Eureka's report! Jake Gyllenhaal premieres Enemy in Madrid and Eureka was there to see it!

Nothing gives me more pleasure on this site than when friends and readers get to see Jake Gyllenhaal in person as he goes about promoting his movies. I am so grateful, too, for the time that they take in sharing the story with the rest of us. Last night, Jake Gyllenhaal premiered Enemy at the Palafox Cinema in Madrid and I'm delighted to say that longtime WDW reader Eureka was there! As well as watching Jake introduce the movie, Eureka was also there for the photocall. The photos here are by Eureka - and such good ones, too. No sign of the earthquake that usually hits when I try and take photos of Jake - and the words below are also Eureka's. So, I hope you are sitting comfortably.

Eureka's report

Yesterday was such a busy and fun day for me.

Jake was back to Madrid to present Enemy the movie. From the moment I knew I would have the chance to see him live again I was really excited and looking forward to see him my secod time. Last time and my first time ever was in April 2011. See here and on WDW.

This time I won 2 tickets to see the movie and see him presenting it. I took my sister with me. She's not a Gyllenhaal fan. But she was there to support me. And have a fun time.

I arrived really early to the cinema and there was already a queue of photographers and many girls awaiting.

Finally they let the photographers come in and I was let in after asking. Again waited inside the cinema for Jake to arrive. In them mean time some girls commented whether if Jake would come with full bear or maybe clean shaven, had he cut his hair....? Fun to hear all those comments. Others were profesional photographers and were more interested in whether he would arrive on time or not. Cause it was late in the day. Of course I didn't mind the waiting....

Then we heard the cheer outdoors and see the cameras flashes lights. And we knew he was here. When he entered the corridor first he stopped with the TV reporters and spend a good time with them answering their questions. I took some blurry photos. Awaiting for him to move down the line to the photocall spot. He was fully bearded (bad luck for me good luck for others) and with a hair bun. 

When he moved there, one guy organizer warned the photographers (me :o) too) that he had some ailment in his eyes and that they should shoot for photos 3 secs and then stop and then go at it again. I think this can explain why some tweeps commented on him looking sad or tired. Nevertheless he was so charming and handsome as I remembered him. I did my best with the camera. Photo session was so short...... He wore a very nice blue suit and the brown shoes. I couldn't help but smile... Some of you reading this (Gyllenfriends) you know why...

Then I run into the cinema room where my sister had kept me a place. Both the spanish movie producer (Miguel Angel Faura) and script writer (Javier Gullón) were already in the movie theatre stage and introduced themselves. They introduced a video with Denis Villeneuve I captured. Soo funy. And right after the video there came Jake down one of the theatre aisles up the stairs to the stage.

He had really warm and thankful words for the spanish movie team and the producers. And said, as you will see in the video, that is movie was his best work ever.

He moved on to say this was one of the strangest movies he had ever made. And I couldn't help it and yelled 'Donnie Darko' and he replied 'Yes, that one too'. Hey! he replied to me.

[Updated to add a link to the video]

Later he said he did not know which character we would identify more with if Adam or Anthony. Perhaps Anthony was more likeable for us Spaniards and here I went again I yelled 'Yesss', and he laughed, and audience laughed. So yes basically I was the only one in the audince saying something to him. Ha,Ha. Really I felt like I was having a conversation with me. Sounds crazy, but hey. I'm a die hard fan. As many as you are. And my only occasion to interact with him, even if it was in this ackward way and he couldn't see me in the darkness of the room. It sure felt good! Now you all know my lovely voice. ;o)

I won't comment about the movie as so many of you have not had the chance yet to see it. I'll just say is worth to watch but hard to get...

Bye Jake! See you soon in Madrid again.

And I didn't want to end this chronicle without remembering a very dear Gyllenfriend, whom I miss so much and would have been so excited for me like you: Marzena AKA Mermon in the internet.

Thanks so much, Eureka, and here's to the next time!

