Hooray For Hollywood!

Although the Hollywood Film Festival was very small, the Hollywood Film Awards were not.  There was promise that all of the big named stars would be there, it was "the first stop in award season" and the tickets were $1,000 each!  A free ticket was given to the filmmakers that were accepted to the festival but that only covered Marty and Michael.  I knew we would never pay $1,000 for a ticket.  I can't imagine one awards show being worth that.   But still, I wanted to go!!   Both Michael and Marty tried schmoozing everyone they could to try to get me a ticket which was very sweet on their part.  However, none of our connections or ideas were getting me anywhere closer to the Hollywood Film Awards Gala that was to be held in Beverly Hills on the last night of our trip.  
When it was time for Marty to leave I was going to just stay in the hotel with a book or a movie and call it a day.  At the last minute Marty told me I'd probably have more fun bringing my book to a coffee shop or something and I should at least drive in with them.  And at the VERY last minute I decide to throw in the car my dress and shoes just in case there was still a small chance I could get in.

When we arrive at the hotel it was complete mayhem.  Limos are coming and going, there is a red carpet area for the stars (and the not famous filmmakers) and the non invited people were sequestered off behind ropes.  Everything we had received kept saying that this event would be a high security area and ID and tickets were required.

Once we made our way through the limos and fans Michael and Marty spent about 45 minutes (no joke) taking photos of each other on the red carpet.  It was all very fun and we even were there right when Jake Gyllenhaal and a few other stars walked right past us.  I was still in my "street clothes" and really had no hope at this point that I would get in.  But honestly, just being this close to it all was pretty cool!
 This is where everyone that didn't have a ticket was watching from and it gives me something to always remember.  Even though you might not belong, if you act confidently as if you do no one questions it.  I didn't have a ticket and no one stopped me or asked me for my ticket once.





Finally the doors to the Gala opened and Marty went to go check things out.  He showed his ticket going in but didn't have to show ID.  Then we walked out with his ticket in hand.  He had an idea.  I ran up to the car and changed as quickly as possible in the parking garage.  I was putting my earrings and lipstick on in the elevator on the way down.  When I get back to the lobby Marty and Michael head into the Gala.  A few minutes later Marty walks out with his own ticket and Michael's ticket.  He hands me Michael's ticket, I walk in with it and no one asked for ID or questioned me at all.  Easy as that.

So now I was in and that felt pretty good.  But this was only the bar area.  In a little while they would open up the banquet room for dinner.  This had me a little worried as there was to be assigned seats.  How could I just take someone's seat and play dumb?  Well a drink or two at the bar helped and in a short time we were let into the banquet room.  A small little discussion with the people who were supposed to be at our table and then they decide they wanted to sit with friends at another table anyway so that left 2 empty chairs at our table the entire night.  It seriously could NOT have been easier to sneak me in.  And partly because I really shouldn't have been there and partly because it was a serious Hot Hollywood Event we were all a bit giddy and had one of the best nights that I can remember.

At the end of the night we were a bit woozy from drink, food and all the excitement of it all.

 This was Michael at our table and the Hollywood sign behind him was the stage. We were definitely closer to the stage and the whole scene than we had any right to be.

I don't have pictures of all of the stars that were there that night but suffice it to say that anyone who is big in Hollywood was there that night.  Except, of course, the only person I really wanted to see.. Matt Damon.  Oh well. 

Click here to see photos of some of the stars that were there

  I walked right by (so close to that I could have touched.. but thankfully, didn't) Ethan Hawk, Julia Roberts, Jared Leto, Bruce Willis.  The rest we just enjoyed from the stage.  

Below is Sean Penn

And at the end of the night we walked down toward the stage and I got his photo of Michael and Bruce Willis... Bruce of course had no idea or interest in us.

 What a fun, FUN night!!  I'm not sure our next weekend away has any chance of being this fun or perfect. :)