Out Of My Tree

So, as you may know on Wednesday I attended a small event – The X-Files: I Want To Believe UK Première at the Empire Cinema at Leicester Square.

I had an exceptionally long day ahead of me, leaving Preston at 3:10am, and returning 28 glorious hours later.

It was a beautifully warm day from beginning to end and I can honestly say that I enjoyed myself.

But it’s the details of the day that made it for me!

I could rant about the coaches (in fact one thing I have learned from the whole day was never to travel to and from London on the coach in the same day – life is too short.) but those things are not what I will take from the day.

London was hot.  I mean, weather?  Beautiful.  So as soon as I got to Victoria I changed into my first dress of the day and waited for Christine and her friend Dan (the person who I was giving the other ticket to) to arrive.  When they did we quickly established that today was a day to be geeks and not be ashamed of it and the tone was set.

It was a very quick first meeting as I had somewhere else to be and left them to find their hostel while I shot over to drop my bag at Left Luggage – a nightmare as I got stuck behind someone who wanted to check in 5 bags and did not understand the concept of putting them on the conveyor belt so they could be scanned.  This made me a little late for the perfect lunch with Moobs and Rivergirlie.  Things I learnt at this meal:

• Moobs is quite rubbish at skiing but is far better with a snowboard.
• RIvergirlie’s kids are ridiculously intelligent and lovely.  They very much take after their mum.
• Smiths of Smithfield is the place to eat
• If Moobs ever decided to give up his job he has a career in tour guide already mapped out for him.
• Passionfruit sorbet is to die for.
• Wearing heels is never a good idea
• Smiths of Smithfield has a lift (found out after climbing to the 3rd floor)
• London is beautiful – whatever direction you look at it

After the meal, we went for a walk round the Temple area of London, and Moobs regaled us with many stories of the buildings and the area.  Oh, he knows his stuff.  He really knows his stuff! When he had to return to work it was a shame but I had things to fill my day… Now what were they?

Rushing back to Victoria to pick up my bag I got all geeky in the back of a cab where I had a perfect conversation with a quintessential London Cabbie.  He laughed alond with my while I explained how ridiculously excited I was… and then wished me luck.  I put my Sketchers back on as quickly as possible and then changed into my dress for the evening, before racing over to Leicester Square.  I threw my hair up with intentions of letting it down just before going in.  Yes.  I forgot to do this.  I also had intentions of putting some make up on at some point.  I also forgot to do this.  Hmmm, I also left my Sketchers on, intending to change into my heels when I got down there… I forgot to do this also.  Why?

This is why.  A square full of like minded geeklings and X-Philes.  I met quite a few people from the Big Light Network and other places.  I got told by one that I was lovely for offering out my ticket, and another told me they thought I was funny… and they had been reading my blog for a while. A reader!  A lurker!  You will come out now won’t you?!

All thoughts of trying to get to the front were abandoned.  Anyway, we didn’t need to jostle for position – we were going in!  I found the guy with the tickets, who must have been feeling the love, and all but declared my undying love for him.  I was also handed a notice that no recording devices would be allowed in the cinema and felt a small frission of fear that my camera would be removed from my person.  I found Dan, Christine and the amazing Lisa (and husband Will) and the squeeing started again.  It was so good to be in a crowd where being enthusiastic about something was seen as a good thing.

As the time we could go in arrived it took all our will power not to just rush in, saying that we were one of the first groups to go down the red carpet.  Red Carpet moment!  Some of the ones who would not be going on cheered and we all went nearly as red as the carpet we were standing on.  This is what being loved feels like.  I had a moment ( long one) of wishing I was wearing my heels, and had done my hair and oh God, I was a mess.

