Inkheart Premier

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We were so excited to go to the Inkheart Premier in NYC.  We piled in two mini vans in below freezing weather and headed into New York.  Typical Crowley luck.........we left late, a plane landed in the Hudson River and we took the wrong tunnel.....but we made it! The security on the Red Carpet was not sure what to do with us.  John in the first van dropped off Patrick, John, Connor, Jack(cousins) and one Nurse, while I circled with Megan, Aunt Kim and Sharon looking for parking.  Megan was so excited about being on the Red Carpet and have her picture taken but no such luck..............the carpet was tented off  and the sidewalk curb was not handicap accessible...........what a bummer!  We were able to pick Patrick's chair up but Megan's 450lb wheelchair was not going to make...........so we brought her in the back door and avoided the damn paparazzi!

As the credits were rolling Brendan Faiser came back to meet us all.  He was great with the kids!  Some people are very unconfortable around Meg and Patrick and not quite sure what to say or will talk loud and very slow.  Brendan was teriffic and very confortable with them. All the kids thought he was cool and very funny!

The Movie Business

Well a lot is happening with this movie being made about us.  As most of you know,  we received a call about 4 years ago from a movie producer that was interested in making a movie based on  The Cure (the book about our family).  Fast forward to now, it really looks like this is going to happen.  Michael & Carla Shamberg and Stacey Sher are terrific Hollywood producers.  Their movies have won academy awards like Erin Brockovich and  all around just great movies like The Big Chill and World Trade Center.  They have been wonderful! 

So without boring you with too many details........We went to California a few weeks ago.  Harrison Ford, who is playing the doctor in the movie, wanted to spend time at John's company, Amicus Therapeutics learning about the science of Pompe Disease. ( Amicus has labs in San Diego and the main labs and offices are in Cranberry, NJ.) Harrison spent the day in the labs with scientists and then that evening we had dinner with Harrison, the producers and the movie director Tom Vaughn.  It was a great night but it was very overwhelming to listen to these people talk about making a movie about our family.........it just really hit home for John and I.  

The following morning John and I were flying to Los Angeles.  Harrison offered to fly us there in his plane because he was going as well.  John of course asked if Chewy would be the co pilot.....alway the smart ass!  Just crazy, isn't it?  Dinner with Harrison and flew on his private plane.  What a nice guy!  He truly is just a regular nice guy who makes a movie every once in a while........or so he told us!

So off to Los Angeles and we meet with the CEO of CBS films Amy Baer for lunch.  They are the money people who bankroll the film.  Also, very lovey people who are committed to this and want to make a great movie.  And just by coincidence, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Maria and their daughter sat at the table next to us.............WOW Arnold is just larger than life, he has real presence when he walks into a room!

Then we had drinks with Brendan Fraser...........yes, my on screen husband as John and  I now refer to him!  Brendan was great!  What a nice guy.  He also invited us and the kids to the premier of his new movie Inkheart.........but I'll give you details on a later post.

All in all our two day whirlwind in California was awesome!  We were totally star struck and learned a lot about the movie business.