Sorry Dorine, but I saw the opportunity to be first for once :-) Have nothing to contribute but wanted to give my thanks to all the lovely ladies for this great place and a special thanks to Karen :-))

Hi all! Caught up on the last of CF-17 .fabulous pics, links and articles. . .as always! Had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Dorine and Risa last night .Risa and I caught the advanced screening of GWAPE here in NYC . . .Will save any discussion of the film for the Spoilers . . . but just to say it was beautiful . .just beautiful to watch . . . Risa & I had a fun time educating a gentleman next to us about ODB and his various films . .about 500 people showed up for the screening . .the theatre held only about 350 but they were determined to fit everyone in . .don't know how they did it, but it was jam packed . . .Risa & I were the 3 row up from the front .they were giving away movie posters to the first 10 people who could produce the book . .we didn't have ours . .and were too far away .and unfortunately the posters hanging on the doors that Risa & I were eyeing to . .um . .quietly make off with. . . were already gone by the time we reached the exit! (damn!) Unfortunately, made it home and fell asleep!!! . . Missed Craig Kilbourn . .and it sounded like a fabulous interview! . .Dorine or Risa, did you tape it? . .If not, I'll just have to wait for the transcript! Who will be participating in the live chat this evening? Should we send questions to just one of you, if we cannot take part ourselves?

Sorry for second post, but just checked my email this morning . . I had emailed Charlie Rose, to suggest, him interviewing Colin on the show. .just got this email this morning: Scarlett Johansson is tentatively scheduled to air Friday night. Please keep an eye on our website for details. We appreciate your suggestion and we thank you for watching, Charlie Rose Viewer Services www.charlierose.com Dang . . . so close . . .

GWAPE LA Premiere pics from wireimage - Arrivals - http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=SRH&str=Colin+Firth&sfld=C&nvc=E&nvv=44759 Red carpet - http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=SRH&str=Colin+Firth&sfld=C&nvc=E&nvv=44764

With hundreds (thousands?) of people having attended advance screenings . . .who's going to see it this weekend when the box office counts? ;-)

Was wondering that myself.

re: everything that was posted @ 184 recently : woohoo ! what a holiday treat ! thanks everyone for pics, articles and live reports ! really like the elf version of mr f., with or without gloves and red nose a la rudolf, but hey, dorine & kimberly, i would have clubbed him, stuffed him in his own bag and run away with it if i were you, hehehe... thanks a million for the transcripts, comes in handy for those of us living in the desert (am standing with aussies and gautengers here). am eagerly waiting for this kilborn thing now. (from the village voice loser who calls himself a journalist) "Girl With a Pearl Earring signals its interest in what Fernand Braudel called the "structures of everyday life" poor sod has read one history book in his life and tries to place it in the conversation... pathetic.

(from the village voice loser who calls himself a journalist) "Girl With a Pearl Earring signals its interest in what Fernand Braudel called the "structures of everyday life" (Sophie) poor sod has read one history book in his life and tries to place it in the conversation... pathetic. LOL! Your comments never fail to amuse me.

What a fantastic group to be part of! Thanks for all the wonderful reports and pics. I have overcome my problem with MSN and hope to be awake tonight (2.00am UK time). I may not participate, but I'll certainly be looking out for questions posted by DDs.

In case you missed it, CBS has this little tidbit of the interview. Looks like he gets as much time as their other main guests this week. http://www.cbs.com/latenight/latelate/5questions/ Just in case a swinging gal or her assistent is reading, these are the questions I would love to have answered but won't be able to ask: What interview question have you never been asked but would want to be? Since, you can't be Girl with a Pearl Earring? What would you be: Guy with ________ Karen, if this is hand-smacking behaviour, ignore the last bit and only pay attention to the link.:-)

Pretty good review from the New York Times, and good for Colin. Painting Interiors of the Heart, With Eros in Restrained Hues By ELVIS MITCHELL Published: December 12, 2003 At the start of "Girl With a Pearl Earring," Griet (Scarlett Johansson) is shown peeling an onion, an image as metaphor rarely seen outside first-semester filmmaking classes. The determination visible in such an effort communicates Importance Writ Large. And the film, adapted by Olivia Hetreed from Tracy Chevalier's novel, does have a great subject: the story surrounding an artwork shrouded in mystery and a project that ruins a woman's reputation yet ensures her a place in history. This film, which opens today in New York and Los Angeles, is the imagined tale of Griet, a maid who became the muse of Johannes Vermeer and the subject of his painting "Girl With a Pearl Earring." Ms. Johansson is photographed so that her skin is as opalescent as her earring, but the movie is opaque. It is an earnest, obvious melodrama with no soul, filled with the longing silences that come after a sigh. Yet the care that has gone into making "Earring," a dexterous and absorbing visual re-creation of the lighting and the look that Vermeer achieved in his work, is a tribute to the director Peter Webber's own group of artisans, the cinematographer Eduardo Serra and the production designer Ben van Os. The gorgeous score, by Alexandre Desplat, brushes in a haunted gloom that gives the picture life where none seems to exist. This is the kind of film that would prompt the movie industry trade papers to say "technical credits above par." The teenage Griet is sent off to earn a living because her blind father can no longer support her. The onion she is opening at the story's start is part of the last meal she prepares at home before being shipped off. Her separation anxiety registers so fully throughout the film that it should be listed in the cast of characters as the credits roll. Anxiety permeates the movie like fear of punctures in a Freddy Krueger film. The household that Griet joins is filled with noisy, spoiled children who look down their noses at her. The mistress of the house, Catharina (Essie Davis), is about to add another mouth to the brood. In addition to her other tasks, Griet is given the duty of cleaning the master's studio, where she develops an interest in the room and its contents. When she asks if she should clean the windows � that would change the light, she notes � a befuddled but indifferent mistress tells the maid to do so. Griet's attention to detail has caught the eye of the intense but distracted Vermeer, who is already behind on a commission that is keeping the family fed and clothed. These commissions are brokered by Vermeer's imperiously practical, and equally proud, mother-in-law (Judy Parfitt), who suggests an art-house version of Frau Bl�cher from "Young Frankenstein." The figures in his paintings seem to flinch when she speaks. The jobs she secures for her son-in-law also keep Vermeer in the good graces of van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson), an acquisitive and unabashed reprobate who also has an eye on Griet. "You have very wide eyes," he admires, turning a compliment into sexual harassment, and Mr. Wilkinson relishes every moment of aggression. His frankly projected appetites make him the only person in the film capable of enjoyment. He loves describing the press of fabric against a woman's skin as if he, too, were caressing it. And as the most fully realized character, he passes that pleasure along to the audience. With all these assaults on her fluttering, tender sensibility � and on her time � it is no wonder that Griet always seems on the verge of tears. One of her few respites comes from the notice of the butcher's thoughtful apprentice, Pieter (Cillian Murphy). But she is far more intrigued by Vermeer, and based on Colin Firth's interpretation it is easy to see why. He plays Vermeer as a taciturn eccentric whose dark eyes house terror, anger and finally appreciation. He drinks in Griet's understanding of his art. A scene in which he demonstrates the workings of a camera obscura to her � and their transfixed faces are bathed in its buttery light � has real emotional power; it is like watching a pair of kids trading secrets under a sheet. And when the painter does talk, he speaks faster and with greater passion than anyone else; words boil out of him. Though Griet drops her head in his presence, her shyness appears disingenuous; she may be the first person ever to be camera-obscura conscious. "Girl With a Pearl Earring" is an auspicious feature-directing debut by Mr. Webber in so many ways � a groaning board of temptations for the eye and ear � that you may almost forgive the film its lack of drama and the perfunctory attempts at characterization. Viewing this film has been likened to watching paint dry; actually it is more like watching a painting dry.

