Amber at the San Diego Indie Music Fest

[dorksrcool]

I didn't see a thread for this on the board but I definitely could've missed it. Please remove if I did.

Amber Benson presented her film "Lovers, Liars, and Lunatics" at the 4th annual San Diego Indie Music Fest (http://www.sdindiemusicfest.com/) yesterday. I had never seen the film before and I was thoroughly impressed. I heard lots of laughter in the theater and I could tell that there were a lot of folks there to see Amber and to support her.

When the movie was over Amber did a brief Q & A session. Everyone asked thoughtful questions about the film and about what Amber is doing next. She mentioned her "chick lit, fantasy" novels (this has already been discussed in another thread). She talked about how expensive it is to make a movie and about why she liked playing Justine in the film ("Because she's so dumb"). A little boy asked her what her favorite episode of Buffy was and she said, "You are so cute," and then answered that her favorite was Once More, With Feeling. Another person asked her how she financed the film and she talked about selling "dolls" that were based on "this character I played on this one TV show." Everyone in the audience laughed and cheered. It was so adorable. She also talked about being a woman filmmaker and how she tries to support others whenever she can. She mentioned wanting to see "Stop Loss" directed by Kimberly Pierce, even though the subject matter didn't necessarily appeal to her.

After the Q & A ended Amber signed copies of the DVD and talked with everyone. She was so nice and took the time to take pictures and chat. I was soooooo nervous for my turn. I had never met her before and I didn't want to come across like an idiot. Especially since Adam Busch was sitting right next to her staring at me!I had her sign a page in the festival program that was actually an ad for a gay men's bathhouse! It's a picture of a shirtless, hard-bodied guy with a towel around his waist. I said, "Amber, could you please sign right there on his towel?" She burst out laughing. She signed it, "To Amy, ha ha ha ha!" and then drew an arrow to the guy's crotch and then wrote, "Love, Amber." She signed my friend's DVD and my friend told her that she didn't even know who Amber was until about a month ago. I said, "Yeah, I introduced her to Willow and Tara." Amber laughed a little and said, "Yep, they're like crack cocaine." That line was priceless. It was so funny and so true. She then complained about it taking 5 hours for her to get down to San Diego from LA. We discussed shitty traffic for a while. I then shook her hand and said, "Thank you so much for talking with us. I look forward to seeing you again and following your work." She smiled and said, "Thank you for coming."

Amber is the warmest, sweetest, most down to earth person. She is a beautiful human being and I'm so glad I got the opportunity to meet her and shake her hand. I hope that if you haven't already, that all of you get the chance to do the same. It was truly one of the best moments I've had in a long, long time.

ETA: To get rid of the url thingy.

[katjetson]

I never tire of hearing these accounts. Thank you for sharing yours with us! She really is just a clever, sweet, charming and talented lady. (I tried desperately for once not to mention how hot she is. Did it work?)

[umgaynow]

I've said it before and I'll say it again...Amber really needs to visit New England so I can have this transcendant experience you all describe so well

[taralicious]

Transcendent is indeed the right word for the experience of meeting Amber.
I have had the pleasure twice and each time have walked away a changed person.
The second time was the best as we talked about how much fun it is to do research for historical novels, her for GOA and me for "No Mere Music Hall, This", the novel I've written set in Chicago in 1925, the height of the Jazz Age.

[DaddyCatALSO]

Wish the ol' Leaky Valley had a festival like this.

[dorksrcool]

katjetson, I tried not to mention how hot she is too. It was difficult because she looked freakin' hot.

I don't even know if "hot" is the right word. She is simply a beautiful woman. She was wearing jeans with a cool belt, a sweater, tennis shoes, and her hair was pulled back. I was sitting in the the third row because I have a vision impairment and have to sit that close to be able to see. Plus, I wanted to get a clearer view of Amber when she went on stage to do the Q & A. My friend spotted Amber before the film started. She walked back and forth in front of us a couple of times. It took all of my willpower to not stare at her like a crazy person. I did take several peeks however.

[Boudica]

Thanks for your write-up dorksrcool. I loved reading it.
Like katjetson said, it's always great to read these accounts of people meeting Amber and the type of events they've met her at, with the cute and fun details of the event too.

I hope to meet Amber one day.....the only time so far, that she was in my part of the UK, I was stuck in hospital for the day. Patience is a virtue and all that....