The Pinnacle
of La La Land

What's the best place to meet celebrities? At movie premieres, perhaps? Or when they appear at panels at Comic-Cons? Surely, it's not when they're just walking down the street in LA or New York! You'd sooner get labeled a stalker before you get their autograph. So for me, the best and most appropriate place and time is when they're on the red carpet.

To be more specific, the red carpet at the Academy Awards, the pinnacle of La La Land. They usually look their best at the ceremony, and they've been campaigning so hard over the past few weeks that they're more personable than usual. That said, they're not automatically nicer, either.

I'll never forget going to the 89th Academy Awards in 2017. Yes, that's right. I went to the pre-ceremony red-carpet event, from the fan bleachers, in the year they had that catastrophic announcement mishap at the end of the show. Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty mistakenly announced La La Land as the winner of Best Picture when it was really Moonlight.

Ironically, I went that year to get the cast of La La Land to sign my movie poster. As sad as I was to find out they didn't win Best Picture, I was still excited to see them that night. I didn't even get everyone's autograph, but I was satisfied with who I got.

After all, they were Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and director Damien Chazelle. The two main stars and the filmmaker behind this iconic, Oscar-winning masterpiece. I couldn't have asked for anyone or anything better.

I was especially lucky to have gotten Emma Stone's autograph since she won her first Oscar that night. I'll never forget how beautiful she looked in her gold dress. And yet, even though she looked so sophisticated, she was still kinda goofy when I asked her to sign my poster. She stayed down-to-earth despite being one of the night's top winners.

Ryan Gosling also looked good and was just as nice when I met him. He was much calmer than Stone, who was riding high on her win. I'm still kinda sore that he didn't win, but I do understand why Casey Affleck won that night instead. I was happy enough that Gosling got nominated that year.

It still leaves a bittersweet taste in my mouth, though, since Damien Chazelle also won that night, for Best Director. My mind would've blown into pieces if everyone I got autographs from won that year. How would you feel if Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and Damien Chazelle gave you their autographs on the same night they all won Oscars?

And if La La Land really did win Best Picture, too, what then? I'd treasure this poster like an ancient artifact. Perhaps even make it a family heirloom, too.

Alas, fate had different plans. I still love the movie and feel grateful I met the stars and the director. Moreover, I still consider that night the best time I ever had hounding for autographs. No other celebrity encounter has trumped it since.