The Poster Memorabilia blog

Two Countries, One Moneyball

Roy Thomson Hall to the Oakland Paramount, ten days apart, with a camera and a poster.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

Working as a celebrity photographer has many perks. I not only get to cover high-profile events, but also travel to wherever they're held. I'll never forget the first time I was assigned to cover two movie premieres. The film was Moneyball (2011), and it starred many big names and emerging actors at the time.

It was a pretty easy assignment since the two premieres were held in nearby countries. Moneyball first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2011, then again in Oakland, California, on September 19, 2011. Fortunately, I didn't have to take a long-haul flight to get from one to the other.

When I say the cast had pretty big names, I wasn't kidding. The movie starred Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, and Chris Pratt. I'm sure there's not a cinephile on earth who doesn't know at least two of them. And I got to take their pictures on the red carpet on both occasions.

This was also around the height of the Brangelina era. Everyone went crazy whenever Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stepped out in public, including yours truly. Not only did I get caught up in the frenzy myself, but shooting them also meant a pretty big bonus at the end of the day.

“It was celebrity mania at its finest.”

So there they were, at Roy Thomson Hall, looking like the ultimate Hollywood couple. It was celebrity mania at its finest—two of the most beautiful movie stars to ever appear on screen standing side by side as they posed for the cameras. A hush actually went through the crowd when she arrived, then a whisper going down the line: she's here. It was the best time for my profession.

There was no doubt, at least for me, that Angelina Jolie was the most striking woman on the red carpet that night, but Robin Wright still gave her a run for her money. She's always been a looker ever since she played Buttercup in The Princess Bride. And that night, she was a nice, elegant contrast to Jolie's more dramatic look.

Chris Pratt hadn't hit it big yet, but I could already tell he had the makings of a major star. He had already lost a lot of weight by then, but he was still popular from playing Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation. Many fans screamed for him, but it wasn't at the level of Guardians of the Galaxy fame yet.

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Shooting them was great, but the best part was getting some autographs when I met them inside the venue. I'm well acquainted with someone from the film's PR team, and she introduced me to a few of the cast members that night. Though I only met Wright, Pratt, and Stephen Bishop that time, I still felt lucky.

I finally met Pitt and Jonah Hill when I covered the movie's Oakland premiere. They were pretty nice to me despite what my job is, but then again, I never invaded their privacy. I could face them confidently because I knew I did my job ethically and well. I only regret that I never met the late Philip Seymour Hoffman at any of the premieres. He was there in Toronto, but he got off that carpet about as fast as anyone I've ever photographed.

Nevertheless, the Moneyball premieres were just an example of how I'm able to travel for work. Not to mention getting autographs from some of the world's most famous celebrities.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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