Loony for Clooney: Starry-eyed, but no stars By BRIANNA LUSK, Special to this newspaper
Thursday, January 8, 2009 10:00 PM PST
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
A second unit rehearses a shot for the film “Men Who Stare at Goats” by tracking a truck along Highway 78 near Glamis this week.
I searched the clusters of men with salt and pepper hair. This one could pass for his famed mop. See me with the back of George Clooney’s head? One guy even was wearing an “Oceans 13 Film Crew” T-shirt. But that was too easy. Movie stars don’t walk around wearing T-shirts of films they were in, do they?
I’d love to tell you how I smiled for the camera and forever etched on a memory card that I brushed elbows with Clooney, shook Ewan McGregor’s hand, said something witty to Kevin Spacey and made a reluctant Jeff Bridges say, “The Dude abides.”
But as quickly as the Imperial Valley Press confirmed that Clooney was indeed filming a movie, he vanished into the air like a ghost. My imagination would have to conjure what it would have been like: the Day I Met George Clooney.
When the opportunity arose to meet Clooney, my thoughts soared. I drew the envy of friends and my mother, a longtime Clooney fanatic from way back in the “E.R.” days.
Then reality settled in. What could I say to these stars that hasn’t already been said? My prospective questions were lame. Name your top five. ... This was going to play out like a bad regurgitated version of “High Fidelity.”
The story was over before it started.
The Blue Angels tried to entice the stars and upped the ante with a proposed thrill ride. Would you rather be glued to the seat of a F/A-18 Hornet or answer “top five list” questions from a local reporter?
Even if I were Clooney I wouldn’t want to take my interview.
Then I had to take calls from the Blue Angels asking if I was still “hanging out with Clooney.”
Rub it in, why don’t you. No, I am not still hanging out with Clooney.
Walking out into the bustle of crew men assembling cameras against the backdrop of the Valley’s spectacular assets was nothing compared to the 24 hours after I got the assignment.
For 24 hours I had the best conversation starter at dinner and the heart-pounding minutes of speculation with the Press entourage as we drove to the set.
You know that whole journey versus the destination controversy? This experience completely settled it.
As the revelation was made that I would not get to meet the stars nor even admire them at a distance, blank stares passed between me and the photographer.
So it goes.
I plucked a banana from the perfectly ripe bunch and took a sip from the photographer’s pricey pomegranate juice from the catering cart. Our brush with the famed catering cart was our consolation prize.
The “set” was a lone winding desert road and a director’s crew huddled around a camera on the bluff overlooking the dunes.
It was beautiful. The wind whipped stands of hair in my face and the sun shone down but wasn’t blinding.
Months from now when this movie never makes it to our select local theaters I can say I saw that take being filmed. That car driving down the road? I was there.
Oh, um, stars? Did I see stars? Well, it’s funny you should ask. The thing about Clooney is he skips out as soon as he’s done. But the camera-shy heartthrob did let me take a picture with the back of his head before he left. See that signature mix of black and grey?
It was perfect. Yeah, he really does wear that T-shirt from “Oceans 13.” I know, he’s so down to earth.
So 24 hours later, I’ll still be dealing with the straggling questions of the star-studded experience that wasn’t.
It’s a collective disappointed sigh for the Imperial Valley.
Meanwhile, I’ll have to settle for the day that I got to eat a banana off the same catering truck that the likes of Clooney, McGregor, Spacey and Bridges once touched.
And hope that one day I’ll have another moment, when I least expect it, that makes me look up and say, “Hey, isn’t that ...?”
