FIELD REPORT - SKYFALL Premiere - NO SPOILERS
Gadget Meister
Bicester, OxonPosts: 1,972MI6 Agent
Two of our party arrived at the Playboy Club on Park Lane at around 1520 and were soon joined by the third member of our little posse and after a brief tour of the casino and facilities settled down with our first drink of the evening awaiting the arrival of Q Branch Kev. The three of us are a fairly tight knit unit and we were discussing our upcoming trip to LA and Vegas next week. I had no doubts that Kev would gel with the other two straight away and so it was to be.
We were hoping that David & Danielle Zaritsky, Simon Ruzgar and Remmert van Braam would join us but sadly it was not to be, various logistics problems raised their heads and despite a lot of texting back and forth it just didn't happen.
Apologies, taken by a non photographer, but included purely for completeness with a lovely Bunnygirl.
Four amigos below the Playboy logo
We left the Playboy Club around 1800 and were generously given use of their courtesy Mercedes S Class which meant we got dropped at the entrance to the Red Carpet in style. One of our group was suffering a foot injury which meant we had to take our time moving on through, which suited us just fine. As soon as we rounded the screened off area onto the carpet proper the first person I saw was Samantha Bond, looking as delightful as ever.
Samantha Bond at her charming best
From the first steps it became a sea of flash guns firing a constant barrage of light, I don't think I've ever seen so many press and paps in one place before. We slowly began to make our way up the carpet towards the hall and it was difficult take it all in. In skydiving we have a phrase known as sensory overload which you experience on your first few jumps, this is the closest thing to that, that I've ever known.
Bond themes were playing constantly over the sound system, interspersed with interviews from the centre stage about halfway up which was adorned by a huge golden 007 logo below which was a DB5. I heard the crowd behind the barriers shouting for various names to come their way and spotted several cast members being very generous with their time and signing and chatting readily to their fans as well as fulfilling their other TV/press obligations. As we neared the centre stage David Walliams (he gets everywhere and was also at the Christies auction) was just finishing interviewing the man himself.
Within seconds Daniel Craig appeared just in front of us on the red carpet before bounding over to the fan barriers and spending a huge amount of time chatting and signing. So I'm standing on the red carpet at a James Bond Premiere and James Bond is standing in front of me, talk about timing things just right.
All too soon we were being shepherded along by security and urged to move inside the hall.
On the Monday I had received an email from the RAH detailing the dress code, security procedures and informing that any and all cameras, phones etc would have to be checked in on entry and retrieved on exit, which I had expected. I then got a phone call from the RAH on Tuesday morning repeating all of the same info. So after taking a couple more photo ops outside we moved on in. Ditching the cameras and phones was very straightforward and then we were wanded by security before being allowed to proceed.
We headed straight for the bar on our level and just managed to get served before the tills were closed smack on 1910, we all bought programs, the proceeds of which were going directly to the British Security Services (Box, 6 and Cheltenham) welfare charities, which I thought was a wonderful touch in this 50th anniversary year. We moved through to our seats and although not the most comfortable or roomy, they did afford a wonderful view. We were in section T directly in front of the screen. I had heard that people had problems in the RAH with angles and obstructions, but looking around I saw no evidence of this.
Very soon the Band of the Royal Marines marched on stage and gave a wonderful medley of Bond themes before the on screen feed cut to the arrival of His Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. The royal couple were met by Barbara (again looking stunning) and Michael, who escorted them inside, but not before they both took time to chat with the fans outside. On entering the Hall they were introduced to the principal film makers and cast before taking their seats in the Royal Box. The band then played the National Anthem and we took our seats once more.
First up on stage, Barbara and Michael arrived to great applause and then Michael introduced the director and cast, each applause increasing until finally Daniel appeared to a rapturous ovation. As the stage cleared and the band marched off, as the lights began to dim I saw Daniel and his wife Rachel take their seats in the Royal Box next HRH Prince Charles, and we were off, the beginning of the 23rd official James Bond movie in this very special anniversary year.