Jake's on a plane... (Iceland and the British Midlands)

Judging from the picture below taken at Reykjavik Airport (courtesy of vf.is), it looks like Bear Grylls was given some entertainment as he skinned and boiled snow snakes in the lava pools of Iceland. Yes, Jake Gyllenhaal decided that for his Man vs Wild episode travelling light was not an option if it meant that he could lead a singsong round the campfire. Admittedly, looking at this photo does give me some rather painful flashbacks of volunteers singing kumbaya late into the night at a certain archaeological dig I had the mixed pleasure to work at. However, according to vf, Jake visited the Blue Lagoon before he left Iceland. That is much better to think on.


On the plane itself, there are more photographs of Jake and Bear Grylls himself from Such a beautiful waste.



Talking of Jake on a plane, I thought it had to be some kind of kismet that Jake looked up at me from every single one of the plane seat pockets on my flights to and from Berlin last week. Jake covered the April edition of Voyager, the flight magazine of BMI or British Midland. I would like to thank the people next to me on both flights who decided to donate their magazines to a good cause - me. The photos may be the same as in the recent Telegraph magazine but the interview is different.


It includes a statement from Jake about the best way to survive the attention that being a superb and handsome actor attracts: 'You've got to plug your ears, tie yourself to the mast and beg the people you love not to untie you.'





And finally...

Many thanks to Eureka for sending me a scan of her autograph from Madrid. Very nice.


Includes pictures from links.

More from the Source Code Berlin screening, Madrid photocall videos, Jake Gyllenhaal in Iceland and Nailed news!

We have another report of Jake Gyllenhaal in Iceland at the weekend. A 'hot guy' was spotted in a restaurant who turned out to be none other than our Jake, wisely filling himself up with calories ahead of his intrepid trip with Bear Grylls. Jake 'sat there for like an hour and we were chatting to him, he’s on some Adventure trip here in Iceland with his Friend, and he is going on a glazier trip tomorrow'. Jake didn't mention however that he would be living off glacier flora and fauna (but more likely fauna) during this trip. The 'tomorrow' referred to there was Sunday and so who knows where Jake might be right now. One thing's for sure, though, this is not a good time to be an Auk or porpoise.


Back to this second catchup post. The photo above was taken by Mrs JG and as you can see it features Jake Gyllenhaal. What may be less obvious to you is that it also features my head. This picture shows the moment after I thought I had better let go of Jake's hands and he walked off, laughing. I like to think with me, rather than at me (I may have mentioned something about doing a blog for him...). Thanks very much to Mrs JG for capturing a perfect moment. I would also like to congratulate her on the presence of mind to take a photograph of Jake's footwear. The Famous Boots.


Here are some more of Mrs JG's wonderful pics from Berlin on 7 April.




There was another talented photographer with us that night, Christina. And here are some of her fantastic pictures. Christina also sat on the front row but at the left hand side (Mrs JG and I were slightly to the right) and so this gives us a chance to see Jake from a different angle. Not that there are any bad angles...









Christina also took some great pictures of Duncan Jones and Rodene. I really like these.



Madrid Photocall!

We have another treat from Madrid! Carlota captured some video from the Source Code photocall and I'm delighted to present it below. Great stuff!




It was wonderful to meet so many Jake fans in Berlin, including friends from Elijah Meets Jake and Gyllenhaal.de. I can't thank them enough for their kind and generous welcome to Germany.

This is by no means not all from Source Code's week on the continent. And so the catch up will continue.

Nailed gets (another) composer!

Playlist are reporting tonight that Nailed has a new composer! John Swihart has apparently been hired in place of original composer Squeak E. Clean in what may be an effort to finish this film off for once and all. The saga continues...

And finally...

A little bit of a WDW Berlin Interlude courtesy of the comfortable hippos of Berlin Zoo and some nesting cormorants and fishing herons.




I arrived back in Oxford to be soaked in very warm spring sunshine.


Many thanks to Christina and Mrs JG for the use of their magnificent pictures! We did good, yes?!

