What Kind of Fan R U?

Not to brag, but when I was a professional reporter, I met alot of celebrities. Some of them my favorites (Wesley Snipes). Being the professional I was at the time, I never let my self be so starstruck that I went totally crazy. In fact, I was in New York a while back and ran into Woody Allen walking his dog. I didn't run up to him and ask for an autograph. I didn't get all crazy and shout, "That's Woody Allen!" I just let him walk on by and offered a polite salutation. When I met Robin Williams all I said was, "You look like that guy..." he said, "I get that all the time." And that was it.

See, I was in a movie once. And while we were filming on location San Francisco, people would run up to me and take pictures. It was rather rude. And since I was a TV reporter at the time, people would recognize me on the street and start talking to me: people I didn't know, but somehow they acted as if they knew me. I'm not saying it wasn't nice to be recognized, but after a while it grows old.

So my question is: If you were to meet, or run into a celebrity, say casually, how would you react? Would you just give them their space, or freak out and search yourself for a pen? It's my belief that celebrities just want to be left alone (unless at a press junket), but sometimes fans can be rude, obnoxious and downright invading.

What kind of fan are you?

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I used to get autographs on my sports cards, but only for the art of collecting. As far as movie stars...I could care less.

Of course, If I saw Fiona Apple walking down the street, I'd probably go cave man on her, thump 'er on the head and drag her by her hair back to my lair.

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the funniest celebrity encounter that i've ever had in my life was when i was walking out of the metropolitan museum of art...it was a cold day and i was fixing my scarf and wasn't paying any attention...afterward rob came up to me and said "did you see him?" and i said, "see who?"

i had hit tony bennett with my scarf while i was fixing it...

I don't see the point of auto-graphs unless they're on a DVD or poster or something like that to make them collectables. If I saw a celebrity that I liked, I'd probably just say something to them like, "Hey! I loved your last movie!". But if that celebrity was surrounded by fans begging for a signature, I'd stand back. If I saw a celebrity who I didn't really like or know much about, I'd just walk past them.

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Susan:

I agree....There's no use in just having one's autograph. I'd be proud enough to even meet the person and talk to him. I'd get something signed if I'd keep it as a collectible as Parky said.

I've met a couple dozen celebrities in various contexts, and I never rudely force myself into a conversation. The only time I'll get autographs is from authors if I have one of their books with me. Otherwise, I don't really care about that stuff.

Probably the coolest I ever got to meet are Kurt Vonnegut, Robert Altman and Joel & Ethan Coen, among others. The only non-author I've gotten a signature from was Joel Cox, Clint Eastwood's longtime editor, and that was because I had spent over an hour talking with him (incredibly nice guy) and just wanted a memento of that night.

When I've run into actors, I compliment them on their performances that I loved that they probably don't get a lot of feedback on, which they always seem to appreciate. For example, when I met Cary Elwes after a screening of The Shadow of the Vampire, I didn't ask him to say "As you wish" or if Tom Cruise is a nice guy, I told him he was excellent as John Houseman in Cradle Will Rock (which he was). When I met M. Emmet Walsh after the director's cut of Blood Simple, I didn't go into BladeRunner super-geek mode or even ask about Fletch, rather I told him I absolutely loved him in The Music of Chance, Straight Time and Clean & Sober, and that whenever I watch Little Big Man (which is often) I love listening for his voice as that stagecoach gets attacked. In my experience they find that level of praise much more engaging and rewarding than asking about the one or two movies they get asked about all day long every single frippin' day of their lives.

And I can't ask for an actor's autograph without feeling like Rupert Pupkin.

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Ain't that the truth....

I wish I was that and smart, I seem to go into can't talk mode, when I meet a star.

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I met Cary Tagawa, John Fujioka and Yuji Okumoto at LAX in 1999. I was very cool even though I am a big fan of Tagawa's.

They were sitting directly across from me in the lobby, say 5' away. Tagawa caught me looking at him a few times and came over and sat next to me. He said "You know who I am don't you?"

Of course, I told him that I did and he told me that he appreciated me not making a spectacle. He wasn't being conceited in saying that... I just think he didn't feel like dealing with a bunch of people. Anyways, he talked with my son and I for approximately 20 minutes about Mortal Kombat, his new website etc. He told me that he and his friends were filming a 'Big' war movie (Pearl Harbor) and that he hoped that we would see it and enjoy it.

It felt kind of weird and surreal talking to him in the middle of a crowded airport. He's very recognizable and I was surprised that more people didn't notice him. On the other hand, his hair is gray and long and in the movies it's usually black and short.

Ah well, my wife saw Pierce Brosnan in Santa Monica and was not nearly as cool as I was

Depends on the context, and the celebrity in question. If they're just someone famous, I'd content myself with being convinced it was really them. If it was someone who I had some sort of special affinity for (say, an author who'd written a book I'd particularly enjoyed, or a baseball player I'd followed for awhile), then I might venture a quick hello, and a complement.

Basically, I wouldn't say anything to them unless I actually had something to say. Their being famous isn't really reason enough. Just seeing them gives you the same kind of "guess what happened to me the other day" story as an awkward "I'm such a fan" introduction.

Yup, it's amazing how quickly one can become Chris Farley from those "SNL" skits. Remember that thing you did that you're incredibly famous for? Well that was awesome.

Ugh.

The best is when you can engage in an actual conversation, like I had the opportunity to with Chuck Palahniuk the other day. I didn't have to be a slobbering fan and breathlessly say how much I liked his writing, I just had a normal conversation with the guy, bringing his work up when appropriate. That's always soooooo much better. For both you and the celebrity. If you got nothing to say or it's an awkward situation, just let them go.

I was a theater manager at the Breckenridge Festival of Film, (Breckenridge, Colorado) and Lou Diamond Phillips came with a new film of his. I was in the lobby managing the cash and stuff, when he comes out of the theater. We just start talking like its nothing, for quite some time. Normally, i think i would have flipped, but i didnt ask for an autograph or anyting. And, lemme tell ya, he is one of the funniest people i know.

I saw Sly Stallone at Disneyland a few years ago. He was walking with a Disneyland escort, and I soon realized his family and a few others were about 15' in front of him. No other guests had noticed him. I followed at a distance until they all stopped to take pictures with Ariel (the little mermaid). I walked past hoping to make eye-contact, and I was planning on giving him a nod and a, "How ya doing?" but he didn't look at me. I stood at a distance and watched for a bit. A couple approached him for an autograph, but they were turned away by the escort. I stood there a little longer, staring. I then walked away thinking, "This is stupid. Why am I staring at this guy who is just standing there. What do I expect him to do, pull out an automatic weapon and start shooting a bunch of villians?" I walked away glad that I didn't do anything I'd regret the rest of my life (like yell "ADRIAN!" as I walked by him).

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I've only met one celeb and he was in missouri siging autographs..he played in a movie called street knight but for the life of me i cant remember his name. I was just like "mom who is this guy?" all these others were freaking out and screaming. When i got up there(oh yah jeff speakman was his name) i was like hi how are you and so forth. If i ever met another one whos more popular id probally be like is that..oh it is and just keep going. I feel it would be rude to go up to them and all be screaming in their face going OMG its you!! I cant see myself actually doing that. So id be a fan but one who sees from afar and not a screamer.

Wife Beaters are cool

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It's a god-awful small affair, To the girl with, the mousy hair, But her mummy is yelling "No", and her daddy has told her to go, But her friend is nowhere to be seen, Now she walks through her sunken dream, To the seat with the clearest view, And she's hooked to the silver screen, But the film is a saddening bore, For she's lived it ten times or more...

What! Wesley Snipes is a wife beater.