I am not going to give any spoilers away. All I will say is that I thought CR was an OK film, QOS was appalling and neither were what I would call Bond films. I have now come to realise that hollow volcanoes, space stations and the like are in the past and I have to embrace the new look and feel. Once I got that straight in my head I found myself enjoying this James Bond film, and it IS a James Bond film, in a way that I have sadly missed for the last three outings. This movie will give any of the previous 22 a damn good run for their money, this is Bond NOT Bourne and this time it shows. There is humour, lacking of late, homages and, finally, fun. There is no damn silly CGI. The much talked of product placement certainly wasn't intrusive, in fact hardly even noticeable. I congratulate Sam Mendes, Purves, Wade & Long, I absolutely loved it, as did the rest of the audience given the laughter, coming where it deserved and also the applause at various points. It did suddenly seem to become very dusty in the RAH toward the end, which caused my eyes to run a little, yes, definitely dust. As the credits rolled I thought the applause was going to last just as long.
Without a doubt, in this 50th year, and after being away for some time...............
Bond is BACK....... and Daniel Craig IS James Bond
As we made our way out, I thought they missed a trick by not selling program's then as well, I certainly would have bought another couple. It didn't take long to retrieve our cameras and phones and again we tried to touch base with the others but no joy. We did however find out where the party was being held and so had to at least try to blag it. So nearest cab we could find and it was off to the Tate Modern, we arrived along side several coaches disgorging the lucky golden ticket holders and we mingled in. Unfortunately the ticket check caught us out and no amount of persuasion was going to get us in, but we just had to try. And so ends a marvellous evening spent in good company, great entertainment and memories to last a lifetime. In two years time I am going to get into that damn party if it kills me.
When I got home i played the UK Sky Movies 007 channel Skyfall Premiere Special and there at minute 23 between the Bérénice Marlohe and the Barbara Broccoli pieces to camera there is a wide crane shot of the centre stage and there I am dead centre in the 6 o'clock, I knew being 6' 4" and having silver hair would come in handy one day.
The full live feed replay is now up on YouTube in glorious HD at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYnt2prr_ow
We were hoping that David & Danielle Zaritsky, Simon Ruzgar and Remmert van Braam would join us but sadly it was not to be, various logistics problems raised their heads and despite a lot of texting back and forth it just didn't happen.
Apologies, taken by a non photographer, but included purely for completeness with a lovely Bunnygirl.
Four amigos below the Playboy logo
We left the Playboy Club around 1800 and were generously given use of their courtesy Mercedes S Class which meant we got dropped at the entrance to the Red Carpet in style. One of our group was suffering a foot injury which meant we had to take our time moving on through, which suited us just fine. As soon as we rounded the screened off area onto the carpet proper the first person I saw was Samantha Bond, looking as delightful as ever.
Samantha Bond at her charming best
From the first steps it became a sea of flash guns firing a constant barrage of light, I don't think I've ever seen so many press and paps in one place before. We slowly began to make our way up the carpet towards the hall and it was difficult take it all in. In skydiving we have a phrase known as sensory overload which you experience on your first few jumps, this is the closest thing to that, that I've ever known.
Bond themes were playing constantly over the sound system, interspersed with interviews from the centre stage about halfway up which was adorned by a huge golden 007 logo below which was a DB5. I heard the crowd behind the barriers shouting for various names to come their way and spotted several cast members being very generous with their time and signing and chatting readily to their fans as well as fulfilling their other TV/press obligations. As we neared the centre stage David Walliams (he gets everywhere and was also at the Christies auction) was just finishing interviewing the man himself.
Within seconds Daniel Craig appeared just in front of us on the red carpet before bounding over to the fan barriers and spending a huge amount of time chatting and signing. So I'm standing on the red carpet at a James Bond Premiere and James Bond is standing in front of me, talk about timing things just right.
All too soon we were being shepherded along by security and urged to move inside the hall.
On the Monday I had received an email from the RAH detailing the dress code, security procedures and informing that any and all cameras, phones etc would have to be checked in on entry and retrieved on exit, which I had expected. I then got a phone call from the RAH on Tuesday morning repeating all of the same info. So after taking a couple more photo ops outside we moved on in. Ditching the cameras and phones was very straightforward and then we were wanded by security before being allowed to proceed.
We headed straight for the bar on our level and just managed to get served before the tills were closed smack on 1910, we all bought programs, the proceeds of which were going directly to the British Security Services (Box, 6 and Cheltenham) welfare charities, which I thought was a wonderful touch in this 50th anniversary year. We moved through to our seats and although not the most comfortable or roomy, they did afford a wonderful view. We were in section T directly in front of the screen. I had heard that people had problems in the RAH with angles and obstructions, but looking around I saw no evidence of this.
