Note: I wrote the following post two months ago. Post was seriously delayed because 1) I took film pictures, and 2) life keeps happening. :)
Ty Beanie Babies from Lift Up America's awesome Hollywood Movie Premiere event
Lift Up AmericaSeptember 25, 2007
HOLLYWOOD, CA— So I did this volunteer activity with
Tony W recently, wherein the full-on celebrity treatment was given to a gajillion less fortunate children who got to walk the red carpet on the Hollywood Walk of Fame like the superstars they are (inside) and have their pictures and autographs taken, before attending a real Hollywood premiere. Our role—that of Tony and me and an extraordinary number of other volunteers in yellow t-shirts—was to offer support to the glamorously dressed,
actual celebrities who played the front line of paparazzi and fans, by way of handing them Ty Beanie Babies and designer bracelets to heap upon the kids. We also got to play the madding crowd ourselves, clamoring for autographs and taking photos, too. (That's what Tony and I really did: played paparazzi.)
This is the kind of thing that sounds awesome at first blush, but that immediately gave me pause. I was like, Wait a sec.
I don't have dreams of walking the red carpet and doing this whole thing. Why is
this the experience we're giving these kids? How "less fortunate" are they? Less fortunate enough that they might appreciate the resources being used toward something a little more . . .
practical??I know, I know; I could not
believe I was thinking this, either. That's
so not the way I think, normally. But for some reason, before this event started, I even went so far in my cynicism as to say, out loud, "Doesn’t this sound like such the Hollywood idea of a charity event? You know: 'Let them walk the red carpet!'"
I normally disapprove of cynics and haters, especially when it comes to other people’s good deeds. I think . . . I've just lived too close to "the Industry" these past few years, plus haven't watched TV in forever, so my associations with Hollywood have gotten especially specific and disconnected. It’s also been a while since I've given real
time to a volunteer activity (as opposed to money), so part of me was surprised and questioning all around.
But, so. This event was the real deal: Full-on red carpet; all the big lights and huge-screen TVs;
traffic blocked-off all around Hollywood & Highland. There were velvet ropes and security guards everywhere. Spots were labeled where photographers from major journals and newspapers would stand. Pedestrians craned their necks in huge crowds across the street, trying to figure out what was going on.
It was like we were at the Oscars.
“Can I get your autograph, please??”
The second I said anything to Tony about my doubts, he busted up. It hadn't occurred to him to ask what, exactly, we were "teaching" these kids—like if we were sending a message of materialism (his words)—or feeding them the
US Weekly dream (mine). He did inform me, however, that he had looked into the organization a little more after he'd first emailed me. He'd first heard about this event through an entertainment listserv, which hadn't provided many details, but he had since found out, for example, that all the children who needed hearing aids or glasses had been given those things. So when
those children went into Mann’s Chinese to watch the movie, they would be able to enjoy the experience fully—in addition to getting free drinks and popcorn.
So, that was cool.
Others were indeed being given food, and, as the night went on, we could see for ourselves that all kinds of other cool organizations had also come together under the aegis of this larger, umbrella event to let disadvantaged people of all types join in the fun.
[
EDIT from 12/4/07—I have since learned that a potential value of six million dollars of scholarship money was also distributed—in $5,000 coupons to every child at the event—by a participating college.]
I was looking forward to the red-carpet aspect of this night from the beginning, just from a photography standpoint. I’d never been to a red-carpet anything before, and this seemed like an cool way to see what that was like. I also realized, during the final seconds of that countdown, that I was
made for this role. To act like paparazzi
and get all enthusiastic, treating every next kid like a
star?? That's what I live for!
Look! On-the-spot interviews conducted from the red carpet, rolling real tape!
"So how would you describe how you're feeling right now? Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?"
Of course, the whole evening was awesome. The kids loved it, the celebs loved it; everyone had an a
mazing time. We got more inventive in our role as fans as the night went on. In the beginning, we shouted all the obvious stuff: "Can I get your autograph?" —"Me, too! Me, too!!" –“Wait!! One more, PLEASE??!” One of the guys walking along as a chaperone started joking around, acting like a manager for one of the kids, saying, “No more autographs, please! What?