Better than LA review; "...perfunctory attempts at characterization. " ...but not exhuberant. Thought this would be up their alley. Mobetta The New Yorker.

(Evelyn)Better than LA review LOL! Of course that doen't take much... The review does seem a bit ambivalent, IMHO, though very good for Colin. Thanks Mari!

Just a bit from Premiere PREMIERE.COM'S REVIEW (posted 12/11/03) The film is well-paced and surprisingly suspenseful, but it�s clear from the start that Griet�s real threat comes not from the artist, but from his jealous wife and lascivious patron (Tom Wilkinson). Firth�s scraggly wig is awful, but his Vermeer seems far too decent to take advantage of the help. The odd, gentle relationship that develops between him and his soon-to-be model is a nonstandard romance, powerful and true, without a sexy situation or treacly sentiment in sight. Take that, Love Actually. The rest is here: http://www.premiere.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=1360 ...38 minutes and counting.

(Linda)...38 minutes and counting Good, so I'm not the only one staring anxiously at the computer clock. ;-) Do you have questions ready?

Gaaahh! I can't believe it. I'm in the chat room and people are talking about Colin's bare butt. He could be there reading that stuff. Unbelievable.

(Caribou)What interview question have you never been asked but would want to be? I submitted it!

Well, chat's over and I don't thnk there was a single question that I really cared about. Whatever . . .

Wow, that was quick, but fun...and he's gone;-(

Any droolers get in? I was stuck at work and can't access....;-(

That was fun, yet disappointing.

I know at least one got in, Tress. The questions were fine, but mostly stuff we already knew the answers to as he's been asked most of them in recent interviews. Christian Science Monitor's review: Canvassing the emotions 'Girl With a Peal Earring' is a gorgeous tribute to Vermeer. By David Sterritt | Film critic of The Christian Science Monitor When buzz started circulating about "Girl With a Pearl Earring," it sounded like a gimmick. The story focuses on Johannes Vermeer, arguably the greatest Dutch painter of the 17th century, and the entire film is made in conscious imitation of his style - including his pristine lighting effects, meticulous compositional designs, and innovative uses of perspective. On canvas, these achievements make Vermeer a towering figure. But mimicking them in cinematic terms has a touch of slavishness about it. Would this be the motion-picture equivalent of a pop album by a tribute band that can't dream up its own ideas? The outcome is quite the opposite, thanks to the integrity shown by director Peter Webber and cinematographer Eduardo Serra in manifesting their respect for Vermeer. Other filmmakers have paid homage to his work - most notably Peter Greenaway, who uses allusion and quotation rather than outright replication. The homage paid in "Girl With a Pearl Earring" has an emotional validity all its own, however, rooted in the discipline and creativity Webber and Serra show in sustaining their version of Vermeer's vision throughout some 95 minutes of eye-dazzling drama. Scarlett Johansson plays a naive young servant who eventually becomes the "girl with a pearl earring" in one of Vermeer's most celebrated paintings. Her name is Griet, and she takes a domestic job in the house of the Dutch master (Colin Firth) when her family becomes impoverished. He makes her a prot�g�e when he discovers her eye for nuances of light and color. He also becomes fascinated by her appearance, touching off envy in his wife while bringing inspiration to his work. In some ways the movie has a rather trite trajectory, driven by stock characters like the jealous spouse, the uncouth patron of the arts, and the crusty old chambermaid with a heart of gold. Nor is there anything fresh about the story of a hard-pressed artist desperate for the stream of aesthetic ideas he needs to keep his reputation comfortably afloat. What distinguishes "Girl With a Pearl Earring" is its combination of refined filmmaking and Johansson's exquisitely understated acting. It partakes of Vermeer's spirit and style, and that makes it one of the year's best movies.

Feel like it was just a bunch of questions about what it was like to work with Scarlett Johansson. Sheesh. Cool though.

