Photo Credit Louise Bishop of MomStart.com
The thing about being an actor is you really don’t ever have to grow up. We’re still playing make believe. I’m 54 and I’m playing make-believe. – George Clooney
Take a moment, close your eyes, and imagine your favorite actor or actress …
Did you see them in a photo shared in a magazine or online? Did you see them in motion playing the role of a character in a movie? Maybe you have been following their career for years and a series of snapshots flashed through your head. You saw them clear as day, didn’t you? I know you did because I just did the same thing and I saw mine too.
Now, imagine you are sitting in a room relaxing; well, pretending that you are relaxing, when someone steps inside to let you know that your favorite actor/actress is right down the hall and will be joining you shortly. “This is your five minute warning, ladies!” That is all that was said and that is where it all begins.
Last Friday, May 8, 2015 I was one of twenty-five talented and lucky bloggers to be sitting in a conference room at the beautiful Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Mind you I had never even been to California so I was still swept up in a whirlwind of “wow” and jet lag. All that came to a screeching halt (well, not the Jet lag, coffee brought that to a screeching halt) when I reconnected with reality and realized that five minute warning meant GEORGE CLOONEY was not only in the same building as I was, but within moments he was going to be in the same room.
I tried to inhale and exhale and remind myself that I was there as a member of the press. In fact, this was a press junket courtesy of Disney. I needed to stop giggling like a school girl, continue breathing so I didn’t vomit from the excitement, and I had to give myself a stern talking to so I wouldn’t hide under the table (“I’m a professional. I can do this. He is a human being just like me. Holy crap, who am I kidding, we are talking about George Clooney. Oh my gosh … woosah … George Clooney … breathe, Heather, BREATHE!”)
Photo Credit Louise Bishop of MomStart.com
Everyone in the room was giggly, we all had butterflies, and everyone was kind of freaking out. Okay, I am totally blowing smoke here. I have no idea what anyone else was doing or how they were feeling. I was so busy trying to stop giggling, regain control of my own butterflies, and stop myself from freaking out that I blocked everyone else out. There could have been monkeys running around the room and jumping on the tables and I highly doubt I would have noticed.
Then it happened. The door opened and suddenly George Clooney was in the room. My butterflies kicked into double overtime, I could feel my face heat up, and I am pretty sure I had a big goofy grin on my face. Breathe. Yeah, I totally forgot how to breathe. The room almost started to spin and then the unthinkable happened. After giving the room a quick once over, Mr. Clooney placed his hand on the shoulder of Rachel (you may know her as Acadiana’s Thrifty Mom), gave us a heartfelt hello, followed by his killer smile, and suddenly I felt completely at ease. And then, to make things even more comfortable, this happened.
Photo Credit Louise Bishop of MomStart.com
George Clooney: So you are Mommy Bloggers? Really!
All 25 Bloggers (in unison): Yes.
George Clooney: And, and how long have you guys been a group?
All 25 Bloggers (in unison): 2 days
George Clooney: Really? Are you kidding? Uh oh. This could be really dangerous.
A brave Soul a.k.a. Blogger: We’ll take it easy on you.
George Clooney: Okay, so fire away. I’m ready.
Did I mention that George … yeah, I am going to totally brave it and call him George … is extremely down to earth, exceptionally friendly, and funny? Let me preface this by saying that when I say funny, I don’t mean just a polite giggle in response to a joke … I mean, we were LAUGHING out loud. His introduction says it all and that was only the beginning. I could easily imagine him hanging out with us for hours just talking but we were there for a reason and it was time to get down to business.
Here are a few of the questions that we asked and George’s answers.
Question: What was your favorite scene in the movie?
George Clooney: Yeah, that’s a good question. It’s fun because, look, first let me start off by explaining to you how I came to this part, right? Brad and Damon called me and said we’ve written a part for you in a movie. And I’d been trying to work with Brad for a long time. I was like wow, that’s amazing. And they send me the script and I open it up and the description of me is a 55 year old angry, bitter, guy. I’m like going, thanks guys. Thank you so much.
But what I loved about it was that the entire film, he’s just a grump. He’s just a grump through the whole thing. So I loved when Britt first comes to the house. It’s really fun where it’s like shut up and who are you? We really had fun shooting all that stuff in the farm house. That was fun ’cause all the robot guys were really sweet and nice, and not really robots. [LAUGHING.] I think that might have been the most fun scene to shoot, all the farm house stuff.
Photo Credit Louise Bishop of MomStart.com
There were a few questions about the making of the movie and the message beyond the movie. As George spoke I found myself enthralled. I was drawn in by his voice, his call to action, and his message of hope. Here is a sample of what resonated with me at the time and has stuck with me ever since.
George Clooney: What I loved was the idea behind the script; their future isn’t just automatically inevitable. And that, you have to participate or you don’t have to just accept how it ends.
George Clooney: I was raised that there was a version of this where you could affect the future, and you didn’t have to just accept it. So I really loved the idea of hearing this again, this idea that we’re not just necessarily doomed, that there’s something that you can do about it if you pay attention and you work hard. And I liked it.
George Clooney: I feel as if we have to get to that point where, we all understand that the individual is not helpless. And I think that’s a really important part of this.
George Clooney: When I was 10, I was told that your voice has to matter and we have to participate, even if only two people hear you, because those two people may change.
To say that George Clooney was educated and eloquent would be an understatement. The man had me enamored from the moment that he sat down until the moment he got up to leave after graciously agreeing to take a group photo with a group of strangers, perhaps even scarier, a group of Mommy Bloggers. 😉 Was it because he is a handsome celebrity? Yes but no a thousand times over. Like many I have been caught in the doom and gloom of reality far too many times and I appreciated a message of hope, a renewed faith in humanity, and I walked away feeling compelled to use my voice to make a change. While Tomorrowland is a place in the future it is also a message about the future and George Clooney embodies the message that has been nicely giftwrapped and will be presented to fans in the coming days. Previewing Tomorrowland stirred something within and speaking with George Clooney set me on the path. It’s fair to say …. Mission Accomplished.
Stay tuned for more information about Tomorrowland, the cast, and our adventure in Los Angeles, California. Be sure to follow #TomorrowlandEvent so you don’t miss out on a single thing.
Photo Credit Louise Bishop of MomStart.com
Tomorrowland hits theaters on Friday, May 22, 2015.
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Disclaimer: I was sent on an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles, California courtesy of Disney to experience Tomorrowland and a series of other adventures surrounding the movie. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own.
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