"Star Struck "
I got star struck this weekend in Vancouver. And I'm not talking about the celestial variety or the northern lights. I was walking downtown after returning from Vancouver Island. I was snapping pictures of the city's skyline, the architecture and the harbor. Vancouver is a stunning Pacific city, its characteristic high-rises of blue glass and balconies dramatically set against green hills, dark water, and snow capped peaks.
On my way back to the hotel to pick up my remaining luggage, I walked onto a movie set. Vancouver is a popular city for production. It costs half as much as NY or LA and with our strong dollar, the studios save an additional 35% or so. So movie sets and movie stars are a pretty regular occurrence in BC. I had never seen a movie made before, so I hung around a while, watched as they moved cameras and people, getting ready apparently to smash a taxicab into a cement truck. It's a movie, right?
This apparently takes a lot of preparation. I got bored after twenty minutes or so, and walked across the set to get back to The Four Seasons, about two blocks away. I was promptly stopped by a stern and somewhat fast talking young woman with light brown hair and a sharp gray suit. "You can talk to her, but please don\'t snap any pictures."
"What?"
I look down and notice I am still holding my Canon EOS complete with 300mm zoom. I must have looked like paparazzi.
"I'm just going to my hotel. And who can I talk too?"
"Never mind."
So now I'm curious. I look around and see no one I recognize. I keep walking but eventually stop and I start asking some bystanders a little further up the block. "Who's on the set?" "Who's movie is this?"
Right about then, about ten feet in front of me, flanked by a surly security guard, walks Angelina Jolie.
"Oh my."
Of course, another part of my brain was thinking, "Oh yeah."
I smile and give my best attempt at a charming little wave. She pauses, gives me a big smile, waves back, gets in a black SUV, and drives away.
And to answer in advance the same question every guy I know has been asking me: Yes she is *that* hot in person.
I admit, I was pretty damn star struck. I had just watched her amazing performance in "Girl Interupted" one week before, and finally discovered why people were raving about her. Sure, she was good in "Gia" but lots of actresses have turned in a good performance. Although I think Kate Hudson was better in Almost Famous (rent the video and watch the scene where Kate's character learns her beloved band leader "traded" her for a case of beer - absolutely haunting), I can't deny Angelina was incredible and subsequently can't discount the Oscar as fluke.
So anyway, Angelia Jolie, Oscar winner, Hollywood elite, super hottie and wife of Billy Bob smiled and waved at The Mighty Jimbo.
I walked away, smiling. Hey, I\'m cool.
But somewhere inside I felt a pang of what I suspect was the same celebrity inspired awe that causes fifteen year old girls to scream like fire alarms when they catch so much as a glimpse of Justin Timberlake. "Oh my gawwwd! Angelina I love you! AIIIGHH!!!! She smiled at me! She smiled at me! I''m gonna cry!!!!
I end up spending all day thinking about Angelina Jolie. I had to go out and buy this month's Rolling Stone with the Angelina interview. You know what one I'm talking about. The one with the cover of her lying seductive in the grass, looking fresh and succulent like summer fruit.
Oh, *that* Rolling Stone.
To quote Bob Dole, "Easy Boy."
I'll probably even watch Tomb Raider - and I loathe crappy action movies.
So I suppose I'm now an Angelina fan. One wave, one smile, and I'm hooked. What the hell causes that? I have met lots of beautiful women. I know dozens and dozens of amazing, passionate, adventurous, charismatic people. But where does that spark, that 100 proof, uncut, high-octane charisma, that thing which separates an Angelina Jolie and her peers from the rest of us come from. Somebody please explain that ability that only a precious few men and women have - the ability to identify with thousands.
I'm not talking about the fickle and fleeting fame that comes from a moment or two caught in a spotlight. Fame - true fame - is found only with a select few. And what makes people fall so helplessly in their presence?
Yeah, I know she is just like you and me. I know she has the same hopes, same needs, same desires, same fears, same ailments, and the same end as everyone else. Spare me the cliches save your dismissals. I'm smarter than that. I've heard them and used them plenty of times.
Yet despite all we know is the same, big celebrities are arguably different in one very important way (other than the gobs of money, perfect profiles, and Oscar parties). They connect, they resonate, they attract on massive scale. Despite what your mother tells you, people like you and I don't have thousands of adoring fans, and usually don't have the ability to create a connection, a lasting impression, and acquire a fan with as little as one smile and one wave.
Though not for lack of trying.
I want to understand this psychology. Are we drawn to the fame? Does our society create hero worship? And if we write this off merely as socialization, how can we explain the very same passions that leaders have created and nurtured throughout history, long before our media saturated generation. Millions have died for charismatic leaders though out history. Millions have learned to follow. Hell, millions have yearned to follow.
Is it something deeper? Is it something chemical? Biological? Are we chemically drawn to the fame? Is it a desire to be close to something or someone seemingly bigger or brighter than ourselves? Is it part of our need to feel relevant or important?
Or are they biologically different? Do they have some gene or combination of genes that creates this attraction? Phermones? Alpha waves? Simply good looks, buckets of charm, and a lot of luck? Is fame inevitable for some?
So that's Jim's big celebrity adventure. Pretty tame compared to some of my LA friends, but I'll take what I can get. Now if you don't mind I have to prepare for my new career as a professional stalker. I want to keep that star struck buzz a little while longer.