Woo hoo! 4 stars out of 4 from USA Today: This 'Pearl' is of great value It's a measure of the mesmerizing power of Girl With a Pearl Earring and the flawless performances of Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson that audiences feel as if they are spying on a moment of artistic inspiration when painter Vermeer creates the title work. The cinematic adaptation of Tracy Chevalier's novel attempts to unravel the mystery behind one of Vermeer's best-known paintings. Chevalier's fictional account of a 17-year-old servant girl who served as the artist's model is the scaffolding upon which a much more nuanced, sensuous tale is built. Because of the film's meticulous attention to detail � and because cinematographer Eduardo Serra perfectly captures the rich light, shadow and colors of the Dutch master's world � we are transported seemingly effortlessly to 17th-century Holland. Johansson plays Griet, a farm girl with an intuitive appreciation of art who becomes a servant for Vermeer's family. Firth plays the artist, about whom little is known historically, with a blend of smoldering intensity and quiet understatement. He is meant to be enigmatic, as is Griet in some ways. Yet we feel their growing attraction as she works in his studio; it reaches a climax when he pierces her ear with the earring that he asks her to wear for the portrait. It's a strangely compelling and sexy scene in a movie that is fraught with palpable, but unexpressed, passion. In contrast to their suppressed lust, Tom Wilkinson plays a wealthy patron whose leering lasciviousness becomes a real threat to Griet. Also threatening to Griet is Vermeer's jealous wife (Essie Davis) and conniving mother-in-law (Judy Parfitt), both of whom leave lasting impressions with small roles. Fans of the book will note that the ending is different, but most should be pleased with the majestic visual rendering of the story and the brilliant casting. Johansson, so perfect in Lost in Translation, is having a banner year that Oscar voters should recognize. Firth's quietly contained but emotionally tortured performance should erase any lingering memories of his lackluster part in Love Actually and put us more in mind of his complex charms from Pride and Prejudice. Girl with a Pearl Earring is a rich gem expertly told in a surprisingly scant 95 minutes. The film's deliberate pacing beautifully complements the nuances of a story about the complexity of creativity and the part it plays as a powerful outlet for repressed emotions.

Mari) Well, chat's over and I don't thnk there was a single question that I really cared about. Whatever . . . *snort* My thoughts, exactly, Mari. Oh well... Do and Kimberly, thanks for the pics and report on Santa Colin. Metro gals rule!:-) And Marianne, those pics you took are AFG!

I thought it was exciting, but I wish they would've picked questions that hadn't been asked a gazillion times before. But then, how would the moderator know what Q-s have been asked him by journalists before? Oh well, it was still nice to share cyberspace with Colin for a few minutes even if he wasn't the one doing the typing. Thank you Karen and all who made this possible. What a treat. And thanks to all for all the articles, opinions and lovely pictures that have been posted. This is a great time to be a drooler. But then, when it isn't? :-)

I was there for the chat. Agree it was very disappointing. Only 8 questions asked. I guess it speaks well for the quality and quantity of current info available here that I felt I already "knew" his answers to those 8 questions. Well, at least this was a first for him, and maybe he'll be willing to do it again sometime. Ildi, I agree that the bare-butt discussion in the open group chatroom was juvenile.

Very very disappointing. Probably the ONLY opportunity anybody from Australia will EVER have to ask Colin a question, yet not one question from Oz was asked. *sigh* It might not have been so bad, if they hadn't chosen questions he's already answered a GAZILLION times before. What a letdown...

I doubt he would have minded the discussion in the open chatroom - most men rather like having their butts admired...

For me it was a case of questions interruptus.;-)) We are too well informed here I fear. Gotta admit that I hadn't thought of too many *bright* questions either. But it was fun getting ready for it with you all.

We are too well informed here I fear. Yep, that's exactly what I meant. When I read some of those questions, I wanted to smack my head and yell "DUH!!!" Wonder if HolaLola could arrange a private little chat for the Ladies at Drool, where we could skip the preliminaries and get down to the nitty gritty? "Colin, if you were a tree, what kind would you be?"

Oh! Was that OUR very own "MarkG" on that chat??? Mark? Was that you?

We are too well informed here I fear. Yep, that's exactly what I meant. When I read some of those questions, I wanted to smack my head and yell "DUH!!!" Wonder if HolaLola could arrange a private little chat for the Ladies at Drool, where we could skip the preliminaries and get down to the nitty gritty? "Colin, if you were a tree, what kind would you be?"

I feel sorry for the person who go a question and just a "No" as an answer.

HUH? Sorry for the double post. There's a ghost in my PC tonight. Must drag self to the boudoir and dream of long chats offline.

(Beedee) For me it was a case of questions interruptus.;-)) LOL That, and very much a case of singin' to the choir. Plainly, it was what it was designed to be, a chance to do some GWAPE promo -- and to a group guaranteed multiples (?! --- viewings!) in the first place. I bet they don't waste their time that way again. If they do however, I would submit that 8 questions in 20 mins (or whatever) is awful. Better to have a voice converter and just let him loose.

Borrrrrrr-ing. That was an easy one for him. My question was: "You consider yourself a stage actor...when are you going to do a play" Knew he wouldn't answer. Mari...good ones. (Christian SM) ...that makes it one of the year's best movies. And 4 **** from USA today, which everyone reads. Al-right! Almost makes up for NY Times and Time which weren't stellar.

Not that it matters a great deal, but I actually counted 13 questions. I'm with those who were disappointed at the lack of variety in the questions asked. The host assures me they were picked entirely at random so I guess we have only Colin's fan base to blame. I liked the question about his opinion of whether Vemeer was selfish and hurtful in his dealings with Griet. But, not surprisingly for ODB, he wouldn't give a full answer.

But he did in one of the interviews.

Surfacing for air after a horrendous week -- all work and no time for play -- feeling like a very dull girl indeed. Sorry I haven't been able to post at all, but many thanks to the DD's (and especially the Boss) for all the news, pics, reviews, interviews, links, etc. -- not to mention the smart comments and witty remarks. MetroGals -- You're the Top(s)! ;-) (Kimberly -- I really like reading your insider's views as an actress.) I agree with everyone about the Chat -- great that CF did it, but most of the questions were pretty banal. Here are the two I submitted: 1. I understand you are an avid reader. When you go into a bookstore, which sections do you visit first? Which sections do you end up lingering in? 2. I really liked your short story "Department of Nothing" and articles you've written for magazines. Any plans to write/publish more fiction or non-fiction? Does writing tap the same creative impulse and talents as acting, or does it come from a different source? I'd like to read what other DD's submitted. One more comment (now that they've let me out of the sweatshop for a little while I gotta make the most of it!) -- just checked the rottentomatoes site and COULD NOT BELIEVE they rated Elvis Mitchell's review (in the New York Times) as a "splat". It wasn't a rave review, but certainly not a rotten one either. What idiot makes the call as to whether a review is "fresh" or "rotten"?? Isn't there someone we can complain to about this? Not only is the NYT review influential in itself, but it's right there at the top of the page as a "Sponsored Critic." The Tomatometer for GWAPE is now perilously close to the 60% cutoff point. GAHHH!!! What's wrong with these people???

