Where I Live: Scott Speedman

One of the great things about living in Silverlake is having one of the best comic book stores around. You can have your Golden Apple! Patrick and I have decided that we aren’t buying comics anywhere else except at Secret Headquarters a charming, friendly place in Sunset Junction. I personally love it because it casts a kind of grown-up light on my dorkish fanboy sensibilities.

Last night we did a comic book run after work. While Patrick was chatting with SHQ co-owner David, I ambled over to the trade paperback shelves to see what was new. As is my habit, I had “tuned out” other people in the store (I tend to be anti-social after work hours; sue me), so I wasn’t paying much attention to anybody. Except this one grungy guy who was blocking my path to the shelves. Damnit! Grrrr. Argh.

It took me a moment to realize it was Scott Speedman, he of Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. And for those of you who lived for those WB shows, he’s also Felicity’s Ben. Seems like a nice enough guy. Hopefully, we’ll see Underworld 3 soon!

Where I Live: Bumblebee, Joss Whedon

So it’s Wednesday night and I’m trying to get to my writing group in Westwood. In We had planned to meet at Jerry’s Deli on Weyburn, just a short walk from UCLA. To avoid traffic, I take Olympic Blvd. from Koreatown all the way to Westwood. The moment I hit Santa Monica, I knew there was something that I’d forgotten to take into account. The frigging L.A. Film Festival. Now I was all full of love for LAFF last Saturday, but it’s now Wednesday and I’m already friggin late. I find parking at UCLA’s Lot 32, then proceed to make my way up to Jerry’s Deli.

And right there, where Weyburn and Broxton meet, I see him, standing proud like this metal god: Bumblebee!

What I had completely forgotten was that Transformers was premiering at the LAFF. So of course everybody was there: Shia LeBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Brandon Routh, and Joshua Jackson. Heck even the Queen, Helen Mirren, was there. But did I see any of them? Nope. Coz i was late for my writers group meeting. <Sigh> What we do for our craft.

But how’s this for a consolation prize? Later that night I met Patrick and some friends for the Buffy Singalong (Did you just roll your eyes at me? Was that a snicker? Shut the heck up!!!). The event, which was also part of LAFF, was entirely sold out. It was lots of fun, although my friend Randie, who loves this episode and was really looking forward to the event, didn’t really sing along– I swear she was just lipsyncing. Anyway, at the end of the show, who should show up but Buffy/Serenity creator Joss Whedon! 

That definitely made the evening.