One more? All right,
one more, but then we have to get going. What?
One more?? Alll right, but that's it!” until the girl (who had Down Syndrome) had to shout quite forcefully, without looking over her shoulder, “I! Don’t
mind!!” That made us all laugh.
But there was one guy—
actually, a couple guys—
actually,
several guys—
who
really took it to the next level and inspired all the rest of us. One of them drank a Red Bull right before the start, and he never stopped yelling, "There she is!! It’s
her! Get ready!!" and "Here he comes!! That's
him! I can't believe it!" at
every next kid that came down the line.
That, for me, was the heart of the matter, and that guy
nailed it. I started copying him, and everyone started shouting each other's best lines over and over—each time with
gusto, like it was for the first time—cracking each other
up. An event is what you make it, and these people made it awesome.
We also got better at the whole art of straining over and under and
through each other (as shown to us by another of the actors) to create a tangle of arms and notepads in the kids' faces. With the bright lights and popping flashes, we made a good scene.
This guy on the right was not the Red Bull guy, but he was also super awesome, really leaning in and acting super excited to meet every kid—asking questions and soaking in and appreciating every moment of attention they gave him. I was moved.
All the celebs were awesome. They gave this night flair.
Afterward, as each kid walked away, my Red Bull friend would still be all, "YEAHHH!! She hooked us up with that autograph!! I got her autograph!! YEAH!!"
My autograph card (actually the front and back of my volunteer namecard, since I didn't get one of the little autograph notepads they handed out) got filled up pretty quickly. It wasn’t until that happened that I realized I had something even better to contribute than getting autographs. I was carrying a huge
camera, hel
lo! What was I thinking?
I had actually been shooting film (for my black and white darkroom class) and my one roll had gotten used up in the first five minutes. But that meant I could pop the flash everywhere now, without consequences.
I was shooting blanks.
I wished I was shooting real images. Tony was getting awesome shots the whole night on his digital. Eventually I broke down and bought another roll of film (color) from a tourist shop—which lasted another five minutes.
"Smile for the camera, please! This way, this way!"
"Over here! Quick photo! Smile!"
Other people chimed in around me, directing the kids' attention my way (even though there were plenty of cameras going off). People paused mid-autograph to look up and pose. This thing we already knew, was more evident than ever: if you treat people like stars, they shine.
How can you argue with that? He's in a wheelchair! And he's radiant!
The most affecting thing was the parents and chaperones that walked alongside their kids. Some laughed and were taken aback by our crazed behavior, but a few of them cried and touched their hearts and mouthed
Thank you at us from behind their kids, as the kids signed and shook hands and worked their way down the line.
That got me. I wasn't prepared.
My hard, hard heart was melting.
It was obvious that the celebrity contingent, at least, had no doubts whatsoever that this was the most amazing night ever. They kept saying, "This is a
great event for the kids. This is
incredible. This is
awesome." (And that same little voice inside me kept replying, Well of course
you think that!) There were also a few schmoopy people affiliated with the organization who had clearly put a lot of hard work into this night, who were shedding tears left and right.
I did recognize one of the celebs: the guy who played the deaf football player in
The Replacements. (Woo hoo for
The Replacements!) Before I saw him, Tony and I had speculated whether any of the actors would be recognizable, whether their agents had told them to come, whether they were being paid, etc. (Not that any of that would be bad, and not that I believed for one second they weren’t genuinely into it.) I Googled this event just now, and apparently some of the actors were from
The Office and
Heroes. The Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) was there, too.
There was one moment when a celeb answered his cell phone and I totally heard him reply, "I'm at Mann's Chinese right now, signing autographs." He was all, "Yeah,
I'm signing! You hear that? You hear
that??" And he held up his phone to the whole whooping, cheering crowd and was all, "That's all for
me!"I hope that was his friend on the line whose leg he was pulling, whom he planned to tell the truth later. 'Cause
that'd be hilarious, but otherwise, yikes.