Madrid, Rome, Berlin! A first catch up with Jake Gyllenhaal and Duncan Jones on the Source Code tour. Tonight Madrid and Rome...

It's official - Jake Gyllenhaal is in Iceland with Bear Grylls, getting ready to bite off the heads of the famous Icelandic snow snake while encamped in the hollowed out carcass of a conveniently-sized walrus. But while Jake and Bear scale glaciers, descend into volcanoes and boil batwings in geysers, with nothing but a blunt penknife for emergencies, it does give me a bit of time to catch up. And I have so much to catch up on! So much so that it's not possible for me to fit it all in one post, or even in two or three. So this is catchup part one.


However, before I start, I would like Jake to know that a few days with Bear Grylls is not like a few days with most other Brits. I'm also sure it's not like a typical few days in Iceland.

Madrid

I am so grateful for the generosity of Eureka and Carlota in sending me photographs, accounts, audio and video of their remarkable day with Jake Gyllenhaal in Madrid last Tuesday. I've posted some of it but Berlin prevented me from presenting the rest. There is video from behind the scenes of the press conference, when Jake made a point of signing autographs and posing for photographs.




Here is the moment when Carlota's cousin Carmen asked Jake a question at the press conference. Jake's answer is the video below.




In this post I've included Eureka's amazing photographs from the photocall. How incredible to witness that!







There are other videos from Madrid, including the press conference.

Rueda de prensa Código Fuente from Revista ACCION Cine-Video on Vimeo.

Rome

There are quite a few videos from Source Code's press day in Italy, including the press conference itself.






Berlin

I have so much to post about Berlin - it will have to wait til tomorrow. There are some sensational pictures from Christina, Ayda and Mrs JG, with whom I'm so glad I could share this experience. And I thought my pictures were good... In the meantime, you can imagine how thrilled I was to see this show up. I'm a couple of seats to Duncan's left.



And finally...

So more from Berlin tomorrow and there is also some more from Madrid! Not to mention some more of my WDW Berlin Interlude. Meanwhile Duncan Jones declared today that Source Code publicity was now at an end and put the last few mad days into a blog post. I hope he can get some rest now - while Jake teaches Bear how to rustle up something delicious with seaweed, lava rocks and blubber.

Photos by Eureka!

Madrid report 3 (the girls meet Jake and Duncan), and Berlin gets ready as Jake Gyllenhaal, Duncan Jones and Source Code (and me) arrive

This is a veritable European smorgasbord of a post... I'm in Berlin, Jake Gyllenhaal's in Berlin (admittedly not in the same part of Berlin but what's a few miles?), Jake was in Rome, Carlota and Eureka were in Madrid, Jake was in Madrid. I was in London, Jake may well be moving on to London with Duncan Jones. This might be a good point to bring out the atlas. This post therefore combines Carlota's account from Madrid, which goes so well with yesterday's report from Eureka, along with some pictures of Jake at his Berlin hotel today and at a restaurant in Rome. I'm sure you'd agree that it would be an enormous shame not to include some of my happy snapping tourist pictures from a sunny Berlin as well. OK, you've talked me in to it.


Over to Carlota! 'What could I add to what has already been so perfectly said by Eureka? Not much, probably just my own excitement and a couple of cool things that took place and that helped to make that day even more special, if possible. The photo call experience was only the beginning. As Eureka pointed out, Carmen noticed there were photographers in a patio outside so she asked if we were allowed to go out and then come back for the press conference, and they said it was cool, but that we had to be fast. Fast? Fast and furious, we said to ourselves. So we went outside where the photographers were waiting for our guys and we found a good spot to "work". It was a team collaboration … Like SWAT … We stayed closer to where the guys were going to pose, next to a nice stone stair. Nervous, anxious … when suddenly Jake did the nice entrance Eureka mentioned in her review. Gorgeous. Splendid. Smiley. He was joined by Duncan a few seconds later and joked between them, giving great shots to the photographers who didn't stop telling their names to get their attention. Carmen found a good spot on a nearby stair, to record the photo call on video, and she waved Jake at one point, getting a fun wave back, Jake showing Duncan where he had to wave too :)'


