The Fantastic Mr Clooney

Another night, another trip to London, another Movie Premiere. This time it was the Times/BFI London Film Festival Gala Opening Night. The film opening the Festival was Wes Anderson's animated adaptation of Roald Dahl's The Fantastic Mr Fox. Most of the cast were expected. Sadly Meryl Streep had gone down with flu, so had to drop out.

Instead we had to put up with, as he mockingly titled himself at the Oscars in 2007, 'Sexiest Man Alive, Oscar winning Actor' George Clooney. Mr Ocean himself!

Whereas last week the barriers were pretty lightweight and not exactly fixed, this time, they were higher up, and weighted so you you stand on the base, and the barriers would require more force to shift.

George Clooney's standard 'Premiere' Autograph is a GG in capitals, could be a GC, with a tail, but looks like a GG. Guys I was standing with before the event were comparing autographs they had got from earlier brushes with 'The Man Who Killed Off the Batman Franchise (before Christian Bale injected some life into it)'. Apparently to their eyes, the tail on the second G made it a 'proper, fuller' signature.

As per usual at these things, Celeb gets out of Mercedes car to screams from girlies. Then either hits a few folks for autographs, or, if they're Cruise or Wil Smith, or seemingly Mr Clooney, walks along the lines, signing more or less anything in front of him. Tom Cruise will apparently do this for AGES, in some kind of a bid to make his signature worthless to dealers and scalpers.

Whilst this is going on, Celeb's date for the night tends to stand around watching, chatting with event security, or what looks like a PYT from film company.

George's date for this appearance is Italian Supermodel Elisabetta Canalis..




Considering the Old Hands at the thing, I'm surprised no one made a fuss of her, but then, they all had photos to get signed, and didn't bring any of her. And I forgot who his girlfriend was...

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Premiere

Ok, not blogged in yonks, lots to catch up on.. but first..

Last night, at the Empire Leicester Square, London, I joined a few thousand movie fans and passers by in observing the Red Carpet for the UK Premiere of the new Terry Gilliam movie, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. This is the movie that was nearly scrubbed when Heath Ledger overdosed in his NYC flat during a break in filming.

Heath's roles were then taken up by Colin Farrel, Jude Law and Jonny Depp. none of these three were expected, as Law was opening as Hamlet on Broadway, and who knows what Depp and Farrel were up to. Those who did show up from the film included the director, Terry Gilliam, model/actress/student Lily Cole,




Also showing up from the film, were Verne Troyer, who plays the dwarf, Percy, and the films co-writer Charles McKeown, who was also in Time Bandits, which was regularly screened in my days at Buckfast Abbey School.

Folks not involved with the film, but showed up, included Tamara Ecclestone, (Reality Star, Socialite, and daughter of F1 Supremo Bernie), Entourage/Old School star Jeremy Piven, who was surprised at being recognised.

Big surprise of the night was LaToyah Jackson, who, as written elsewhere, looked like she'd been poured into a black strappy number. She was apparently there to support Verne, but signed quite a few autographs. My catch of the night was Rock God Nick Mason, AKA the drummer in Pink Floyd, and classic car collector par excellence. One of those next to me thought he was Michael Palin, or was it Eric Idle, but realised his mistake. We still managed to beckon him over to signed a few things.

Also showing up was music star Paloma Faith, who showed up with two friends. Paloma is in the film, but I don't think her friends were. One was dressed as a bright version of Elsa Lanchester/Bride of Frankenstein, and the other, a drag version of a lion, I would guess. He was pretty tall, and quite a sight, I must say.