We usually try not to focus on the personal lives of actors or directors, but this caught our eye. Someone has posted on craigslist claiming to be a director looking for a date to a big hollywood movie premiere which is happening the last week of June. You can read the posting below followed by our thoughts on which director it could be (if this is in fact real):
director needs a (fake) date for a (real) movie premiere - m4m - 33
As bizarre as this sounds, I am looking for a date for a movie premiere. I directed a movie and it’s premiering the last week in June. I want to go to the premiere with a date.
Yes, there will be celebrities and industry weirdos at the premiere. Yes, there is a big party afterwards. Yes, I really am the director. Yes, it really is a real movie with real celebrities at a real premiere with a red carpet and everything.
Why am I looking for a date on Craigslist? Because I am new to Los Angeles and I dont know anyone here, and I have been working so hard on the movie I haven’t met anyone since I got here (moved from NYC to make the movie). It’s hard to meet people in LA. Especially when you’re working 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
No, you don’t have to sleep with me. Just want a reasonably good looking guy at my side as I walk down the red carpet. It’s a once in a lifetime event - why not share it?I’m laughing out loud as I write this. It seems completely absurd. But - why not?
Here are the requirements. You are:
1. not insane
2. between 25 and 40 (give and take a year or two)
3. reasonably intelligent
4. good looking
5. not an actor who is going to try and use this as a networking opportunity (ok to be an actor - but again, not insane)
6. clean (well groomed) and sober (not a drunk or an addict)
7. willing to go along with the charade for the fun of it
8. not crazyIf you are a fellow ex-pat new yorker who went to a good college and is now living in Los Angeles wondering what the hell you are doing in Los Angeles - all the better.
There are no responsibilities beyond the premiere and the party. If we hit it off - great, we can be friends.
Part of me is hoping to find someone so incredibly good looking that he will bring traffic to a halt. But - that is kind of shallow, isn’t it. But - then again, it’s a fake date - and this is Hollywood. But - sense of humor trumps looks every time. And - you’re going to have to have a good sense of humor to pull this off.
Oh, whatever. Let’s see what happens. Please reply with a picture (to weed out crazies and freaks - although you can’t always tell).
And I’ll get back to you soon
thanks
Again - yes this is real.
Let’s take a look at the directors with movies that are (or might be) premiering in Hollywood the last week of June include:
- Ken Kwapis (License to Wed) Age 49, From Illinois, attended USC in Los Angelels, so it’s not likely.
- Cherie Nowlan (Introducing the Dwights) Being Female rules her out, since the ad is Man looking for Man
- Michael Bay (Transformers) Aged 42, was born and lived in Los Angeles fior most of his life. This rules him out.
- David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) Age 43, born and lives in England. He’s out.
- Michael Moore (Sicko) Married, lives in Michigan. He’s out.
- George Ratliff (Joshua) Age 38. We are unable to find out where Ratliff lives, but Joshua was filmed entirely in New York City. He talks enthusiastically about the city in most of the interviews for the film. Two of his previous documentaries were filmed in Texas, which make us believe he’s from there. UPDATE: George is Married and has Kids. So he’s Out.
- Brad Bird (Ratatouille) Married, kids, lives in San Francisco. He’s Out.
- Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) Married to Kate Beckinsale. Out.
If I had to choose one director from the above list. But again, this whole posting could be fake. I mean, it’s a genius way to get tons of responses to your personal ad. Imagine how many great-looking actors have responded to this posting. I know the posting warns against them responding, but that won’t stop em’.
I’ve spent entirely too much time trying to figure this out, and must go on to other (more productive) work. What do you think? Who could it be? Am I missing someone? Is it a fake?
June 19th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
“Just want a reasonably good looking guy at my side as I walk down the red carpet.”
Why would being female rule Cherie Nowlan out? Without having looked at her background, she seems like the best choice since the director is looking for a guy.
June 19th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
oh, you’re right, how could have I missed that?
June 19th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
oh wait, the ad is looking for Man for Man, so yes, this would rule her out
June 19th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Ah, I guess I missed that part…. haha
June 19th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
Pure faggetry. effing polesmoke.
June 19th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
It could be tucker maxx. i know he isnt a director but he could have directed a movie. and he just moved from NY to LA
June 19th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
oh sorry my bad. didnt know it was a female. i cant really read
June 19th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
No it’s Male looking for Male
June 20th, 2007 at 4:24 am
Wow … this is a bizarre story, Peter. I thought Hollywood was much more closeted than this. I simply cannot imagine that this is real.