I liked the little chat. Even though we are better informed here than most, it was pretty neat to be online with ODB in real time. It was interesting to see him answer about how he drew on his own experiences as Vermeer being the head of a household, with bills, expenses, etc. IRL he's now in that position with growing family and so we get to see him doing chats and more TV interviews than usual. Thanks to Karen and all who made it possible. And thanks to Caribou and Maria for the helpful hints in getting connected!

(Sing)The Tomatometer for GWAPE is now perilously close to the 60% cutoff point. GAHHH!!! What's wrong with these people??? Welcome back Zing! Yes, but the Cream of the Crop gives it an 86% so there's a balance there. I agree with you about the Elvis Mitchell review.

(Beedee) the Cream of the Crop gives it an 86% so there's a balance there. Beedee, thanks for pointing out the bright side! On the other hand, the Cream of the Crop would be 100% were it not for Mitchell's review being rated a "splat". OK, need to lie down, take a deep breath, and repeat until calm -- glass is half full, glass is half full, glass is... ;-)

Yet another screening w/ Q&A ... They rushed them in, questions for about 15 minutes, then quickly out again. "Backstage" said they had another screening to attend, at 10pm?!? and they were late starting the film cause they were at another screening prior to this one in Sherman Oaks, must have been the Chat. Lion's Gate is really running them ragged. It was a much better Q&A session than the one BAFTA had. The majority of the audience was people who were actors, and or studying to be actors. So there were a couple of questions about the audition and rehearsal process and how to get into the business ... the "female" moderator said to star in a movie opposite Colin Firth. I'm desperately trying to remember what was said, but my brain has turned into mush. CF did say that he had read the book, gone to the museums to study the works and traveled a bit to get a feel for the subject matter. SJ did not read the book, just went by the script. Regarding rehearsals, CF gave a long and very detailed response, that film is thinking on your feet, things can change so quickly, and that by comparison the theater is controlled. Sometimes, the best performance is at the read through, then things gradually deteriorate, and then as weeks go by you�re trying to recapture that performance. I noticed that it seemed as if SJ would rather have CF answer all the questions. She was funny, but did a lot of �umms,� whereas CF was really trying to convey honest responses to the actors/students in the audience. One last thing, he wore a black velvet jacket, grey corduroy trousers and brown shoes.

Jane: Oh! Was that OUR very own "MarkG" on that chat??? Mark? Was that you? Not me. Just a coincidence (or someone hijacking my identity for nefarious reasons!)

NY Daily News 3 of 4 stars Cultured 'Pearl' a beauty Scarlett Johansson as a maid who sits for a painting by Vermeer (Colin Firth) GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING With Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth, Tom Wilkinson. Director: Peter Webber. At Landmark Sunshine, Lincoln Plaza (1:39) PG-13: Sexual content. Watching "Girl With a Pearl Earring" is like stepping inside a Vermeer painting. The light, color and composition are eerily perfect. It's as if director Peter Webber, cinematographer Eduardo Serra and production designer Ben van Os unearthed some of the Dutch master's missing work, plus scenes of 17th-century Delft he would have painted if he had the time. Johannes Vermeer didn't live in a vacuum. This movie, adapted from the novel by Tracy Chevalier, imagines his world as filled to bursting with an ever-pregnant wife, a harridan mother-in-law, scads of blond-ringleted children and headache-inducing household expenses. His chief distraction proves to be the new maid, Griet, played by the suitably wide-eyed, cream-skinned Scarlett Johansson (the girl in "Lost in Translation"). Johansson is remarkable in allowing us to see her as Vermeer might: as an unconsciously seductive source of inspiration. Anyone familiar with the famous work of the title will see that painting taking shape every time Vermeer (Colin Firth) peers in a darkly romantic way at the shy, sensitive housemaid. Griet may be uneducated and lower-class, but she senses enough about her master's work to inquire before washing the atelier windows, as that may disturb the quality of the light. "Girl With a Pearl Earring" does an uncommonly good job of summoning all that goes into a masterpiece - erotic tension, financial considerations, even the sensual, elaborate grinding and mixing of paint colors as per 17th-century requirements. Also true to the spirit of a still life, this is a slow, quiet movie, where emotions are writ large (but silently) on the canvas of the face - household members fairly ooze jealousy and suspicion as Griet becomes the master's favorite. The movie doesn't pretend to be grand. A constant refrain is how the unprotected Griet, relegated to the bottom rung of the social ladder by sudden poverty, manages to maintain her modesty while sitting for a painting that requires an open, unabashed gaze, with lips parted and moist. When the mistress of the house finally sees the painting, she labels it pornography. In another age, this could be the story - not a new one - of the baby-sitter who steals the husband. The difference is that the most explicitly sexual scene is one in which Vermeer pierces Griet's ear that she might wear the pearl earring that gave her immortality.

Hello ladies, I'm back! Lot's to catch up on! And I will! Thank you for the postcard from the LA premiere. It sounds like you had a blast and Dorine was a great hostess. Hugs to all.

