Why did this hold my attention for 10 minutes? Made in 1976 by Claude Lelouch, showing a high speed drive through Paris.

“If it wasn’t for television, I’m sure that the conglomerates would shut down the movie business completely. … If you’re being honest about it, you’d say, I’m in a lousy business. I’m making no money. I don’t know why I’m doing what I’m doing. I have to change it. I have to fundamentally start to say one word, “No.” And nobody will do that. So, you know, I sit there with people, I used to pull out statements, show them, you know. It’s not hidden stuff. Here it is. I got the most profitable studio in the business and, you know, I could be in the grocery business, making more money.”

Since 2001, things have changed, and Mr. Mechanic’s statement becomes very relevant.  It looks like the business of television distribution is going to run aground: DVR is killing the traditional ad revenue model of broadcast TV, and internet distribution gaining traction constantly in two formats (subscription-based sites like Netflix, and ad-based sites like Hulu) but neither fully pays for quality programming.  Networks still count on traditional revenue….  Here is the question of the next five years: will corporations kill (sell off) their entertainment arms?  It’s only 5% of revenue after all, and if that’s slipping, why risk it?

Thanks for choosing Universal Grocery!  Paper or plastic?

Debuting at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the audience included most of the cast: Steve Carell as Gru, Jason Segel as Vector, Russell Brand as Dr. Nefario, Julie Andrews as Gru’s mother, Will Arnett as Mr. Perkins.

The audience was lively, not not near as responsive as the electrified Eclipse audience.  The after-party was held in the same tent on the event deck as Eclipse.  They even used the same giant moon balloon at the Despicable Me premiere.

By the way, what’s up with the moon theme?  And they both premiered around the same full moon (yesterday).  And there was even a minor lunar eclipse yesterday (a brilliant marketing flourish).  And this month’s moon is no ordinary moon – it’s known as the Mead Moon, according to Garrison Keilor’s Writer’s Almanac.  Coincidentally my brother and I harvested honey yesterday at his house in Santa Monica.  Seriously!  Photographic proof:

And is it a mere coincidence that DESPICABLE contains the letters for the word ECLIPSE?  Okay…

That one was a stretch.  The Despicable Me after-party was mostly a family affair with IHOP sponsored beverages and little dancing “Minions.”   Rainn Wilson was there with his wife and child – as was most of the cast of “The Office.”  Steve Carell was the man of the hour, surrounded by kids and parents and a couple watchful security guards.

The musical score was perhaps the most striking thing about the film.  Pharrell Williams and the talented Heitor Pereira did a remarkable job with the music.  The theme song is especially catchy:

The movie was enjoyable and didn’t take itself too seriously – with a few jokes that landed well.  The enthusiastic audience made the atmosphere electric and it was fun to see the stars below us, watching their own sensationally popular movie.  The after party was a big event.  A giant tent with a glowing “moon” globe hanging above arrangements of fake trees, rocks and “snow” with couches and a long ice bar.  We chatted with various famous faces and an interesting Danish director named William Stahl.  William explained that Danes do not claim to be anything like a “director” or “producer” or “musician” until they do it full time, professionally.  He was surprised with the fact that Hollywood often operates differently – there are hoards of “directors” and “producers” and “actors” in this town, that in reality do not earn their living as such.  His music video is great:

And that was that.

The two most entertaining and outspoken of the group were Adam and Eli.  Adam Shankman proclaimed that his Godfather was Barry White.  And Eli Roth ironically described how Twitter had transformed his sex life.  It shouldn’t have been surprising to me that I knew Adam Shankman’s face from the Twitter frenzy that resulted after a video of Shankman and Miley Cyrus grinding on the dance floor flew around the interwebs.  (By the way, I do hope that’s the last time I’m ever inclined to link to TMZ).

Really, although I thought the event was pretty uninformative, it was useful to hear these Hollywood “insiders” all say how Twitter is a great way to dispel rumors instantly, and a way to disseminate news instantly as well.  I suppose that Twitter as a PR and interactive tool for public figures, especially entertainers, is really valuable.  Shankman remarked that he gets most replies when he asks questions about mundane, petty choices – like what to watch on TV.  But when he asks a big question, people are less engaged.  Not sure what this interesting fact says about Twitter as a medium or about his “followers.”

Though Twitter can definitely be a double-edged sword for celebrities; the flip side is when fans tweet about celebrity locations.  As the always cheerful Kristen Stewart said,

“Twitter f–ks me over every day of my life… I see people on their phones and I just want to take these cookies and throw them.”

(On fans tweeting her whereabouts.)

Looking forward to that cheery personality tomorrow evening at the Twilight premiere!