Donna in Hollywoodland

Movies, Directors and Head Colds


Tonight at The Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, they were showing the film "Brick" . The Director, Rian Johnson was speaking after the movie.

All of this would have been extremely fun, except that by Wednesday night, I was battling a sore throat. I left the office sick on Thursday. And I had taken today off as a vacation day so I could get some errands and things done before I left early
for the movie - none of which got done because I stayed in bed and slept all day.

To make the fact I had a cold even worse, I was actually invited to go out for dinner with a friend and a director after the movie.
The first time I have ever been asked to go out for dinner and meet a director in my entire life - and I am sick.

When I arrive at the Aero, there was plenty of the usual volunteer stuff to do. I ended up stationed by the VIP Reserved Seats, making sure that the only people sitting there were the actual VIPs.
I love it when people ask "Who are the seats reserved for?"
"VIPs" I reply
"Who are the VIPS?" they ask.
"Um, Movie Studio people." Its a good answer, because I really didn't know who the VIPS were.

My big highlight of the early evening was taking to one of the Theatre Staff who also had a Head Cold. And comparing medications.
I was on Dayquil. He was on Comtrex. We compared symptoms and drug effects.

The movie started and I really liked it alot. It was very original and different.
Except I was afraid to eat my free volunteer popcorn. A sore throat and salty popcorn could make for a really bad cough.
Instead I sucked on cough drops and drank free volunteer Sprite.

My friend, Karie who runs Film Radar , and I met up.
After the movie, I told her I would be right back. I ran to the bathroom and chugged down another dose of Dayquil.
By the time I got back into the theatre, she was down chatting with Rian Johnson, The Director.
So were alot of other people. They were all taking pictures and talking.
I waited about 15 minutes.

Finally I said to Karie "You know, I don't think the Dayquil is working. I think I need to pass on the dinner and just go home."
She felt really bad for me, and mentioned that maybe we could meet up again later in the month.
I would rather go home and go to bed. I could just imagine the Cold Medicine kicking in during dinner, and me falling over in a coma into my food, in front of a Director who won a Sundance Award.

So it was just one of those times to say good-night to Hollywood, and go home and rest with a box of kleenex.