Autograph Junkies, Rejoice!

As many of you know, Tracey was a guest last week on, Jimmy Kimmel see video. She was joined by Australia director, Baz Luhrmann.

Mike Samtez, was lucky to meet Tracey and get her to sign a few items.

We get a full breakdown of events, minute by minute, not to mention pictures...

BAZ LUHRMANN AND TRACEY ULLMAN SIGNING REPORT!

by Mike Sametz

It’s a Friday night, and am I out on the town? Nope, I’m waiting in an alley to see if I can get Reese Witherspoon and Baz Luhrmann to walk over and sign my DVD. Well, I have a poster for Reese to sign but still. Both of them and Ms. Tracey Ullman are taping a television program in Hollywood today, and so I and about 20 other autograph seekers are in a cold dark alley hoping to get their attention.

5:00 p.m. – I just got here and already there are about 15 people waiting in front of me… Damn, I thought I would be early. I hope Reese will sign, but really I am just here for Mr. Baz Luhrmann. He directed and wrote Moulin Rouge! (one of my favorite films) and also Romeo and Juliet, Strictly Ballroom, and the upcoming Australia.

5:15 p.m. – Tracey Ullman is on the show as well, and I have a DVD in case she comes over to sign. Preparation is a must! ;)

5:22 p.m. – I was just told people start to arrive around 6:45 or so. This is only my third attempt at trying to get people here, so we shall see how it works out. I tried for Ryan Phillippe here last year, and that didn’t happen so I haven't tried again, until this week.

5:44 p.m. – There are about 5 or 6 more people here now, and I think Reese is pretaping her appearance. They are also shooting an episode of Monk just around the corner I’m told.

6:10 p.m. – I have a one sheet of Moulin Rouge signed by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor but it’s mounted and framed so I didn’t bring it. I’m not sure how Mr. Luhrmann is about autographs and since he makes a movie about once every 7 years he’s not exactly out and about. I brought the DVD of Moulin Rouge instead.

6:22 p.m. – I brought my Election mini poster that I got Alexander Payne to sign for me (you can read about that here: www.mishmashmagazine.com/tabid/106/itemid/322/ALEXANDER-PAYNE-SIGNING-REPORT.aspx) for Reese but I hear she’s kind of difficult. I actually already have her on my Legally Blonde DVD so it’s alright.

6:45 p.m. – Oh, there’s Reese’s car.. a big white van pulled up in front of her car so no one can really see her. Everyone is chanting now… She’s running inside the theatre and there is no way in hell she is signing anything right now. Sigh…

7:10 p.m. – Baz and Tracey just walked in together and neither one of them stopped to sign anything. Double sigh…

7:15 p.m. – Reese is leaving. Everyone calls out to her, but she doesn’t stop. Oh no, that girl is on a mission and her mission is to get in her car. LOL… Some of the guys start chasing the car, but she doesn’t care. She is gone people!

7:22 p.m. – I’m about to head out, but I just talked to my friend Scott who convinces me to stay and try to get them as they come out. He said traffic is really bad anyway… So, I decide to wait.

7:24 p.m. – A guy in an orange jumper just jogged past everyone. There are only about 8-9 of us here now.

7:26 p.m. – A man running faster than I could ever possibly hope to run is coming down the alley. I’m moving out of his way, but it’s fascinating…Like watching a lava lamp, hypnotic, but you don’t really know why.

7:27 p.m. – He’s right next to us now, still running and just yelled out, “He stole something call the cops.” Who stole something? How can we call the cops when we have no idea what he’s talking about? He just said the same thing to a guy taking a cigarette break on the other end of the alley. Yep, he made it all the way down the alley in like 30 seconds. I’m impressed.

7:29 p.m. – The cops are here. Yep, the guy stole something. LOL… What we could surmise is that Monk was filming and the guy took something from the crew. The poor guy just kept on running. He should have been filmed for a Duracell commercial! “He keeps going and going…”

7:49 p.m. – Oh, Baz Luhrmann just walked out. He’s walking the other way… Shit. One of the guys is yelling out for him, and he stopped! A bunch of us run over, he signs my DVD first and I ask him to make it out to Mike. I then ask if I can get a picture. A little kid runs up to him, and asks him to sign a piece of paper. He says sure, “But then I have to take a picture with Mike.” I thought that was funny.

7:54 p.m. – He signs a bunch of things for people and takes pictures as well. I should have brought the poster… grr… Well, now I know for next time.

8:10 p.m. – Tracey Ullman just walked out. She’s walking the other way too! Everyone calls out to her and she stops too. She signs a ton of things. I got my DVD signed and I also got a picture with her as well. Very cool.


Well, even though Reese did not stop, I still got the person I wanted to get. Directors, at least to me, are the most important part of a movie. It’s their vision and basically the whole picture is on their shoulders. A good director can make bad actors and a bad script good. A bad director…Well, we’ve all seen the Star Ware prequels… Anyway, Baz was such a nice guy, and Tracey is super sweet. Overall a great night! Even if I did spend my Friday night in an alley!


Photos are owned by Mike Samtez and MishMashMagazine.