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kiss of the dragon - inori's l.a. report
Posted: May 2000
Yes, Im the lucky one everyone envies. I met Jet Li.
Before I tell you everything about my experience in LA in this June, I have to tell you how I ended up in that position first. Ever since I became a fan of Jet, Ive dreamed about meeting him like every other Jet Li fan. I didnt even have to meet?him, I just wanted see?him with my own eyes. So, when I heard he was making Kiss of the Dragon (KOD) I decided to go to the premiere. I dont care where I would be, when it would be, I WILL be there, I thought. I WILL see Jet on the red carpet!!! Fortunately, I live in the United States, so why not go to LA for this, you know? My decision was solid like a rock, and I planned everything around the date of this KOD premiere in June. My friend, Keiko, on the other hand, really wanted to go to see the Tonight Show when Jet was going to be the guest, so we decided to go to LA together. As soon as the official Jet Li website posted up the date of the show Jet was scheduled to appear, I wrote to NBC to send me some tickets. I didnt know if I would have tickets for the show or when the premiere was really going to be held, but I bought two flight tickets to LA for my friend and me, and I even reserved a room for three days in LA. Well, Im definitely going now. Please, let me have a glance?of Jet! Five days before the date to leave for LA, NBC sent me a letter saying Sorry, but all the tickets to give out advance are gone. You can come to the NBC ticket office on that day to get tickets, though.? Great. Now not only I cannot get in to the premiere (well, its extremely hard for the general audience to do that. I tried. Trust me.), but also I dont have tickets to the Tonight Show. Oh, well. At least I will be in the same city where Jet will be.
My luck suddenly changed three days before the date of our departure. Mark and Beaver announced a contest on the official site, the 2 winners would get tickets to the KOD premiere. The contest began on Friday before the premiere, which was on Monday. We had about two full days to tackle those EVIL 30 questions for the contest. What is Jets favorite dim sum meat? WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT? I called up Keiko and explained about this situation, and we decided to try our hardest to win those tickets. Hell, we were going anyway, we had to win them. As you know, Keiko and I actually won those tickets, but there was a secret to tell you the truth. Since we are Japanese, we have many Jet Li fan friends in Japan. We keep very tight friendship especially on the net, and we have wide connections in the Japanese Jet Li fan network. Yes, we used this network fully to win this contest. I made a page describing all of those 30 questions in Japanese, and we asked for help on one of the biggest Jet Li fan sites, Jets Clubs message board. Boy, they helped us so much. Keiko and I researched for those questions very hard, not sleeping for two days (I didnt seek any info this much even in school before), but without their help, we wouldnt have won this contest. Lets praise our teamwork, and I want to thank them for their effort to bring us to the KOD premiere. Also, thank the internet technology!
June 25, 2001
The day I landed at the Burbank airport meant so different from what it would have been three days before. I had been almost giving up to see KOD in LA, but now I knew I was going to see it soon, which Id waited for full one year! Mark was kind enough to pick us up at the airport. (He actually gave us ride everywhere the whole time we were in LA. Thank you, Mark!) That evening was the premiere. We met up with other groups at one place, and several cars headed to Loews Cineplex Century Plaza Theater together. Well, even though I didnt know where it was, I got there somehow. (Thanks, Mark.) The premiere was starting at 7:30pm, but we arrived there pretty early. I met Caroline and Elodie from Jet Li Cinema for the first time, and we talked a little bit. I imagine they are about the same age as I am or even younger, but they looked older than me. Its always nice to meet other Jet Li fans. We talked about much more stuff later on in LA, but we both were shy at this point. It was chilly outside, but I wanted to wait for Jet to get there, and it seemed other people did, too. There was a big sign of KOD at the entrance, and some media people were getting ready for celebrities to show up. Were we too early? Not many fans were there, and it almost seemed a little bit too quiet. While we were standing around at the entrance, we got really hungry. Some of us went off to buy food at the McDonalds in that building, and those chicken nuggets tasted so good. Yum. And then the time came. The staff told whoever had tickets to get inside and not to wait around. I hesitated, but they looked very demanding (and scary), so I went in. It felt weird to walk on the red carpet. Soft and squishy? Hmmm? Ah! When I went inside, I saw FREE drinks and popcorn! I grabbed them and started eating. The theater itself was not that big. The seats in the middle were reserved for important people, so other normal?people sat around those middle seats. Mark was busy saying hi?to people he knew, but I didnt have to worry about that at all. Haha. I didnt know anyone there. I was wondering when the casts of the movie were coming in (I heard people coming in say the stars were outside getting interviewed), but before they even showed up inside, the movie started. Of course, with no previews or anything, it just started.
