The World Premiere of "TRON: Legacy"

The World Premiere of "TRON: Legacy"

December 11, 2010 El Capitan Theater, Hollywood, CA.

Tron: Legacy http://www.disney.co.uk/tron/index_flash.jsp#/home is a film I have been waiting a long time to see come to fruition after seeing the original back in 1982 in the theater with my dad. I liked everything about it, I even bought the Wendy Carlos soundtrack on album from Music Plus back in the day.  So when the original director Steven Lisberger announced that Tron 2.0 would be coming to a theater near you very soon at a screening and Q&A with Bruce Boxleitner and Cindy Morgan some 10 years ago I was excited. The project seemed dead in the water until they previewed a teaser clip at Comic-Con http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AwvuirSEAA a couple of years ago and now 2 years later the film is out! The coupe was getting Jeff Bridges to return I mean don't get me wrong I'm pleased as punch that Bruce is back too but its Kevin Flynn that bridges the gap between the new and the old. So when the day arrives for the premiere I know that Disney is going to pull out all the stops after all the House of Mouse spent a fortune on it already whats another million for publicity.

But before I talk about the premiere let me tell you about the e-mail Maya got from Disney that the pr people had planned to face paint a few of the fotogs to go with the theme of the movie. She figured "Yeah hes' a ham he'll do it", so she signed me up. I kinda figured if I got all painted up I could score a good spot despite the fact that it clearly said on the e-mail that getting your face painted did not guarantee a front row spot, what the hell I figured no one else would do it except maybe Byron Purvis and low and behold there he was in the makeup chair getting dolled up. Well Byron got the whole treatment I arrived just a little after 3:00 and he was in the makeup chair for about an hour and I got about 10 minutes a quick brush with the silver blush a quick square and out I went maybe I just wasn't pretty enough, sigh!

So with my new face paint and check in time rolling around we were put into spots but not before I asked Holly at Disney where she wanted Byron and I and she told us to go right in, sweet I got in a good spot! Next were a parade of Sirens hotties from the film but we had to futz with our flashes before we could start shooting because of the artificial fog that was created to make the lasers show more visible to the tourists watching from across the street not exactly conducive to us photographers though.

First from the cast bright and early was Bruce Boxleitner with his wife actress Melissa Gilbert their son Michael and his older sons from his 1st marriage. He was having a grand time posing with his memory disc and laughing it up. Following Bruce were costars Yaya Dacosta, Elizabeth Mathis, Anis Cheurfa, Beau Garrett, James Frain and baddie Michael Sheen. Then came the film's star Garrett Hedlund who was totally in awe of the whole spectacle but I think Olivia Wilde stole the show in her gorgeous golden gown. Director Joseph Kosinski was very serene compared to an enthusiastic Steven Lisberger proudly posing with his disc in triumph making way for the arrival of Kevin Flynn himself Jeff Bridges all shaggy and walking down the blue carpet with his wife Susan looking as he was on a cool trip. Bringing up the rear were the helmet wearing Frenchmen Daft Punk http://www.daftpunk.com/

*Highlight was when Jeff Bridges walked towards me and I told him and Susan "Greetings Programs!" this made him stop and smile and now I'm smiling.

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Signing and Celebration for the 2011 Fan Vixen Calendar

Signing and Celebration for the 2011 Fan Vixen Calendar

December 10, 2010 Hive Gallery, Downtown Los Angeles, CA

My friend Ave Rose sent me an evite to come down to hive gallery http://hivegallery.com/2010/ to hang out and take some snaps of her and her gals that made their newest calendar for 2011 Fan Vixens.http://fanvixens.com/ 

We met on the film "The Thirst"  http://www.amazon.com/Thirst-Matt-Keeslar/dp/B000NVIXK0 a few years back and have kept in touch over the years running into each other at various conventions. She runs her own publsihing company http://www.inkpenmutations.com/ her two sisters Ranil Miyu and Rannie Rodil are also featured in the calendar and Rannie took the photos for the calendar http://www.rodilphotography.com

A healthy amount of models were present to sign their respective months and receptive to fans and photographers alike.

