The Egyptian Theatre Moulin Rouge Promotion
Nov 26, 2001

 

Monday, November 26 began just like every other Monday. Well, almost. After driving my husband to work (something I normally don't do) I returned home to catch Ewan's "interview" on KTLA's Morning News. It was extremely brief but entertaining. There was an interesting segment on a man who was arrested for running a sex house in the Valley (he was charging $40.00 admission) and an unnecessarily LONG segment on a local bell choir (must've been a slow news day). Ewan jumped in and ran with it, joking how he runs a sex house in London: "I don't charge any money for people to come in, but I do ask them to leave a deposit on the way out. We have a collection pail on the way out. Basically they come in-nudity is essential-and I have a table with about 40-not beds, but bells-on it, and people seem to like to come in, have sex, ring bells, and so long as they leave something in the bucket on the way out, we're all happy." >

My favorite moment was when Sam Rubin, the dippy-doodle Entertainment Feature guy, mispronounced Ewan's name as "Ee-wan." (groan) Ewan looked away for a moment then replied with what seemed like great restraint, "Ee-wan, Eugene…Frank's always a favorite of mine." Apparently Sam is not as much in the mainstream as he would like to think. He then went on to ask Ewan two unoriginal questions about Star Wars and Moulin Rouge. (Does he even know who Ewan is?) He at one point asked Ewan if he would be in the third Star Wars film. (A moment of silence, please, for the poor uninformed-and obviously unprepared-interviewer.) Ewan was again gracious and did not take the opportunity to give Sam's stupid question a stupid answer. (If I were Ewan I think I would've said something smarmy like, "No, Obi-Wan dies in Episode II.) Ewan finally got the chance to talk seriously about Moulin Rouge and the welcome opportunity to make a musical. They finished Ewan's "interview" by having him read the announcement for the upcoming segment, something about protein bars. (Did I mention how adorable he looked, by the way? Funny how one starts to take that for granted…) The program's anchors (who seemed more enamored of themselves than they did of their guest) moved on to a commercial and the rest of the program without so much as a "Thank you", "See you later", or "How do you pronounce your name again?" No wonder Ewan hates Hollywood. Thanks Channel 5. (The worst part was sitting through 2 hours of this news program waiting for Ewan's bit to come on, so sorry if I seem a bit cranky!)

At 2:30 pm I left my home in Orange County to retrieve my husband from his office, arriving at 3:00 pm. Off we went up the Harbor Freeway toward our ultimate destination-Hollywood and Graumanns Egyptian Theater for a special screening of Moulin Rouge, followed by a Q&A with Baz Luhrmann and Ewan McGregor. By the time we parked and got to the theater it was around 4:00. We had 2 ½ hours to wait until the doors opened. A group of about 15 young women had arrived before us, all chatting exitedly about, who else, the aforementioned Mr. McGregor. Just our luck, we had one of the coldest, windiest days we've had in a long time. It must have been in the low 50's… (OK, so that's FREEZING for us Southern Californians). We drank a lot of coffee and hot chocolate and ate pizza while standing in line. People started huddling together to keep warm (or at least WE did). At 6:16 the organizers informed the crowd that no cameras were allowed in the theater. Great. Thank you very much. No further comment. FINALLY, at around 6:40 they opened the doors.

We ended up in the second row center, right behind the group of fifteen women, who were beside themselves with the prospect of being in such close proximity to Ewan. There was nothing but air between them and the four directors chairs that had been placed at the front of the theater. (I believe one of them actually started weeping. Or was that my husband when he found out that Nicole Kidman was there? The entire evening is still kind of a blur). That put my husband and I and two friends about ten feet from the future-celebrity-containing chairs with an excellent view. We settled down and watched the film for the fifth time. It was a very interesting perspective and was more enjoyable from that angle than I had anticipated . Immediately after the final credits, a mucky-muck from the theater introduced Baz, who appeared to a standing ovation. Nicole Kidman, a surprise guest, was then introduced, taking the place of Baz's wife Carole, who was called away on a job. There was an appropriate amount of applause, whooping (my husband included) and standing ovation number two.

Last, but as we all know faithful viewers, not least, was Ewan, who was sporting a retro-punk look in tight jeans, a salmon-colored shirt, tight black leather jacket and a really interesting, pseudo-mohawk hair-comb. (Let's face it though, the boy would look good in a potato sack.) He received the most applause (standing ovation number three) and the loudest screams from the female element (my throat is still soar). The piercing green eyes scanned the audience as if for snipers (i.e., Hollywood critics) as he settled into his seat next to Nicole, who my husband commented looked soft, vulnerable and sad. I think he wanted to comfort her. (I would have allowed him to do so had the opportunity presented itself.) I thought she looked a bit tired, but her flawless, porcelain skin was as radiant as ever. The Q&A session was kicked off by the theater mucky-muck (wish I could remember his name) with Baz and company discussing various aspects of the film.

What a ball of energy he is, too. I found his comments extremely interesting. I wish I could remember some specifics, but as I was also mesmerized by my own close proximity, I can only recall bits and pieces. Fairly early on, after listening to Baz, I looked over at Ewan to find him staring directly at me. If you think those eyes are something on the screen… I had to look away finally as it was just a bit too disconcerting. In fact it was hard to look at him at all after that for fear I'd make eye contact again. The electricity that emanates from this man is otherworldly. At one point, one of the younger of the group of women in the front row worked up the nerve to ask Ewan for a kiss, even though this was clearly an industry-geared event and perhaps not the most appropriate request. Ewan graciously obliged, getting up from his seat and going over to the young woman. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, which by the looks of it did not satisfy. Ewan hastily sat back down again, looking a bit uncomfortable. At another point, a girl towards the back of the theater, and in the section reserved for industry folks, stood up and asked Ewan about a screenplay she had sent him and also for a kiss. He replied that he was surprised she had not received his reply-he then made a sarcastic expression, indicating that there had never been any reply, nor was there likely to be one. He ignored the request for the kiss.

One of the funniest moments of the evening came when one of our friends stood up to ask a question of both Ewan and Nicole. He wanted to know how the actors apply all they have learned over the years to a particular role. He then said he would refrain from asking Ewan for a kiss. Ewan took a good look at him and after a perfectly timed beat replied, "That's a shame." After what seemed a ridiculously short period of time (20 minutes maybe?) the Q&A was abruptly ended by the nameless mucky muck. (Now that I think about it, I'm glad I can't remember his name.) Even Ewan and Nicole looked surprised and Nicole looked genuinely disappointed.

Without another word they were whisked away by security, Baz remaining behind to introduce the second screening of the film. (The theater owners apparently scheduled a second screening, at the expense of the Q&A session. Don't mean to complain, but…I didn't drive all the way to Hollywood just to see the movie again, guys. Thanks a lot. I understand the need for security, especially in the current environment, but really. Overall, the theater organizers made this less than a completely pleasant event.)

So that's my story. Short session, no photo ops, and eyes like green laser beams-er, maybe that should be lightsabers. I'd just like to thank Baz, Ewan and Nicole for braving the airports (especially during the Thanksgiving holiday!) and sharing their lovely selves with all of us.

Please come back soon!