It was a rare slow day at East Coast Image. We didn't have to do logistical planning for a trip somewhere, Our phone wasn't ringing off the hook with new clients (we were already booked up) and I actually had some extra time to catalog the vast archive of images we'd accumulated. Chris looked to improve his bowling game.
So it came as a surprise when we got a letter in the mail from Hollywood Studios inviting us to the world premiere of "Dreamer".
"Dreamer? What movie is this?" I asked as I looked at the invitation.
Chris read the accompanying letter.
"Huh, this is the movie we did in 'Frisco." He said. "The title was changed."
"I wonder why they changed it?" I said.
"Probably the Grateful Dead wouldn't let them use that line from Sugar Magnolia." He replied.
"That sounds about right." I said. "So, are we going?"
"I don't know, I'm not all that eager to go all the way up there. I'd rather wait for the premiere down here."
"Well, I'll go then." I said.
"Hey, it's your wheels." He said with a shrug of the shoulders as he went back to his bowling game.
When I got home that night, there was a phone message for me.
"Hey, Jim...um...I miss you...and, uh...I'd really love it if you came up to San Francisco for my movie...so call me baby."
I recognized the voice immediately.
It was the film's star, Blake Lively.
All the memories of our time there came rushing back. I immediately called the number on my caller ID and it went to voice mail. She even sounded sweet giving her "I'm not here now..." message.
"Hey Blake, I got your message...I'll see you in 'Frisco darlin'."
I was smiling as I left my message.
Two days later I was airborne and headed back to San Francisco. For V.I.P. guests like me the studio gave us rooms at the same hotel we'd been at during filming. As I walked into the lobby, all the memories of my last trip came flooding back. I checked in, got some dinner and headed for the premiere at the Fillmore West.
It was a gala to be sure.
The marquee was lit up with multi-colored lights;
"World Premiere Tonight...Dreamer...starring Blake Lively"
I smiled as I saw her name "up in lights" as it were.
The flashbulbs were everywhere and I wondered how I might find Miss Blake. I had called her number a few more times without an answer. I made my way into the theatre and showed my invitation to the film company reps. Luckily, I saw Mike Murphy from Hollywood Pictures who recognized me.
"Hey! Jim, I can't believe you came all the way up here!" he said. "Did your partner come too?"
"Nah, he's too jaded for events like this, so he sent his Lieutenant." I replied. "Uh, who's here from the film?" I asked looking around and trying not to seem like a starry-eyed fan.
He stared at me, and smiled.
"I know who you want to see, pal!" he said with a nod of his head and a wiseguy smile. "She's here, she's here." He said. "Look, I gotta take care of some stuff, enjoy the film and we'll see you at the after party."
"What after party?" I asked.
"At Compass Point, it's a club up the road, just ask around." He said as he walked away.
As I headed into the theatre I spotted the film's director John McDonald. He had been an intimidating personality as a director when we first met, but gradually warmed up to us as he saw the results of our work. Tonight, he was dressed to impress in a silk pinstriped suit with a white silk scarf for added effect.
"Uh, Mr. McDonald, I'm not sure if you remember me..." I started to say.
"Oh yes! My ace photographer, good to see you again." He said as we shook hands. He seemed more at ease now that the film was finally ready. "I think you'll be rather impressed with the finished product, my friend." He said with a scholarly tone.
"Well, it was great just being on the set, sir." I said.
"Enjoy the film, my friend." He said with a smile.
Now the flashbulbs went into overdrive.
"Ahhh, the stars have arrived." He said sarcastically.
"Where would we be without them?" I said the same way.
John chuckled and headed into the theatre.
Several members of the cast, whose names escaped me, walked in and past me. I think their status on the film was measured by the number of flashbulbs that followed them.
A cute blonde strolled in, immediately saw me and ran over.
"Hey! You made it!" she said in a bubbly voice.
It was Kaley Cuoco, whom I'd had a nice encounter with back in L.A. She looked just as cute in a red pant suit.
"Oh, hey, yes, I couldn't miss this event." I said.
"Well, um..." she said hesitantly. "If you're staying over we could meet again, you know." She said with a smile.
"Uh, well...Maybe I'll, uh, call you later on." I said, not sure if I said the right thing.
"OK, I'll see you at the party." She looked around and gave me a quick kiss as she headed in.
Before I could take in what she just did an explosion of flashes started and I saw her.
Blake Lively.
She looked even prettier than I remembered.
Her trademark blonde locks shimmered thanks to the flashbulbs. Her black velvet mini dress truly showed off her body accompanied by thigh-high leather boots. And she had a mega-watt smile that she showed off as she did red carpet interviews for all the entertainment shows. I could see Shaun Robinson from "Access Hollywood" getting a big laugh out of Blake. And to my surprise I saw VH1 had sent Brooke Hogan to do their red carpet interviews, just like when we met at the Miami Film Festival.