Welcome back Moon! Another review: Girl With A Pearl Earring, By MATT WOLF, AP LONDON (AP) - Not that one intends any slight against a generally accomplished cast in "Girl With a Pearl Earring" - featuring shooting star Scarlett Johansson - but it's the look and attention to detail that truly set the movie apart. And that's appropriate to a story about the mysterious way painters achieve something of beauty. Here, the artist is Johannes Vermeer, who died at 43 in 1675 - his artistic legacy a scant 35 or so paintings - but not before revolutionizing painting with the poetry to be found in the most seemingly mundane activities of daily life. In the Tracy Chevalier novel and now director Peter Webber's film, we get the possible back story to one of his best-known paintings, "Girl With A Pearl Earring." While countless films have attempted to show us how writers create - last year's "The Hours" saw Nicole Kidman's Oscar-winning Virginia Woolf furiously scribbling "Mrs. Dalloway" - "Girl" is one of the few to speculate on the creativity behind a certain painting. But even as Vermeer's presence puts art history on screen, the roll call of modern-day artists on this film must begin with cinematographer Eduardo Serra, the Oscar nominee (for 1997's "The Wings of the Dove") whose visual rendering of the Dutch town of Delft in the 17th century has a shimmering quality worthy of Vermeer himself. So ravishing is the film to look at - an achievement shared by production designer Ben van Os and costume designer Dien van Straalen - that its surface threatens to overwhelm its substance. As played by Colin Firth in an abrupt about-face from the heartsick writer he plays in "Love, Actually," Vermeer is heard before he first appears - swathed in darkness, pulling back a curtain. And even though the character gradually emerges into the light, he remains unknowable in Olivia Hetreed's screenplay, which tends to keep the viewer at arm's length emotionally even as one is fully absorbed visually, frame by frame. Hetreed preserves the conceit of the novel while dispensing with its first-person point-of-view. As in the book, Johannson's Griet is forced into work at a young age following the sudden blinding of her father in a kiln explosion. She finds herself in the intrigue-laden Vermeer household, presided over by the artist's volatile wife, Catharina (Essie Davis) and his fierce-eyed mother-in-law (Judy Parfitt). Griet soon catches the eye of Vermeer, who appreciates the adolescent girl's awareness of the delicacies of shade, composition and light. Before long, the painter is showing Griet his new toy, a camera obscura, while promoting her from maid to artist's model for his famous painting. Away from the house, Griet must contend with the affections of a local butcher's son (Cillian Murphy) as well as the lecherous advances of Vermeer's wealthy patron, whom Tom Wilkinson ("In the Bedroom) plays as a sneering 17th-century version of Hugh Hefner. At times, Hetreed's script could be a bit more elegant. Such lines as "You looked inside me" from Griet sound like a dime-store romance. Still, there's no denying the versatility of Johansson, whose largely silent Griet is worlds away from the young American wife in Japan in "Lost In Translation." And as Vermeer's edgy spouse, Davis bristles with an energy that matches Vermeer's own paintings, which is where the power of "Girl With A Pearl Earring" finally lies. "Girl With a Pearl Earring," a Lions Gate Films release, runs 99 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

