You're Cordially Invited!

As HMB’s editor, my daughter Jordan and I were thrilled to be invited to walk the red carpet and attend the world premiere of  “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” last weekend at the Magic Kingdom: Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. Hollywood Mom Blog was able to bring along some of our favorite child stars as personal guests, including: Brandon Tyler Russell (Smitty), Noah Ringer (The Last Airbender) and Landry Bender (The Sitter).  Also hanging with our group was actor Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Soul Surfer) who honored his inner-child by dressing in full pirate regalia.  It wasn’t until much later that I realized Brandon Tyler Russell and Kevin Sorbo look an awful lot alike, and who knows? There might be father-son movie roles in their futures!

Brandon Tyler Russell talks to TMZ on the Red Carpet.

In short the red carpet was unlike any I’ve ever seen, much less that I’ve walked. It was as wide as a city street, black (in honor of the pirate theme) and several city blocks long.  We, along with the celebs like Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz,  Steven Tyler, Emma Roberts, Teri Hatcher, Geoffrey Rush, Jody Foster, Ava Longoria, Jake T. Austin, Ashley Tisdale, Ian McShane, Martin Short, Kirstie Alley, Keith Richards, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Eric McCormack, Chelsea Kane, and Lisa Rinna, literally walked from the entrance at Downtown Disney all the way to New Orleans on the carpet. Screaming fans, at least 6 people deep, lined the carpet on both sides.  I was told some fans had actually been camping out along side the carpet all day to get the best seats for celeb sightings.

Disney-style theatrics started even before the film did. The theater was outdoors, with stadium style seating jutting out into the park’s pirate harbor. A tremendous movie screen perched right next to the docked pirate ship. The cast (Depp, Cruz, Rush, McShane) slowly came out and took their bows to thunderous applause – Keith Richards eliciting most of that thunder by the way. When it began to drizzle, I started to wonder if Disney had somehow magically made the precipitation appear to add to the overall highseas effect.  Looking around the audience I couldn’t believe the star power seated beside us on all sides. It was so star-studded in fact, that is seemed more akin to an awards ceremony audience than a premiere. The film itself was wonderful – but I’ll let you see for yourself when it opens this Friday.

Special Note: All purchased tickets benefitted the Boys and Girls Club of America and we were so pleased to see many of the Boys & Girls Club kids sitting in the theater with us that evening. [Update: the ON STRANGER TIDES premiere raised over $1 million for the Boys & Girls’ Clubs and that the special edition of the Pirate’s Booty snack we munched on during the premiere is donating to them as well.]

Special Thanks to Desiree Russell, Stacy Ringer and Jamie Malone for photos and for being fabulous!

Noah Ringer on the Red Carpet of Pirates 4

See “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” in Disney Digital 3D™ and RealD™ 3D, May 20th through June 22 at The El Capitan Theatre.  This theater enhances the movie-going experience with a fantastic display of items actually used in the making of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” Among the items are ornate props, elaborate costumes worn by the cast, and set pieces from the film itself. The El Capitan will also commemorate the opening of “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” by offering each guest, while supplies last, a soft drawstring bag containing two “Pieces of Eight” tribute coins sponsored by Goldline International. These collectible alloy coins, designed exclusively by Disney for the El Capitan showings, have a look reminiscent of coins common to the period depicted in the film.  www.elcapitantickets.com

Landry Bender Meets Mickey on the Red Carpet of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"

Jordan Bobbitt, Brandon Tyler Russell & Savanna Sterling enjoy the world premiere party of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland

Pirate Performers lined the Red Carpet of the Pirates Premiere

Rock God Steven Tyler on the Red Carpet of Pirates 4

Kevin Sorbo on the Red Carpet doing his best pirate imitation

Brandon Tyler Russell walksthe red carpet in style

Chiquita & trainer visit with her many fans

Swashbuckling Jugglers entertain the crowds

Landry Bender Befriends a Skeleton Pirate

The one and only, Johnny Depp

Penelope Cruz

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Julia Roberts with niece Emma at the premiere of their film, "Valentine's Day"

International movie star Julia Roberts (and auntie to teen star Emma Roberts, pictured left) apparently struggled to be noticed by Hollywood agents when she was starting out as an actress because they labeled her “too trailer park.” The 41-year-old actress was first seen in “Mystic Pizza” and became a household name playing a prostitute in Pretty Woman, opposite Richard Gere.

“The Cult of Celebrity,” a tell-all book reveals that  Roberts’ promising talent was lost on even Hollywood’s biggest talent bookers back in earlier years. Robert Attermann, VP and Managing Director of Abrams Artists Agency admits to Cult author Cooper Lawrence  that the agency made the mistake of passing on Julia, as well a handful of other future stars. According to Attermann, “Julia Roberts came in years ago, and the commercial agent who met with her at the time said, ‘Nah, she’s too trailer park’.  As a matter of fact, when we moved offices, we were going through old rejection files, and in there was Annette Bening, Robin Givens, Julia Roberts and a couple of others.”

Can you believe this?  Arguably one of the strongest female actress at the box office over the last two decades and she was considered a “pass” by some of the top agents in the business.  It just goes to show that internal fortitude and perseverance are key in this business. I hope this uplifting story inspires you and your child today and especially on those days when rejection comes calling.

“The Cult of Celebrity” by Cooper Lawrence addresses the phenomena of today’s preteens, teens and twenty-somethings aspiring to celebrity. Our culture more often than not emphasizes the external, the superficial and the importance of fame. As a result young people are increasingly more  driven towards it as any humiliating reality television show (Jersey Shore, The Hills, My Sweet Sixteen) will prove.  Some young people falsely believe celebrity status or being “discovered” is the magic fairy dust needed for “happily ever after.”  Author Cooper Lawrence addresses the specific issue of young girls and celebrity and provides tips and hints for parents to provide positive parenting.

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Roberts gives fellow child actors advice on how one successfully moves from child roles to more mature film themes and characters. In her view Lohan has failed to exhibit what we here at the HMB refer to as “the transition factor.”

“I just think it’s very thin ice you’re walking on, to make the transition from child actor to adolescence. Because, you know, so many people just mess it up, and they do things that are so outrageous. Like, Lindsay Lohan, you still know that she was in Freaky Friday and The Parent Trap, and it’s hard to take her seriously.  So that’s why I really like – like, Anne Hathaway is a great example. I think she’s been nominated for so many awards this year. And the fact that she starred in a Disney movie when she was in her teens – a lot of people don’t even know I don’t think.”

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