Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling and Me: A Chance Event

By Kimberly Garcia
Blog Content Contributor

When I found out that La La Land would be showing at the Austin Film Festival, I changed my entire schedule so that I could have a chance to see it before the masses. I love Emma Stone and there was no way I would miss seeing this movie.

After planning my day, I figured I would have just the right amount of time to get in line early enough to see the movie. The Austin Film Festival lines up badges, which get priority entrance to the showings; film passes, which are second to go inside; and lastly, general admission tickets. I had a film pass, which meant that I would be able to enter the theater after the people with badges were seated. I was an hour and a half early and the line didn’t seem too long, so I wasn’t worried. Another thing that I took under consideration was that the theater could seat about 1,100 people.

As time went on, I could only praise myself for being in the first 20 people in the film pass line. I was so happy I was going to be able to see La La Land! I commended myself for being able to complete everything I had to do in order to be able to get in line early. I felt excited and I didn’t want anything to come between me and the movie.

Soon the doors opened and the line for badges started moving. The line kept going and going. It wrapped around the corner of the building and didn’t stop. I began to become anxious and thought about the alternatives. If I didn’t get inside at least I could say I had a good time waiting in line, right? There was a couple waiting in line in front of me and I learned that the man was counting the people as they were walking by. He said that about 170 people had passed by and the line was slowing down. A rush of excitement came through me and I regained all lost hope. I was going to be able to see the movie!

Then more people started coming from around the corner. I was close to the door so I didn’t know exactly how long the line was, but people just kept coming. I was getting a little worried but then I reassured myself that all would be fine because the theater sat over 1,000. As I was watching the line, I heard someone say that there was a possibility that the film passes may not be able to go inside. I refused to accept this. As show time approached, I was still standing outside and the badge line was still moving. I became anxious again.

A volunteer passed by and began to announce that the theater was at max capacity. I couldn’t believe it. There was no way that 1,100 people had entered. I looked to the man that was counting, and he told me that he had counted about 500 people. As people began to get angry, a staff member informed the crowd that the studio wanted a small setting. The studio requested that the theater only allow the first 550 people to see the movie. I felt defeated. All day I had been looking forward to seeing La La Land and in a matter of minutes the opportunity was gone.

I was ready to leave. I just wanted to go elsewhere and continue my night doing something else. I had planned everything around watching the movie and now it had seemed like the planning was for nothing. I was numb. Suddenly the fatigue from the day was hitting me. I was tired and disappointed. There was nothing I could have done to change the fact that I would not be seeing La La Land. I carried on and decide that I next year, I would definitely be purchasing a badge, so I could have priority and to avoid missing another movie like this.

Featured image by Spencer Hall.