LINDA HAMILTON

Grauman’s Chinese Theater

Hollywood, CA

November 28, 2005

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Photo credit: Linda Hamilton

I was at a movie premiere at the one and only Grauman’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame. Several of the actors were in attendance and because this event was hosted by a client of mine, I was invited to go upstairs to the private after-party.

I was telling my client about my earlier escapades with celebrities who had taken my picture. Intrigued, she called the staff photographer over to ask where tonight’s movie stars were hiding. I was resistant because using that inside information would go against my self-imposed rule which says I am not allowed to hunt the stars but am just supposed to spot these people while out in nature. Instead of using his tip, I decided to roam the party and forage for some celebrities on my own.

Just past the open plain of an unused dance floor, I saw Linda Hamilton sitting on a couch that was concealed by a protective thicket. There was a low table in front of her, potted, leafy trees behind her, and about three people sitting on either side. I passed by and made eye contact but couldn't figure out how to casually approach her. I walked around the party to think and after a few minutes, I returned with a plan.

I stood behind her, a polite distance away. Then, with style and grace, I climbed in among the plants.

I crouched down in the shrubbery behind the couch to be at her eye level. As would be expected, this heightened her senses so she cautiously turned around. I said, “Hi, this is kinda weird.” So far she completely agreed. “I have this celebrity photo album. It’s just a bunch of pictures of me taken by celebrities. Will you take my picture?” Her defenses immediately dropped.

“That's GREAT!” she said. “So what do I have to do?” She touched her friend, Yvette Nicole Brown, who was also in tonight’s movie, and told her about my idea. “I have to take a picture of HER,” she said.

She held out her hand for the camera. “But how are you gonna know I took it?” she asked. “Oh, I know. I'll do this.” She turned the camera around. Her friend seemed a little unsure of what to do as Linda was setting up the shot, so I invited her to join us in the photo.

Linda held the camera vertically to shoot a portrait shot but wasn't convinced we'd all fit within the frame. I said, “I bet we'll fit if it's taken this way.” I gently reached my arm out from the greenery and between the two of them to turn the camera horizontally.

“Oh good,” she said as I retracted my arm. She snapped a quick pic and rotated the camera for our review. “Look at those big smiles,” she said. “This is SO GREAT! Oh, you don't have to stay back there, come up here and sit with us.”

It's not every day that a celebrity invites you into their tribe, so I backed out of the plants and stood up. I brushed off any foliage that might have been lingering and circled around to the front of the couch. I politely maneuvered my way past people’s knees to sit beside Linda on the white leather sofa.

The three of us started talking about business as freelancers. Linda was very welcoming and as we spoke she periodically touched my arm with the back of her hand like we were old friends. They mentioned that work is pretty slow. “Really slow actually,” Linda said. “Yeah, it's slow for me too,” I said. “Are you an actor?” she asked eagerly. “No, I'm an art director, but if it's slow for you and slow for me there must be something going on in our economy.” (I said that like I knew what I was talking about.)

They agreed with my astute political observation and Yvette carried on. She said that she had just finished a table reading for the TV drama House and wasn’t sure what to expect. “I normally do sit-coms,” she said apprehensively. We talked about the ups and downs of life in Hollywood and how sometimes, even at the top, we have to protect ourselves from the lion’s den full of predators. We’d all been there.

Eventually, Linda was approached by someone else who got her talking so I thanked them both and went on my way.

Spotting these people while out in nature wasn’t intended to mean that I pitch my idea while I'm also squatting in a bush, but fortunately, it worked. And, though our brief but bubbly visit felt very natural if our paths ever cross again, Linda, I’ll be sure to greet you like a civilized human being with a traditional face-to-face approach.

Thanks for playing, ladies, it was really fun. And thanks for this fantastic photo!