An Interview with the Director and Stars of Girl with a Pearl Earring IGN talks to Peter Webber, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth about bringing the story behind one of the most mysterious and famous paintings to the big screen. December 11, 2003 - The life of legendary Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer is shrouded in mystery. One of his most famous paintings, "Girl with a Pearl Earring," provides the basis for both the story of the film and the book on which it is based. The story is a piece of historical fiction, as very little is actually known about how the painting came to be or who the girl in the painting was. Was it a relative of Vermeer's or possibly his wife? The book and movie proposes that it was actually a servant of his household. In director Peter Webber's feature debut, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Scarlett Johansson plays Griet, a servant to the Vermeer household with a keen interest in the art world and ultimately in Vermeer himself. Colin Firth plays the part of Vermeer, who becomes gradually fascinated with this curious, intelligent and enticing servant. They become friends of sorts as Vermeer uses her as a model in a few of his paintings. Their relationship is innocent at first, but is gradually laced with a sexual tension. Vermeer's wife, in particular, becomes vaguely aware of this situation and orders Griet out of the house. Vermeer fights for Griet to stay and ultimately uses her as the subject for one of his great masterpieces. Peter Webber himself was an Art major in college, although he says he did not expect a film like this as his first film. He has actually been quoted as saying that he is not at all a fan of costume period pieces. As it turned out, there is a much deeper story in Girl with a Pearl Earring than is at first evident on the surface. Webber love of art comes across very clearly and vividly in the film thanks in no small part to the stunning camera work of Eduardo Serra. Thanks to Serra, nearly the entire film itself takes on the look of one of Vermeer's own paintings. Webber did not seek out the project at first. It actually sought him, much to his surprise. "I didn't have this project in mind... I was known for making very different kinds of films and television in England. ... My most famous drama in England, which is quite controversial, [is] something called Men Only, and it's a rather kind of shocking exploration of male sexuality. [It] caused a bit of a stir in England. And, Andy [Tucker], the producer, I'll tell how it happened: ... I'd gone into the office to see someone there and there was a painting, the painting was on the wall, just a postcard or a poster, I don't remember now, and he heard me talking about it and I just felt this tap on my shoulder. And he said, 'Well, why don't you read the script?' I think he was as surprised as I was. When I started to read it, through all that, I had a passion for the painting of Vermeer for a long time. ... The first few pages I was thinking, 'You know, my first movie's not going to be this. It's a bit polite, it's a co tume drama.' And, as I read through the script I was falling in love with it. But really the scene that did it to me was the piercing, the ear piercing. Because I thought, 'You know what? This is not the film I thought it was when I started to read it. This has got a fantastic dark undertone; it's got an obsessive romantic relation at this heart of it. This cruelty, this passion, and there's interesting stuff about the relationship with money and art. It's about power, it's about sex, it's about a whole bunch of stuff.' And I thought that was a film I could make. ...What I was scared of is ending up with something that was like Masterpiece Theatre, [that] very polite Sunday evening BBC kind of thing, and I [was] determined to make something quite different from that and the material was there to do it with." With the recent acclaim Scarlett Johansson has received for her work in Lost in Translation, it's hard to imagine that casting her in this film was a tough sell at first for Webber. "Actually, it wasn't the case," says Johansson. "I actually had to audition for it. I went in for a reading and originally didn't have the part actually, which I was quite upset about. But you learn to deal with those things..." Webber fought to cast Johansson: "Way back then, it's just [about] the script, a conversation between director and producer where a producer said to me, 'We can't raise the money from this actress.' Now I never saw anyone else apart from Scarlett who could do the role. Having seen her audition, I mean it was in a rather bland room like this, she completely blew me away. ...She's an astounding actress for her age. She's got such maturity. She looks like a real person as well. She's not like one of these ridiculous skinny anorexic waifs... And Scarlett is just passionate, committed, intense, clever and a great, great actress who can reveal what she's thinking on her face... Business intervenes sometimes, especially when you're a first time director, you're not in a position at all to try to get exactly what you want. So, to me, it was the happiest day of all when things changed, for a number of different circumstances, and we were able to get the financing, and we were able to do it with the cast that I wante ..." Johansson has gained a reputation for playing characters older than her own age: "Griet was my age. I've always played maybe a few years older. When we did Horse Whisperer I was twelve playing fourteen, or Ghost World I was fifteen playing eighteen. It doesn't make so much of a difference. I think the relationships between the characters are so different. I mean, with Billy [Bob Thornton] and I it was kind of a purely innocent sort of thing. With Bill [Murray] and I, I think that my character needs the Bob Harris character to help her from having a total nervous breakdown. She needs his support. Colin and I, we have a different relationship. We don't need each other. We want each other. You think that my character could survive anything. She could survive another world war. She's so strong. Colin does not help her come unscathed out of the household. It's her inner strength that does. It's not a conscious decision." Although the book was an adaptation of the novel by Tracy Chevalier (who also wrote the script), both director and cast decided to stay away from the book so that the film may stand on its own. "I deliberately held off reading the book for a while as well," says Webber. ... There was one thing I was scared of: I had the script, I had done about eight months working on the script with the writer. ... I was worried that if I read the book too soon, I would have a whole load of knowledge, just there in my subconscious..." "I didn't read it before and I didn't read it during because I didn't want the first person narrative I suppose," Johansson says. "I just didn't want anybody else's explanation of the way the character was feeling. I didn't want to have the pressure of that. Some actors may have studied it, but it just didn't seem right [for me]." Playing the character of Vermeer, Colin Firth actually had the least information about his character because so little is known of the painter. Firth decided that reading the book could only help in his preparation: "I felt like I had been written from a distance. There's nothing wrong with that. Jane Austen does that with her male characters as well and if an actor's going to flesh that out it's up to them to turn an objective into the subjective and that's what I was doing. I just wanted to see if it was helpful. I wanted to see if it clarified things. I wanted to see if, where the script was silent, the book wasn't and what the subtext might have been. I wanted to see if certain bits of dialogue that I have questions about were from Tracy['s script] or were [in the book]..." ... I found the book actually extremely helpful on most of those fronts..." Webber never set out to make a biopic of Vermeer. His hope was to use the few facts known as a stepping-stone for this story. "Nobody, as far I know, certainly not myself or Tracy Chevalier [is] trying to pretend that this is fact. Because so little is known about Vermeer, and that's a gift. ... Because if we were making a film about Rembrandt, we know loads of stuff about Rembrandt. And what happens is, you end up making a biopic. What Tracy was able to do was use the very few facts that are known, is true to those few facts, and then weave an imaginative tale around that. And I think in doing so, probably got closer to the heart of what Vermeer is about then if we had a bunch of historical facts that we knew..." The sexual tension between the characters is one of the things that sets this film apart from the kind of Masterpiece Theatre tale Webber feared: "His painting, his art, is more important to him, actually, than his sex life. So, he's using all of that sexual energy to put into the painting. And if he had walked into that closet when she was taking the cap off, the painting would be over. ... It's the building up, it's the yearning that he was using as an artist. Knowing the way she was looking at him, he knew he'd get certain intensity in that portrait. ... I think that we wanted to paint a portrait of a man who cares about his art above all. ... It's about not getting what you want. We live in a world where you do get what you want all of the time..." "Certainly she's a servant and she does serve Vermeer and the family," Johansson says of her Griet character. "She's a maid, she's taking care of the cooking, the cleaning, the rearing of the children. ... However, it became more apparent to me the more we filmed, how completely in love I was falling with Colin as the Vermeer character. It became more and more apparent to me that the Vermeer character was this sort of untouchable mysterious man, this genius... And my character was completely longing and obsessive and in love with this man. And it was actually physically heartbreaking. I mean, that's how apparent it became. When I saw the Vermeer and Catharina character together, caressing each other, I was, like, physically pained in my heart by that and so, you know, I definitely think that the love affair for me was the most apparent relation between the two characters. The maid and the model are things that come along with the circumstance, but the other is not physical." Although it may be less apparent in the film, Firth believes that Vermeer did have a strong and loving relationship with his wife: "I think if we're commenting on the relationship with his wife in our story, I think that it's sexually alive. I think that he is devoted to his family. I think that he's very, very rooted in the social order of his day. I think there must have been very strong reasons for him wanting to marry her. He changed his religion, he converted, from Protestantism to Catholicism and even though Holland was relatively tolerant in those days, it wouldn't have been an entirely easy thing to do at all..." Webber's love of art provided the initial basis for learning about this mysterious painter and his interest in the story: "Vermeer has always been one of my favorite artists. I find that there's a sense of mystery, of transcendence. There's a really fascinating view of femininity. There's a whole array of things that make him a very special artist and an artist that does transcend his times. It was a real challenge or opportunity to try and capture some of that in this film..." "I tried to be someone who watches, who's engaged in the visual world," Firth says. "The benefit of having artists like Vermeer in the world is that, you know, he saw the world in a way that no one else did. ... The way he treated depth and texture was unique and, you know, because you've got these paintings, you can see like he sees..." Along with the excellent cast and directing work of Webber, the third star of Pearl Earring is the look of the film. The lighting and camera work give the film a look almost as if Vermeer himself had been the director of photography. "We had Eduardo Serra and so I think possibly that's even better than having a dead Dutch painter. He also is an art history major as it happens. He did four years at the Sorbonne. So, we had an awful lot to talk about when we got together. ... I'd seen an English film he'd done, Wings of the Dove, and the great thing about talking to Eduardo, though, was that, although it was obvious that any D.O.P. is going to love to make a film about Vermeer, he is the Master of Light. He was also interested in story and character, and that was really important to me because, although it's set against a very beautiful backdrop, if the characters at the heart of it aren't living, then we'd have been in trouble. And it's getting that combination. Sometimes beauty can be a trap..." http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/445/445809p1.html?fromint=1

Just checked the Charlie Rose website. .Scarlett is definitely on tonight as a guest, if you are interested in catching her . . .

As Evelyn will surely say to this -- "Um, uh, no, um, well maybe. Um."

(Deb)As Evelyn will surely say to this -- "Um, uh, no, um, well maybe. Um." SJ will get used to the whole interview thing, I'm sure . . .Did like her insights to Griet and Vermeer in that article that Maria just posted above. Thanks Maria for posting this! (SJ - Film Force Article)"Certainly she's a servant and she does serve Vermeer and the family," Johansson says of her Griet character. "She's a maid, she's taking care of the cooking, the cleaning, the rearing of the children. ... However, it became more apparent to me the more we filmed, how completely in love I was falling with Colin as the Vermeer character. It became more and more apparent to me that the Vermeer character was this sort of untouchable mysterious man, this genius... And my character was completely longing and obsessive and in love with this man. And it was actually physically heartbreaking. I mean, that's how apparent it became. When I saw the Vermeer and Catharina character together, caressing each other, I was, like, physically pained in my heart by that and so, you know, I definitely think that the love affair for me was the most apparent relation between the two characters. The maid and the model are things that come along with the circumstance, but the other is not physical."

