I actually was standing a few meters away from there (Yes, at the Venice Lido, today 2.15 am at night when they arrived for the screening of “Finding Neverland!!), with all the crowd of photographers in between, but there, live, at that very moment. I could only see him and Kate from behind, take a glimpse from their profile once or twice, but it was real, the true real person, not just a picture, a figure out of another world, and I can still feel the whole atmosphere around it. It was truely unbelievable!
The video actually brings tears into my eyes. You can hear people shout Johnny Johnny Johnny!!! Not a single call for Kate! And can you see how Johnny reacts to this? He steps away, he gives her the space to be noticed – but no, only more shouting Johnny – till he stands up and leaves with a sad smile and wink. I wasn’t there at the photoshooting, but it was the same thing at night at the arrival for the screening: hundreds and hundreds of shouting and screaming his name again and again and nothing for the others. Johnny couldn’t go away there but you could see and feel he is not at all comfortable being the only center of attraction. You all know that me too I adore Johnny, and of course I was there because of him, just because of him, but I really felt pitty especially for Kate, who is a great actress too, being so completely left out. Now seeing the video with Johnnys so incredible modest and kind reaction, I acknowledge even more, what a wonderful person he really is.
I watched the video again. I am still not quite sure if they shout Kate and Johnny or hey Johnny! But also if they shout Kate, there is obviously a reason coming from the crowd which makes Johnny’s face darken and get him to step away. he doesn’t look scared to me but rather a bit angry or annoyed. I still think he steps away at least partly because he wants Kate to be given more attention. But I also believe that he refuses to get treated like a subject.
While I agree that these events are part of his job, I don’t think either that he should like it. He has to accept it as necessary, and he does, but he doesn’t have to enjoye it. So if he doesn’t smile a lot there, this is only his courage to be honest. Smiling into all these cameras while not liking it, would just be feigning.
I noticed though he smiles a lot more while giving autographs and greeting fans.
And another remark: in his statement to Finding Neverland he mentioned the horrible crime to the children in Russia. Couldn’t it be, that this made such an impact on him that it molded his mood through the whole time?
Does he look sad? or tired, embarrassed, worried, angry, annoyed? We can read much in his face, in his eyes. But its always interpretation, and we don’t know the reasons behind.
From what I saw directly I can only tell that he didn’t look happy or proud to be there. But if his appearance expressed his actual general feeling or state, or if its only the way he feeled that day, for that event – who knows?
Claudia
