THE CONZINE
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES PREMIERE
BY BECCA ROSE
As an entertainment journalist I’ve seen it all, I’ve met celebrities of all shapes and sizes, been to red carpets filled with chaos and drama and not once have I been star struck. I’ve conducted myself with professionalism and maturity each and every time, it seemed as though nothing could phase me on the red carpet anymore. However, there is one thing, or one man I should say, who will always be my weakness. One man who, no matter how professional and seasoned I may be at these celebrity events, can make my knees buckle and turn me into a nervous wreck…that man is Johnny Depp. When I was 8-years-old my father rented, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” for me because at the time I was a huge Leonardo DiCaprio fan, and while I was head over heels for Leo my father was convinced I’d soon change the shape of my heart. “I have a feeling you’re going to like the other actor in the movie a lot more.” He insisted to which I, of course, protested. When you’re young, no child wants to admit their parent is right, but damn was he right. By the end of the film it was “Leo who? I love Johnny!” and from that moment on it was all over for me, I was obsessed and bewildered by all things Johnny Depp. Anything he was in I watched no matter how weird or inappropriate it was, if his name was attached to it I was soon viewing it. Immediately following “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” I made a promise to myself that one day I’d not only meet Johnny Depp but also that I’d interview him. A goal that I’m sure most of you find terribly childish, but it has been my dream ever since.
While I love all of the projects Johnny is involved with, none are as special or entertaining to me as his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean films. The character is so loveable and irritating at the same time, Johnny puts 110% into the role and delivers a dynamite performance every single time. So you can imagine my excitement when I found out that I would be attending the black carpet for the world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Immediately the 8-year-old in me came pouring out and my entire body filled with butterflies. The goal I’d set for myself twenty-years-ago was finally going to become a reality, it was an absolute dream come true…or so I thought.
May 7, 2011 – Anaheim, CA. The day of the premiere finally arrived, I had prepared all my questions the night before and of course made sure I had enough batteries to last throughout the entire event. Disneyland is already an incredible place, though not quite as magical as Disneyworld in Orlando, FL, add the extreme production that went into the set up for the premiere complete with skull and crossbones, life size signs with pictures from the film, and you have the makings of one unforgettable event. It was just as I’d pictured it, or remembered it from when I would watch from my living room as other media outlets participated in this glorious event. I never imagined I’d be seeing it for myself. No expense was sparred; Disney even hired extra workers to act as “media hosts” assigned to each outlet in attendance. The media hosts were there to bring the reporters to the media welcome center and then to their spot on the black carpet. I spent most of my time, prior to the arrivals, in the media center where they had food, drinks and of course various Pirates of the Caribbean movie clips playing. They really wanted to make sure the media was well taken care of and really in the mood to see some pirates. While the media room was definitely one of the more entertaining waiting spaces I’ve been to for a premiere, I found myself getting restless just sitting around so I asked my media host to show me where I’d be standing once the arrivals began. Much to my dismay I found myself placed second to last on the carpet, a spot no media professional ever wants to be in, but I had to make do with what I was given.
Unlike most premieres and red carpet events I’ve been to the waiting prior to celebrity arrivals was anything but boring. Disney cast members dressed like pirates were there to entertain both media and fans alike, doing juggling tricks while balancing on unicycles and juggling swords joking with the crowd, no detail was spared. Still the anticipation was growing you could feel it all around, there was a buzz in the air, the fans and media alike were starting to get anxious. Thankfully the celebrities began to arrive, but first fans and invited guests strutted their stuff on the black carpet to a parade of fans screaming for them. The faces of the younger generations as they walked by a group of rowdy fans ranged from thrilled to terrified, not understanding why they were being yelled at for walking. As the senior editor of a magazine that’s all about the fans I loved seeing the faces of each person as they walked down the carpet, looking around as the fans all along Main Street chanted “Johnny Johnny Johnny,” as if Johnny Depp would magically appear. Of course in the back of my mind the child in me was hoping the same thing, after all we were in Disneyland and if any place could create magic like that it was Disney. Despite my ever-growing nerves, I had to stay focused, remain on task. I was a professional journalist and I was not going to let some childhood fantasy disrupt what I was there to do, get interviews with celebrities and find out who they truly were.
As celebrities began to walk down the long black carpet, media chaos began to erupt, cameras flashing, names being screamed every which way, I almost got lost among the clutter. I am both small in stature and in voice so as hard as I tried to grab the attention of some of the actors and actresses as they passed, I failed more than I succeeded. I decided to enlist the help of my photographer, Rocco DiMase who was able to grab, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” star, Zachary Gordon.
CZ: So are you excited about tonight?
