I have to say that my hands are still shaking from the Johnny and Tim encounter. It’s absolutely surreal since I felt that I would never be able to meet them in real life ever in my life.
I arrived across the streets from the Graumann’s Chinese Theatre at around 8:45 and I was able to have a spot right at the front row thanks to the zoners who were saving spots for us there ever since 6:45 in the morning. We had a looong wait behind the rails, but the time seemed to whiz by since many Deppheads were there to hang out with. I wrote a private letter to Johnny, and I swear I had to have 15 rough drafts until I ended up with the final draft that I was going to send to Johnny. Karen left a small note in my PM this morning, and I copied that down and clipped that to my letter for Johnny to have.
It was so cool standing there since the soundtrack music was blaring in the speakers, and the theatre workers were starting to decorate the red carpet with couple dozens of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory posters. The lights were blaring and several impersonators came walking by and even a Willy Wonka impersonator who looked exactly like Johnny started hanging around the area. I had my “JDReads and JDZone congratulates Johnny and cast/crew” sign and several other zoners had “Zoners love Johnny” and “Semi-sweet and nuts” posters around. The time was slowly approaching 1:00 at this time. I was trying to read and have a few bites out of my sandwich but I couldn’t swallow anything in.
Sorry for really stalling with my report, but it’s really fun to go back and live out the anticipation. The press started arriving at 1:00 and a few crew members for the movie I believe walked through the red carpet. Still, the red carpet was still very quiet before the big ruckus arrived at 2:00 when the celebrities started arriving.
The one big problem we had to face was the traffic. Warner Bros. supposedly didn’t pay the theatre enough money to create a road blockade for the premiere. So, there were buses and cars blocking our view of the red carpet. We had to constantly scream at the passersby, who stopped in the middle of the road to check out the red carpet, to get out of the way. It was kind of fun screaming at them, although it didn’t really solve anything out. Some were plain rude and just ignored us.
Anyway, David Kelly (Grandpa Joe) was the first star of the movie to arrive at the carpet. Sadly, he didn’t wave to us or give us any kind of recognition. I guess he was trying his best trying to get past the wave of paparazzi attacking him. Next were the children. I believe the boy who played Mike Teevee was the first of the children followed by Annasophia Robb (Violet), who looked stunning in pink. They didn’t seem to pay attention to us at all either. Next came the utterly charming Freddie Highmore, with his spiked hair and his striped shirt. After a few photo ops with the paparazzi, he decided to come over to us. We were screaming like banshees and he was able to sign a couple of autographs for the fans, although he didn’t get to reach the zoners and the JDRers. However, he gave a cute wave (he’s more adorable in real life and his dimples are too cute to describe) and left to go to the theatre.
I think the girl who played Veruca Salt was there, however I couldn’t see her face so it was kind of hard to tell. Well, there was Frankie Muniz and a bunch of other stars and elite crowds we didn’t really care for. The press was quiet for awhile although the fans kept on screaming for Johnny.
