Well, for those who don't know the story already........
I have been working up at the Sundance Film Festival this year on Special Events Staff, and the other day I met Ian Abercrombie, "Mr. Pitt" Elaine's Boss on Seinfeld. Well, I helped him find his way to Starbucks and we got to chatting and he invited me to come to the World Premiere of the movie he was there for which is called, "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School". So, I showed up today hoping that he would remember about me and have a ticket ready. Boy am I glad I went!!!!!
He gave me a ticket just as he said I would, and since it was a Cast/Filmmaker Ticket I was able to enter through the Red Carpet door! I found myself in a strange little tent, heated I might add, surrounded by celebrities! All of a sudden I look next to me and there is Sean Astin. So I introduced myself and he did the same. We talked for a bit and his wife snapped a picture of us. We continued to talk and moved the conversation to some chairs in the corner. I asked him if he felt like making somebody's day, and after he agreed I called my friend Josh and said, "Josh, someone wants to talk to you......" I handed the phone to Sean and he said, " Hi... my name is Sean Astin, who am I talking to?" Well, they talked for a bit and then Natalie, Josh's sister, also wanted to talk to him so I passed him the phone again. I'm so glad he did that for me because you won't ever meet a bigger Lord of the Rings fan than her!!! That really was special for her! Anyway moving on....... I then proceeded to meet John Goodman, Marisa Tomei and Ted Danson. They were all so nice, probably because they thought I was supposed to be there, but that's beside the point. They called us into the theater and Sean said,"Why don't you come sit next to us and we'll build a little house in the theater." Are you kidding? How could this be any better? Well, It gets better.....
The movie was great! I recommend seeing it when it comes out in May. After the film they had a Q&A with all of the cast and the Director. At this point the general public may attend to see without a ticket. I looked back and saw Josh's mom and sister Natalie. They had come up to see Sean, like I said, they are huge fans! After the Q&A I walked over to them and they gave me a copy of a watercolor painting that Josh's mom Diane had painted. They said it was for Sean and they had written a note on the back of it. I took it backstage to Sean and merely said, "This is from a fan for you...it is a copy of a watercolor painting that she did." He thanked me, not knowing it was from the girl he had talked to on the phone previously. Well, I walked with him and his wife out to the cars and we said our goodbyes. I started walking back in to meet with Marisa Tomei again to get a picture, and I heard Sean yell, "Matt!!! Tell them thank you so much!!!!" He had read the back of the picture and realized it was from the girl he had talked to on the phone prior to the movie. I agreed and then he waved goodbye again. I really gained a lot of respect for him. He is an extremely nice person!
Well, I then got my picture with Marisa Tomei! (George Costanza would be jealous!) I congratulated her and such as well as the rest of the cast, and then I left. I saw Diane and Natalie outside of the theater and gave them Sean's thanks. They were so happy, as was I!!! I got to feel like a star for a couple of hours.