Live from another red carpet
I'm filmed out after seeing all these films this weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival, taking notes and analyzing. Not that I'm complaining I just feel a bit 2D. To break it up a bit yesterday, I got to briefly ask questions to the talented Laura Linney and Harry Potter's Rupert Grint at the premiere of Driving Lessons. The film is about a shy teenager (Grint) living in London who is trying to escape from the clutches of his religious mother (Linney). He finally gets his chance when he meets a retired actress (Julie Walters) who whisks him off to Edinburgh, where he learns to drive, dance and pick up girls.

Dressed in jeans a camouflage jacket and weathered Converse sneaks, Rupert Grint was sweet and spoke in a soft voice. Outside the screening room meanwhile was a line of screaming fourteen year old girls wanting to meet him, who knew Ron Weasley was such a heart throb? I did notice that his eyelashes like his hair were red but a lighter shade. Either way he was barely 5'6 and still doesn't have his license. He told me that he never drove before but had to for the film. He laughed remembering how he forgot to put up the parking break and the car started rolling backwards down a hill towards the film crew. He also said that he goes every year to NYC for the Harry Potter premiere, but he said that he likes the city and that he especially like's New York gangster films like Goodfellas. It was his first time at Tribeca Film Festival in fact he said it was his first film festival in general.

Laura Linney dressed in a brown trench coat, jeans and heels. Her smile was constant but not fake. She spoke elegantly and was very nice to me but got flustered on my question of her favorite New York film since she said that their are so many great ones but she kept trying to think of one, then she apologized with a smile and said that she was tired. Regarding an easier question she immediately said that what most attracted her to the role in Driving Lessons was the script and director Jeremy Brock's charm and enthusiasm when he flew out to meet her and to discuss the project.

This time I took a quick video of the red carpet arrival instead of still shots. Enjoy! Sorry I couldn't film my interview with them myself, I'm not that ambidextrous.

Tara on the red carpet
Although while on assignment I've attended press junkets, events and advanced screenings before, I've never conducted interviews on the red carpet, until now.

With the Tribeca Film Festival now in full force, and me armed with my approved Tribeca press pass, I attended the media screening of The Groomsmen, written and directed by Edward Burns (who I loved in 15 Minutes and Life or Something Like It) and himself, Matthew Lillard, John Leguizamo, Heather Burns, Brittany Murphy and Donal Logue. It's about a groom hanging out with his four groomsmen the week before his pending shot gun wedding. The film will be distributed outside of the festival circuit in July 2006.

I checked in 2 hours before show time like requested. US Weekly, Premiere, NY1, and other outlets were there. They separated the photographers, TV crew and then the reporters into different sections and in that order. So as each actor arrived they'd first smile for the camera's by standing in the middle of the carpet with the Tribeca Film Festival backdrop behind them as the photographers shouted out their name, then they'd progress to the TV interviews and then answering questions among the press (That's where I come in). Second to last my "interview" time was limited to say the least. Along a steel divider hung a while paper with Film School Rejects written on it, indicating where I should stand. I was right next to NY Arts Magazine and a college TV station out in the Bronx. The red carpet itself is actually a plush long red carpet, not just simply a flat red tarp. I don't know I found that interesting.

First down the carpet came Donal Lougue who I recognized but it took me until the time he reached me to place him. I finally remembered him playing the friend in Just Like Heaven. He also stars in the TV Show, Grounded for Life. Since none of us had seen the film yet it wasn't easy coming up with questions but Donal described the film as a fun guys movie. He was very personable and like every other actor that I'd speak to that evening he got a kick out of the name Film School Rejects.

Next came the lively Matthew Lillard of Scream and Scooby Doo fame. Like the zany characters that he plays his real life persona seemed to match them as he joked his way down the red carpet even grabbing NY1's microphone and starting to ask his own questions. When asked about the 80s from a Canadian entertainment show he made the comment that he was miserable in high school since he was "large" and "not smart." When he came to stand in front of me, I had to take a step back to look up at him, since he was standing quite close and is very tall. He told me that what he likes best about The Groomsmen is that "it's about a filmmaker trying to say something, not just making Poseidon but something artistic." Frankly he sort of made me a little uncomfortable maybe because I couldn't get the image of a Scream masked killer out of my mind, but I was relieved when his publicist quickly whisked him away.

Heather Burns (no relation to Edward) was next in line and sporting brown hair and a cheery smile. Burns an NYU graduate from the Tisch School of the Arts plays the wife of one of the groomsman in the film. She mentioned that her husband in the film is an alcoholic and as his wife she's helping him deal with that. I joked by saying it sounds like it's a very different role than her performance in Miss Congeniality, she laughed and said "Yes, no tiaras." She also said she hasn't had the chance to see the completed version of the film and was kind of nervous to see it now but also excited.

Meanwhile Bonnie Hunt walked by but since she was attending as just a guest and not a star in the film she didn't stop to speak to the reporters. It's too bad, because I really like her.

Anyway, finally Edward Burns (man are his eyes blue) and wife Christy Turlington made their way down the carpet and I couldn't wait. He said to one of the television stations that he enjoys creating personal stories and all of his friends are getting married now later in life and he used art to imitate life. Ed is no stranger to the Tribeca Film Festival since most of his films are shot and produced in New York City or Long Island, The Groomsmen is no exception and also takes place in NY. After his fourth writing/directing effort, Sidewalks of New York he said, "I hope people watch this movie and still see New York as the greatest city in the world. I certainly do."