ZG: Totally! I mean who wouldn’t be excited?
CZ: Have you seen all of the other Pirate’s movies?
ZG: Yes I have, I’m a huge fan of them.
CZ: Do you have a favorite Jack Sparrow line?
ZG: Oh let me think about that. At the end of the second movie where the big Cracken is about to attack him, he’s like “Hello Beastie.”
CZ: That’s your favorite?
ZG: Yeah, that’s really cool.
CZ: Do you have a favorite of the Pirate movies, so far?
ZG: The first one. It was pretty awesome!
CZ: What are you most looking forward to in this one?
ZG: Plain old pirates, I’m an old fashioned guy. I mean they’re one of my kind. I really feel their pain.
CZ: Who are you a big fan of?
ZG: Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush, definitely.
CZ: Who are your influences? Anyone that made you want to become an actor?
ZG: You know I just really wanted to become an actor. It’s just been an amazing experience.
The crowd definitely agreed with Zachary Gordon about the excitement of the night, as each celebrity arrived the crowds grew more and more excited. I continued to have trouble grabbing the attention of a few of the celebrities who were willing to do interviews, unfortunately most of them had had just about enough of the media. As I mentioned earlier, being second to last on a carpet is not the place any media outlet wants to be, by the time the celebrity reaches that point they don’t even want to think about answering another question.
I know vampires are really in right now, “Twilight,” “The Vampire Diaries,” to name a few. While I am not a fan of the various shows and movies I did quite enjoy the interview I had with the sexy Steven R. McQueen from the CW’s hit series, “The Vampire Diaries.” He knew how to behave during an interview, respectful and focused and I certainly didn’t mind staring at him throughout the interview.
CZ: So can you give me your favorite Jack Sparrow line?
SRM: My favorite Jack Sparrow line…arrgggh! I don’t know I’m not sure.
CZ: First of all congratulations, “Vampire Diaries,” is a great show.
SRM: Thank you.
CZ: Can you give us any details on what we can expect for the season finale?
SRM: I mean there’s not much I can give away. The season finale is this Thursday and it’s a hell of an episode. I think you guys will all enjoy it.
CZ: What’s your favorite part about filming?
SRM: You there are interesting stories being told and a great group of actors to work with and it’s just a blast to be up in Atlanta working with them.
CZ: I know you recently did a convention, what was that like? How was the interaction with the fans? Was it overwhelming?
SRM: Good good, I mean I’m usually in my anti-social little bubble so to get out and see everyone that appreciates it is cool.
CZ: I have one question that always stumps people in advance. If you were to interview any of your fans what’s the one thing you’d want to know from them?
SRM: How you doing today?
As I am sure most of you are aware, if not all of you, the Disney Channel has spawned some extremely popular shows and movies. Young fans go crazy for the Disney stars and my next interview was no different, I spoke with Adan Irigoyen from the Disney series, “Shake It Up!”
CZ: Can you tell me your favorite Jack Sparrow line?
AI :(speaking with a British accent) Can I have some rum love? That’s, I think the ultimate Jack Sparrow quote.
CZ: Who are your biggest influences?
AI: I think for me it has to be Will Smith. Will Smith is my idol has always been my idol; he’s such a diverse actor. He started out in “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” everybody knows that, such a funny show. Amazing show, a big hit and he went from that and started doing the most amazing movies. He did drama, he did action he does everything, he still does comedy and so I look up to him that’s what I aspire my career to be.
Following this brief but upbeat interview with one Disney star, I found another from “That’s so Raven, “ Orlando Jones. Immediately I could tell Jones was a huge Pirates fan, he was dressed in complete pirate gear including a patch over his left eye. He was ready to see some pirates and pillage and plunder as many journalists as he could.
OJ: Hey! What’s going on?
CZ: Not much. You enjoying yourself so far tonight?
OJ: I’m having some fun.
CZ: Can you give me your favorite Jack Sparrow line?
OJ: (shouting in a British accent) Why is all the rum gone! That’s what he says, oh I love it! Yeah, that’s it!
CZ: Of all the Pirate movies, which has been your favorite so far?
OJ: Well I haven’t put this one in the equation yet because I haven’t seen it, obviously but I’m going to go with one because that’s what shook the world up. For right now it just has to be one.
