, I took us by soundstages 17, 18, and 19. (Chuck and Pushing Daisies stages). I figured, as Nate and Mel both watch Chuck and Pushing Daisies, we’ll see if we can peek at the sets and maybe see an actor loitering around somewhere.
Stage 18 had the elephant door wide open, lights blazing, so we stopped to peek inside. As we resumed our walk to the car, I saw Zachary Levi turning around the corner in his little Nerd Herd golf cart. It was dark, there were a TON of people walking around, and production trucks and crew littered the street. So Zach had to kinda weave his way around. Because it was dark, he had his headlights on. I saw him coming, said to my cousins, “Hey, wanna meet Zach Levi?”
Before they could even react, I was standing in his path, faking like he was about to hit me.
Of course he stopped, claiming he wasn’t gonna hit me.
I reintroduced myself (hey, the man meets thousands of people a year – he can’t really be expected to remember one cute, blonde tour guide, can he?), then introduced my cousins.
We ended up chatting for about five minutes (if you want the play-by-play, email me) about the movie, church, working with Tony Hale(!!), and then we said our goodbyes (his to me was “See you tomorrow!”), and left.
My cousins, meanwhile, said nothing. Nate eeked out a few phrases of agreement (yes, the movie was awesome; yes, we’re Arrested Development fans), but Mel was truly star-struck.
Seeing The Dark Knight on a studio lot days before its public release? Gas money and time. Meeting and chatting with the star of your favorite new tv show? Priceless.
It was a good day.
That Zac, he’s such a nice guy! You’re a good cousin.
Mel
July 16th, 2008