tuesday night, i got an invite to go to a screening of the new film , the secret life of bees, with my friend jess, who works for an actor's trade publication. the film comes out october 17th, and i give it major stars and recommend you go see it! anyway, it's based on a book, but the film is great.

sidenote: i love that it's over a year later, and i still can't get enough of living in this city. there are always exciting things going on, and it's also within driving distance of so many awesome places (including up north, where i'm going this weekend to an apple orchard!) and, even though i've done lots of work/spent a good amount of time on studio lots, i still get that sense of hollywood magic every time i set foot on one! which, brings me back to the secret life of bees...so, jess and i went to the fox lot in century city and went to a private screening of the film. it is beautifully made, well-acted (some actors include: dakota fanning, queen latifah, paul bettany, sophie okonedo, jennifer hudson, and alicia keys), and the story is touching and poignant.

after the film, there was a q&a session with the writer/director and two actors, dakota and latifah. i'm not going to lie, it was cool to see them in person. dakota is so bright and intelligent, and latifah seemed really warm and kind. it was great to hear insights about acting and their anecdotes from behind the scenes of the film. times like those just always solidify my desire to keep chasing this. i know it's what i want to do. :)


then last night, holland surprised me with random tickets to a gavin degraw concert!! i'd seen him in concert once before, my freshman year of college in st. louis. last night, he played at the house of blues in hollywood, which was a fun venue. his brother opened for him, along with this band, charlotte sometimes. i liked their music, but the lead singer came across as pretty arrogant, so i didn't care for her much. but, gavin was fabulous live; he has a really rich, smooth voice, and is talented with piano and guitar as well. we had a great time, and i'm posting some pics below for you to peruse!






like i said, this weekend, i'm going apple "orching" with some friends up north (there will most definitely be pictures!). and then next weekend i'm meeting my mom in chicago, which i'm sooo excited about!!! i can't wait for these two very fallish experience, it still feels like summer here, so i need an autumn fix!!

3 comments

1. Isaac Johnson on October 9, 2008 at 2:57 PM

   You must be the most hardcore Gavin McGraw fan EVER!!!!! :)

    
2. elmosoccers on October 12, 2008 at 10:51 AM

   I'll be in Chicago next weekend too with my mom and sis

    
3. The Buchandermanns on October 13, 2008 at 5:11 PM

   Isaac, EVERYTIME I hear the name Gavin Degraw, I think of the story of you saying that about being a hardcore Gavin McGraw fan.
   everytime.
   actually, I was going to comment on Lauren's post in reference to that. but you beat me to it!
   now that's infamy.