Apparently, there were movies there, too...

Where to begin?!?  This past week has been quite eventful to say the least.  Since it is fresh in my mind, here are some fun little stories from my experience with the local film festival... The "Guy-related" edition.

The Actor and The Writer/Director.

The arts are in my blood.  I have been eating, sleeping, and breathing the arts since the age of two.  Whether it be dancing, singing, acting, viewing or working on a production (of any kind) - I can't help but be drawn to the world of entertainment.  Thus, I spent my weekend volunteering for the local film festival.

While the experience of working for the festival is almost worthy of a posting in and of itself, I'd rather focus on the blog-related incidents that crossed my path...  First, there was The Actor.

The Actor was there to promote his new documentary - and for some reason, I (the Newbie!) was the Venue Manager for the location where his film was premiering... and where he would be in attendance.  *Side note:  Up until 2 days before, I was not even sure of The Actor's real name - I am not actually a fan of his super-popular HBO Series.  In fact, I've never seen an episode.  I only recognized his face from one of my favorite late-90's teeny-bopper flicks.  I was a stellar Venue Manager - thank God, I didn't have to introduce him or anything.*  Anyhow, long story short (because The Actor Story is not nearly as interesting as The Writer/Director Story) everyone knew The Actor was coming that day, and they were all very excited.  When he finally came into the lobby (as he clearly didn't want to screen his own movie, he preferred to just go in for the last few minutes and do his Q&A and Press Conference), all the other people were star-struck.  Mind you, moments before I had been hearing how much everyone loved The Actor and couldn't wait to meet him.  Now, they were all nothing but popsicles.  Everyone frozen.  So I introduced myself and got him to take pictures with us all.  Mission accomplished.  What was his name again?

Well, The Actor was supposed to go to the Festival After-Party that night, but I was so tired that I didn't end up going.  Working the festival makes for a long day... throw volunteering for yet ANOTHER cause this same weekend, and that makes for a very tired K.  It was all I could do to make it on time for my shift today.

But I did make it back to the Film Fesitval today, and towards the end of my shift as Venue Manager in location number two, I started to notice one of the guys with an "Artist" lanyard hanging out by my table... periodically trying to make small talk with me.  Next thing I know, the night is over and I have to close up the venue.  I call up one of the Festival Big Wigs to see what he'd like me to do with the cash box, and he tells me to bring it to the After Party (guess there's no getting out of this one).  ;-) 

The "Artist" overhears this conversation, waits for the space to clear out, tells me I'm "very pretty" and then asks if we can meet up at the After Party.  Um... ok... but only because I have to go.  I'm not staying long.

So I head over to the After Party, and as I'm waiting outside of the venue, who walks up right behind me?  You guessed it... the "Artist".  No need to introduce himself, everyone around me knows him.  Apparently, he's one of the writer/directors of one of the films submitted to the festival... and instead of schmoozing with the other industry players... he starts chatting me up.

We finally make it inside the venue - more industry players abound - actors, writers, directors, etc as far as the eye can see.  The Writer/Director asks to buy me a drink.  Um... ok... but only because I've waited outside for so long, I might as well get some sort of payoff.

The Writer/Director literally spends the entire evening talking to me.  Asking me anything and everything - fascinated that I didn't know who he was (nor did I really care).  He told me about himself, but my life story seemed to be his real focus (as much as I tried to change the subject - at no avail).

I mentioned that I had worked at The Actor's venue the day before, to which he told me that he already knew that tidbit.  He had seen me there.

Awww.... that's flattering... and also a little creepy.

You know what else was creepy?  The ring on his left hand.  Not the ring itself, but the fact that he was wearing one.  Not only was he one of the most persistent men to ever hit on me, but he seemed genuinely interested in me as a person... and not just the me under my clothes.  So the fact that he was wearing a ring, that was a little sad to me as a woman.  Boys suck - in any line of work or station in life.

So the night drags on and while he went to get another round of drinks (which he subsequently spilled on another famous actress/director nearby), I quickly put my coat back on and worked my way to the door.  He saw me pass buy and immediately offered me more drinks, extra passes for tomorrow's festival selections, a free copy of his film, whatever I wanted...

But you know what?  Married or not, he gave me something I needed more than anything else... the ego-boost of the year! 

...And a good story to tell...

Guess who's definitely signing up to work next year's festival?