The Island November 2004



Photos belong to Alissa do not use elsewhere without permission

Meeting Ewan! <--November 6, 2004

Today was a day full of misses, and near-misses. This morning Dawn called me at 9:00am saying she would be free to get together earlier than I thought. So I raced out of bed, ate breakfast, got dressed and was out the door and to her house by around 12:30pm. We left immediately for downtown Detroit, and arrived just as the cast and crew were breaking for lunch. We saw people milling around the streets where filming had been taking place, eating and chatting and getting set up for the post-lunch filming. Dawn and I noticed that filming was taking place directly down the street from where all of the trailers were. We decided to hang around that area for a bit when we ran into our friend Dave that we had first met on Tuesday evening at the Central Depot. He was one of the crew for the movie, and the nicest guy we had met over the past week. He had told us where to go to see Ewan on Wednesday (when I got my Ewan wave!) and was determined to help us meet Ewan today. He told us Ewan was in his trailer right now, and would be walking past us to get to the area they were filming at. He told us that eventhough Ewan had the choice to be driven to set and back, he preferred to walk by himself. Dave also told us that Ewan was so incredibly down to earth and nice to everyone. He would ride from his hotel to set in the van that drove the extras back and forth, and he would sit down and eat with them as well, eventhough the main cast had their own eating area. Yay Ewan! He's such a sweetie.

Dawn and I met a very nice couple named Lisa and Andy, who were also waiting to see Ewan. (Well, Lisa was the big fan and her husband was being a good sport, lol.) Lisa had the gray and blue Pringle scarf on, and that's how I began talking to her in the first place--it's a really gorgeous scarf! So we're waiting, and lunch is ending. We waited for over an hour, and then Dave called us over across the street telling us he had talked to security and they would allow us to watch filming as close as the extras, crew, and security would go. This was very nice of him since no "regular" people were allowed near the street they were filming on. So Dawn, Lisa, Andy and I all followed Dave to the street where filming was going on. We stood there for awhile wondering if Ewan had already been driven up after all, and tried to spot him in the crowd of people getting ready for the first post-lunch shot. We saw his two doubles over and over again (which kept giving me a heart attack because from the back they looked JUST like Ewan!) but we couldn't find Ewan himself. (Scarlett was on set though, and someone had brought her little dog up to keep her company in between takes. It's this hyper tiny "Taco Bell"-type dog, lol.) So Andy and Lisa had to leave, and I had to answer the call of nature so Dawn and I decided to risk not seeing Ewan and find a bathroom. Dave had told us we could use the bathroom in the building where the cast and crew ate lunch, so we walked inside the building (which was right near the street by the trailers) and found a bathroom. This is where our first "miss" of the day happened. While we were walking to the bathroom, we met up with Barb and Fiasco, and three other people (I think three) that I can't remember or didn't know. And as Barb posted, Ewan had walked RIGHT by them on the way to set.

He had walked by them just as we had left to watch filming!!! I couldn't believe we had missed Ewan!!! Anyways, after walking back outside a few minutes later, our "near-miss", yet ultimately wonderful moment occured. I stepped outside and started walking back to the set to watch filming again when...I saw him! It was Ewan, just crossing the street and disappearing down the road to his trailer. I freaked, thinking I was going to miss him yet AGAIN and turned back to Dawn yelling, "No! Dawn, it's him! Oh no!!!!" She yelled at me to run and catch up with him, and eventhough I was worried I would look like a stalker running after him, I took off and raced across the street, my heart pounding. Thank God Barb and Fiasco and everyone had stopped him. When Dawn and I turned the corner we saw him signing someone's LWR book, and beginning to take pictures with them. I didn't even know what to think. I just looked at him in awe thinking, "OMG. It's Ewan. OMG stay calm. He's right there." I was shaking, and I lost the ability to form complete sentences. I took my camera out, and waited until it was time for me to take my picture with him. Then I remember him looking around wondering who was next and I piped up, "Ewan, can I have a picture?" He said, "Sure!" and went to put his arm around me. I remember trying to hand Dawn my camera, but Fiasco was telling me to use her camera, and that she'd send me the picture. I was overwhelmed and didn't know what to do so I handed Dawn my camera anyways, and turned to Fiasco. She mentioned that her hands were shaking, and Ewan laughed a bit. I remember feeling the leather of his jacket with my hand, and feeling his arm around my waist. I just couldn't believe it--I was right up against him! And I had so much I wanted to say to him, but I couldn't think! Before I knew it, Dawn was getting her picture and then we were all saying "thank you!" as he smiled, waved, and started walking back to the trailer. I stood by Dawn and saw Dave had come back. He smiled at me and said, "Did you finally get a picture?" I told him, "Yes! OMG I can't believe it!" Then he saw I was still holding my Ewan Sisterhood t-shirt that I had wanted Ewan to sign, and he asked "Did you get your shirt signed?" I told him no, and said there hadn't been enough time and Dave said, "Well Ewan is still there, go ask him."