Once inside the cinema, photos were taken next to the film posters – well, you have to, don’t you? – and then we were shown to our cinema – we were in the smaller screen, which was perfect.  It felt like a real gathering of like minded people who were just there to have a good time.  Except, apparently the pair in front of me.  One was an actor who had been turned down for Harry Potter because he looked too old, was on a DVD that had been given away free with the Mail on Sunday and had ‘never watched an episode of the X-Files in his life.  We shall forever call him and his bad piercings ‘Tosspot’ (although I am sure he said his name was Zorro… Wanker).  He had a girl with him who had travelled all over the world, hated Vancouver, couldn’t believe how much noise all the ‘idiot fans’ were making and.. well, she was wearing sunglasses on her head.  She shall forever be called Bor-a in my head, mostly becasue her name rhymed with it.  And began with an L.  They talked, all the way through the interviews on screen and the video made to introduce the film, with a couple of film students in front of them who had brought cards with them because they may be making a film in the future that would require Tosspot’s talents.  Both of them got up several times during the film to go to the loo.  Tosspot knocked over lots of people’s popcorn and she went to get changed.

Anyway!  We all settled in, watched the stars arriving outside and bemoaned the fact that there was lots of signing of things going on outside – there was some talk of rushing outside again to try and get autographs but no one seriously thought about it JUST IN CASE they wouldn’t let you back in.  We counted our blessings and watched the minor celebrities come in.  There were two lads from McFly (who afterwards were just hanging in the lobby… being completely ignored…) a couple of models (who I couldn’t pick out of a line up – I can tell you that their blonde hair was dyed), twins from Big Brother (I only know this because someone muttered it behind me) and a couple of actors whose names escape me.  We didn’t care though because there was Ch

ris Carter and Frank Spotnitz and David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson!!!  They were here!

Then the video introducing the film was funny and had lots of X-Philes from the L.A. Premiere on it – much more geeking out and loving it all.  Then the card came back on and there was a few mutterings down the front… and a few men in suits appeared down the side.  Right behind me someone whispered Chris Carter.  Turning round to look at the door which was only a few metres away, there he was!  And then Frank Spotnitz!

They came down the front and introduced the film and thanked us as we all screamed Thank You and then badly sang Jeremiah Was A Bull Frog.  Then they introduced David and Gillian and the place went nuts!

I know, I can’t take video to save my life.

After we all calmed down a little they said a few words and then left to rapturous applause.  As they left the 20th Century Fox fanfare started up and the film was on.  Cheers and laughter, sadness and surprises.  Nothing was left inside.  We all engaged with the film in a way I have never experienced before.  I have been to first showings and premiere’s before in my life but never have I seen a film with such an enthusiastic group of fans. This is what watching a film in the US must be like. There are many review sites that will crap all over the film but I liked it.  Of course I did.  it was an X-Philes wet dream.  Mulder and Scully being Mulder and Scully.  A creepy ass story line.  Of course there were no bees, or UFOs rising out of the snow but the intimate storyline fit the tone of the film well.  Yes, you will have to have seen The X-Files to get some of it, particularly the Mulder/Scully storyline but… it’s going to be Marmite.  Biggest cheer of the night?  Mitch Pileggi appearing as Skinner!  As the credits started you could so tell the ones who hadn’t read the fan sites (No shock that Tosspot and Bor-a got up to leave).  Everyone was grooving along to the credits and then I really felt the tears coming on as the thing which happens at the end of the credits happened. It was perfect.

Being accosted by fans still waiting outside and asked whether ‘they’ were still here and what had happened in there… total rock star feeling.  Going back in and taking photos by the publicity wall, me proving I should never wear sleeveless dresses

(why has no one told me about this before?)

Lots more discussions and then racing off to get my coach.  Which as fate would have it left late… It was all a case of racing from here to there and I didn’t really have time to think.

Of course I couldn’t sleep when I got home and told Mum little bits of things… and then I went to bed and slept.  Which is where I have been… and where I am getting back to now.

Thing I learnt from the trip:

• Preston to London and back again on a coach in the same day.  Terrible idea.
• Trying to take photos at an event like this is impossible. Just enjoy the day – the pictures in your head will never fade.
• When you meet ‘online’ people in the flesh – it is never disappointing.  If you want to feel like you could rule the world – meet these wonderful people… and I must do it more!