Golden Globes

Monday, January 26, 2004

Categories: Diary • Favorites • Media Appearances

* Well. Where to begin…
* First of all, we didn’t win any Globes. “Soldier’s Girl” was up for three: Best Picture (TV), Best Actor (TV) and Best Supporting Actor (TV). But that’s ok… being nominated will show filmmakers that they can produce quality, realistic transgender stories and be rewarded for it in Hollywood. “Angels in America” was great, and if we had had their budget, I’m sure we’d have given them a run for their money.
* But first things first: When the car came `round to pick me up at 1pm, I was still in the shower. I had spent the morning racing around to find a slip and completely wasted two hours of valuable time, so I ended up making the chauffer wait for an hour in our driveway while I did my hair and makeup and got dressed. I didn’t feel too bad though, because he would be waiting in a driveway all day long anyway, while I was inside the Beverly Hilton hotel. I had a terrible time choosing what to wear… I had a gorgeous black dress from Patty, two dresses I had made (a white lace scoop-back and a lavender mermaid gown with cape), plus a deep pink Lilli Rubin gown positively dripping with sequins.  I can never decide until the very last minute, and as I stood there in my undies looking the choices over, I decided on… NONE OF THEM! I ran into the deep-storage closet and pulled out another hand-made gown instead: my leopard-print corset-gown with a small train and fitted, extra-cropped bolero jacket. It was a little exotic looking, a little retro-looking, but it fit like a dream and was very Jessica Rabbit. I was surpised that it zipped right up (I’m not the tiny waif I was when I made it a few years ago!)

* So I hopped into the car and we zipped out to the hotel just in time to make the 2:30 Champagne Brunch. Remembering what a mess getting into the Emmys was, I expected long delays, but I think a combination of coming early and just good organization got us right in on time. There were very few people there, so I whisked right in. I had heard earlier in the week that there was a big shortage of tickets to the Golden Globes in Hollwood, and that some agents and other Hollywood players were paying up to $20,000 for a ticket. On the ride over I looked at the ticket in my hand and thought “Mmm… $20,000...” But no! I would not miss this night for any reason. And anyway, nobody offered me $20,000 for the ticket in the first place. Mmm… $20,000...

* There were numerous velvet-rope mazes to negotiate, with masses of regular people behind them ready with cameras of all types. Paparazzi and media people were inside the ropes with me, and I got a few looks because I was so tall and strikingly dressed, but no one took my picture. Which was fine by me!
* I made my way into the gorgeous main room and saw the stage all set up with a very elegant design. Our table was right in the center line, only about three tables away from the stage! Right behind us was the teleprompter screen, so everyone on stage had to pretty much stare directly at me for the whole show! AND guess who was sitting at the Showtime table in front of us? Barbra Striesand! Like 5 feet away from me! And guess who was sitting three feet away on my right? Jennifer Garner! Ok, let me just go ahead and say this now… I saw in person most every movie and television star you can think of!
* I sat right next to Jane (Fonda), with Troy on her right, and Ron Nyswaner (the writer) on my left. Lee was right next to him. Frank was across from me. It was great! Eventually everyone got there and we all sat down and started on our delicious meal.
* I had had my first taste of Champagne 25 days ago on New Year’s Eve, which I didn’t like, so I decided I would have another half-glass just to see what really nice Champagne tasted like. It was good! I only drank about half of the half glass, though. The dinner started with an Asian salad with sushi, and then a delish steak for the main course. There were coffee cups on the table, but we never got dessert or coffee! =( boo hoo, poor me, I know, ha ha…
* Jane and I got to catch up, and everyone was excited and talking. We pretty much knew we weren’t going to win against "Angels in America," but I was just glad that we had come this far. I think that the nominations for SG will encourage other people to be brave and make films about the community that are similarly realistic and non-exploitative. It was great fun seeing the cast of Sex and the City squeeze past our table, Ellen Degeneres fidgeting across the aisle (I got to shake her hand later), Catherin Zeta Jones flitting up and down the stairs next to our table, Christina Ricci running by in her lovely gown, Charlize Theron walking by, Nicholas Cage looking intense on his way to his seat, Scarlett Johannsen picking up the hem of her nude corset gown to make it down the steps, and on and on and on…