June 20th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Who cares???
“Peter Sciretta” needs to get a life!
June 20th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Hi Peter
Sorry, but your guesses are all wrong. One of them was close. But you didn’t peg me.
Was kinda sad to see the homophobic responses in the comments section - but what can you do.
The ad is real and I am still looking for a date. The response has been surprisingly overwhelming. But finding a nice cute guy willing to play arm candy for a few hours is proving to be harder than I thought.
But I still have 9 days. Maybe some of your readers will be inspired to submit themselves.
thanks
CG
June 20th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Charles Gorshant, I did an imdb search of your name which didn’t turn up anything? Who are you and what is your film?
June 20th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Hi Peter - C’mon, you think im dumb enough to use my real name?
Im not worried about being outed as gay (I AM taking a guy to the premiere)
but now that I’ve read your article (and the article on cinematical) I’m a little
worried about being outed as a loser looking for a date on craigslist.
All I can say is - the ad is real - and it’s all true - every word.
If you read it again, more carefully, you might make some correct deductions.
But it’s ultimately frustrating, isn’t it? I won’t tell you who I am, and you and your
readers will just think it’s a joke or a fake. In the meantimes, I’ll be taking one of the
guys who responded out for the night. I guess the whole thing does sound kind of
fake and seedy, doesn’t it? Take Care.
June 20th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Charles,
Your ip address does show a Westlake Village, CA address. But I’m not buying it. In 9 days people will see which director turns up to their premiere with a guy on their shoulder. Again, I live in San Francisco, so I’m not homophobic, I’m more interested in the idea of a director going on craigslist. But that said, I’m assuming you will probably be the only gay director with a film premiereing this week… but then again, it is Hollywood.
June 20th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Wow. You scared me with the IP address thing. You can check that? But - I have recently moved
and I dont really know what neighborhood this is. I think it IS westlake village.
That’s in LA right? It’s just a neighborhood not a town, right? Do I sound sufficiently
mysterious? Not trying to be - really.
I think way too much is being made of this, really. I’m sorry to let you down but I’m not
a REALLY big director yet. And the press will capture me and my date but I can’t
imagine that anyone will care. Trust me - there are no big National Enquirer stories
in the making here. No big directors about to be outed.
But the premiere is real. As is the movie. As is the ad.
I would imagine that this ad is getting some (very minor) attention because I’m in the public eye
(sort of) - and I’m looking for a date in the same way that anybody would - and because I’m
openly gay - and because I am an (allegedly) successful director lucky enough to get a big
splashy premiere. Now that people are actually sending me blog entries and articles about my
ad - I would guess that what’s interesting here (minorly) is that I’m a director looking for a gay
date - in Hollywood? As if that’s crazy, impossible and verboten.
But this is 2007 and it’s OK to be gay, right?
My colleagues all know I’m gay and so does the studio.
But trust me, my story is not page 6-worthy. And there won’t be any teary confessionals on E!
I’m mostly unknown (in my own way) as of yet.
End of mystery and guessing game. (I didnt mean to suggest that YOU were homophobic Peter).
What can I say - I’m single, I’ve been working too hard, I’m new to town, I need a date and
thought this might work. I’m gay and out and don’t care who knows and dont know who knows.
The ad was a funny, spur of the moment thing. And just like the NY lottery,
you never know.
June 20th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
oh and by the way - im not strong enough to carry my date “on my shoulder” as you say.
He’ll be on my arm. thanks
June 21st, 2007 at 12:13 am
I’m actually embarrassed to admit that I originally posted this story without noticing the ad was male for male. (As you can see in one of my first comments, I thought it was male looking for female) I posted the story originally just under the pretense of a Hollywood director looking for a date on craigslist, and I think that story is interesting enough (especially for a nosey person like me who likes to solve a puzzle. At first I thought this was a genius marketing ploy, but obviously you’re turning down this opportunity to promote your flick (which is surprising in your town). And I look forward to the day when we can talk at a junket about one of your (future) projects instead of your personal life. Anyways, I wish you good luck with your movie, whatever it may be.
June 21st, 2007 at 12:35 am
Sounds good. One day, when we meet at a junket, I’ll tell you that I’m the guy from the ad.
thanks