Scott Walker documentary: screening

LynnMLIS had posted on the Gale Harold Board that if anyone was planning to see the Scott Walker film in the Bay Area to PM her. Barbara2001 had posted the Scott Walker film in the Bay Area info awhile back. I originally replied to Barbara’s post that I would go see it but then deleted my post because I realized that Monday, January 26th, I had to take my certification test and I would be studying all weekend. But when I saw Lynn’s post earlier this week, I told myself that this would be the perfect opportunity to meet another Gale fan in person, I would have someone to see the movie with; and what the heck, I can squeeze a few hours away from my studying. I PM’d Lynn and we made arrangements. Am I glad I did! We went to the 7:10 p.m. show at the Landmark Opera Plaza Theater in San Francisco. Lynn and I met around 5:30 p.m. Before the movie, we went to Peets (a coffee house chain) around the corner from the theater. We chatted about Gale Harold and Queer as Folk. We exchanged stories. Lynn shared pictures, autographs and other goodies she had. We headed back to the theater to watch the movie. After the movie, Stephen Kijak talked a bit and had a Q & A session. The Q & A session lasted about half an hour. As everyone was getting up to leave the theater, I did the same. As I walking out of the theater, there were several people standing in the back of the theater. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this tall man. I heard this man say to someone else, I’m glad you could make it. I didn’t stop and I continued to walk out. All I thought was…I wonder.

I was right outside the theater door and a few seconds had past. Lynn still did not make it out of the theater. I walked back in and Lynn was right there by the doors inside the theater. When she saw me, she said did you see Gale? I said, he’s here? She said, he’s in the hat. I strategically positioned myself where I can see him. I was about 5 feet away. Without being obvious, I respectfully gawked. Gale then walked out of the theater. In the theater lobby, Lynn and I were telling each other, that was him, we really saw him. As I told Lynn later, I was having an internal heart attack (this is my description of myself being very excited, hands shaking and heart beating a mile a minute yet looking very calm and nonchalant about an exciting situation I happen to be experiencing at the moment). As Gale walked through the lobby and then outside the theater, I told Lynn, he’s out there. We both walked outside. He was with a group of 5 or 6 people talking just outside the theater entrance. I am not sure who these people he was with were. Outside, I sat myself down on a bench maybe 10 feet away from him – trying to eavesdrop, definitely staring (or more gawking), trying to absorb it all. Lynn was standing a little closer to him. In our own way, we were each enjoying and savoring these moments. I am calling this my Gale sighting because I did not meet him. It was a close sighting but not close enough to see what color his eyes are, if he had a soapy or cologne scent, not even close enough to see his distinctive tooth even though he was smiling and laughing.

Here is what I remember and the visual I have embedded in my mind.

Gale is tall. He looked very thin (a little too thin). They say the camera adds 10 pounds but he looked way too thin. My guess is that from seeing him last on DH, him involved in his accident and then seeing him tonight, he’s been through a lot with his accident, therapy and healing. He was wearing a hat with a brim. The hat was cream colored and there was a band right above the brim. The band was black. If not black, some very dark color. (I am not sure if this is the same hat but it is similar to the one he wore to the Los Angeles film festival, June 2003 which you can see on the Italian website recently posted by helluin74. Lynn asked me if that was the hat. I don’t think it was but I may be wrong.). He was wearing skin tight jeans (OMG!!). I thought his legs looked like sticks. His brown leather shoes were pointy. He was wearing a sports jacket – dark cream or tan. The sports jacket and pants had a certain look, I’d say a little vintage looking. I think the shirt underneath his sports jacket was a dark color. He has a beard – not too much, yet not just a shadow. I remember seeing dark, auburn brown hair under his hat. His hair looked long but not too long but longer than what we have seen on DH. I remember thinking, I wonder what his hair looks like if he took off the hat. He certainly did not look “scruffy” in any way. To me, he had a casual, debonair look with that hat and then wearing jeans. Although he is tall, he seemed to have petite features. He looked tiny. His face looked small. As I watched him, he was chewing gum or something. One thing’s for sure, he is as gorgeous and dreamy as ever. I was sitting there, truly admiring him from a “dreamy-eyed” fan‘s point of view.

Our sighting of Gale lasted for about half an hour. Lynn and I just wanted to stand out there as long as he was there. Then he and the people he was with walked toward the streets. They were probably heading to the premiere party which was being held in another part of the city.

Lynn and I still couldn’t believe what we just experienced. We went to eat a late dinner and re-live who we just saw.

Since his accident, I haven’t read much on how he was really doing and/or what he has been through. I kept questioning, I wonder to what extent and seriousness his injuries were. Like everyone else, I hoped he was doing well, I thought good thoughts, I knew he was recovering and healing and in time that we would all see him back to work.

Again, I don’t know what he’s been through. I don’t know what more he has to go through in terms of his recovering and healing process. I don’t know when he will be returning to work. I don’t know anything. But what I saw tonight was good.

Gale looked great. He looked healthy – thin but healthy. He was lively. He was talking and having a very engaging conversation. He was laughing. He was very animated – his arms were wailing about and he did some knee bends to emphasize whatever he was talking about. By seeing him tonight, I would never even think that he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident.

I arrived home about 11:45 p.m. It is now 2:10 a.m. I am too excited to sleep or maybe I don’t want to sleep because I want to keep this in my mind forever. I should write this all down. I want to remember each detail while I can and be able to share my sighting with other Gale fans.

Over the past 3 months, I have gained so much through these boards. And tonight, in addition to seeing Gale Harold, I got to meet a new friend and Gale fan in person – LynnMLIS. What a wonderful and memorable evening. These boards are great.

Who can study now??!!

As you can imagine, I didn’t sleep well last night. I was excited and overwhelmed. I still am. I was able to doze off a bit. When I woke up, I had to think. It was real. It wasn’t a dream. It really did happen, I really saw Gale Harold. My heart was still beating pretty fast when I woke up and up to now, my head is still spinning.

Lynn, be sure to add anything I may have missed or your point of view on our memorable evening."