Last week I took a trip to Los Angeles with my brother to tag along while he took pictures at a few celebrity events. My brother is an independent photographer who frequents these events all the time. Sometimes he is stationed with the photographers on the red carpet. At other events such as this particular movie premiere, he was forced to mix it up with the paparazzi and superfans that wait across the street. He has always been sort of a follower of all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. I, on the other hand, have always admired certain actors/actresses from afar. I never really thought of intentionally seeking out the rich and the famous. Imagine my surprise when I had the chance to observe what actually happens from the fan side of things.
Easy A Premiere
We arrive to the gated area directly across from the red carpet at 4:00pm. We are on the corner of Hollywood and Orange across from the Chinese Theater. To the left of us is the Roosevelt Hotel in all its old school Hollywood glory. To the right of us is American Apparel and Hooters. I think about slipping away to buy some leggings, as my brother attempts to see the score of the Jets game through the Hooters window (Monday Night Football).
As we wait for the stars to arrive (they were scheduled for 6:00pm) I scan the crowd. I watch the crowd intently for the next two hours. Occasionally the people walking by distract me. I make a mental note that Hollywood Blvd is an amazing people watching scene. Tourists with giant cameras around their necks ask me what’s going on as they stare directly at the movie premiere posters. The time is now 6:15 and the red carpet is still empty. The movie was supposed to start at 7:30 but they are obviously running way behind schedule. By this time I have segmented the crowd into 5 different groups.
The Superfans – These avid fans love the particular actors from this movie. They are radiating so much excitement that it’s as though they drank a case of rockstar and two large coffees. I am exhausted from the 6- hour drive but their energy is contagious. All they really want is to catch a glimpse of Emma Stone (Zombieland) or Penn Badgley (Dan from Gossip Girl). They are praying that he comes across the street to sign autographs and take pictures. They are constantly updating their Facebook status and wait anxiously for the stars to arrive.
Autograph Addicts & Collectors – These fanatics are addicted to meeting and collecting autographs from celebrities. They are not fans of a particular actor/actress but of all famous people. Collectors carry homemade signs and t-shirts catering to whichever celebrity is at the event they are. They lug around hundreds of photographs just in case they run into a certain celebrity.
There is some overlapping between the Superfans and the Autograph addicts. Both don’t mind waiting for hours just to get a tiny glimpse of how the other half lives.
Paparazzi/ Videographers/ Independent Photographers – These three groups of people each have different purposes but the same goal. Photographers and videographers that were unable to get a press pass for the night’s event (my brother) take matters into their own hands and take pictures from across the street. The Paparazzi wait for the stars to cross the street, even though their enormous zoom lens captures all of the red carpet excitement.
Tourists – The Chinese Theater is a major tourist trap. People come there to sightsee and see the red carpet and the posters. They ask what is going on and usually stick around looking for that elusive story. “Last week I was in LA and I met…”
Random Happenings – Local people walking by sometimes stumble into a celebrity event by accident.
The time is now 7:15 and finally we see some action. Black SUV’s start to pull up. The crowd shouts out different names. You see tons of flashing from the photographers on the carpet. Penn Badgley and Emma Stone come across the street. I feel myself start to scream and giggle like a schoolgirl. Penn approaches where I am standing and is prompted by his PR woman to turn around. They are running late. I scream out OMFG. More shrieks from the crowd. Taylor Swift gets out of her car. My line is blurred. I am no longer an observer but just another Superfan.
