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| Ron Krauss and Vanessa Hudgens (r) |
Star Vanessa Hudgens participated in a Q&A at Landmark E Street Cinema, following a preview screening of her new film Gimme Shelter. The star of High School Musical & Spring Breakers was joined by director Ron Krauss and Kathy DiFiore, founder of Several Sources Shelters: Hudgens & Krauss spoke about doing prep work for the film, which included staying at one of DiFiore's actual shelters. They also answered a few questions (pretty bad ones, if you ask me) from the audience, including one guy who wanted to know if Hudgens and co-star Rosario Dawson had done any acting before. Duh.
Keep an eye out for my review in the next few days: It's a very good film, and Hudgens is terrific as a pregnant teenager who faces a slew of obstacles, no teen should endure... but I'd be remiss, if I didn't comment on yet another pet peeve of mine. Theater 1 at E Street is pretty small; and there was little-to-no space between the Q&A participants and the first row of spectators. That didn't stop lots of people from sticking their cell phones mere inches away from Hudgens and snapping away (with flashes a-blazing.)
First off, how annoying is it to have someone thrice your age push their phone in your face and take umpteen photos, especially when you're trying to address a room full of people? What does a 60-year old guy do with dozens of cell phone shots anyhow? I think it's creepy. Then there's the so-called "professional" photographer (the extra creepy guy with three or four cameras dangling from his body) who plops himself right in front of his subject and snaps hundreds of photos. Should a professional camera guy need that many shots, to begin with? Even a broken clock tells the right time twice a day.
Last but not least; let's hear it for the losers who sit through most of the Q&A... then make a big production of getting up to leave before it's over. One putz managed to step on my foot and trip over my camera bag, as he submissively trailed his equally clueless spouse/friend out of the aisle. Let's review... dumb, rude and uncoordinated. Keep in mind, these are the same folks who stand in line for an hour or more to get in; then complain about it (usually to the people hosting the free event) ad nauseam. I don't know how promoters stand it; yet alone the stars and filmmakers who give away their time and privacy to make it better for their audiences.
Hudgens noted that, "Using fear should be your compass." She might want to replace fear with patience, which tonight's Q&A commanded plenty of.
P.S. Note to Vanessa: Love your nail polish!
