Donna in Hollywoodland

AFI Film Festival Day 2 - Tribute to Penelope Cruz

At the AFI Film Festival , this time at the Arclight Dome Theatre - for a tribute to Penelope Cruz .
The movie was "Volver".

I was doing ushering. That meant I stood in the middle of the theatre, right below the balcony section, and instructed people which way to go for their seating.
We were told to wear out AFI Tshirt with black. I wore a black skirt, with flat shoes.

The event was a ticketed event. Meaning your film festival pass did not get you in.
Here is a helpful hint ... if you are trying to sneak into a Gala event at a film festival - do not sit in a seat over an hour before they start letting the people in.

The theatre was completely empty, and we were not letting people in yet. One woman was sitting there reading a book.
I said "Excuse me. We are not seating people yet. Do you have a ticket ?"
She showed me her pass, which was no good for the event.
I said "Oh, this event is hard-ticketed, and it is assigned seating. So let me show you where to pick up your ticket. Come this way."
And I lead her out the front door, to the guest check-in area - where I knew they weren't going to give her a ticket or let her back in.
But she was no longer my problem.

Then two guys did the exact same thing. And they were escorted out of the theatre.
I don't know how they got let in, in the first place.
If you are going to sneak in some place, go wait in the bathroom until the general public is being seated.

Finally, they opened the doors. And the people came in with tickets for their assigned seats.
It got pretty hectic.
I basically looked at the ticket, and told people which section to head over to. And then there was a volunteer waiting in that section to show them their exact seating.

A nice lady in a business suit came up to me. I looked at her ticket "Oh, yes - you are in the first row of the balcony section.
Right up there." And I pointed.
She just stood there.
I thought - she's not moving, I wonder if she is a VIP.
I said "Oh, would you like me to take you to your seat?"
She said "Yes, take us to our seats."
I said "Right this way", and they followed me.
The woman first, followed by Eva Mendes . Who I just realized was standing behind the woman I was talking to.
I said "Here are your seats."
Eva Mendez (who looked gorgeous) said Thank you.

And just as they were sitting down - I look up.
And there in the same aisle, just a few seats down is Prince .
I was to stunned to say anything, or do anything.
He was dressed in a glittery military looking jacket. And I later joked to friends that he was wearing more make-up than Penelope Cruz.

I said to one of the other volunteers "Did you see Prince?"
And she was all excited too.

Finally the pre-movie speeches were starting and everyone was seated.
I stood to the left side to listen. And Penelope Cruz was just a few feet away from me.
People who spoke were Eva Mendez and Salma Hayek .

I finally decided that I needed to go to the concession stand before the movie started.
I ended up sitting on the right side of the theatre for the movie
Penelope Cruz is wonderful in her role.

In between the Speeches and the movie, there was about a 10 minute intermission.
I sat and watched Prince, Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek all sit in the first row of the balcony and chat away during intermission. Looks like the three of them are all buddies.

Okay, it was freezing in the theatre. I practically had ice cycles hanging from my nose.
After the movie was over, I couldn't wait. I had to head out to some where that was warm.
Even tho I saw all the limos in front of The Dome, I needed to get home.
No more star-watching tonight.

Pictures are on WireImage.com
Tribute to Penelope Cruz

Labels: afi, afifest, film, filmfestival, hollywood