About an hour into this thing, I began to understand what about this gig qualified as
volunteer work. The kids were getting dropped off at the start of the red carpet via an endless parade of limousines, and there was no sign we were even halfway through.
"This celebrity-stalking thing is exhausting!" someone joked, just as I was feeling it. "I have a whole new respect for these people!"
But all the fans around me were brilliant, and we kept getting more inventive, and every next kid hadn't heard our bits yet. By the end, I wished we could go back and do it all over again for the kids who had walked in the beginning.
As a kid, I totally pretended to be in this situation now and then. Of course I did. ("Thank you, thank you! No more autographs, please! I'd like to thank all the little people—") And if you think about it in a metaphorical way, then I'm still pursuing this dream now. It was just the literal realization, the physical signs and signifiers of opulence, that took me aback in the beginning. But, as my good friend
Sara says, “Anything that makes people feel special is good.”
True that, my friend.
True.
That.R.
P.S.
Read more about this event and other Lift Up America events coming to cities near you! (The second link has photos of the actors.)
http://www.christianexaminer.com/Articles/Articles%20Oct07/Art_Oct07_01.htmlhttp://www.liftupamerica.org/Spotlight/Hollywood2a.htmlhttp://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-News-Blog/Tv-Guide-News/Heroes-Stars-Ventimiglia/800023036http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003647014There's a more complete list of links here:
http://liftupamerica.org/pastevents.html#hollywoodAnd don't forget
Tony W's Web site, with all the great photos
he took!!
I even spotted a couple pictures of Tony and me on the other sites—just from knowing where in the crowd to look. :)
It's funny, because when we were first told to hand Beanie Babies to the "celebrities," Tony and I couldn't tell if they meant actual actors were coming, or if they were referring directly to the kids. I didn't think they meant the latter, but the idea grew on me and was very pleasing. (Just the idea this organization had decreed the kids would
always be called "celebrities.") I was a little disappointed when a train of glamorously dressed grownups showed up at the last moment. But only for that reason. The presence of the celebs definitely amped up the production value of the night and made it awesome. :)
P.P.P.P.P.P.S.
I mentioned this post was initially delayed because I took pictures with film. Actually, only the color roll caused delay. The black and white roll I took to my class and within hours held 8x10 glossy enlargements in my hands—that I had processed and printed myself! That was incredibly gratifying.
Here, however, was a photo I was
unhappy with:
Somehow I managed to take a picture that conveyed the exact
opposite of the spirit of this event! This was while we were waiting for everything to start. In fact, this is the moment the kids first realized they could see themselves on the huge-screen TV. They got all excited and started goofing off—and we cracked up and took pictures. But I could feel mine was wrong the moment I took it.
It looks like the ribbon-cutting-ceremony tape is keeping them
out! This is my fault as a photographer, and it gives me lots to think about. We are all storytellers, always . . . (Well,
I think of it as storytelling. If you were in sales, for example, then you would say,
Everyone is selling something.) The point is, we need to stay in control of the messages we're sending out.
:) :)
r
Here are the books I've loved lately, that have graduated from my To-Read list to my To-Buy (or Just-Bought!) list.
First, the Middle Grades and YAs:
Getting Near To Baby, by Audrey Couloumbis (MG). 2000 Newberry Honor Book. In addition to drawing me into a cast of characters, every one of whom I rooted for, each chapter's end gave me that fine feeling of having read a poetic short story.
The Year of the Dog, by Grace Lin (MG). Absolutely charming and magical, in the tradition of those
Carolyn Haywood books we all loved growing up (the Betsy and Eddie books!), but starring Chinese Americans! Got one in paperback for my little cousin, one in hardback for me.
Ironside, by Holly Black (YA fantasy). Awesome. I heard Holly Black speak recently at San Diego Comic Con in a panel on YA villains, and she talked about her interest in creating cultures clearly alien to our own. Everyone who'd read any of her three modern faerie tales bobbed their heads enthusiastically to hear her say it.