*Highlight are you kidding me?!?!? Being able to rub elbows with beautiful women is the highlight of any evening!

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Opening of Adam West's Batman Art Show

Opening of Adam West's "Batman" Art Show

December 10, 2010 David W. Streets Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA.

In conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of the campy "Batman" television series of the 1960's, Adam West http://www.adamwest.com/ the caped crusader himself displayed his art for his fans and admirers at the David W. Streets Gallery in swanky Beverly Hills. http://www.davidstreetsbeverlyhills.com/

The intimate gathering started off with Adam being escorted in the Batmobile provided by custom car collector George Barris http://www.barris.com/. Once he was done with photo ops and press images being collected just around the corner in the parking lot.

After pulling up in the front of the gallery he was bombarded with local press and fans from all walks of life including Catwoman and costar Julie Newmar. It was somewhat chilly that evening and there was considerable wind but that did not deter anyone from gawking and staring popping off photos with their IPhones

Once inside Adam greeted well wishers and collector's alike I was fortunate enough to coral Bruce Wayne for myself in an area that had most of his collection in it and took some private images before the floodgates were opened and everyone poured in wanting to take photos of themselves with the former superhero. All in all the collection was well put together but the artwork is personally not my cup of tea

*Highlight was watching Julie Newmar's reaction to the questions that the scumbag from TMZ was asking her, the typical provacative lowbrow content they are known for.

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The 5th Annual Bench Warmer Toy Drive

December 8, 2010 The Colony, Hollywood, CA.

Brian Wallos' Bench Warmer Trading cards http://www.benchwarmer.com/

 once again teamed up with The United States Marine Corps' "Toys For Tots" http://www.toysfortots.org/ for its' annual Holiday celebration in the heart of Hollywood

When I got there I thought I was the only one there when I saw the Marines standing by the Christmas Tree and Camo Humvee with toys adorning the tree and bubbles falling from the roof like faux snow, I mean it is Los Angeles after all. I was then told that the official red carpet was inside but inside it was too crowded loud and I was not in the mood to fight with the other fotogs for photos since I was off to the side so I put my peacoat back on wrapped my scarf around my neck and headed outside after I snatched a few shots of my pals Lisa Cash, Alana Curry and Katie Lohmann

I was able to shoot outside by myself and it was nice to have all these bountiful babes one on one unfortunately it didn't last as the rest of the press corp was invited outside to get the arrival of Brain Wallos. Once Brian arrived and did his photo ops I was once again allowed to hang outside by myself as the others were escorted back to the step and repeat inside the club. I

think the photo that most took me by surprise was the one I did of the lovely Kerrilee Kaski and her statuesque friend but it was not their beauty that caught my eye it was Kerrilee's companion that took me back when she told me she was not a Benchwarmer girl and then gave me her name Camilla Cleese.

CLEESE?!??! http://www.thejohncleese.com/  I mean how many people named Cleese could there be around being a huge fan of the former Python player and of course "Fawlty Towers" I wondered if this gal was related and guess what she was his daughter. How cool is that I thought what a great way to end the evening.

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The Los Angeles Premiere of "The Fighter"

 "The Fighter" 12-6-2010 Grauman's Chinese Theater Hollywood, CA.

How often do studios decide to have 2 premieres right across the street from each other?
 Not very often but I guess the stars had decided to align themselves that night as Disney had Russell Brand and his very delicious bride Katy Perry at "The Tempest" premiere while

 I was just a stones throw away at the Paramount Pictures' biopic
 "The Fighter" http://www.thefightermovie.com   
   about Dicky Edlund (Christian Bale) and his half brother Micky Ward portrayed by Mark Wahlberg

and their respective careers in the boxing arena. In addition to Bale and Wahlberg were the real life characters Dicky Edlund sparring with Christian Bale

 and Micky Ward strutting down the red carpet. Other cast members that I caught were Jack McGee, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams, director David O. Russell and an army of writers and producers which is the norm here in Hollywood. I also asked a bunch of actresses to put up their dukes for a photo since it was a boring group shot and why not its a boxing movie after all.