An Apbieling experience

Word of the Post: Famoso (Famous)

There are dreams and then there are visions. A dream is a desire, but a vision is what you will become, a vision sees you where you belong and where you will be. In ten years, I see myself right back where I stood on the night of October 27, 2008—the red carpet. Bright lights. Loud music. Boys in tuxes. Big Names. My dream. When I arrived at the red carpet for the premiere of Easy Virtue, my breath was simply taken away.

To my right people were lined up awaiting the stars. To my left I could see the entrance to the red carpet, and in front of me was the E! backdrop for the upcoming interviews for the night. As I walked onto the red carpet for a glimpse at the set, I stopped and took a deep breath. This is where I belonged. This is where my future as a journalist, critic, and TV star would begin. I had no clue that three hours later I would be walking down the red carpet with one huge American star and one huge star from the UK—Jessica Biel and Ben Barnes. Biel would become the nicest celebrity that I have met to date.

The night was just outstanding. I felt like this is where I had belonged all my life. Just one night prior I had stood inside awaiting the stars of High School Musical 3 to arrive. It had been the High School Musical 3 Italian premier, and my first movie premier ever, but it didn’t compare to the Easy Virtue premier one bit.

Jaimie and I arrived three hours ahead of the scheduled red carpet run because I wanted to be sure that I would get a clear picture of Biel. Biel is obviously no Pitt, Jolie, or Cruise, but she is an actress that many of my good friends and I grew up with as the hit drama 7^th Heaven was around for many years of our lives. She also starred in one of my favorite baseball movies, Summer Catch. Having the opportunity to just see her in person would have been good enough for me.

Jaimie and I realized that we would be allowed to walk down the red carpet when she and Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian) came out for their debut. We began to guess what kind of dress she would be wearing. And during our three hour wait, we took a short walk on the carpet to get a picture in front of the E! stage, where we see ourselves one day.

Three hours later—it was time. We timed it so that we could get pictures of them on the red carpet, but so that we could walk down it when they were past the fans. We stepped on the red carpet and everything fell into place. Suddenly we were walking along side Barnes and Jaimie was talking to his mom telling her how much she liked her necklace. His mom responded, “I got it in Piazza Venezia.” We then asked Barnes if we could get a picture with him, and so we did. The next feat was to meet Biel, which wasn’t so simple. She was taking her time coming down the red carpet, and Jaimie and I were being asked to move along. Things were not looking good for us, until we found a stairwell along the carpet to hang out in…until Biel came down to right next to us. Then we slowly made our way back onto the red carpet, and I went up to shake her hand. I said, “You are a great actress-You’re an idol—We grew up with you.” Jaimie threw in, “7^th Heaven,” and we all got a good laugh. We asked if we could get a pic with her, and she smiled genuinely and said “Sure!” Before we could get the picture, her security guard tried to push us out of the way and Jessica yelled at him “I said it was fine!” She proved in that moment to be exactly the opposite of what all the Perez Hilton fans say she is—and I gained more respect for her than any celebrity that I have met yet.

The night ended with a viewing of the movie, which had one of the best opening scenes that I have scene in years, going from black and white to color, with just this magical appeal to it. However, Jaimie and I had so much adrenaline rushing through our bodies that we couldn’t even focus for more than twenty minutes, and we got up to leave.

When I was younger I used to go to concerts, and I would be so star struck. I was so surprised by the ability that I had to go up to this star and talk to her. Sure, my knees were shaking, and my palms may have gotten a little moist, but the whole night was just a note of where I belong. Whether I am on the baselines of a baseball field broadcasting or on the red carpet of a big movie premier, I know where I am supposed to be, and I can’t wait to get there.