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga (YA). Deftly handled, with all the subtle (yet extreme) tensions and characters clearly delineated. And funny(!), though I feel odd saying so. Recommended in particular for Calvin, because the voice reminded me of his.
(I also got the two books mentioned in
my last book roundup: 
and
. And for the record, I loved
, but we can never talk about it [online].)
I should probably mention that, while my apartment is always overflowing with library books, I only bring up books here I've loved enough to put down funds and
buy. That requires
extreme love. (It also means there are lags between book posts, as I can't buy the books I love all that fast.)
Regarding picture books, I try (sadly, unsuccessfully) to limit the number in my personal collection. But I'm
always excited to buy them for friends. It's one of the key reasons I get excited when friends have babies! ;D (Sounds like a Discovery Channel show:
When Friends Have Babies.)
And on that note, here are the latest picture books to have stolen my heart:
Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis. Um. Everyone needs this book. This is a picture book in its purest, most joyful form. Kids will relate and want this again and again. (I've already "handsold" a couple in bookstores to friends, haha.) "It's not a box!"
Bee-bim Bop!, by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee. Genius! (again!) The fun of the words, the fun of the dish, the worlds of the grocery store and kitchen prep and dinner table evoked by the illustrations. See that cover? This book speaks to you and will make you bop.
The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats. 1963 Caldecott Medal winner. Everyone also needs
this book. A classic for every good reason. I don't know how I could have not known about it sooner. Utterly engaging and engrossing to the senses.
I'd Really Like To Eat A Child, by Sylviane Donnio, illustrated by Dorothee De Monfried. Translated from the French original,
Je mangerais bien un enfant. Actually, I'm not sure everyone needs this book.
I need this book—for the sheer audacity of the premise and the fun way the cocky main character is drawn, which paid off
every time I read this. My current strategy is to show this off to everyone in person and see whether they need their own, too.
J'adore. (
Je l'adore?? Vicki! Lynn! Help!)
And now,
Robert's Snow:
In (partial) reference to my last post, it turns out there
is something a blogger can do—in a bloggerly fashion—to express sympathy and show support to a blogging friend. At least, there is in the case of
Grace Lin, whose husband Robert Mercer passed away on August 27.
Robert's Snow is the amazing fundraiser the couple created in 2004, which to date has raised over $200,000 for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. So, first of all, you can buy the original
Robert's Snow picture book; you can buy
Robert's Snowflakes, the book which commemorates pieces from the first Robert's Snow snowflake auction in 2004; you can
give money in the name of "Robert's Snow"; or you can
bid in this year's Robert's Snow snowflake auction to get your own unique piece of artwork—a wooden ornament decorated by a children's book artist—all for this tremendous cause. Over 200 incredible children's book authors and illustrators are contributing snowflakes this year. (You can view the 2005 snowflakes
here and 2004 snowflakes
here. They are
stunning. There are even sculptures!)
Have
your favorite author/illustrators created snowflakes? I bet they have.
Look them up! You can sort the 2004 and 2005 contributors alphabetically!
EDIT to the original post: You can now go
here to view the 2007 snowflakes, as well as years' past! Go, go,
go!
It is a
mazing. You want a snowflake.
Second, if you've got a blog, you can
promote Robert's Snow and the snowflake auction. In fact, thanks to the good people at
Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, bloggers can now sign up to feature from one to five of this year's Robert's Snowflakes artists, on their blogs. 7-Imp is organizing the list, and it'll be a cross-posting extravaganza, with everyone clicking to learn more about artists and snowflakes, and all traffic driven to the auction itself. Click
here to read more and sign up!
I first heard about this on
Jo Whittemore's blog, followed immediately by the next
several blogs I read. Spread the word, everyone!
I know several people whose lives have been touched by cancer recently, quite profoundly. I am often at a loss about what I can do. Well, here is one thing.
Love,
r
By: Rita,
on 12/4/2007
The Bidding For Auction 1 of Robert's Snow is going on right now, and it ends today.
