Jaime Pressly – Not that theater dummy!

An autograph buddy and I drove to Texas Theater for the screening of a movie that Jaime Pressley is in called, Last Shot. It’s film festival time and there are a few actors in town promoting different movies.

We got to the theater early and conveniently there was a park bench in front where we sat and chatted. It was a little breezy but a good day to be outside.   About 30 minutes later a small white car pulls up and the passenger door opens. It’s Jaime. We were surprised as were expecting a big black SUV.

In my surprise, I actually said, It’s her! with a surprised look on my face. She turned and mimicked my surprised look and said: it’s me!

We stood and asked if she had time to sign.  She begged off and said she was late. It happens. We’ll wait until after the film is shown.

She tried to enter the theater but the doors were locked. She frantically looked for someone that might get her in. She asked for help. And of course, the last door was still unlocked and she entered.

Just as the adrenaline faded, she came out and quickly walked to the curb. She moved with purpose. Before we can ask what was wrong or if she had time now, she turned to us and said, they dropped her off at the wrong theater. Then she asked if we still had our stuff to sign. She would do it while she waited for the driver.

When I handed over my pen, she said the signature wouldn't show. She normally signs along the bottom. I suggested the sky. I told I picked red to match the color of the car.

I loved that she asked noticed the pen color. and I love that she was proactive and asked us for our items. Very sweet of her. Just as she finished signing ,the little white car pulled up and she got in. Our mission accomplished.

She was supposed to be taken to the Red Carpet event as a different theater. After that, she was to be driven to Texas Theater later. The driver goofed. It worked out well for us. We were done early and drove home.

Now, in my head, I image, she channeled her inner Joy, from My Name is Earl. She started hard chomping on imaginary gum, snide condescending look developed on her face, and said to the driver: That was the wrong theater dummy!

AH

Mariette Hartley – DIFF 2016

I have been working a lot. While I was able to get Diego Luna at DIFF, I did not expect to return to the film festival to get any more autographs. Then at the last minute I heard that Mariette Hartley was going to be on the Red Carpet.  Ugh.  I HAD to get her.  She played Zarabeth in a Star Trek episode. 

My buddy, knowing I didn’t have much time, found some photos that I might like from that episode.  So all I had to do was print a photo and show up at the event. Which I did, just as she finished walking off the Red Carpet.  Good timing on my part.  I borrowed a blue paint pen and went to meet her.  I stood next to her husband (Jerry Sroka).

She came over and I asked if she would sign.  She said yes and saw the photo I had.  She turned to the hubby and said she just got done talking to a ‘nerdy girl’ reporter.  She further explained (and I continued to eavesdrop) that the reporter asked one of the ‘those questions’ the one like: If you could be any tree what tree would you be? But the reporter asked: if you could be in Star Trek or Star Wars which would you pick?

Well, it seems the girl was skeptical about Ms Hartley’s resume.  I was asked if the photo could be borrowed and then Mariette wondered through the crowd to find the reporter. Along the way, Mariette showed the photo to Barry Bostwick and several others.  My photo was making the rounds.

Meanwhile, Jerry Sroka and I are chatting. I didn’t have anything for him to sign but we talked. We kept each other company. He told me about the time he was in a Trek episode.  I furrowed my eyebrows. He said he showed up at the studios and said he was to work on Star Trek. The guard asked which one. He didn’t have an answer.  He had no idea there was more than one.  From that I knew he was talking the ‘new’ stuff.   Then he mentioned an actor and I narrowed it down the series (Voyager).  That helped him realize I was really a Trekkie and not some guy that wanted a photo of his wife when she was half naked.

Mariette came back and signed.  I thanked her and then I thanked Jerry for keeping me company. I think he was happy for the company too.

For the record, if I could be any tree, I would want to be an Ent. Then, after a considerable pause to think things over, I would tell you to not waste time with a silly sophomoric question that should never be asked after graduating high school.

AH

Diego Luna – DIFF 2016

Dallas has a few film festivals every year.  Sometimes there are a lot of celebrities that attend and somethings not so many.  Sometimes the names that attend are big and sometimes they are not so exciting.  Sometimes, the name is just a name until you dig a little.

While Diego Luna is widely known in Mexico he is not as well known in the USA.  He has been in several movies you might have seen but not as the star. His name was not as exciting as others but after Googling him, you saw that he was going to be in the movie Rogue One; the next Star Wars movie. While he will not be a star in the next Star Wars movie, just being associated with the franchise will elevate him in the USA.

He was at the Dallas Independent Film Festival (DIFF) for the movie he produced called 'Mr Pig'. I was at DIFF to track down his autograph.   I found a photoshopped image of him that I liked. It's pixelated somewhat but I liked it.  The ‘official’ images from the movie were too dark for my tastes.

When he arrived he had a huge smile and readily agreed to sign. He posed for photos and chatted.

It was an exciting addition to my collection.

AH

Clark Gregg DIFF 2014

Dallas has a couple of film festivals a year. One of them is DIFF.  I haven’t had much luck with DIFF the last few years.  So I’m not too excited when I look over the movie and talent appearing.

I’ll admit I got excited when I saw that Clark Gregg was coming to town to promote his Indie movie Trust Me.  I quickly found a cool photo on google and printed it.

When the day arrived I got to the theater early. I had the chance to hang out with some friends and just enjoy the weather and company.  Just as one fellow hound got done telling us how silly we were for showing up early, because we all know he wasn’t going to show until the end of his movie, another hound said there he is. Yeah, it was like that.  He arrived really early.

He seemed surprised we were waiting.  He took photos with everyone and signed for everyone. I mentioned I really like the surprise twist of the latest episode of S.H.I.E.L.D.  He gave a wry knowing smile and said there was a lot more coming.

Even after he worked his way through us, he didn’t disappear. He hung out in the theater lobby and talked to other guests.  As other fans approached, he continued to sign or pose. He left whn his movie was about to start.

AH