Thanks to an invite from the friendly folks at Warner Bros., Nic, Matt and I were lucky enough to attend the world premiere for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince last night.
For the past year or so,
Quirk has been providing Warner Bros. with
search services and tactics for their pan-European releases. They are a fantastic client to work with, and we have been busy with some
very exciting projects of late (watch this space for an imminent update!). However, last night materialised into what must definitely be considered the most tangible perk so far to come from working with the
world’s largest entertainment firm.
Many many people waiting to see the Potter Stars. Carlos, Matt and Nic got to brush up close of course.
That said, it didn’t start off all that glamorously. Having been in London for only a month, I’m still trying to get used to what passes as a British summer (and of course I left my umbrella at home).
Matt and I left the office early and made our way through to Leicester Square Tube Station. Having already attended a premiere at Leicester Square a few weeks before, I had some notion of what was in store. However, neither of us was prepared for the madness that ensued.
Firstly, we got caught in a torrential downpour - the rain was pouring down, complete with thunder, lightning, hail and a cold wind (and in my infinite wisdom I'd of course chosen to wear a white shirt). More than once we both wondered whether the
meteorological apocalypse was a PR stunt on a biblical scale by Warner Bros., and we half expected to see Voldemort’s
Dark Mark materialise in the stormy skies.
If the weather was impressive, then the fans braving it were even more so. Long before we arrived at the venue we could hear the screams of the fans, many of whom had camped out there for hours waiting for a glimpse of their stars and a possible autograph. The square itself was a hive of hysteria, with the crowds packed against the railings and trying to navigate our way through to the carpet gave us a chance to get even further soaked.
Ooh, pretty signs.
Once on the red carpet though,
a sense for the occasion truly began to sink in (walking past stars such as
Alan Rickman and
Helena Bonham Carter doesn’t happen everyday). The carpet led us onto a bridge that arched over the crowds, taking us into full view of thousands of people. As I got to the top of the steps, I was of course greeted by a chorus of screams and flashing cameras.
Unfortunately, the crowd’s hysterics were probably as much due to the fact that
Evanna Lynch (
Luna Lovegood) was walking right behind me as they were to me being mistaken for one of the dashing cast members.
Well, once all the glitz and glamour had passed we were seated and treated to the movie itself. By far the most mature and touching instalment yet, the film did not disappoint the occasion and finished to rapturous applause from the audience.
I can safely say that this is one of the most surreal experiences (and definitely the most glamorous) that I've had in a long time. Also, it must be said that getting to watch a movie that you've worked on (to whatever extent) in an event of such fanfare and ceremony definitely gives you a new appreciation for just what does go into making a film and how many lives it touches.
I can only begin to imagine how it must feel for the cast, crew and studio members that have been involved in the production from day one.
How did it feel to be in the flashlight for that brief moment? Did you have that revelation where you decide you want to become famous? :p
Posted by Jean Célibataire Endurci on 2009/07/08