I actually read the book, All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. it was very good and I hope the movie stays faithful.
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Yes, I’m feeling good about my Saturday. And yes, you read that right: Tom Cruise. And yes, this was at the WB booth where I have a horrible record. So let me bore you with the details.
My friends and I talked about what signing to try for at the
WB raffle. I really didn’t have much of
a plan other than the True Blood cast signing. My friends were going to try for a movie called All
You Need is Kill. Being a big Beatles
fan I wondered if that was an allusion to All You Need is Love.
As we walked through the line, they told me they hoped Tom
Cruise would show. He wasn’t listed to attend. He was only rumored. So I figured if the True Blood tickets were gone
I would try for this.
Lucky for me, True Blood was no longer available. My friends
both got winning tickets for All You Need is Kill… but now the movie is being called
Edge of Tomorrow. I know my luck. I know
my track record at WB. They both got winning
tickets so I figured I had zero chance of pulling a winning ticket. I was about to change my mind on what raffle to choose from when I looked
over and I saw them looking at me anxiously. They knew I was about to change my mind and go rogue.
Almost reluctantly, I said Edge of Tomorrow. I pulled a
ticket and surprise, I won. Okay, the
hard part is done.
I got to the WB booth not long before the signing started. I’m
toward the back of the line. I saw a security guy (not the ComicCon security guys but
a guy in a black suit and wearing an ear piece) poke his head out from a back
door. My heart sped up. Now was the time where we see if the roll of
the dice was a winner. He ducked back
behind the door. Then I noticed a lot of ComicCon security guys line up and clear a
path and block the pedestrian traffic.
I’m sure that door security ducked behind, leads to the bowels of the convention
center. A place no fans get to traverse.
I’m sure it would be a great refuge from
the noise and crowding of the expo floor. I sure it’s the best way to sneak celebs in and
out of the convention.
A minute or so later, a different security guy in a black
suit walked out from behind that door. He walked to the booth and looked around
and headed back through the door. Then more ComicCon security came by.
By now a buzz filled the air. A lot of bystanders were
wondering what was up. Adrenaline pumped
and I was jittery as the anticipation built.
Yet another security man walked out. He looked over the situation and talked into
his sleeve. The door opened again and out
came the celebs. Yes, Tom Cruise was
there.
I smiled and laughed. The guy next to me offered a high five. Everyone
snapped shots with their phones or cameras. Slowly it dawned on me that I was getting Tom
Cruise’s autograph. What a huge name, what a huge addition to my collection.
I texted the wife. Even though her reply was ‘wow’, I knew
it dripped with jealously.
There was some ‘excitement’ in the line, some guy jumped into
the queue. That set security off. I feared they would cancel the signing. Luckily the guy ran off and security caught
him. I overheard the 'men in black' say they deleted a bunch of pictures from his
phone and camera.
The first to sign at this event were the director and screen
writer. I mentioned I liked the previous
name of the movie. They said they did too but the studio had decided to make a change
at that last minute. They handed me off to
Emily Blunt. I wish I had something to say to her. I was too amazed/shocked about
what was happening.
Then Tom Cruise was in front of me. I was nerd-gasming. He was all smiles; that iconic billboard
smile was turned toward me. I
thanked him for coming and doing this. He
shook my hand and then said he was having a blast.
He said he was having a great time making Bill Paxton quote
lines from old movies. Bill slid over to listen. Tom loved hearing Bill say:
Game over, Man. And they both said it to me.
Wow, I felt special. But they treated
EVERYONE like that. No was being rushed through the line.
Then I had Tom’s autograph in my grubby little hands.
Next was Bill Paxton. I mentioned I saw him just a couple of
days earlier. He said, that’s right he remembered. I brought up the comment about a couple of
other projects. I said that this movie
must be one of those projects. He smiled and said, yes, that cat is out of the bag.
I left the line and walked on air for 10 or 15 minutes. I had
other places to be but I know this was the apex. I couldn’t wait to show the wife.
The WB curse was officially dead.
AH
Truly epic stuff man!
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was luck and friends.
ReplyDelete