"Man, it's like an old girlfriend's reunion." I said to myself.
Blake was escorted into the theatre by several reps from the studio. I tried to weave my way through the crowd, hoping to catch her attention.
"Blake! Hey, Blake!" I called.
She turned around, gave a smile as if it was another photographer trying to get one more shot. And she disappeared into the theatre, without even noticing me.
I stood there as the crowds began to quiet down.
Well, there's always the after party, I thought.
The film was better than I thought.
"Dreamer" cast Blake as an aspiring photographer in San Francisco in late 1969. She and her best friend (played by Kaley) work at a coffeehouse by day and spend their nights prowling the Fillmore West and related music ballrooms. The music scene (and lifestyle) they've been experiencing is quickly changing all around them. For some, it's for the better. Blake's character has been photographing bands, becoming the house photographer at the Fillmore. But for Kaley, her life starts to spiral downward. As I watched the finished product, I remembered everything about the days we spent watching the movie being made.
Then I got the shock of my life.
In one scene, Blake has an argument with her musician boyfriend at work, he storms out of the coffeehouse and Blake suddenly grabs a guy and kisses him deeply, his eyes like saucers as this happens. The camera showed the back of a man's head as Blake pulls away, and smiles.
This got a laugh and lot of wolf whistles from the crowd.
The man with "saucer eyes" was me!
As I recalled, this scene came out of an idea Blake had, I was literally pulled out of the background and inserted as a patron of the coffeehouse. I just assumed I would be an extra, nothing more. And I had thought this scene was just a gag and would be edited out, or at least restaged somehow with somebody who looked more "Hollywood". Little did I realize, the guy who looked "Hollywood" was actually nicknamed "Hollywood Jim." (aka me.).
So I was now immortalized on celluloid.
The film's final scene took place the morning after New Years Eve 1970 and showed Blake in a medium shot walking towards the camera and into the San Francisco morning, cameras in hand, with the Fillmore over her shoulder and planning to leave town. Over the scene was her distinctive voice telling what became of the people she knew there. She looked so beautiful with her flowing hair and weathered denim jacket. Then the camera turned and showed the back of her jacket. She turned around and we suddenly saw an older version of her, looking back at the Fillmore, now closed, and wistfully saying;
"That was so long ago..."
The screen then went to black and the credits rolled.
The audience stood and applauded. I sat there in silence. I knew I'd seen a great film. Immediately there was a rush of people trying to get to Blake and the cast. I knew there was no way I'd get near her, so I made my way out of the theatre and hoped Compass Point was as close as they said it was.
I got out my cell and immediately called Chris. I got his voicemail.
"Hey pal, I think we've hit the big time!" I said happily.
I headed up the streets through the crowds towards Compass Point.
The club was crowded with film people. They all crowded around the producers and director. I got a drink and took in the scene.
"Well, well, well there's a face I remember." I heard a voice say.
It was Brooke Hogan.
"Hey babe how ya doin'?" she said in that fun voice of hers.
"Wow, Hi, I'm surprised you remembered me." I said.
"Hey, I remember a certain fun time we had in my Jacuzzi." She said with a smile.
"Oh, well, uh, that was quite a time." I replied sheepishly.
"So what are you doing up here? Is Paris with you?"
"No, I haven't seen her in a while, just came for the film premiere, we worked on it you know."
"Really? Doing what?"
"Our company did all the still photos for it."
"Cool, um, are you staying in town?" she asked with a cute look on her face.
"Uh, yes, um, at the, uh, Hilton." I replied.
"Well, maybe I'll see you there." She said as she slipped me a card with her cellphone number on it.
"See you around darlin'." She said with a quick kiss as she walked away.
I stood there, somewhat confused by what was happening. I guess it's always a good idea to have a backup plan for nights like this.
There was a commotion across the room as Blake arrived with the film's director. They posed for photos and interviews and the commotion continued as they came towards me. Blake was with the director.
"Blake, you remember Jim, this is the guy you kissed in the coffeehouse." John said as he introduced us.
She looked at me for a moment.
"Oh, yes, hi...good to see you, Tim." She said barely looking at me as she was escorted towards some other big shots.
She blew me off as if I didn't exist.
"It's Jim..." I said to myself.
I felt incredibly hurt at that moment. Here was this gorgeous girl I spent some time with, she invites me to her film's premiere, then at the moment when we should've had a great reunion, or at least the potential for one, she acts like I don't exist.
And as far as I could tell, Kaley and Brooke had disappeared.
"Time to call it a night, Hollywood". I said to myself.
I dejectedly left the premiere and headed back to the Hilton, immediately heading for the bar. But it was too close to last call for me to get any kind of drink. So I went up to my room.
I flicked on the TV and soon fell asleep.
I was awakened by a knocking at my door and the doorbell ringing.
