Went to the show the other night, I did. Fun time, it was.
The thing about the show is all that glitters is gold, and more often than not - when in Rome... You know the saying...
But this night was a special night, and a young man may have had one of those transcendental experiences that goes on to define ones life. We are all influenced by what we see on the big screen, and films that seem to be innocuous at the start, may cause a burgeoning interest in a new subject that can become a guiding life path. War Horse. I think everyone can agree that after seeing this film they wanted to become a stallion roaming the battles of the Civil War. Billy Elliot. It was not you, nor I, that consciously made the decision to give up dreams of NFL stardom to find a true expression of self. Transformers... Finding Nemo...Over the Top... etc etc... These movies touched something inside of each and every one of us in a way that we knew not possible.
Paid In Full.
A movie that extols the principles outlined above for each and every one of us; a film that shed light on a way of life that so many had previously failed to successfully accomplish.
But back to the night at the show - there I was, iced coffee in hand, at trendy Los Angeles spot with my girlfriend on a nice date night when I turned to the right and saw something that I initially thought could not possibly be true. Not Tom Hanks, not Leo, not Cruise, not Brad, not Depp, not no not Pattinson. I'm talking about Wood Harris. Okay, to me this man is more than just one of the biggest actors in the game, he is a legend. But I understand the magic of Hollywood (or Harlem wink wink) and that this guy is just making a living like us all. But the rest I can't believe even as I write it...
As my favorite actor of all time (I'm sure you all feel the same) I had to tell this guy. But as you might expect there were hundreds of other people creating a mob type atmosphere, but I felt so strongly about my admiration for the characters (Ace Boogie, Avon Barksdale) that I had to tell him the appreciation I had for his art (as fictional as it may be). I pushed my way through the now mob of thousands of people and I said "excuse me, I just want to let you know that Paid In Full is my favorite movie of all time, and I hope you know that it is one of the defining films of the last 30 years." With this, Wood was completely dismissive and said "sorry man, its just a movie, wish I could say it was something more, and I am sorry I am not that man, nor do I live the life of what I show on the big screen, its all fake kid." And I responded "Say it ain't so, Say it ain't so." He saw the tear begin to form in my eye and before it fell he said, "yes, but hey man, bring your girl and lets go to this spot I know, should be a fun time." So I did.
You know how these Hollywood types can be; pretentious etc. But I figured I'd give it a shot, and I show up to the spot and he is sitting at a table with some girls who looked like:
And I was like damn.
And then some bottles came around that were like:
And at this point I couldn't believe it. But then I looked around and luckily I filmed it because I wouldn't believe it if I looked back at it:
(go to 5:30)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0294NpZvqGY&feature=BFa&list=PL10A72BE2E54E5574
The thing is, this was A Night At The Museum and Midnight In Paris in one - but I was in Harlem and it was some time in the 1980s. So it was better than anything anyone could imagine.
But similar to the Woody Allen flick (Woody ~ Wood etc etc) it all came to an end just as quick as it began. And then I watched Wood Harris come in the door to the lounge of the theater and my body was slow as molasses and I was as starstruck as could be, and no one realized who the guy was, and I watched as he walked away without anyone saying a damn thing to him. Me, no exception. And then he was gone. Wood Harris. Ace. Avon. Wood Harris.
The thing about the show is all that glitters is gold, and more often than not - when in Rome... You know the saying...
But this night was a special night, and a young man may have had one of those transcendental experiences that goes on to define ones life. We are all influenced by what we see on the big screen, and films that seem to be innocuous at the start, may cause a burgeoning interest in a new subject that can become a guiding life path. War Horse. I think everyone can agree that after seeing this film they wanted to become a stallion roaming the battles of the Civil War. Billy Elliot. It was not you, nor I, that consciously made the decision to give up dreams of NFL stardom to find a true expression of self. Transformers... Finding Nemo...Over the Top... etc etc... These movies touched something inside of each and every one of us in a way that we knew not possible.
Paid In Full.
A movie that extols the principles outlined above for each and every one of us; a film that shed light on a way of life that so many had previously failed to successfully accomplish.
But back to the night at the show - there I was, iced coffee in hand, at trendy Los Angeles spot with my girlfriend on a nice date night when I turned to the right and saw something that I initially thought could not possibly be true. Not Tom Hanks, not Leo, not Cruise, not Brad, not Depp, not no not Pattinson. I'm talking about Wood Harris. Okay, to me this man is more than just one of the biggest actors in the game, he is a legend. But I understand the magic of Hollywood (or Harlem wink wink) and that this guy is just making a living like us all. But the rest I can't believe even as I write it...
As my favorite actor of all time (I'm sure you all feel the same) I had to tell this guy. But as you might expect there were hundreds of other people creating a mob type atmosphere, but I felt so strongly about my admiration for the characters (Ace Boogie, Avon Barksdale) that I had to tell him the appreciation I had for his art (as fictional as it may be). I pushed my way through the now mob of thousands of people and I said "excuse me, I just want to let you know that Paid In Full is my favorite movie of all time, and I hope you know that it is one of the defining films of the last 30 years." With this, Wood was completely dismissive and said "sorry man, its just a movie, wish I could say it was something more, and I am sorry I am not that man, nor do I live the life of what I show on the big screen, its all fake kid." And I responded "Say it ain't so, Say it ain't so." He saw the tear begin to form in my eye and before it fell he said, "yes, but hey man, bring your girl and lets go to this spot I know, should be a fun time." So I did.
You know how these Hollywood types can be; pretentious etc. But I figured I'd give it a shot, and I show up to the spot and he is sitting at a table with some girls who looked like:
And then some bottles came around that were like:
And I was like okay.
And he pulled out some money like:
(go to 5:30)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0294NpZvqGY&feature=BFa&list=PL10A72BE2E54E5574
The thing is, this was A Night At The Museum and Midnight In Paris in one - but I was in Harlem and it was some time in the 1980s. So it was better than anything anyone could imagine.
But similar to the Woody Allen flick (Woody ~ Wood etc etc) it all came to an end just as quick as it began. And then I watched Wood Harris come in the door to the lounge of the theater and my body was slow as molasses and I was as starstruck as could be, and no one realized who the guy was, and I watched as he walked away without anyone saying a damn thing to him. Me, no exception. And then he was gone. Wood Harris. Ace. Avon. Wood Harris.
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