Unfortunately that was it for the interviews, after seeing hundreds of reporters most celebrities just began to almost literally run down the carpet to get inside. All I could do was watch as Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane and various other cast members made their way down the carpet bypassing the media line. As disappointing as it was not getting interviews with any of the cast or crew from the actual Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides film, I still held out hope that once Johnny Depp arrived I’d be able to shake one question out of him. I thought for sure once Depp arrived fans would be screaming at the top of their lungs, after all how could they not? However, somehow Depp’s security, who did too good of a job blocking the media’s view of him, were able to keep the crowds under control. As usual Depp slowly went down the line of fans signing as many autographs as he could, it is widely known how appreciative and supportive of his fans Depp is. None-the-less I heard rumblings from various journalists complaining about the fact that Johnny Depp was “spending too much time with the fans and not enough with the media.” As both a Johnny Depp fan and a journalist I understood and appreciated both sides of the coin. The avid Johnny Depp fan within loved seeing him spending so much time with the fans, though I was disappointed I was not in there with them, but the journalist in me was frustrated that he was not even available for photos. Hard as we tried to snap a few good shots, his security was causing too much of a blockade that we all but gave up and just took in the moment for what it was. For me it was the moment I’d been waiting for since I was 8-years-old a moment where I was within a few feet of the man I’d been so crazy for, for twenty-years. He looked exactly as I’d pictured him, sophisticated and stunningly handsome. Johnny Depp has always tried to go against the grain of what is considered sexy but failed every time. No matter what he does to “ugly” himself up the task is an impossible one, the sex appeal he has flows deeper
than his outside appearance, it’s the way he carries himself, the way he takes on the roles he believes to be different and challenging, the way he respects his fans and the way he speaks so gently. I was surprised at myself for not being more nervous than I was as he walked by, I guess being in this business for so long I have almost become numb to being star struck. At the end of the day celebrities are just regular people with a better paycheck.
For me Johnny Depp will always be the one actor I would give anything to interview and while my experience with him on the black carpet was unsuccessful, the entire Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides premiere was an experience I’ll not soon forget.
COMICS IN A SEA OF CHAOS
By Becca Rose
Comic Con has been one of the most popular conventions of our time and while San Diego still holds the largest comic events New York has become a close second. This year NYCC invited fans of all ages to venture to the Jacob Javits Center in New York City and view their enormous display of comics and all things “geek-worthy.” This event spanned four days beginning October 13th and ending October 16th. Guests included the legendary Stan Lee, Chris Evans (Captain America/Avengers), James Marsters (Spike – Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Jason Momoa (Conana/Game of Thrones) and many more. As usual the event was jam-packed with fans and comic lovers. People came dressed as their favorite comic, television or movie character including one giant “bumble-bee” costume. For those attending just to see the spectacle of it all, good luck! Due to the enormous crowds and unending sea of new arrivals maneuvering the large Javits center is almost impossible. Among the chaos the creators and organizers of NYCC provided the fans with a number of different panels to enjoy, pending they were able to get in. Panels included “Dark Shadows,” “The Walking Deads,” “The Avengers,” “Nikita” and more. Unfortunately due to the large number of people going to each panel getting in became something of the past. For those unable to get into their chosen panel NYCC offered a room of autographs featuring Jason Moma, Rose McGowan, Eliza Dushku, Rick Fox, James Marsters, Felicia Day, Clare Kramer, Jason Mewes and none other than Mark Hamill. Unlike last year's Comic Con this time if you wanted an autograph you had to pay. While the cost of each
autograph varied depending on the celebrity and their publicists the average cost was around $40 for an autograph and a brief hello, or $80 for a photo op which was taken with your own camera. For some the money was worth it to spend a few seconds with Jason Momoa or James Marsters for others paying $100 for Mark Hamill’s autograph it was the happiest day of their lives.
For those of us who attended comic con merely as a bystander the chaos and disorganization was anything but worth while. NYCC has taken place for many years and yet the same disorganization exists to this day. Once the tickets were limited lower the number of people entering
the event on a particular day however, this policy no longer exists. The event is open to all who chose
the spend their hard earned money. Though autograph alley was not the only location a fan could get
a signature from their favorite guest it was the only room that allowed the amount of space needed to
form a line. Some of the autograph sessions took place on the main floor right in the middle of all the
chaos. Chad Michael Murray was signing his new book directly at the center of the sea of patrons
swarming the area. For his autograph there were a few conditions, first you had to purchase his book,
$20, then you had to purchase his autograph another $20. The book sold out quite quickly so those
who were unable to purchase the book but wanted the autograph had to pre-order it or an autograph
was out of the question.
What happened to the comic con of years ago when autographs were complimentary for the devoted
fans? When did this kind of appreciate and love of comics turn into such a money guzzling experience?
For those who were unable to attend this year’s comic con, don’t worry they’ll do it all again next year
only next time the autographs will be $80 a pop and you’ll have to sell your soul, but it’s okay as long
as comic con makes money right?
