My Second Red Carpet

You know, I almost didn't go. I wasn't sure it'd be worth it; flying all the way over from LA I mean.

I'm only in one scene, two maybe, if you're splitting hairs.

But with everything else that I got done in New York the last couple weeks of October (voice lessons, meetings, auditions, catching up with friends, etc) it was worth it.

What am I talking about? My first film premiere, my second red carpet. Damn New York scaffolding!

There weren't any fancy shenanigans this time around. Just the screening with the cast and then an after party at BLVD. It's a true indie after all.

I guess I felt a little cheesy about making a big deal out of all of this to my friends in New York.

I have friends who have been hacking it a lot longer than me, mostly in LA, who have had many Hollywood major motion picture premieres, so I guess that would be a bigger deal. 

But I'm really glad I went. Muse was excited about the film opening when I found out months ago, so I took him along, got just a little dolled up this time, and made a night of it.

I didn't invite anyone else, because I'm kind of attention shy when it comes to stuff like this; self-conscious about how I would look and attention is easier to handle when you're playing someone else.

Don't laugh; humility gets the best of us. Just because you're an actor doesn't mean, you can't get shy. Especially when the story's about "How to Seduce Difficult Women".

I remember watching an early cut of the film about two or three years ago. Now, I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe that's why I was hesitant to invite a large group of people. Ugh...ego.

Okay, so screw the reviews, honest to God, this movie is HIGH-LARIOUS! Muse and I were laughing out loud pretty much every five minutes.

It's so witty and candid and the best part of it is all the flaws it showcases in men and women.

It's well cast and ends up being more about the men and how they go about trying to seduce the difficult women, then it is about how one actually should go about seducing difficult women. 

I don't think there will ever be a concrete set of rules for that.

As soon as I heard my voice I closed my eyes through my whole scene and a half.

Ugh, I remember thinking the make-up wasn't enough, and that it was kind of like shooting guerrilla style, getting in and out of location that day.

I was so shy I didn't even want to stand up when the director was introducing members of the cast who were present before the screening started. But I did.

Muse made me do it. I think that's why I had him there, to be the courage I could not be. But why?! Shouldn't I be proud? Where did this shy girl come from?

I was just 'Mercedes', the dentist, in the film, the only woman who doesn't get seduced. Scene and a half. No big deal, right?

The red carpet was in front of the after party this time. There were no paparazzi. But it was fun to strut along it and have photos taken as if.

We danced and drank with the cast and crew till the wee hours in the morning, saw a concert by a duet band next door at Crash Mansion.

And after our third dinner of the evening, alcohol can make a person hungry, we called it a night.

Next day, I was headed on a plane back to Los Angeles, where I am now. And it's as if I never left.

Everything is the same, perfect weather, spacious apartment with a washer/dryer IN the apartment, the beach, and my agents and managers here awaiting my return.

It's as if my life on both coasts is a mirror reflection of the other. Something's bound to tip the scales.

(photos courtesy of My Muse and Me)

Yours Truly -- Ann Hu