I just met Zach Braff at the premiere after party for his new film The High Cost of Living. A must-see at this year's TIFF! He was super cool about my friends and I being total nerds and asking for a picture with him. Too much fun!

Need I say more?? What a finale to TIFF!

Merry TIFF-mas!

me and Robin Wright (Penn?)

There are a lot of things people wait for year round -- holidays, paychecks, the season premiere of Survivor -- but I don't think anyone gets as excited about anything as I do for TIFF. I'll let you in on one of my dirty little secrets. Within minutes of the official film schedule being released in late August, I am IMDB'ing all of the premiering films to find out which celebrities will be in the city. Once that's clarified, I make a "stalking schedule" which includes what (which film), where (the red carpet location), when (time of the premiere), and who (the celebs). I'm hardcore, man. As TIFF approaches, my friends bid their farewells to Danita as a social being. I take no responsibility for unanswered calls, texts, or facebook messages. Luckily my friends and family love me enough to forgive my ten-day bout of negligence.


Okay, don't go calling me a celebrity-whore just yet because really, it isn't the nature of celebrity that gets me going. The fact of the matter is that I respect, love, and appreciate the work that these actors do. TIFF is my one opportunity to tell my favourite actors how much I adore their work. Nothing beats standing in front of a living legend, like Ellen Burstyn, or Sissy Spacek, or Robert Redford. For a brief time, I feel like I am a part of film history. And for me, that's about as big as it gets. I always feel guilty about not seeing more actual films during the festival, but I spend 355 days watching movies. It is only ten days that I get to stargaze so why not take full advantage?

Now for the fun stuff! 

TIFF Day One!

James McAvoy

    

Ellen Page

David Schwimmer

Colin Firth

I also saw the likes of Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, and Liv Tyler. It was a great first day. Everyone was amazing autograph-wise. Colin Firth was probably hungover as it was his birthday. He sure had the "hangover face" throughout the evening. Clive Owen looks even better in person, if you can imagine. Can anyone say swoon? James McAvoy took pictures with fans. David Schwimmer didn't even seem bothered by the fact that everyone is still hung up on calling him Ross. I got through a lot of my "must-see" list. I've missed a lot of these fabulous folks throughout the years because you really have to pick and choose your premieres! Scheduling is tight! 

TIFF Day 2

Alexis Bledel

The legend, Robert Redford

Blake Lively

This was Ben Affleck's big night. Jennifer Garner was there to support him. They are one attractive couple, let me tell you. It's unfair really. I'd even venture to say they are better looking than Brangelina. And if nothing else, certainly less obnoxious. It was nice to see two Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants alumni in one night.. I wonder if they had lunch together while in town? In my fantasy world, they definitely did and are totally BFF. Seeing Robert Redford was surreal. He didn't come over or acknowledge the fans whatsoever, but you know what? He is Robert effing Redford. He can do whatever he wants and I'll love him for it. He's been in the business for fifty years - he has more than paid his dues. 

TIFF Day 3!

Paul Giamatti

A bit of a slower night for me, which was more than welcomed. There was only one premiere I was interested in and that was Barney's Version. I was hoping for Dustin Hoffman to show up, but in true Dustin Hoffman style, he was not in attendance. I had the Graduate DVD all ready and everything. I didn't have my hopes up, though. But what can I say? Paul and Minnie were both lovely, lovely, lovely and made the trek to Roy Thomson Hall 100% worth it. 

Minnie Driver

Moving on, while I love celeb-stalking, I don't love the other people who do it. Don't get me wrong, some are fans just like me. But there are a lot of weirdos and basement dwellers who surface at these events. To demonstrate further, here's a graph.

I mean, this really sums it up. Word travels quickly when there is any sort of disturbance. A red carpet certainly attracts attention. I can't tell you how many times in a day I get asked about who is supposed to be coming. If you don't know in the first place, then WHY THE EFF do you care? Those are the "I just want to be a part of the action" people. Then there are the autograph whores. They don't know who it is, but they want an autograph. They will get an autograph of whoever will give them one - a TIFF volunteer, a bodyguard, ANYONE. For no reason! I'm a big supporter of autographs on DVDs or pictures, but when you've got a random piece of paper. Why bother? Just why? The would-be paparazzi aren't too bad - most of them. They are usually mountains taller than everyone else though and INSIST on being in the front. They have stepping stools and crazy zoom cameras, but yet, they still have to be in front. There should be laws against that. For some reason, there are always creepy men hanging around. I am convinced they are waiting for a boob slip from one of the young starlets. That's the only answer. They are certainly the amoeba of the TIFF followers. Luckily, there are other true fans out there in the crowds and we generally gravitate to each other. It's nice talking about films and actors with other aficionados while waiting hours upon hours for the festivities. In the end, I see a lot of the same faces year to year. It really is a little TIFF community. There are people I look forward to running into and people I dread running into, but either way, it's good to know that I'm not the only one obsessed.

First Things First

This afternoon as I was trying to decide upon a title/topic/concept for my blog, a sign from the Heavens appeared. I logged onto Facebook, as we all do 84 times a day, and my mom's status update rang the little bell inside of my head.  The first one being, "going to count my brooches and elephants.. I think one or the other has to go."  This was followed an hour later with her comment, "147 elephants and 226 brooches. Yep, it's official. I'm nuts."  Now we all know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. This being the case, my blog idea heaved itself into the webosphere. 


I collect. Everything from the tangible -- purses, jewelery, knick knacks, odds and ends, books -- to the intangible -- songs, ideas, overheard conversations, glances, smells, karma.-- The reasons I do it are probably umpteenth-fold, but I'm not about to psychoanalyze myself. It's just what I do. At this point, I can't even watch Hoarders because I understand where those people are coming from. I become anxious realizing I'm just a few cats and a few years away from a bad TLC special. Regardless, it has given me a starting place for something I've been meaning to do for a long time. This blog being that something. 


This blog isn't necessarily ABOUT accumulation, but it is about those things I accumulate. I realize writing about everything I see and hear and do is a gigantic undertaking, but it is undoubtedly worth a shot. This blog is about my passions in life - film, books, conversations, fashion, people, characters, music, celebrities, quirks, theater, anecdotes. 


With the blog world and inevitable first posts being as self-indulgent as they often appear to be (and I mean that in the nicest way possible), I don't think there is anything more apropos than ending here with a quote from one of my favourite gals, Bette Midler. "Enough about me. Let's talk about you. What do you think of me?"