A black SUV came and we immediately recognized it as Johnny’s car. Everyone went crazy. But some frizzy black hair came popping out of the car and we immediately knew, it was the man of the moment: Tim Burton. What an amazing sight. His hair was in complete disarray but they were so alive. It definitely added into the unique character of Tim Burton. That director, that man, had presence. We screamed like crazy for him to come over and he willingly crossed the streets to get to us. We were yelling, “Tim Tim!! Over here! We love you, Tim!” It was absolute chaos as there was constant pushing and shoving, enough to leave bruises on your ribs. My eardrums were even ringing and I felt a slight tinge of fear that all this would accelerate 10 times more when Johnny would arrive. So, back to the amazing Tim. He tried to spend his time with each person in the line, trying to sign as much as he can. When he came to us, I literally could not breathe. Here was a living legend, in front of my eyes, and I couldn’t swallow it in. In haste, I grabbed my sharpie and pulled the cap off, but someone shoved the marker into my face and I swear I had this big black sharpie mark slashed around my lip. I tried busily to wipe it off before Tim came, but it was too late. He reached for my marker. He signed my book and went on using my marker to sign for the other fans. I was trying my best to hide my face, rubbing so furiously that I could feel my skin burning. He came back to me and gave me back the marker, and I swear he gave the weirdest look at my face. Haha…I will always be remembered by him as the girl with a big black sharpie stain on her lip. How delightful…
The next cool star was Danny Elfman, and I went crazy. The soundtrack music from the speakers seemed to amplify a bit as he stepped onto the carpet. He couldn’t come over to us at all, but still I was awestruck. Here’s another film legend, one of the great composers of today, standing right there in front of me. Crazy…
Ok…I’ll jump onto the moment you guys have been waiting for…We were getting a bit hopeless since the screening was beginning at 3:00 and there still was no sign of Johnny. There were several black SUVs that came around, as we waited with anticipation, but there still was no JOhnny. However, unexpectedly, someone yelled, “THere’s his hat!” I quickly turned around and I could see the brown brim of a hat. THAT WAS HIM! We went nuts. I was right. It was ten times worse than with Tim. I kept on getting jammed to the rails and my shoes kept on slipping off. I swear I was slanted and just about to fall if it weren’t for the people beside me holding me up. The funny thing was, I didn’t yell as much as I thought I would. He was seriously a vision, and I just stood there dumbfounded. He seriously glides, and I’m not kidding here. He walks over so gracefully that you could barely see his feet moving. I saw several passengers on the road stop dead on their tracks, watching in utter shock over JOhnny passing by in front of them. There was a ruckus all around us with camera lights flashing here and there. He slowly went through the crowd of fans. SLOWLY….it was unbearable. He was SLOWLY approaching. This girl behind me started freaking out and I couldn’t understand why. I felt so calm just watching him. He slowly inched closer, and the girl behind me reached out and stroke his hand. She started crying, “I just touched Johnny Depp’s hand. I can’t believe I just touched Johnny Depp’s hand.” It was quite hilarious. Then, he was right there. I tried to get the cap off carefully from my sharpie and asked the people around me if the sharpie mark was off my face. I just held out the sharpie and I felt a slight jab. Johnny was taking my marker. OMG…My heart started thumping a thousand beats per second. I shakily looked for my Dead Man dvd for him to sign. He paused for a second for me to adjust. His patience just surprises me. He signed in quickly and as I looked up, we made eye contact. I was lost for a second before I finally realized I had letters to give him. I blurted out, “I have letters for you!” He looked at me and I started searching for Karen and my letters to give to him. As he took it from me, he asked in astonishment, “Two letters?” I nodded. He smiled and gave a slight nod of thanks. I think I was about to die right then. Jennifer, a depphead right next to me, was worried about how Johnny would accept her artwork. Johnny looked at her drawing and widened his eyes. “Very nice drawings!” He gave a smile and signed her artwork carefully. He went on to greet more fans, and it felt like he didn’t want to leave at all.
It was so like Johnny to immediately come to us right after he got out of the car. I just couldn’t believe my eyes, that when other stars went immediately to the press, Johnny came first to us and stayed the longest with us. I guess Johnny had a very busy day ahead of him since he left right after his press interviews. However, although I didn’t get to see it, he gave a big friendly wave to the audience from his car.
Seeing him up close, I felt very comfortable, although I felt nervous at the same time. He seems to have this peaceful aura surrounding him, and when he comes to you, it seems like he only focuses on you. I mean, so much that, I felt extremely special for those few seconds we shared alone. I still can’t believe he took those letters home. From what I saw on his hands, Karen and my letters were the only things he was holding. I guess he was reading them on his carride home.
Just to quickly close this report, in Karen’s letter, she wrote in the JDR messageboard address. I was hoping that, since he knows about this messageboard now, he might be able to visit us. How cool is that?!?
Hopefully, for those who weren’t able to meet him today, we can set up another arrangement for the Corpse Bride and Libertine premiere. After meeting him today, it’s become an addiction. I must meet that angel once again.
