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Published: September 3rd 2006
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A car!
The first car - Orlando's - arrives. Ju attends her first ever Red Carpet Premiere I started my preparation early, drinking a litre of water before setting out in the baking hot sun to take up my position in the gathering crowds. Leicester Square was already pandemonium when I arrived at four - the red carpet was being laid out, there were officers restraining the crowd further and introducing metal barriers. Men with spray bottles were misting the faces of those in the front rows, and shooting jets at those further back.
Cameras were out in full force, professional crews with expensive kit, right through to all the digital point-and-shoot models being waved around in the crowd. Some of the news channel teams were filming the fans hanging over the barriers, some of whom were screaming in their attempts to be on TV, and others out of general hysteria. Just as I got myself positioned, barriers went up behind me - the police regulating the crowd were not allowing anyone else in. I worried for Jenny, who was on her way, as I could see she wasn't going to get anywhere (I found out later that she had enjoyed the veiw sitting on the balcony of
one of the many restaurants in the square.)
The die-hard fans had arrived the night before, or very early in the morning, and they colonised the area directly in front of the Odeon Leicester Square, in the prime spot, and also in the shade. The strata was apparent when chatting to those around me - the girls in front of me had arrived at three, the row in front of them at two... I was happy enough where I was, though the sun was baking - we welcomed the water when it was shot across us.
This was my first attempt at star-spotting. Haphazard thoughts I might see a celebrity or two in America had been foiled, and this was going to be exciting! At 5:30pm, tension was in the air and excitement at fever pitch as the camera crews were cleared off the red carpet, the balcony of the cinema started spouting flames, and
that theme music echoed out of the loudspeakers.
All of a sudden - a car! It pulled up right in front of me (and the five rows of people in front of me, but hey) and out stepped Orlando Bloom! Followed one
minute later by another car - Keira Knightley! The two of them were surrounded by minders, who whisked them along the lines of interviewers and cameras, while the crowd went beserk, almost climbing over each other in their attempts to get photos.
Five minutes later - another car - and this time they
really went nuts. We all knew who would be inside.... Mr Johnny Depp himself, not five metres away from me. (And a thousand other insane screaming people.)
The three of them circled the crowd for over an hour, doing interviews, signing autographs, and having pictures snapped on mobile phones, film cameras, digital cameras, movie cameras, professional cameras - anything that could record an image. Somewhere along the way Bill Nighy arrived, unheralded by the quite the same level of screaming.
And then it was seven o'clock and they started pouring in - celebrities from all over - Jack Davenport was there (Norrington in the movie) with his wife, the amazing Michelle Gomez from
Green Wing, Charlotte Church turned up, Kelly Brooks, several of the stars from
Lost, Anna Popplewell and William Mosley from
Narnia, a number of British celebs and singers I didn't recognise,
Orlando...
...he's finding it a bit hard to hear the interviewer's questions over 500 people chanting his name. some with children in tow, and Mackenzie Crook, who naturally got a huge cheer.
A girl appeared at my side clutching a piece of paper, and I enviously asked who's autograph she'd managed to get: "oh, Bill Nighy's" she said "no one important." Eeee! She had Bill Nighy's autograph! I almost asked her if I could have it - guess most of them were just there to see Johnny...
Eventually the guests all went inside. A car drove up, a latecomer? Nope - it backed up the red carpet, followed by another, and another - about ten cars went up in front of the theatre, on the carpet. While I was musing on this strange behaviour the crowd started going nuts over the boards lining the railings - cutting them down for souveniers. There was a moment when I thought I could have one - but someone snatched it away and it was gone. People were savage over them!
Suddenly a huge cheer rang out from the fans across from the cinema - the stars of the movie were all standing out on the balcony and waving. Those actually watching the movie must have been taking their
seats. And then down they came, and got into their cars waiting on the carpet.... Johnny hung out his window and waved a bit, judging by the cheers from the other side of the square - and then they were all gone.
The crowd dispersed and I went with the flow, making my way back home, where I spent the rest of the evening looking geefully thorugh my photos, making plans to see
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and accosting my housemates: "Guess what, I saw Johnny Depp today!"
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gingin
non-member comment
Ooh ooh I found your blog!
Excellent! Lovely photos, oh my. I think I'm swooning...