I've worked for a number of years as a photographer to the stars in Hollywood. My boss, Tim Burton, would set me up for promo shoots, concerts, events and the red carpet to take photos of Hollywood's latest and greatest. I would shoot photos on set for TV shows like Hannah Montana, Charmed, Wizards of Waverly Place and Roswell, to name a few. I've been on numerous movie sets as well, since I started working for Tim in 1986. I would be given free tickets and a backstage pass to the concerts of Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and many others. I had red carpet access to film festivals like TIFF in Toronto, or a fashion show in New York.
I've known intimately a young lady named Amanda since 2004, and kept up a relationship with her over the years. Then, in 2010, she discovered an intimate story that I'd shared about our first time together in a pool during her 18th birthday party. She was a little mad at me, and didn't speak to me for over a year... so, in the meantime I figured I was on the market again and looking for a girlfriend. I flirted with the celebrities that I liked, and other models that crossed my path as well. The girls, anyway....
By 2011, I guess Amanda was missing me a bit and started talking about me to some of her other friends. I'm not entirely sure on where the connection came from, but she talked to Miley and another young lady I've worked with in the past, Emily. In July of 2011, I got a call from Tim Burton asking if I was available to do a photoshoot in Los Angeles for a movie idea he had using a couple young stars that were starting to peak his interest. I told him as usual, "Send me a plane ticket, get me a car at the airport and a place to stay and I'll do whatever you want." He sent the required items and information including a list of names. Amanda, Emily, Selena, and Miley.
I fly to Los Angeles from Toronto, first class on the Burton Studios ticket. I follow directions to a car rental place and check in. They have a car for me...a Mercedes McLaren silver convertible. NICE CAR! I drive to Burton's Studio and meet with Tim, and he hands me a turquoise electric guitar. "I want you to present this to Emily for me." He says. He then gives me directions to her studio in Hollywood where she's writing a new album. I knew Emily already from the TV studio where we'd worked together, and I'd met her recently, in February 2011 at Disney World in Florida. We were already on friendly terms as photographer (me) and actor/musician (her), and enjoyed spending time together.