Last Night
Most people have that one actor/artist/author/athlete that if they ever had the chance to see or meet them, would go weak in the knees. For me, that person has always been Tim Robbins. I couldn’t begin to explain where my adoration for him came from, or when exactly it started. Just trust me that it runs deep, really deep. I’ve “almost” met him a few times in my life but it’s always been in the most painfully ironic ways. For example, when I was living in LA, I interned for an Australian director named Phillip Noyce. Two months after I finished interning for him, Tim signed on to be in his next film, Catch a Fire. It was enough for me to briefly consider moving back to LA and trying to get work on the film. Since moving to New York, I’ve frequented the bar Tim owns on the LES. A few times he’s been there when I have been, but he’s always in the VIP room, and we’ve never crossed paths.
Last night, Tim and Susan Sarandon were at the Flight of the Conchords show. If I had been sitting last night where I sat for the show the night before, I would have been in the seat next to Tim. After the show, they stayed around, I assume to meet Bret and Jemaine. For a few minutes, I was standing a maybe 4 feet from him. And I crumbled under the experience. I was frozen. If I ever needed confidance in my life, it was then, and I had none. I could barely even look at him. I was a wreck. And then we left. My only saving grace was that I had managed to snap a photo with my camera phone, only to find out later that it didn’t save.
I know I sound ridiculous to anyone reading this. How could you feel so strongly for someone you’ve never met? But it is what it is. I barely slept last night, feeling like I missed my one opportunity. But what I am learning from living in New York, is that if you run into someone once, it’s surprisingly likely that you’ll run into them again. And maybe I’ll be better prepared next time. It reminds me when I met my #2, Wes Anderson, a few months ago. The only words I could get out of my mouth were “I’m honor.”
So needless to say, I am in a slight depression this morning, that I will work my way out of by the end of the day. Please just promise me, that if you ever find yourself sitting next to Tim at a restaurant, or in line behind him at the movies, that you will call me, and give me my second chance.