" I would have kidnapped the goat and threatened to make 'Birria' out of it if they would not grant me an interview, I bet that would have gooten you into Clooney's trailer! :) "
abelito wrote on Jan 9, 2009 4:50 PM:
" Forget "Elvis Sightings" or "Chuy Sightings." From here on it's: "Clooney Sightings." LOL "
tasita_xmenfan wrote on Jan 9, 2009 4:15 PM:
" I can't believe that I went to school and the only thing I heard was "OMG! George Clooney is in Brawley!". OK, we all get it, an A-List actor was in the Valley. Big Deal! He is just a human like we all are. We should all care more about local schools running put of funds than an actor entering Vons. I respect and profoundly admire Clooney's work (except "Leather heads")but if I ever saw him walking next to me, all that I would do is just look and walk away, not make a huge deal about it. "
mrknowitall wrote on Jan 9, 2009 2:26 PM:
" Fun article to read. Good job Brianna. "
marcusjayshapiro wrote on Jan 9, 2009 2:19 PM:
" It's too bad that Princess Leia killed Jabba the Hut out in Glamis...I heard he was a frequent customer at Las Palmas! "
jbrad wrote on Jan 9, 2009 1:53 PM:
" To clarify: George Clooney only spends what he spends, but obviously a film crew involves a lot people who need to eat, need a place to sleep, buy fuel, etc. That can add up - Brad Jennings, editor. "
desertfiower wrote on Jan 9, 2009 1:50 PM:
" I couldn't care less about Clooney or the cash he spends here. He doesn't pay any more for a taco than I do. So what he spends his money here, is his money greener than anyone elses? "
newsguy wrote on Jan 9, 2009 1:48 PM:
" Let's spar. Who's first? "
pinomatus wrote on Jan 9, 2009 1:31 PM:
" ok guys im just here to post my opinion, even if everyone doesn't agree. not here to fight anybody. i could care less what rayo says. shap dog thanks. luvjh2008, appreciate it. mikegino weren't you getting ready for a fight. you could be on the undercard. "
luvjh2008 wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:59 PM:
" Jbrad you should just ban him as of now he is way out of line. Rayo I don't think you would want some of pinomatus just ask joey how his a** kickin was. "
mikegino wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:51 PM:
" Something new and exciting is happening here. Something that could provide a significant ditraction from our current economic meltdown. Something that even could rival Battle of the Badges. MJS: you appear to be a natural promoter...can you put it together? I'm talking about Seeley versus Heber. Just think about the sequel possibilities... "
marcusjayshapiro wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:40 PM:
" I've been waiting all my life for the Seeley vs Heber war...I'm rooting for the Karne Kapitol. I got your back ref. "
jbrad wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:20 PM:
" Rayo - Please don't post personal attacks or you will be banned. - Brad Jennings, editor. "
luvjh2008 wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:18 PM:
" Hey you rayos*** that is not called for, you hater. "
MadHatter10/6 wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:02 PM:
" Big deal, why do some people get all starstruck over an overpaid actor. He's human just like all of us. "
mikegino wrote on Jan 9, 2009 11:58 AM:
" I wouldn't go to see one of Clooney's films even if I had free tickets. "
pinomatus wrote on Jan 9, 2009 10:07 AM:
" if he is a person just like you, why give him an autograph? i bet he cares as much as i do about autographs, not at all. "
ajorgenson wrote on Jan 9, 2009 10:00 AM:
" I met George Clooney and I gave him my autograph because I am a person just like he is. "
Chammy wrote on Jan 9, 2009 9:37 AM:
" bigern! Good Night and Good Luck was just a movie! "
pinomatus wrote on Jan 9, 2009 9:26 AM:
" Chuy. hahahahaha "
abelito wrote on Jan 9, 2009 8:15 AM:
" I guess if failed Reich Wing comedian, Dennis Miller or that other sorry-faced actor/failed politician, Fred Thompson were in town, the Righties would be all starry-eyed and proclaiming the occasion to be "The Second Coming of Chuy." "
gymjunkie wrote on Jan 9, 2009 8:12 AM:
" I hope they plan to haul out their own trash. "
lioneliz wrote on Jan 9, 2009 7:42 AM:
" You don't like Clooney? How about the cash he spends in the Valley at hotel/motels and local taco shops. Pi-- him off and he can just as well stay in Yuma. "
bigern wrote on Jan 9, 2009 5:38 AM:
" Clooney is a Communist anyway, he is a left wing nut from hollywood who cares "
newsguy wrote on Jan 9, 2009 12:30 AM:
" Brianna Lusk appears to have a one-itis. It happens. "
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martinez2k wrote on Jan 9, 2009 5:09 PM: