His Highness Hollywood Movie Premiere: Excitement, Entertainment and Sabotage - Page 2
Ian's not just being paranoid, he's being cautious. Right before we interviewed him for Glosslip Radio, Ian received several threatening phone calls and a brush with an intent cab who barely missed the author outside his residence. Ian went into hiding for a while, hoping the Church would move on. It seems they didn't.
I arrived the day of the event booked at the very nice, but reasonable Kimberly Hotel in east-side Manhattan. New York is a expensive place to visit, but this place was clean, semi-luxurious and I was treated well (hey Kimberly, how about a discount for the next time?). While traveling to the inner sanctum of New York City may be a non-issue for most cosmopolitan people, I was well out of my element. So I had an escort for the evening, no, not the kind ex-NY Governor Eliot Spitzer used, but rather BC Theater editor, musician, all around nice guy and Manhattanite Jon Sobel.
I arrived early to the premiere to interview Ian live from the NAC. I immediately recognized him from pictures I've seen, though he was momentarily out of "his Highness" character. Minus the sunglasses, Ian is handsome, commanding, personable and most glaringly, a sincere guy. Trust me, that last one is hard to fake with me. Despite the fact that Sony Pictures, Vanity Fair, Gawker, The New York Times and The New Yorker were there, Ian treated me like I was a special guest and gave me as much time as he could. Who says small media isn't important?
After the interview with Ian, I got a call from Jon Sobel who'd arrived and we finally meet. If Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello and Woody Allen had a baby, they'd name him Jon Sobel. Of course if those three had a baby, we'd be living in some kind of alternative universe where everyone "ate rainbows and pooped butterflies!"
Jon and I saddled up to the open bar and procured our red wine, while I kept my eye out for a face that would be both familiar and foreign at the same time. I asked the door people to look for a distinguished gentleman with glasses who went by the name Andrew Morton. Eyebrows raised. I showed them the picture from the book I was clutching, much nodding and winks were exchanged.
Continued on the next page
