Thread of the most insane memories I have from Arclight’s Cinerama Dome, my favorite theater in the WORLD. Can’t believe she’s closing forever

(1/3) Before I start this thread, i should give a little background. For those of you that have only known me post high school graduation (2017), I’m here to tell y’all that I used to live a sort of double life all the way up until I graduated high school.

(2/3) Every kid has their hobby, right? Well, mine was going to movie premieres, award shows, and special events with my mom, almost weekly, for free. We didn’t have any industry connections, my mom just knew where to find free tickets. It was our thing!

(3/3) Bc of it, I gained a pretty big following on IG (pre influencer times). It got pretty overwhelming, so I deleted my account and stayed off socials. I don’t talk abt the hobby anymore bc it’s not a part of my life anymore. But yeah, lil Star had some crazy adventures

Story 1: The Perks of Being A Wallflower premiere

(1.1) My mom picks me up from school, turns to me, and says “Star, you’re not gonna believe this, but I got us tickets to that movie with Logan Lerman for that book you like. We have to go right now. Do you want to go?”

(1.2) Y’all. I was in my catholic school uniform. I had not brushed my hair. BUT I think we can all agree that if there was a slight possibility for any of us to meet Logan Lerman, we would all jump on it. No. Matter. What. So of course I said yes !!

(Peep bb Star )

(1.3) We get there, and one of the security guards who frequently worked these events and who had become friends with my mom was there. He spotted us, pulled my mom and I to the front, and told us he was going to put us at the best spot on the green carpet. I was BEYOND excited

(1.4) He made good on his promise, and put us right on the carpet. While we were waiting for the stars to arrive, the guy standing next to us hoisted up a HUGE banner that read “Emma, will you be my first date?”

The Emma in question being Emma Watson

(1.5) The guy told us that he had been on a big social media campaign to ask Emma Watson out, and was hoping to get her attention that night.

It worked. She said “yes,” but I doubt anything came from it. Here’s the proof, and peep my mom and I in the red circle

(1.6) I love love Emma, but y’all KNOW I was there for my man Logan. . So, guess how heartbroken I was when this happened:

(1.7) Yep. Logan Lerman wasn’t even there. Instead, Ezra Miller had brought a cardboard Logan to walk the carpet .

Disappointing, but every person I met thought I looked so cute in my school uniform, and I got to meet some really cool people:

(1.8) Months after this premiere though, I had possiblyyy snuck backstage at the Teen Choice Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre. And guess who was just standing there??? That’s right, Logan Lerman

(1.9) Was I dying inside? Yes. Did I keep my cool? I think so. Did I ask him why he hadn’t attended his own premiere at the Cinerama Dome? Yes, and my mother got his answer on camera, which I was oblivious too until she showed me when we got home:

(1.10) After taking the picture with the other fan, he walked back up to me and restarted our conversation. Logan Lerman is one of the friendliest famous people I’ve ever met. Made my entire day (and life, basically)

(1.11) This premiere (including it’s mini sequel) is one of my favorite stories to tell, but it doesn’t even come close to other bonkers experiences I’ve had (maybe that’s another thread for another time). Now onto the next Cinerama Dome story:

Story 2: Watching Catching Fire with my family (repost bc of inaccuracy w/ movie name)

(2.1) My family had a tradition with Hunger Games movies. Every time a new one came out, we would go watch it opening weekend at the Cinerama Dome.

(2.2) We were waiting in line for popcorn, when none other than Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith, gets in line behind us.

Everyone in the lobby was SHOOK, and everybody wanted to meet him, but he only took a picture with one person, my sister.

(2.3) As you can see, Steven Tyler had a leg or foot injury (this detail is important to the story). We went to take our seats, and sitting directly behind my mom was, surprise, Steven Tyler.

(2.4) Bc he was injured, he had to have his foot elevated. So, my mom sat through the entirety of Catching Fire (a 2.5 hour long movie) with Steven Tyler’s foot propped up right next to her arm.

There are no pics (bc idk sorry) but here’s my mom’s FB post about it

(2.5) But this isn’t even the most insane Steven Tyler story I have. NOPE. A few years before, my mom and I had met Steven Tyler at a premiere at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. And right after he took this photo with me, HE KISSED ME ON THE CHEEK.

