Shailla & Kendi
Last week my friend Kendi who is a Production Designer invited me to the International Media Launch Event of “Strictly Ballroom The Musical”, she wasn’t sure if the Director Baz Luhrmann was going to be there, but there was a high possibility. I was just happy to catch up with a great friend in an exciting event like this, if Baz ended up being there, wow, that would be an amazing bonus!
On the way there I was writing to my best friend from Brazil, Aline, and I told her about the possibility that I was about to listen to our great idol live, and writing that started to give me butterflies.
I met Kendi at the Town Hall entry, we waited a bit with the other guests till the doors open (we got there early and the doors were closed
for rehearsals), and to add to the thrill it was my first time ever inside the Town Hall building as well. We checked in, received our goody bags (it just kept getting more and more awesome – wasn’t expecting goody bags either), and a little bit after they opened the main doors and we all got in.
Except for the very front rows of tables which were reserved, there were no allocated seats, so Kendi being like me as in she also enjoys being part of the show or as close to the show as possible, we sat all the way on the front, at the second row of tables just behind the front reserved
ones.
To add up to awesome experience, we were all being served drinks and yummy cocktail food, which was perfect because I was a little bit
hungry after not having much time to eat all day.
Then, the show started!
The presenter had a wonderful sense of humour and everything was stunningly beautiful, the make up, the hair dos, the dresses, the dancing, the lights, and everything had the special Baz’s magic touch of great energy and life!
Kendi recognized Catherine Martin at the front row table next to us, awesome, we happened to sit next to Baz’s first lady!
And after lots of dancing and great speeches by Global Creatures representatives sharing some amazing stories with us, the creator of all came to stage, Mr Baz!
It must have been a mix of wine, plus writing to Aline on the way to the show and remembering being back in Brazil watching “Rome &
Juliet” and “Moulin Rouge” together and dreaming of being part of all that, and all the beautiful lights, and most of all, his incredible inspiring stories of how he started and how he also overcame obstacles, all I know is that all that made me very emotional and I started to cry.
To add up to all surprises of the night, in the end of his speech, he opened to the audience for Q&A!
I was sure that it was going to be a wonderful event, but it was even more fabulous than my expectation, and everything was surprise after
surprise and I had no idea that the opportunity would be presented for a Q&A with Baz, therefore I had not particular question formed in my mind yet, but at the same time I could not miss the chance of talking with Baz Luhrmann, so I just put my hand up to ask a question and since I have always been good at improvisation I was sure that the right question would come while the microphone was being brought to me.
Lucky to give me some additional time to come up with my question, someone on the other side got to ask a question first, and by the
time Baz finished answering the first question I was still so thrilled that I still haven’t totally decided on my question, but had a little idea, so I kept my hand up to be the next anyway!
I don’t remember precisely the words, but he was absolutely lovely, after I introduced myself and I told him I was originally from Brazil and mentioned how I was just writing to my best friend from Brazil on my way to the event, and how she would be thrilled to meet him as well! He double checked that he was pronouncing my name right, which he did perfectly, and he mentioned that he was just in Argentina recently dancing the Tango! We talked a bit and he had great sense of humour with all my excitement. When he asked what was my question, I asked something along the lines of “if he was going to have a Brazilian character in his next movie”, he answered something along the lines that “he would keep that in mind and he would keep an eye on my work”.
Thank you Baz!
Baz Luhrmann words will stay with me forever, it has been always great to listen to him on interviews, but it was even more remarkable to
listen to his philosophy and drive in person.
I told him how I relate to his philosophy of smashing fear, and as it says in his Bazmark Insignia “A LIFE LIVED IN FEAR, IS A LIFE HALF
LIVED”, I have also everyday kicking fear in the butt and working towards achieving my dreams.
What a wonderful night!
Thank you Kendi for inviting me to such a wonderful and inspiring event!
Lots of love,
Shailla
“Strictly Ballroom The Musical” opens from March 2014.
Ticket’s sales start today, 12th of August 2013.
Complete information at www.strictlyballroomthemusical.com
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