Watching KOD for the first time was exciting, but watching it at the premiere was even more exciting. Wow! Jet looked so good! The movie was well done, too. I like hardcore violence. Hehe. Anyway, I dont want to talk about what I thought about the movie here. Lets get back to the premiere. I looked back after the movie ended to see if Jet was there, but celebrities?seats were empty. Huh? I guess they got up and left before the movie was even over. Theyve already seen it for several times anyway. I was disappointed, but I understood the reasoning. Because people like me would block their way out, they had to leave early, right? Right. As long as Im there, he wont be there. Catch 22. I heard some famous people were there, but it was crowded with so many people after the show, and I just had to get out, and I dont remember very well who were actually there. I saw Luc, though. I didnt see Jet or Bridget that night, but I was very happy that I saw KOD, and I couldnt think very well afterwards because my mind was gone with KOD. Ah? Kiss of the Dragon ... And that night I had the first experience of Marks amazing magic tricks at the dinner we had after the premiere? Oh, when am I meeting Jet? Hold on. Just keep reading. Its not that easy to meet the man, you know.
June 26, 2001
The next day, we got up at four Oclock in the morning. We had to wait in the line for the Tonight Show tickets. Mark came to pick us up at the motel we were staying at about 4:30 am, and we headed for the NBCs ticket office in Burbank. You think Mark can get in to the show from the back without any problem, but he was very kind to say isnt it more fun to wait in the line and see the show from the audience side?? He is nice or just weird, I dont know. However, it was actually a lot of fun to experience this with him. There were four, five people already waiting in front of building when we got there, and the first group had been waiting there for Tyrese since 10 pm the day before. Hmm?hardcore fans. Keiko, Mark and I sat in the line for three hours, and when the door was opened at 8 am, the line was going around the building. We were at the beginning of the line, pretty much. Some of them in the line were Jet Li fans, and some of them never even knew who Jet was. Interesting. After they opened the door, they told us we only could get two tickets each and to come back to the studio where the show was going to be held by 4 pm. We got two tickets each and left the place happily.
When we came back to the NBC studio with Caroline and Elodie, it was about 1 Oclock. There was already a line in front of the building, but we managed to take the spot we could sit. Mark told us then we might be able to meet Jet if he was not too busy before the show starts. I was not expecting to meet?him, so I was surprised and suddenly felt very nervous. Keiko was under a panic. When I talked to her, she was not even listening to me any more. She was kind of staring at the air, and after a moment she noticed me talking to her and went huh? Did you say something?? Hahaha. Anyway, I didnt want to expect a lot about meeting him, so I tried to be calm and forget about it (which was impossible). We waited in the line for about three hours again, and they finally let us in at about 3:30 or so. Mark thought it was kind of funny that they asked my ID to see if I was older than 16 years old. (Im way older than 16, but I look young. I guess Asian people look young, huh?) Anyway, we were inside of the set now waiting for the show to start. It seemed like the show was starting without us meeting Jet. I was too nervous to meet him anyway, so it was a little bit of relief to tell you the truth. Right before the show, the staff tried to make us feel more relaxed and happy so that wed laugh and enjoy the experience more. A funny thing which happened while they were trying to make us relaxed was when all of us were supposed to standing up, Caroline and Elodie were sitting down, so the guy on the stage (staff) kept them standing as a funny punishment while others sat down. Everyone looked at them, and they seemed embarrassed, but Im sure it became a good story to tell later. Haha. By the time the actually show started for real, I was so excited and screamed a bunch and jumping up and stuff. Im going to see Jet soon! Man, this experience must not be real!