I happened to hear this interview on NPR (of a behind the scenes interview of a GWAPE press junket) while in my car yesterday afternoon. There's a cute bit from Colin about a childhood Christmas experience he once had. Hope this link works: http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1544173

Thanks Maria, for the above review...I find it the most revealing thus far in terms of the "guts" of the story. This interpretation parallels more of what I gleaned from the novel.

Thanks Lora for the NPR link! I can't listen to it here, but I look forward to it. It looks like the LA Times and Morni g Edition review of GWAPE was on this morning as well...

Lora! Awesome find!! Have a few comments for later.

Welcome back Moon! Thanks for the Q&A report, Marianne. One last thing, he wore a black velvet jacket, grey corduroy trousers and brown shoes. LOL! V. important info there! ;-) Lora-The NPR bit was lots of fun! Thanks! Thanks for the reviews Mari, Ada, and Maria!!!

Thank you for all the reviews and reports. Very much appreciated :-) Just got an email from Blackstar update, that you can preorder Hope Springs to be released: 2nd Feb 2004. (R2) No information on extras on the dvd. I suppose, Amazon will have it too.

Thanks for the info, Anntette. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it.

Hi everyone I took a girlfriend of mine to the screening last night of GWAPE and I really have to say that Colin's fans are always the nicest people around. Truly. We decided to mingle with the crowd before the movie to get a gist of why some of them were there and of course the most common response was "Colin Firth". :) I met a lovely young British aspiring actress named Chloe there and I don't know if she is a member of this forum or not but if she is I hope I get to meet her again. Very sweet girl. I must say that Colin has been very busy lately running back and forth between work and his publicity commitments. But what a gracious trouper he is. I can't say it enough that there is no one out there that is better to work with than Colin Firth. I'm very happy to see him getting more exposure and with it more good work to come. And I look forward to working with him again and again. You folks have definitely picked the right guy to support. :) On a side note I found it very amusing last night that the woman from Backstage in introducing Colin decided to focus mostly on his "smooth gorgeous skin". :) Karen, your stuff will be on en route next week. :) I will email you later today. Take care everyone and I will be back as time allows when I can confirm some news that I'm sitting on at the moment about your man. I think you will be pleased!

And for anyone who can't wait until Feb 04 for HS, it is currently available in the UK ex-rental on VHS, and on DVD from next week. I think most of them will be in very good condition!!

(Hola Lola)I think you will be pleased! Always plesed to hear from you! Thank you for all your work! Were you behind the MSN chat? ;-) Thanks again.

Hola Lola - Thanks for stopping by! Am always excited to hear about any Colin news you share with us! Am envying the west coast actors who made it to that Q&A . .wonder if Backstage or anyone recorded or had transcripts of the Q&A session . . .

Since I'm still here I thought I would quickly respond that I had nothing to do with the MSN chat. He was there to promote GWAPE. Different studio :) take care!

Since you're still here, Lola, is the news about a great new role? Just yes or no, I know you can't say more. Thanks.

New roles plural

Was this before of after the Backstage screening? More photos ... http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source/CFW/imageResults.aspx?s=EventImagesSearchState|1|15|1|2799887|0|0|0|0|&p=7

(Hola)New roles plural Oi! I'm verklempt! Thank you Hola for the icing on a cake of a week!

(Lola)New roles plural Oh, giddiness!! Thanks!

Blessing upon you and your tribe, Lola!:-) Thanks for the Q&A report and pics, Marianne. The caption on the above says it was a Variety screening, but you said they had to do 3 screenings last night?? Again, I say, I hope there's somebody left to buy a ticket--we want paying customers!;-) Love this one; "Here I am, defacing my face" ;-)

LisaJH: And Marianne, those pics you took are AFG! If it's clear, in focus and well lit, then it wasn't me. :)

Speaking of AFG, run to wire image at the link below. They had a cocktail party at Mikimoto the other night. Looks like he's having a great time! http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====44839

Zing and Kimberly! I liked your questions...I had about 15 (but only about 4 or 5 that were worth actually asking...)! Couldn't access MSN anyway, so just daydreamed and waited to hear how it went. Marianne, thank you for the Q&A report! Wonderful...glad to know he packed his brown shoes! LOL! Welcome back Moon! Hope you had a wonderful time! Thank you Mari, Ada and Maria for reviews! Hope I didn't miss anyone...so much going on...just know that I thank you all for your wonderful insights, news and reviews!!! Hola...always nice to hear from you. I love the plural...(gives me the warm fuzzies, the plural does...) Roles...she said roles!!! ;-)

Thanks for the wireimage link Mari. I can't get them to go big but if you could could on get a peek at whatever is at the end of the cord?

He's martini drinkin'! Yeah!!!! Thanks Mari!!

(Tress), Roles...she said roles!!! ;-) He's martini drinkin'! Yeah!!!! LOL! Yeah! And maybe one of the roles is in costume. ;-) Go Colin! So did Livia go to Rome or is she is in LA? Might be preparing for Matteo's Christening.

(Hola Lola)New roles plural Fabulous! Fabulous!!! I am waiting with bated breath to hear more . . .

Kimberly S.: wonder if Backstage or anyone recorded or had transcripts of the Q&A session . . . I asked the photographer when would the photos he took be available on their site, he said to look for the print edition first.

I hope these haven't been posted yet! If they have, apologies all around. Rex pics (four new ones): http://www.rexfeatures.com/cgi-bin/r2show0?k=COLIN+FIRTH&f=Newest&s=wQ0QgE6uIRUD9FkaGzacce1H&u=DEFAULT&p=13EE8DFA0000000A&t=000000E4

Great news! Great Times! Welcome back Moon! Thanks everybody for everything! Can't stop exclaiming! If my fiongers had a voice they would lose it from screaming and exclaining so much! (still overexcited!) More here.. http://217.158.83.123/scripts/kws30pre.exe?site=LFI&picktype=GfxOnly&type=GfxOnly&maxhits=24&FLFA_FIELD=&SEARCH_FILTERA=&search=LFNY+004916&hmessage=GIRL%20WITH%20THE%20PEARL%20EARRINGS%20PREMIERE&submit=lsearch

