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A little more than a year ago I was approached by Ventura resident and artist Michael Kelly who, along fellow Ventura resident and art dealer John Anthony Miller, had decided to produce the First Annual Ray Bradbury Theater Festival. My involvement would be to produce the children’s theater offering for the festival.

As the year progressed plans developed and the Rubicon Theater Company came on board to host the festival in their venue. Time flew by as I taught the Cardboard Fairytale Theatre Workshop at various schools in Oxnard and here in Ojai, then the summer debacle with the EF Homestay program. I had scarce time to catch my breath before I swung into rehearsals for the Bradbury festival with my 6th graders from Rose Avenue Elementary School in Oxnard, having adapted Bradbury’s, The Halloween Tree, into a Cardboard Fairytale. The festival was presented at the Rubicon October 24 to 28 and included fellow Ojai residents Jonathan McEuen and Malcolm McDowell. Sometime in preparation for the festival McDowell informed Kelly he would be hosting the upcoming Jules Verne festival and proposed getting Bradbury involved in it. The organizers of the festival jumped at the opportunity and added Mr. Bradbury to their list of honorees. His addition proved to be most fortunate – he was the highlight of the evening. Here I, along with Michael Kelly, share my account and a gallery of the green carpet event. Please enjoy.

-From Michael Kelly

“For 15 years the Jules Verne Adventure Film Festival has thrilled audiences in Paris France, specializing in adventure and sci-fi movies and wildlife and anthropological documentaries. JVAFF opened the first Los Angeles exhibition at the Shrine Auditorium Thursday, Dec. 6th, 2007. Myself, producer of the Ray Bradbury Film and Theater Festival and Malcolm McDowell – arranged for the legendary author Ray Bradbury to receive a lifetime achievement award, opening the spectacular festival at the Shrine. I accompanied Bradbury to the shrine taste to receive the award from Malcolm McDowell. Ray spoke eloquently about the influence of Jules Verne on his writing and his life. Malcolm introduced Ray as the, “Jules Verne of America.”

Backstage, Ray met with old friends who were also receiving awards: Tony Curtis, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Patrick Stewart and Tipi Hedren. These celebs and others showed great interest in the Ventura-based Ray Bradbury Film Festival in 2008. I’m already in touch with them in regards to their potential participation.

We were stopped on the red carpet. This reporter asked Ray,
‘“Are you involved in the remake of Fahrenheit 451?”’ Ray answered flatly, “I wrote the book.” The reporter asked again was he “actively,” involved. He replied, ‘“Mel Gibson has all the money – we haven’t seen any of it.”’ Then another reporter asked him if he was actively working and writing. Ray answered, ‘“ I’ve got two new novels being published, Dandelion Wine is being made into a film I’m opening two new plays opening. Apart from that, I’m not doing anything at all.”’

The night – of all the people in the wings, Tony Curtis, Ted Turner, etc., everyone was going up to Ray to saying how much he means to them. He is truly a man of the people.”
After a harrowing two-hour ride form Ojai to the Shrine Auditorium I arrived and found street parking near the entrance. The police security team informed me that the press check-in and green carpet had been rolled up – I feared I was too late to be admitted. But the ushers were friendly and helpful and I was allowed to enter the ceremony already an hour into presentations. I fumbled in the dark to get the borrowed digital camera working and opened my notebook to jot down what I could. McDowell had just introduced the tribute to Tony Curtis and on stage a screen displayed clips of Mr. Curtis in all his celluloid glory. I assumed they would save the best for last and had not yet presented the award to Mr. Bradbury.

The crowed rose to its feet as Mr. Curtis took the stage. His acceptance speech was gracious and brief. I searched the front row for Mr. Bradbury and Michael Kelly, hoping to join them. McDowell continued, introducing the tribute to Jean-Michel Cousteau. Having co-chaired Theater 150’s chair auction in 2001, I was well acquainted with McDowell’s merciless wit. It was wonderful seeing him on a large stage in front of a large audience. He was quite entertaining and kept any stuffiness that may have crept in at bay. The next was Ted Turner. By now my bladder was screaming for relief after the long drive and I retreated to the men’s lounge. As I turned to the sink to wash my hands, two gentlemen approached the urinals commenting on the night’s events.

-Ray Bradbury has been the best thing all night long.
-Yeah, I love that guy. I grew up with him. He’s the greatest.

Damn! I had missed his presentation. I decided to wander about to see if I could locate any festival officials and see if I could get my press credentials and ticket to the after party. I had not been to the Shrine since being one of the army of cater waiters at the 61st Annual Academy Awards – the last Oscar ceremony at the Shrine. Not nearly as adorned as then, I was surprised at how familiar I was with the layout. I wandered into an auditorium of art installations and a NASA display with an astronauts suit. I assumed it was Buzz Aldrin’s. I took a few shots with that damn camera and asked some of the ushers to point out any festival organizers. They knew nothing, so I returned to the auditorium just in time for the tribute to Tippi Hedren.

It started with her entrance into the Hitchcock classic that made her famous – THE BIRDS, and went on to highlight all the films she has done with animals. From being attacked by a roomful of crows to grabbing the mane of a stallion and riding bareback in a yellow Edith Head design in MARNIE, to rolling around in the jungle with wildcats, they displayed her spirit of adventure and her passion for wild life preservation. Again the audience jumped to its feet Ms. Hedren took the stage, very much the movie star in an elegant, shimmering, emerald green evening gown. She was presented her award by two wildlife advocates and a cheetah brought up from the San Diego Zoo – an electrifying moment. Ms. Hedren accepted her award and spoke quite candidly about the recent incident at her Shambala Preserve where a handler was mauled by a 4 year-old tiger. She updated the audience on the man’s condition, informing us that he was doing well and would be going into surgery the next day. “These are not house pets,” she reminded us. She was a class act.

