15.5.09

Hollywood in Poliwood

Friday was no normal day at work. The Smithsonian hosted a press junket for 20th Century Fox's new movie, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.

Mega-stars, camera-flashing paparazzi and red carpets are not normally part of the poliwood scene, where we consider Senator Feinstein and Chief Justice John Roberts celebrities. So you can imagine that having Robin Williams, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Ricky Gervais, Hank Azaria and Amy Adams here in D.C. was a big deal.

On Friday, I stood by while Extra's anchor interviewed each of these celebs, two at a time. When Fox yelled, I jumped--grabbing phone numbers, hushing gathering crowds of excited tourists and keeping inept visitors out of the crew's shot.

I am not the type to get star-struck, but it was absolutely amazing to hear Robin Williams casually joking about the goofy looking tourists that had rolled up on segways. (Segway tours are all the rage in D.C.) I just kept thinking, "I am in the presence of one of the funniest people to be alive in my lifetime."

Also, Owen Wilson is way hotter in person. (On TV he comes across as a little to "pretty" for my taste.)

I didn't actually meet or shake hands with any of these celebs, but Ben Stiller gave me his signature, super-cool "hey" when I passed him in the hall on the way out of a press conference.

Anyway, the movie opens this Friday. It's super cute--go see it! (Besides, every dollar the movie makes, the Smithsonian gets a cut. How often do you get to support education, preservation, research and conservation [read: keep Mara in a job] by going to the movies?)

Photo by Ken Rahaim

14 comments:

  1. Poliwood! ha!

    I've seen Owen Wilson a few times in person too, and I love him equally on and off screen but you're right, he looks very different in real life.

    I want to tag team him and his brother.

    Also, did Amy Adams look like me in real life? I've been stopped on the street by people thinking I am her, and a few of my friends who watch her movies tell me I look like her too, all without knowing I've been stopped!

    I've only seen her in Doubt, where I see zero resemblance. She plays a nun in that movie, so I'm glad.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think Amy Adams looks better on the screen then in person, but maybe it's because her makeup was melting in the humid, summer DC air.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Im with Lora on the tag team! That is a great experience that I am sure you will remember forever, the poliwood, not the tag team, though I am sure that would be memorable too! Haha!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That sounds like such a cool experience. That's really nice that the Smithsonian gets a cut, I didn't know that. The movie looks cute!Also, I love Ricky Gervais and Hank Azaria, I'm so jealous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cool! I agree with you on Wilson and Williams. Hot but a little too pretty and hilariously hilarious. I didn't know the Smithsonian gets a cut....very very cool. I'll try to do my part to keep you in a job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Smithsonian gets a cut from ticket sales through a licensing agreement. This is the first time that the Smithsonian name has ever been used for a movie title. Fox did four days of filming at the Castle (where I work) and at the Air and Space Museum. They shot the rest of the film in Vancouver.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow-that sounds like an amazing day at work for you. Robin Williams is my long time actor crush (yes I'm old)...and Owen Wilson *swoon*

    ReplyDelete
  8. How cool to kind of see Robin Williams in action? He really is a living legend. Pretty cool.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree with Heather. When I get to see a living hollywood legend, I could see myself being star-struck too. Definiely seeing this movie on Friday. I think the first one was funny!

    ReplyDelete
  10. How fun! I have seen previews for this movie and think it looks great, although I haven't seen the first one! I love that the Smithsonian gets some rollback money.....I love those museums!

    I'm always sorta starstuck when I see famous people...but I guess I've only ever really seen a few--Red Skelton, Naomi Judd, and I actually shook hands with Kid Rock...I stammer like an idiot every time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, and I saw Joey from New Kids on the Block last year....and I couldn't even stammer. I just stood there, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. He's still so hot. Shorter than I, but hot hot hot.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm jealous! That is really cool.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! That sounds like it was really exciting! Haha, Ben Stiller's signature "Hey" is pretty cool, and Robin Williams, ah! That's awesome!

    ReplyDelete