The show went smooth, and I enjoyed it. I was just an audience member after all. I didnt have to worry about anything but to watch the show. After about half way done, Jay sat at the desk and started talking about guests he was having that week, and finally started introducing Jet, like my first guest is world renowned martial arts master My heart started beating really fast, and there he was! Jet came out from back of the big screen in the middle of the stage as if it was nothing special! This was my first time ever to see Jet Li for real. Oh, man. He looked so good! Thats Jet! That is Jet! He is in 3D! Every time when I saw him till then, he was flat on paper or screen, but this time, he was in 3D. He seemed very clean and fresh, and the way he smiled was exactly the same I saw in Shaolin Temple movies. Wow. Thats him. He seemed calmer than when he was on this show for LW4 and RMD. I thought it was very funny when he told us about the chicken wings story (wheres my chicken wing? Who robbed my chicken wing??. When Jet was talking about it, Mark sitting by me told me that it actually happened. Wow. And of course, you cannot forget how he reacted to the Movieline magazine comment Jay made. How cute. Is he really 38 years old? AHGGGGRRRRR!!!
The interview ended, and the commercial break started. Then, it happened. Jet looked around and found Mark among the audience and kind of waved at him, I think. I was sitting right next to him, so I was like, oh, my god! I knew he was not waving at me, but I waved him back. He must have thought who the hell??but he waved back at Keiko and me anyway with that wonderful smile because he was nice like that. It was definitely one of the happiest moments of my life. It might be even the happier moment than actually meeting him. Weird, but it was. Jet waved at everyone at the audience eventually. He looked bored sitting by himself in the chair until the end of the show, though. He searched the Movieline magazine from behind of Jays desk and looked at it even. Hahaha. Then I saw Beaver, I think it was him, came up to Jet and saying something pointing us. It was my first time to see Beaver. Wow. Then Jet nodded a little bit, and he waved at us again! I guessed hes told him that we were the winners of those premiere tickets! (maybe not.) Yes, we are the crazy fans who attempted to answer all those EVIL 30 questions, Jet! Man, it was a wired feeling. Anyway, it was so cool to see him sitting there for about twenty minutes even though we were looking at each other, and I was staring at him, I couldnt say a word to him. How frustrating. But like I said, it was cool to see him in 3D.
Okay, show is over. Jay and guests took some pictures together, and all the guests were leaving. When Jet walked away, the audiences Jet Li! Jet Li!?voice became laud, so he took time to wave at all of us again. I was certain how kind he was by watching that. Then he disappeared to back of the stage. Bye, Jet. Jay had to record some short takes, so we stayed there for a while after the show, but when everything was done, we were allowed to go out finally. It was so much fun. I was satisfied and left the set. Now we were outside. Caroline and Elodie joined us (we were sitting far away to each other during the show), and we waited to see what was going to happen next. Mark was on the phone, and I was like?Oh, no. Am I going to meet Jet? Am I ready? No, I dont think so.? When Mark said, Okay, follow me,?I was pretty nervous and couldnt believe what was happening to me. Caroline and Elodie said, its okay. Jet is very nice. You dont have to worry about anything. You can be just the way you are.? I hope so, but Im not already myself here. Come on. We flew backward of people, and I saw the door leading to outside parking lot behind the studio. Ah! There he was waiting for us to get there. He saw us and smiled saying hi, nice to meet you.? All I could say was thank you.? I wanted to tell him how much I appreciate for everything, I mean everything as giving me the power to live in the United Sates as an Asian, great movies which made me noticed the wonders of the HK film world, giving me opportunities to meet great people and friendship, etc. I had so many things I wanted to thank him about, but I guess I didnt have to say thank you?for fifteen times like an idiot to tell him that. Sigh. Did I even say anything to him other than thank you?? I dont think so. Sigh. After I shock his hand (warm and surprisingly soft), Beaver took picture of us together. Then Caroline and Elodie shook his hand and took a picture together, too. Wow. I cannot think? Whats going on? Ah? Where am I? It seemed like he was in a hurry, so I didnt want to bother him too much, and when I came back to the reality, he was gone already. It was a less than a minute experience, but I was very happy, and of course, I told everyone about this on the phone that night. (I still do.)
So, this was my experience I had in LA. Those days I had there were like a dream, and I had so much fun like you cannot believe. I want to say thank you to Mark who gave me this great opportunity to have this experience and also ride everywhere. I also want to thank Beaver and of course Jet to let me be there. I will not forget those days, and I will pass this story to my descendants as Inoris legendary story. Hahahaha.