(2.6) This is my go-to for two-truths and a lie bc everyone thinks it’s the lie, since it sounds unbelievable. And to this day, Steven Tyler is the only man who has ever kissed me (bc I’ve only kissed girls since, looool). Although it was just on the cheek, it was VERY weird.

(2.7) So there’s my Steven Tyler stories. Both are pretty weird and random, right? Well, onto the next Dome story:

Story 3: Warm Bodies world premiere

(3.1) My favorite book in middle school was Warm Bodies, so when I found out it was becoming a movie, I did not shut up to my mom about wanting to go to the premiere.

(3.2) After searching for a while, my mom finally got the hook up from our friend Nancy, who also attended these premieres with her daughter, Stephanie. We’re all still good friends.

(3.3) We showed up and we’re first in line, but the thing about these fan tickets is, there’s no guarantee you’ll get in. What happens is, they give the left over tickets to fans who make a reservation online, but most of the time lots of fans get turned away.

(3.4) After hours of waiting, everyone was told that there were no tickets and we’re asked to leave. But I was determined. I convinced my mom to wait, and we walked around the dome. In the back, we saw the guy who was in charge of handling tickets for these types of events

(3.5) He was familiar with my mom and I, so I walked right up to him and asked if there were any extra tickets left. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out a fat stack of tickets, gave two to my mom and I, and winked. I couldn’t thank him enough

Me in my side part phase

(3.6) Because of his generosity, I was able to meet pretty much everybody in the movie. And, at the time, I had a huge crush on Dave Franco, so you know I was having the time of my life

(3.7) A few years later, that same man helped my mom and I out again. We were waiting in line to see if there were extra tickets for the IHeartRadio music festival. This time though, the people in front of us we’re acting very rude, so everyone was told to leave

(3.8) The man recognized my mom and I, and told us to wait around the corner. When he walked past us, he secretly slipped two tickets to the show into our hands. The seats he gave us were right next to the VIP balcony, so I ended up meeting Darren Criss

(3.9) Wish I knew his name, but I think he wanted anonymity, bc I’m sure he was instructed not to give tickets to fans. He’s a real one for breaking the rules for us. Anyways, onto my final Cinerama Dome story (not my last story, but I’m gonna keep the others to myself for now)

Story 4: The Ed Sheeran: Songwriter premiere

(4.1) This story is fairly recent (2018), and the last experience I’ll ever have at the Cinerama Dome. In this story, Ed Sheeran walks off with my phone, but I’ll get to that part later.

(4.2) By 2018, I’d stopped attending these types of events. However, I made exceptions for really unique ones, like an Ed Sheeran documentary premiere.

I’d won the tickets online, so my mom got me from USC and we hopped in line:

(4.3) The event was really cool. They gave us swag bags with concessions, there was a photobooth, and there was an Ed Sheeran and director Murray Cummings Q&A after the screening:

(4.4) Afterwards, I saw Ed Sheeran in the lobby, and asked to take a photo with him. He said sure, and he grabbed my phone to take the picture. When he did that though, a bunch of security guards grabbed me, and pushed Ed forward WITH MY PHONE IN HIS HANDS:

(4.5) Ed had my phone in his hands for about 30 seconds while they were pushing him, until FINALLY someone on his team took it from him and walked my phone back to me. Every time I see this picture, I die with laughter. Seriously, it’s ridiculous

(4.6) This isn’t my only bad selfie experience with Ed Sheeran. My freshman year of high school, I attended the Grammy nominations, and Ed was there. I asked if we could take a photo, he said sure, and I was so nervous that my hands shook. Here’s the result:

(4.7) Maybe one day Ed Sheeran and I will finally get a normal photo together, but if it doesn’t happen I’ll live. I’m gonna leave y’all with a little bonus though...

Bonus:

Pictured: Rob Reiner, my mother, and I at the premiere of Flipped in 2010, at the Arclight Cinerama Dome. This was my first time ever at a premiere inside the Dome. Don’t I look fantastic??

The end! Of this thread! I have more Dome stories, but the thread is already wayyyy too long. Should I do more of these threads?? I always feel like I’m oversharing but if y’all enjoy it then maybe

Anyways...goodnight!! Hope yall have sweet dreams :)