Thus, I kept my question centered around NY and asked him what his favorite NY film is. He said it was a toss up between Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters or even Goodfellas, but then he admitted that they were the obvious ones. As he searched for a better answer I teased by asking how about Sidewalks of New York. He smirked and replied that he wasn't going to argue with that and then answered my question by adding Spike Lee's film She's Gotta Have It to the mix. (My favorite NY film by the way obviously is When Harry Met Sally). Then the very down to earth and good looking Ed was asked to enter the theater. *sigh* For more photos from the carpet click here

A no show
I was invited via email to a premiere party and screening for Across the Hall on Wednesday night. The email also said WHO and listed the following Adrian Grenier, Queen Latifah, Donnie Wahlberg, James Oliver, Ally Sheedy, Ralph Macchio, and Robin Givens and more...

HOWEVER I didn't see any of these stars there and it turns out they aren't actually in the film either except for Adrian Grenier (Entourage, Drive Me Crazy) who also wasn't present. To top it all off the "film" was a short film, yet wasn't packaged to me that way so it was a surprise for me. I was all set to review a new suspense film only to find it was less than 10 minutes long and is already available for viewing on the net via Samsung Short Films. Still the short was interesting enough though, I liked the creepy feel to it and the idea. It's about a guy trying to stop his friend who is cooped up in a hotel room across the hall from his fiancee and her lover from doing something rash, but there's a twist. You can go watch it online here under Director's Showcase. It was like another take on the movie Derailed.

The event itself held at the Samsung Theater in the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle was really impressive. But it was more of a vehicle for Samsung Telecommunications and featured new Samsung cell phones, screens, projectors and other offerings in a modern art setting with an open bar and dim sum being served. It was very posh as were the high tech products that were on display. I did get to ask a representative about one of their camera phones offered through Verizon, since my contract is finally up with them in May and I can upgrade my cell at last. A camera phone would have come in handy when my friend spotted Eddie Cahill who played Tag, Rachel's younger boyfriend on Friends. He looked pretty, yes, pretty, but he was a big disappointment considering I was hoping to see Queen Latifah at the party or even in the film.

A lot of the mobile phones shown are only available in Korea and Europe right now, but will eventually make it's way over here in some form. Apparently the slide to open phones will start to become more popular here eventually. A slide-up phone from Samsung was also featured in the short film of course, thus the partnership.

The coolest phone that I saw had a built in hand warmer so that when you are talking and walking with your cell in the winter, your hand will stay warm. How cool and weird is that? You can also adjust the warming temperature.

Link: Also check out my friend Jim's new blog, although I don't agree with his title, cats suck

Walkers for Healthy Knockers
I figured that title would get your attention! ;)

For the third year in a row, I'm participating in the 9th Annual Revlon Run/Walk For Women Cancers on Saturday, May 6, 2006. It’s a 5K from Times Square to the end of Central Park.

I'm actually the team captain this year for the PR company that I work for and have been getting everyone at my office and their friends/relations to join. I even put up posters in the girls bathroom, on my cubicle wall and in the kitchen. Yes, I'm sure they all joined just to shut me up ;) So far I've raised $210, just $40 shy of my goal. As a team we'll hopefully raise more and each registrant fee goes directly to the charity too.

You can join me in the fight against women's cancers by making a pledge or donation on my behalf. Your pledge will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs. Every pledge will help bring us one step closer to a cure. If you'd like to donate click HERE. And if you do, I'll send a cute hard pink ribbon pin like the one shown to anyone who makes a contribution, even if it's only a buck. Thanks!

Statistic: It is estimated that one in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life.

Update: My editor, Neil over at Film School Rejects just donated to the walk/run, bringing me closer to my goal. Thanks Neil! Also my review of American Dreamz is up on the site. Now, What Would Jen Do? just helped me meet my goal. Yay!

Festivals and Flowers
Some exciting news, I'm going to be covering the Tribeca Film Festival, which starts on Monday on behalf of Film School Rejects. The approval process to be on the press list was a bit extensive, lots of faxes and emails but I got my confirmation a few weeks ago and I just picked up my press pass and packet this afternoon down on Varick Street. Unfortunately most of the press & industry screenings take place during the day while I'm at work, but I'll be attending some night shows, panels and weekend events. I can also screen different videos in their private screening libraries, so I can still see any of the films that I really want to see. I'll report back if I see anything great or meet any celebs. Warning: If I see Robert DeNiro, I just might faint. Can't wait.

Although it's miserable and cold out the flowers are still in bloom, especially at the The 26th annual New York international Orchid Show in Rockefeller Center. The show is inside a high pitched tent over where the ice rink usually sits, entry fee is $5. Inside are winning orchid breeds from around the world in lots of colors, styles in ornate displays. There were some that you simply wouldn't believe were orchids, because they were so different, tiny or in unusual colors, like this one.

The attendees were not what I was expecting though. I figured there would be tourists, florists and there was, but I didn't expect how ruthless and cutthroat these orchid viewers would be. I was getting taken out by photographers and shoved and elbowed by grannies who wanted a closer look. Take a look at how this dude is aggresively holding his flyer like some Orchid hit man and getting in my photo. For the most part I saw every orchid by spotting them from weird angles and bobbing over people's heads. Escaping with our lives, we headed to the gift shop where you can by your own orchid plants to take home in many varieties. I was going to shell out the $20 price tag, but knew it would be a waste since the only plant I've been able to keep alive in my apartment is an aloe plant, which is essentially a cactus. I must say though, that sucker has outgrown two clay pots and is thriving. Speaking of Orchid's though Master Foley has tainted my view a bit in his latest post, lol.