'When the photo call was over, we ran to the press conference room. Third row. Jake's side :) The guys appeared and we couldn't believe our luck. Well, you have already seen the video of the press conference so there's no need to describe how it was :) To ask something you had to raise your hand to get a mike given by one of the assistants. There were credited journalists asking their questions and at one point Carmen raised her hand to get the chance to ask. If you see the press conference video, you will hear her voice :) She was the first person who talked to them directly in English and also the first one to congratulate them on the film, saying that in her opinion the film deserved to be seen "at least … n times!" It was great to see them laugh with her comment and hearing Duncan saying "I agree to that!" :D'


'At the end of the press conference, we stood up and went closer to the security line -we thought they were going to be rushed outside- but even though Duncan left, Jake stayed with us to sign and take pictures with their fans. We approached him and jeez … when you catch his attention you can tell you CATCH HIS ATTENTION. And you notice because suddenly his big blue eyes are staring at you and that's the precise moment when you lose all the ability to speak.'

'We told him that we had a little something for him, a tiny little compendium of typical spanish recipes "our family style" and he looked so pleased with it. It was fantastic to see him paying attention to the details of the cover. We told him we hoped he had the chance to try them and he enthusiastically said "Of course I will try them!" :) Then we asked him for a picture and Eureka took the document you have already seen, where we two appear as the dumbest version of ourselves … but also the happiest!'


'My mom, who is a huge Moon's fan, had crocheted a sackboy version of Sam Bell's replica for Duncan that tried to give him with no luck when he was awarded at Sitges movie festival. Since he left the press conference room and our main target was to meet Jake, we missed our chance to give it to him. But a kinda fairy grandmother who works in the production company that brought the guys to Madrid fell in love with the crocheted Sam Bell and said she was going to find a way for me to give it to him. I was very excited but also in panic because I had lost my voice -I had a severe laryngitis- and at that point I sounded like Don Corleone making an offer nobody could refuse … but I couldn't miss the chance to give it to him personally, to tell my mom what was his face in the moment of facing her creature! :)'


'So after the last roundtable interview, I entered the room and talked to him. I wished my mom could have seen his face when I showed him tiny Sam Bell … he was so sweet , cool and enthusiastic. He said "oh my god, who has made this???" and I told him the story. I also told him I had a gift for Rodene, because she had retwitted a door knob hanger that I designed for my store in the net. He told me to give it to her, and then I saw her on my back. She was very nice and beautiful. She was also amazed by tiny Sam Bell and gave her own camera to a crew member to take a picture of the two of them next to our Sam Bell, Carmen -who was told to enter- and I. Duncan said he has the moonman's suit in his house, in a pedestal, and that he was going to put a smaller pedestal next to it to place our Sam Bell. Wasn't it the sweetest thing ever??? We shook his hand, and wished him the best and we thanked us again for the gift. He's such a charismatic person and has this special light that only a few have.'


'The rest of the episode has been perfectly documented by Eureka so I can only add that, if you ever have the chance to meet Jake and hesitate because you are shy or you don't know what to say, I would highly encourage you to forget about it and go ahead. He makes things so easy and makes you feel special because he focuses his attention on you, when you are talking. Showing that he cares what you are telling him with his amazing eyes, which not only are beautiful … it's the way he stares what makes them really unique.'

Audio and video from this amazing Madrid adventure will follow, when I'm back with my 'proper' beast of a laptop in a couple of days. Here come the WDW interlude pictures...


I didn't take up an opportunity to pose with Darth Vader and a Native American Chief at the Brandenburg Gate.


The DDR cafe features a little bit of the Berlin Wall as well as a bit of the original Reichstag. And a car. Maybe coffee.


Checkpoint Charlie...



I'm off now to see the screening with Jake and Duncan and some other WDW readers - at this theatre. Yep, it is a theatre, and not a building site...



Includes pictures from IHJ, Carlota and WDW.