* The show ran smoothly and quickly…
* Click here for

* A voice over the sound system keep saying, “Please sit down! Dinner is served! Please take your seats!” and I got that ‘High-School Assembly’ feeling again that I remembered from the Emmys. Pretty much right when everyone finally sat down for good, someone popped up on stage and gave out an award. It was broadcast live, so I suppose it had to keep pace. During commercial breaks, everyone jumped up and ran around congratulating each other and saying hello and running to the restroom. In the women’s restroom, a cosmetics company had set up with two makeup artists offering free touch-ups to anyone who needed them. But once the show had started, I stayed in my seat the whole time.
* I can hardly remember all the celebrities I saw walk by or talk on stage… It would be safe to just say “every one of them.” Well, actually I didn’t see Julia Roberts…
* When the announcements for Soldier’s Girl’s categories came up, we all waited in tense anticipation. We pretty much knew we weren’t going to win against “Angels in America,” but the Golden Globes have a bit of a rep for acknowledging things off the beaten path, so we couldn’t be 100% sure. Unfortunately, the moment came and went… We all clapped loudly for Angels and raised a toast anyway. It was still good to be there.
* When everything was finally over, Leonardo DiCaprio hopped up on stage to wish everyone good night. We all started to stand and Jane took me by the hand and made sure I stayed close by. I hadn’t been sure what I was going to do afterwards, so I was very happy to go along with her and Troy. We slipped through the crowds and began a very interesting night of party-going.
* Of course Jane Fonda is a legend in Hollywood, which is something that is difficult to grasp in it’s full scope until you see it in action. To me, she is a kind, powerful motherly figure I met through Troy. But as we went through the hotel to the various parties, there was a wave of awe and excitement that preceeded her in the crowds and staff and media. People would stop in place and echoes of, “That was Jane Fonda!” “Jane!” “Jane Fonda!” bounced and clattered in our wake. We moved through barriers and security stops like ghosts, and there were no such things as lines.
* The first party was in an enormous room whose vaulted ceiling was draped in acres of fabric the color of black oil. Pink cubes of satin and down were scattered about to be used as cushions, and undulating curtains of crystal flowers and leaves glowed above the bar where gorgeous people served serious looking drinks. Lee was already seated with friends, and we went over to join them. We laughed and talked and I sat in Lee’s lap for a picture, kicking my heels up. Someone told me I had great legs, which made me laugh. If the lights had been up, they would have seen the varicose veins earned from a dozen years of making a living in combat boots and high heels.
* This party had an elegant, urban-LA feel to it, and a wonderful live soul band, but the night was young and we had to move on. We gathered up our things and headed out the door.
* Next was the Miramax party, where most of the cast and team from “Lord of the Rings” was hanging out. These rooms were also covered in fabric, a pale ivory white from floor to ceiling, and had a very cool and clean feel. I met Peter Jackson’s girlfriend, Elija Wood and dun dun DUN! Angelina Jolie’s dad! John Voight was really nice (probably one of the most engaged people I talked to) and even did a bit of his minister character for me when I told him about my Dad. We met LeeLee Soblieski, who was lovely, and many other people as well.
* From this party we went on to a larger party in “Trader Vic’s,” which is the famous restaurant area of the Beverly Hilton. It was outside under a clear tent. We met Nona Gaye, Katie Holmes, Alicia Silverstone, and tons of other cool people. This was kinda the final stop at the hotel, and Jane went ahead home to bed.
* Troy and I hopped in the limo and jetted over to the CAA party in West Hollywood. This was more dark and clubby feeling, being in a dark club as it was. Everyone was actually dancing in earnest here, so I got out on the dance floor next to Leonardo, Juliette Lewis, Woody Harrelson, Tyra Banks and others. Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino were towards the back, and Troy had introduced me to Quentin much earlier in the night before the show.
* We met some fun girls and just basically danced the rest of the night away. By the time the place closed down, it was just us, Woody and Juliette and a few other people. We said our goodbyes, got back into the limo, and I was soon curled up asleep on a soft leather seat awaiting drop off at my little house, ready for a hot shower and a long night of sleep.