Kimberly S.: wonder if Backstage or anyone recorded or had transcripts of the Q&A session . . . (Marianne)I asked the photographer when would the photos he took be available on their site, he said to look for the print edition first. Ahh . .you may be able to see it then . .I just pick up the regular Backstage every Thursday morning here in NYC (have never seen Backstage West here). I did put a call into the Backstage West offices to ask about any transcripts of the Q&A & left a message. .am still waiting to hear back! Marianne & Mari - ooh thanks for those links . . . he looks great . .and do love him relaxing there with the martini

Okay....going back a couple of months, but this pic is too adorable and I had to share (thank you Casa Feliz!!!) (LOL...please pay no mind to Scarlett's knickers): http://colinfirth.casa-feliz.net/images/details.php?image_id=2160&sessionid=c8bbeb523a77cc19284c228a96a1a70d

:-((((((((((((( I can't keep up. Gone all morning and feel like I'm facing K-2. Oh well, here's a new article (sorry, they must be handing out the same pic to everyone who doesn't bring their own photog) http://www.firth.com/articles/04elle_jan.html Also, here are two pics that Marianne took last night at the Backstage screening. (BTW, Mikimoto was one of the sponsors of the first screening I went to on Tuesday; was v. disappointed they didn't hand out samples)

Speaking of AFG, run to wire image at the link below. They had a cocktail party at Mikimoto the other night. Looks like he's having a great time! Damn that Scarlett, can he let go of her already! ;-D Bet her drink is just out of the frame. Should've asked her grandma how *much* she liked working with Colin. ;-)

Tress-great pic!!! I would give anything to be in Scarlett's place! And (yes, I know I'm stealing your line Tress; please forgive me!) the hands, Louisa! Gah! Such gorgeous hands! Oh, and the little bit of gray in his hair... *sigh* LOL...please pay no mind to Scarlett's knickers Oh dear, are her jollyhose showing?

(Karen) ...was v. disappointed they didn't hand out samples LOL....ummm....samples of wot (are we talking about pearls here?)? ;-D

(Tress) Okay....going back a couple of months, but this pic is too adorable and I had to share (thank you Casa Feliz!!!) (LOL...please pay no mind to Scarlett's knickers) Actually, there are several of him hugging her... http://colinfirth.casa-feliz.net/images/categories.php?cat_id=104 They make a cute looking couple.

Great pics . .Love the one w/ Colin & Scarlett (Karen) ...was v. disappointed they didn't hand out samples (Tress)LOL....ummm....samples of wot (are we talking about pearls here?)? ;D Since Mikimoto is a jeweler . .that would have been very cool! But at the screening Risa and I were at , there was a poster for Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liquor .no samples at our screening though!!!! Their site - http://www.vermeercream.com/

Oh YUMMY, that looks delish! Check out the recipe for a Smore-tini. But when you click on the order thing, it says SOLD OUT.

Oh! See! I've been on overload so long I'm forgetting my manners (you may wonder if I actually have any, but I do try!). Thank you Marianne for the Q&A pics! Dorine, you said this: Damn that Scarlett, can he let go of her already! ;-D and I'm okay with the Scarlett thing...but who is the woman in Marianne's photo who has her hand dangerously close to ODB's bum!?? That's what I wanna know! ;-) And Karen...thank you for the Elle interview! I'd paste my favorite bits, but then I'd be copying the whole article over here! Let's just say that I would play kiss chase with him any ol' day and be mightily impressed with his spaghetti vongole! Also like that he window shops...LOL...he's such a guy! Thanks again!

Thanks for the Elle article, Karen. He's really trying to let loose a little. Is it my imagination or does he appear to be more in the "getting on a jet plane" mode instead of in the "just hopping on the tube" mode? ;-) That's sort of an historical metaphor (just made that up);-) It shows in his pictures with Scarlett, too. Thanks, Maria, Marianne, Mari, Tress, and Dorine for the pics and links. Thanks Annette for the HS info. Kimberly, thanks for the Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream link. Great gift for the holidays! Hola, thanks for the good news about the new roles plural. Can't wait to hear the rest! My imagination is running all over the place. Ah, how precipitous - when it rains it pours! Have a very happy holiday and New Year if we don't talk to you before then.

(Tress) but who is the woman in Marianne's photo who has her hand dangerously close to ODB's bum!?? That's what I wanna know! ;-) Oh, I wondered that, too! :-D Thanks everyone for pics, articles, and news (Lola)!

Lovely pics, he does look great! It looks like a low profile premiere. Who are those people? No wonder Livia stayed away. ;-) She'll be there for GG and Oscar, if it gets nominated. ;-)

(Tress) "Let's just say that I would play kiss chase with him any ol' day and be mightily impressed with his spaghetti vongole!" ROTFLOL! That's an image to remember! (Changing subject) Never mind Scarlett's knickers, I'm mightily puzzled by the pix of her in the beige dress with black flower at waist. I can't enlarge pix, but certainly looks to me as if she is braless, and, um, er, quite a bit lopsided. Her right mammary appears to be hanging several inches south of the left one. Do I just need to adjust my monitor, or shall we take up a collection for a good support bra for the poor child before she ends up looking like Mammy Yokum?

(Tress) Dorine, you said this: Damn that Scarlett, can he let go of her already! ;-D and I'm okay with the Scarlett thing Hey, I'll be the first to admit I'm just jealous of the jammy git. ;-D (Deb) but certainly looks to me as if she is braless, and, um, er, quite a bit lopsided. Her right mammary appears to be hanging several inches south of the left one. Oddly enough I noticed that too, but thought I was imagining..or needed better glasses. :-)

FYI, one of the people Colin is shown talking to at the GWAPE premiere is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. Finally!

BTW, that great review from USA TODAY is highlighted on the front cover. I have the LA Times; it can't be accessed online unless you're a subscriber. Gist of Ken Turan's review is generally very positive, but with a real left-handed compliment for CF: "Firth is a fine actor, with strong romantic roles in films from BJD to LA--which may be part of the difficulty. While the book is smartly circumspect about the artist's manner and appearance, the film can't seem to help turning Vermeer into one of those brooding, heedless, dashingly romantic figures that have become standard in film for generations. While this ups the romance quotient and increases the smoldering looks, it also makes for a more obvious personal dynamic."

(Karen) one of the people Colin is shown talking to at the GWAPE premiere is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. Saw that, but thought they were the object of some ridicule, despite having the GG's.