Public Enemies Signing Report by Mike Sametz Today is going to be a long day. The lovely Erica is in town and she convinced me we should head down to Westwood to check out the premiere for Public Enemies, the new Johnny Depp movie. The film also stars Christian Bale, Rory Cochrane, and more. So, we are off to spend one long hot day waiting for Johnny Depp. 12:08 p.m. – So we’re here. We were told that the premiere was at the Majestic Crest and so here we are. There are about 10-15 other people here so far. Not too bad. 12:20 p.m. – It seems so strange that such a high profile premiere would have so little fanfare. I mean there is only one simple guard rail, and hardly anything else. Hmmmmm….. 12:32 p.m. – One of the guys talked to the box office manager who told us the big premiere was down the street at the Village Theatre. Great. 12:35 p.m. – We are heading down the street power walking to the new location. Ugh… did I mention it is hot outside? 12:43 p.m. – Okay, this makes more sense… There is a huge press line, and about 30 people already waiting... ugh… Wonderful. It’s really hard to find a good spot. 12:49 p.m. – Well, Erica and I settle for this spot behind a young lady from I think the UK. The barricades are strange because they are not sectioning off the entire area, and have barricades down the streets but not over the crosswalks. Hmmmmm…. 1:34 p.m. – it’s getting really hot now. And sticky… mmmm lovely. Erica brought her Sweeny Todd and Pirates mini posters. I brought my Batman poster for Christian Bale, my Pirates mini, my Chocolate mini poster from the UK, and my Edward Scissorhands script that I already have Tim Burton on to get signed. I also brought my Dazed and Confused dvd for Rory Cochrane in case I catch him. 2:22 p.m. – People are really starting to swarm around now. I brought my jacket which I am using as a butt cushion. It really helps, you would be surprised! LOL… Erica brought magazines and such. Sigh… Arrivals are supposed to start at 7:00 p.m. so we have some time to kill. 3:09 p.m. – We just got a coupon for buy one get one free yogurts! Whoo hoo! I love a good coupon! Mmmmmmm yogurt… 4:15 p.m. – There are a lot of people from overseas here today, along with the typical collectors as well. I’m hoping it won’t be super crazy, but with Johnny Depp here I’m expecting it to be insane. I would not be here if it wasn’t for Erica. She really wanted to come so I’m escorting her. Lol…. 4:22 p.m. – We just got yogurt… mmmmmm 5:01 p.m. – Okay things are starting to move a little. Arrivals actually are supposed to start at 6:00 p.m. so God willing things will start picking up soon. 5:39 p.m. – People are really starting to get nervous/excited. A couple girls and one of their moms are getting into a shouting match, ah good times… 6:01 p.m. – Okay… people can start to arrive now…. Sigh… so far nothing. 6:22 p.m. – Still nothing. Erica is holding her poster and looking despondent. She just said she doesn’t have a good feeling about this one. I kinda have to agree. 6:34 p.m. – Some costars are arriving but no one that any of the collector’s here are interested in. Things are all pretty quiet here still. 6:44 p.m. – Rory Cochrane just arrived and people, well, kinda just one person, is screaming his head off for him. It doesn’t look like he is going to come over, but the guy is persisting. Sigh… 6:49 p.m. – Oh, Rory is walking over to sign. Very cool. I have my Dazed and Confused DVD out and get him on it, but he signed right on top of Matthew McConaughey! Great… Just what I didn’t want. Sigh… 7:04 p.m. – Christian Bale just arrived. People are going nuts for him. He walks over to the end of the barricades, and signs for people on the side. He gets to our spot and stops signing. Great. It doesn’t look like I’ll be getting him on my Batman poster! 7:11 p.m. – Marion Cotillard just arrived. People are screaming their heads off for her, but she just waves and walks into the press line… Bummer! Sigh… 7:24 p.m. – Oh, a car is pulling up, and it’s Johnny Depp! People go nuts for him. He walks over to the crowd and walks to the end of the barricades where we are. He signs really fast and is just getting to our area. Erica and I have our posters out, but he’s signing for like every fourth person, and we both miss him. Shit! 7:26 p.m. – I leave our spot and run to the very end of the barricade where there are only like five people waiting. I did not wait here since noon to be shut out! He is coming by and he grabs my poster and signs it. Whew finally! I am the last auto he does before he heads into the press line.
7:33 p.m. – I found Erica again, she got totally shut out. I tell her we need to go over to the other barricade because since he signed here, I think he might come back out and sign for that side. I rolled up my Pirates poster and get my Chocolate poster ready. 7:41 p.m. – Erica and I are getting ready at the other side. There is a school group here, and they keep asking us questions about the premiere. We told them no one would probably come back until after the movie. 7:49 p.m. – The school kids decide to pack it in, which is killer for us, cause we got spots right in front of the barricade. HEH HEH HEH… no we did not plan it… it just kinda happened! ;) 8:03 p.m. – Oh shit, Johnny is walking back over and heading right for our side! He starts signing and then I get him on my Chocolate poster. Erica got him on her Sweeny Todd poster as well. I saw her get her signature and I decided to run to the opposite end of the barricade once again.
8:11 p.m. – I get in the second row on the opposite end of the barricade. Christian Bale came back over and signed about 15 before heading back inside. Johnny makes his way down to our end, sees my script, pauses, looks at it, and then signs it. Very cool! I got three! 8:15 p.m. – Leelee Sobieski walks over to sign for the crowd. Erica and I don’t have anything for her, and call it a night. I saw one of the dealers run with photos for her exclaiming, “I’m running low on my Leelee Sobieski’s! I need more!” Is she that in demand? Do people pound at our door exclaiming, I need Leelee Sobieski signed photos! I need them now! LOL… Overall, it was a fun day, a long day, but I got an incredible three from Johnny Depp, who I’ve wanted for a long long time. I’m very pleased, and I’m also happy Erica got him as well. Did I mention he signed his crotch on Erica’s poster! I thought that was a funny tidbit! LOL…
>> View all pics from the Public Enemies premiere here.