I looked, and sure enough we could still see Ewan walking away, and no fans were by him. I hesitated, not wanting to bother him again since he had looked and sounded a bit tired--it had been a looong morning of shooting for him (and a 6:00am call time)--but with Dave and Dawn encouraging me to go, I found myself running toward him for the second time that day. "Ewan!" I called out, running into the trailer area. He didn't turn around. OMG I'm bothering him I thought. But I tried again, "Ewan!" He turned around. This was my chance. (By the way, the conversation is as close to what I can remember as possible. I was not eloquent or anything, but oh well.)

Me: I don't mean to bother you again, but I was wondering if you could sign my shirt.<

Ewan: Oh yeah sure! (I handed him the shirt, and he unfolded it and spread it out over the back of a wooden back to a trailer while I fished around in my pocket for my Sharpie marker.)

Me: I got this shirt because every year a group of Ewan fans that I belong to donate money to CHAS for your birthday. And last year I got this shirt as a thank you for donating.

Ewan: Yeah I've heard about that before. That's really lovely.

Me: I'm so happy to finally meet you; I've been here all week. (He starts trying to sign my shirt with a pen.) Oh wait here--I have a better pen. (I hand him the Sharpie.)

Ewan: (laughs a bit) Oh really? All week? Me: Oh well, not really all week but I was here all day Tuesday. But I couldn't stay all week because I had to go back to classes.

Ewan: Oh, do you go to university here?

Me: Yeah, I go to [name of school].

Ewan: That's great! (Finishes signing shirt, and then stands up smiling at me, handing me my shirt and pen.)

Me: Well thank you so much for everything. I admire you so much, and you're so kind to your fans, so thank you so much. (I was saying thank you on repeat, lol!)

Ewan: Well thank you. (Smiling at me, he held out his hand. I broke out into an even bigger smile, and took his hand. He squeezed my hand softly, and then let go and started walking away.)

I think I may have yelled thank you again, but I don't remember! It's weird--I didn't act at all how I thought I would. As he was signing my shirt, you'd think I'd be looking at him since he was SO close to me, but I didn't. I kept staring at his hands as he signed my shirt. And even when he shook my hand and said goodbye, I looked up at him but was so in shock that I didn't really see him...does that make any sense? I was just floating, but in a dream! Also, for those of you who like details, I just have to say I loved it when he held my hand. His hand was warm and slightly dry because of the wind and being outside, yet still soft. (Hard to describe, but lovely. Plus I remember he was smiling at me then as well. Very lovely moment.) Of course, when I walked back to Dawn and Dave and was showing them my shirt, Dawn asked me if I had given Ewan the letter I had spent a LONG time writing. I had included pictures and everything, and spent a very long time trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to tell him. I had had the PERFECT opportunity to give it to him--he had been walking right to his trailer, and it was just him and me talking--but I blanked. I'm really sad I forgot to give that to him, but I DID get a picture and my shirt signed, so I suppose I'll just send my letter to some address--don't know which one is best--and hope he reads it someday soon.

After meeting Ewan, the rest of the day is just a blur. We talked to Dave a bit more, and a few minutes after that, Ewan walked by again. And I just didn't want to bother him, so I didn't say anything. He was walking with Scarlett and as we all watched him walk up the street, she put her arm around his shoulders...gaaah to be her!!! Then Dawn and I got some lunch. A few hours later, after filming wrapped for the day, we saw Ewan walk back to his trailer yet again, but he looked like he was in a hurry and wasn't looking in my direction at all, so I just stared and didn't say anything. (Another chance to give him my letter! AAAH!) We eventually went back to Dawn's house and I ended up leaving to go back home pretty late. It's still sinking in. I still can't believe it. Tomorrow I'll post my pictures-- today was amazing. I hope Ewan knows how much he means to me, even without the letter. Hopefully someday I'll get the chance to tell him, but for now I'm SOOO happy.

-Alissa :+}