Very soon the Band of the Royal Marines marched on stage and gave a wonderful medley of Bond themes before the on screen feed cut to the arrival of His Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. The royal couple were met by Barbara (again looking stunning) and Michael, who escorted them inside, but not before they both took time to chat with the fans outside. On entering the Hall they were introduced to the principal film makers and cast before taking their seats in the Royal Box. The band then played the National Anthem and we took our seats once more.
First up on stage, Barbara and Michael arrived to great applause and then Michael introduced the director and cast, each applause increasing until finally Daniel appeared to a rapturous ovation. As the stage cleared and the band marched off, as the lights began to dim I saw Daniel and his wife Rachel take their seats in the Royal Box next HRH Prince Charles, and we were off, the beginning of the 23rd official James Bond movie in this very special anniversary year.
I am not going to give any spoilers away. All I will say is that I thought CR was an OK film, QOS was appalling and neither were what I would call Bond films. I have now come to realise that hollow volcanoes, space stations and the like are in the past and I have to embrace the new look and feel. Once I got that straight in my head I found myself enjoying this James Bond film, and it IS a James Bond film, in a way that I have sadly missed for the last three outings. This movie will give any of the previous 22 a damn good run for their money, this is Bond NOT Bourne and this time it shows. There is humour, lacking of late, homages and, finally, fun. There is no damn silly CGI. The much talked of product placement certainly wasn't intrusive, in fact hardly even noticeable. I congratulate Sam Mendes, Purves, Wade & Long, I absolutely loved it, as did the rest of the audience given the laughter, coming where it deserved and also the applause at various points. It did suddenly seem to become very dusty in the RAH toward the end, which caused my eyes to run a little, yes, definitely dust. As the credits rolled I thought the applause was going to last just as long.
Without a doubt, in this 50th year, and after being away for some time...............
Bond is BACK....... and Daniel Craig IS James Bond
As we made our way out, I thought they missed a trick by not selling program's then as well, I certainly would have bought another couple. It didn't take long to retrieve our cameras and phones and again we tried to touch base with the others but no joy. We did however find out where the party was being held and so had to at least try to blag it. So nearest cab we could find and it was off to the Tate Modern, we arrived along side several coaches disgorging the lucky golden ticket holders and we mingled in. Unfortunately the ticket check caught us out and no amount of persuasion was going to get us in, but we just had to try. And so ends a marvellous evening spent in good company, great entertainment and memories to last a lifetime. In two years time I am going to get into that damn party if it kills me.
When I got home i played the UK Sky Movies 007 channel Skyfall Premiere Special and there at minute 23 between the Bérénice Marlohe and the Barbara Broccoli pieces to camera there is a wide crane shot of the centre stage and there I am dead centre in the 6 o'clock, I knew being 6' 4" and having silver hair would come in handy one day.
The full live feed replay is now up on YouTube in glorious HD at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYnt2prr_ow
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Apologies
It's great to hear that DC still has time for his fans. There have been so many accounts of him being generous at events - most notably almost every single night of his New York theatre run - and through the post and we saw it again last night. It's easy to act the big shot superstar, drive the flash car, surround yourself with heavies and be arrogant and aloof, but to remember your fans without whose endorsement and loyalty you wouldn't be working is the mark of a great star.
Great photos and looked like you had lots of fun!
I can't tell you how appreciative I am of that - So many people seem to
nowadays online as if THEY HAVE THE SCOOP and its a bit ''So What''
everyone is going to see it or know how this or that was done in a few
days anyway.. never see the point in them unless it has a point to make
and not just to reveal a part of the plot
I watched on and off The SKYFALL premier live online.. and spotted a few
in the crowd from on here and a few other Bond sites and forums and
people I have met at events over the years etc was great to watch, would
loved to have made it and got the offer and chance to, But sadly too many
commitments at home stood in the way that couldn't be avoided. Off to see
it on Friday night in Glasgow with my other half Lindsey, My Brother and his
good lady. had the tickets booked for a while, cinema sold out last week for
the opening night so should be a good atmosphere etc
THANKS! for the photos and review, great stuff and glad you enjoyed it so
much. you have made me more excited to see it now :007) nice one
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Love you all really though :x
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