Berlin! Source Code comes to Berlin - a WDW adventure with Jake Gyllenhaal and Duncan Jones (and a very comfy theatre)

Let me tell you about my evening here in Berlin... I've been more than fortunate that during the past four years that I've been writing about Jake Gyllenhaal and his movies, and even before that time, I've had adventure upon adventure in cities near and far. Tonight, Berlin 2011 joins that list. And it's been even more special than normal. Not least because so many Gyllenhaalics were at the Astoria theatre today, and quite a few of them were readers of WDW. It was a pleasure to meet all of you and to share a drink afterwards (despite the karaoke). I'm also delighted to say that the two spare tickets found good and deserving homes. And guess what? My pictures were good tonight!


I'll start at the beginning. The theatre, despite the building works outside, put down a red carpet, which I wasn't expecting. That meant that a few of us gathered by it, ignoring the professional autograph hunters. Having joined up with friends Christina, Ayda, Mrs JG and others, including some from a German Jake forum, we were moved indoors because we had tickets. There was champagne there. I didn't need telling twice.


After a short wait, a girl walked past with thumbs up and so you knew it was about to kick off. Duncan Jones with the lovely Rodene came by first and I was so thrilled that Rodene recognised my blog name when I told her and shook by hand. She and Duncan posed for a picture that I am going to treasure!


Next Jake walked in and the place went crazy as you would imagine but Jake was signing everything offered to him. I didn't have anything this time (I've run out of hooks on my wall) and I just told Jake that I'd come from London to see him. He took my hand in both of his and thanked me and I might have passed out and entered a parallel universe where dolphins waltz and tigers purr. It was just a moment but it was my moment.


The crowds were thick where Jake and Duncan posed for cameras (I did get some great shots of Jake's forehead) and so we went into the theatre, which was amazing. Without doubt this was the most incredible cinema I have ever been in. The seats leaned back and there were footstools! Being in the middle of the front row helped, especially when Jake and Dunan stood in front to talk about what Berlin meant to them.


Duncan has spent time in Berlin (his father lived in the city). Jake also mentioned he'd had some life experiences in Berlin in the 70s. Apart from that I remember little because my brain had entered another level that didn't involve audio capabilities.


But then, when they had gone, we had the pleasure of leaning back, putting our feet up and watching this incredible film called Source Code. It was awarded laughs and gasps by the audience and when it ended, and we all said our goodbyes, without doubt I knew this trip had been worth it.

I've not sorted out all my pictures - it is very late here - so there are a few here and many more to come. Plus, there will be pictures by others who were there tonight.


The pics are all mine here tonight so if you use them, please include a link back. Thank you!