Next to take the stage was Buzz Aldrin. He got the night’s biggest laugh by pointing out that the giant replica of the Earth dominating the stage was rotating in the wrong direction – a sight that must have made his skin crawl. At that point a woman wearing an official-looking badge around her neck entered the back of the auditorium. I seized the opportunity to speak with her in the lobby. She quickly notified the proper authorities to bring my press credentials and escorted me to the VIP room where Michael Kelly and Mr. Bradbury had retreated after accepting his award. Soon the woman in charge of pres credentials showed up, very happy to see me. She could not find my credentials so she bestowed on me a VIP pass. Suddenly I went form feeling like Charlie Brown to Charlie with the golden ticket. I was escorted to the elevator and ran into Michael and Mr. Bradbury as the set out for the gala party.

Back down in the lobby the awards ceremony had let out and the photo ops began. Throngs approached Mr. Bradbury, thanking him for his influence on them. One of them was Intel Senior Fellow, Gene Meieran, who’s email of congratulations to Bradbury stated, “…like may other, I was motivated to go into science and technology by reading stories by him, as well as his colleagues. Much of what was then fiction has now, of course, turned into fact.”

I trailed the fleet of white vintage Rolls Royces through the downtown streets that glistened with the fresh falling rain. The gala party was being held at the historic Edison Building, owned by Gene Meieran’s son, Andrew. The engine room of the1908 circa building has been restored and fashioned into a posh nightclub. Hor’ oeuvres and champagne were passed by waiters and waitress dressed in 1920’s costumes. A big band played vintage hits as the swellagant crowd rubbed elbows with the night’s honorees. My VIP pass parted waters and drew party guests to me asking for directions. The first was Chris Roe, Malcolm McDowell’s manager. He wanted me to help locate McDowell. Into the VIP room we waltzed and found him among the admirers encircling Mr. Bradbury. I then escorted Michael Kelly’s wife, Giselle into the room where she would have to keep her 12 year-old son, Devon under wraps. Children are not allowed in the adult venue by law and the restaurant manager wanted to send Devon to the kitchen area with a guard. Tony Curtis put a stop to that – “The kid stays.”
Frances Fisher, Ed Begley Jr. and Patrick Stewart were among the celebs toasting up in the room. I waited for a chance to speak with Mr. Stewart and remind him that I shared the screen with him in the 1995 film version of JEFFREY. I was one of the cast members of the Off-Broadway production that played a bit part in the film. But I couldn’t through the crowd quick enough, so I decided to have champagne instead.

Schmoozing continued on for a while before another presentation and final remarks were given on the bandstand. Michael Kelly wheeled Mr. Bradbury out for photo ops with Buzz Aldrin and Patrick Stewart. The festival founders filmmakers and explorers Jean-Christophe Jeauffre and Frédéric Dieudonné, took the stage, followed by Malcolm McDowell, then Patrick Stewart. They presented lifetime achievement award once again to Mr. Aldrin, who gave what I’m sure was a most inspirational speech. But I was busily trying to get shots with that camera. Mr. Bradbury was unseen on the dance floor in his wheelchair holding a mike and awaiting his turn to speak. The crowd cheered and everyone start disburse but Michael Kelly rallied for their attention. “Wait, Ray Bradbury has something to say!” The crowd that craned their necks to get a view of the stage now swooped down on Bradbury and shoved to get a good look. His voice boomed through the mike with such youthful energy, it took everyone by surprise. He thanked everyone for their appreciation and for the award, then expounded on Aldrin’s call for advances in science and continued space exploration, “…and we should go to the moon and on to Mars and Alpha Centurion and, if you all will continue to work with me, we’ll get there!!” The crowd cheered with great enthusiasm. It was truly the highlight of the entire evening. As admirers waited to shake his hand I noticed, as I had in the lobby, how he would touch people on the cheek or forehead as if he were bestowing blessings. He was exuberant and at the same time exhausted. I escorted Michael and his party out to take Mr. Bradbury finally home. It was closing in on midnight.

I returned to the VIP room to catch the last of the photo ops. Chris Roe was still on hand having bid adieu to Malcolm. Patty, who had been so helpful in getting me settled in was now relaxing and enjoying the party. She cautioned me to be careful on the roads and advised me to stay in town. And there in the corner with her companion Bill Dow, stood Tippi Hedren. I approached her excitedly and asked if she would pose for our humble local blog. Hearing that it was for the Ojai Post, she regaled me with the story of her last visit to Ojai. For Beatrice Wood’s 100th birthday, Ms. Hedren surprised her by bringing her a tiger. “It was a very risky thing to do and thank god everything turned out fine. It’s the first time I’d ever seen Beatrice speechless.” Having grown up watching her movies her voice was as familiar as an old friend. That camera failed me for the last time as I tried to get photo of the Hollywood icon. Chris Roe stepped forward and asked me to take a photo of him with Ms. Hedren and that one turned out fine.

And that was it. I was so exhilarated as I drove home through the misting rain. In what seemed like minutes I was back safe and sound in the Nest. I got to bed just before 2am, much too excited to sleep.