Meeting A Hero

I grew up watching movies. That's all I cared about. If I wasn't going to the theatre, I was watching tapes at home (or laserdisc!) I was fascinated by everything about them. The acting, the cinematography, the dialog, the camera work. Everything - it all fascinated me. Two people in particular really effected me. Robert De Niro, and through him, Martin Scorsese. To me, they were the absolute best of what cinema could be. Together, as in Taxi Driver, and especially Raging Bull they created stories on screen that changed my life. I wanted to be able to create something that could effect people like they had effected me. So, I packed up from my little town of 5,000 in Maine, and moved to Los Angeles. I'd been accepted to film school.

14 years later I'm working at IMAX, helping to make the biggest, brightest, most amazing movies in the world. Over the past few years we've been remastering "Hollywood" films for our giant screens. I've been lucky enough to be a large part of that process. There have been a few real "pinch myself" moments sitting in a dark theater watching things like Spider-Man 2, and Batman Begins on our IMAX screens and knowing I helped put it up there.

This afternoon I stood in our lobby awaiting the arrival of Martin Scorsese to view his new Rolling Stones concert film, "Shine A Light". I shook his hand, and then sat in the theatre and watched the film with him. Looking up at the screen at a huge 50' tall image of Martin Scorsese, then turning my head and seeing him sitting just four seats from me smiling was surreal. The emotions were so strong, that my eyes welled up. (Thank god it was a dark theater!)

It seems foolish to have such strong feelings...he's just a man, but I can honestly say without his films, I'd probably never have moved from New England. I wouldn't have the friends I do, I would very likely not be working doing what I love. My entire life would be so different. The funny thing is he has no idea what an effect he's had on my life, and never will. If we met again tomorrow, he'd not remember quickly shaking my hand today. It's so bizarre.