By my early 20's I was living with roomates and a guy I was dating in north Hollywood.
the blonde in question was named Geoffrey.
how Geoffrey ended up in my life is a long story...the most relevant part is that Geoffrey had no idea what male interaction was like. He was new to the queer scene so I took it upon myself to show him around.
In my early twenties I myself was trying to figure the whole queer thing. A posting I made on Craigslist looking for volunteering opportunities in the queer community led me to an organization working on marriage equality. Before proposition 8 even existed.
And that's how Geoffrey wound up in a trendy silverlake bar talking to British tourist about the miracle of Shaun of the dead....wearing a Shaun beannie.
around the time Geoffrey entered my life so did "spaced" having a multi region player I got found out about a geeky sitcom from the UK and introduced the whole house to it. Everyone fell in love with it. I found out about Shaun of the dead shortly after and had the DVD months before it was released in theaters state side. We had a screening of it at the house and Geoffrey went bat shit crazy over it.
Geofrrey is a story of my biggest unrequited love. My association with him lasted a few months after our north Hollywood apartment. We made out a few times, he said he cared for me...but someone of his looks in the queer scene...well let me put it this way...one night at a gay club he made out with both a gay guy and that guys female friend...i just couldn't compete.
all of that came to mind as I watched"Scott pilgrim vs the world." the classic love story of the everyman crushing on someone more cultured (as stated in chasing Amy..someone who's done things you've only read about in books). By that point my love of Edgar Wright was established. Obviously a fan of spaced and the cornetto trilogy... I trusted him.
I always approach cinematic endeavors carefully...too many failed expectations etc..
by the time the opening credits started (WE ARE SEX BOB-OMB 1234!) my brain stopped worrying and I let it flow...now you know that third eye blind song"semi charmed kind of life"? There is a part of the lyrics on the power of music to make the protagonist of the song weep if done styistically right (four right cords can make me cry).
that's sort of how I am with cinema...sometimes the right pairing of style and acting music etc (think the significance of van Gogh in that doctor who episode) can make me weep.
so Scott pilgrim had me balling during most of the movie...a chance at unrequited love with someone you otherwise dismiss as being out of your league.
11/11/10 I showed up to amoeba and waited in a somewhat long line for a Scott pilgrim signing. I had secured a ticket by purchasing a DVD and brought a long a poster with me to get signed by Edgar Wright and most of the cast. I had already met Edgar Wright at the Kevin Smith spaced signing (where Kevin signed my arm) but now using the rule of three and in a post Scott pilgrim world I was all game to have Edgar sign my arm.
problem was that it was one item per person. In line we were all nervous.
A. We were all fans
B. Most of the cast was there
you know war movies where soldiers nervously talk amongst themselves about some girl back home they're marrying when they get back etc? Well that was the whole line.
I made single serving friends including one guy who also brought a poster and told me he already had a frame for it.
as we got closer in line the anticipation grew. I saw one kid who just got his DVD signed walk past the line sort of shocked and too stunned but do anything but grin and mumble to his awaiting friends...then it was my turn. I went down the line getting my poster signed ultimately ending up at Michael Cera who I developed a crush on as he refused to let me move on as he geeked over my tattoos...
"hey what's that one?"
"well I have filmmakers sign my arm and I get it tattooed on..."
"oh that's cool...but hitchhikers guide to the galaxy! Nice!"
Jason Schwartzman who was sitting next to Edgar Wright (and is one of my favorite actors)
apologized for the wait and I assured him it was cool. So I told.Edgar Wright about my project...told him I would have him sign my arm if it wasn't just one item per person.
"I'll sign it!" he said
"but where?" Jason Schwartzman said
he sprung up from the table and came around the table to where I was standing and he signed it. He stood there and looked at it for a second.
Years later at a signing for "the worlds end" (also at amoeba) I showed him the tattoo and he remembered me and signing the tattoo and took a picture which he poster on his twitter.
lost track of Geoffrey. He still stands as a unrequited love. Everyone has one.
probably better he didn't end up with those British tourist that night we did outreach for marriage equality in silverlake that night.
they hated Shaun of the dead.
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