ATX TV Festival Re-Cap: Day One

I don’t know what anyone has heard about the 1^st Annual ATX TV Festival, besides that it was awesome – which is absolutely true – but here’s my first hand experience…

Day One

It was by total fate that I found out and was able to attend this event. A friend on twitter randomly asked if I knew James (Lafferty – in case you live under a rock and need clarification) was going to be in Austin…I totally didn’t know! So, needless to say, I wrangled in a friend who is as much of a TV!Nerd as I am, and we bought or badges and waited (im)patiently for June 1^st to arrive.

The Festival had so many screenings and panels that we wanted to see, but some overlapped, so we had to strategize. We ended up reserving four events – Friday Night Lights panel, One Tree Hill panel, Once Upon a Time screening/panel, and Parenthood screening/panel. Along with these events, because we had industry badges, we were also invited to the exclusive opening night red carpet event, the USA premieres of Suits and Royal Pains, and the Opening Night after party.

We arrived in Austin at 9 am…two hours before we could register and five before we could even check into our hotel. Yes, we are over-achievers, but we’re used to dealing with crazed fan-girls who camp out over night for events such as this! We easily made friends with some of the Festival volunteers/workers which made the event all the more fun and comfortable.

Anyways. I know you guys are like – yadda, yadda, get on with the good stuff, Kristen – okay. I’m getting there.

So, Friday we get ready for the Red Carpet event and arrive at the Stephen F. Austin an hour early – we were obnoxiously early to everything, but it paid off every time – and made more Festival friends and watched as Jason Ritter casually strolled into the lobby. This was the first of many sweet smiles and waves we received from this adorable man. And then, there was James. You know in the movies, when the princess comes down the stairs and people see her beauty for the first time? Well, that’s what this was like…minus James in a ball gown. Because we were sitting with Festival workers/volunteers, he walked up to us, leaned on the back of my  chair, and asked where to go. I don’t know where it came from, but I managed to sit there, calmly, share a smile with him, and then turn back to my conversation with Emily without my body spontaneously combusting. Don’t ask me how I did it. I still don’t know. He’s beautiful, you guys. B-e-a-utiful. Oh, and Mark was there, too. He’s a cool guy, but at the time, all I could think about was James’ hand being so close to my body.

So then, we walk down to the red carpet shortly after James is escorted and watched James and Mark do their thing on the red carpet. Then we just kind of hung out until the USA premiere screenings of Royal Pains and Suits – shows I’ve never seen, but it was cool.

After that, we went back to the hotel for the after-party: and this is where the adventure truly begins. We were the first ones there – shocking, I know – grabbed some drinks and a table and just watched. The first actor we saw was Scott Porter – so gorgeous. We didn’t meet him, but I stood next to him so close at the bar that I could smell him. And I did. Good times, you guys, good times. Then, we met Lindsey McKeon, who I still affectionately refer to as Hurricane Taylor. She was a sweetheart, and we grabbed a picture with her. After that, we had encounter number two with Jason Ritter, who is just the sweetest of sweethearts. His genuine smile and gorgeous blue eyes light up a room, and I’ll be damned if he doesn’t look just like his daddy who I’ve loved since I was a little girl. We met him out on the terrace later, and got a picture with him, and his exact words were “We’ve been seeing each other all night, it’s great to finally meet you.” Uh, dude, I’m supposed to be saying that to you. Instead my response was, “duhhhhhh…” and then I giggled. Eloquent, I know.

We spotted Matt Lauria, Michael B. Jordan, Mae Whitman, and a few celebs that looked familiar but I couldn’t tell you their names. I turn around to see if Matt Lauria had detached himself from his wife long enough to snag a picture with him – he hadn’t – and spotted James, Mark and Eve out on the terrace and I knew this was my chance. But by the time I’d made it to the terrace doors, I’d completely psyched myself out. I didn’t want to be that fan girl, not with James. I wanted to be cool and calm and tell him how much I respect and admire him. So, we sat patiently, and waited for the flock of “press” girls around him to disperse. In the mean time, we met Mark, and I finally got to tell him thank you like I wanted to in Wilmington. I also let him know he walks faster than anyone I’ve ever met in my life – it’s apparently, his “director” walk. For those that don’t know, when I was in Wilmington, we saw Joy. Didn’t meet her, but we saw her. And we referred to her as our unicorn. So, when I told Mark we saw Joy he said, and I quote – “That’s hard. Seeing Joy is like seeing a freaking unicorn.” My. Thoughts. Exactly. Schwahny.

After that, Emily and I sat and hung out for another half hour – watched James get his foot stuck in the railing of the terrace (that memory will always make me laugh) – and just enjoyed the warm, Texas night. When I felt like the timing was right, I went and introduced myself to James – with Mark standing over my shoulder saying, “She’s Awesome!!” (Thanks Mark!) – told him I’d been watching since I was 15, and that I grew up with him and the show. You guys. He was so sweet. So gracious and so genuinely flattered to have meant to so much to a fan. He thanked me several times, snapped a picture with us, and told us he looked forward to seeing us at the panel the next day.

We went back to our hotel, blasting “Shake It Out” through our windows – high on life and the adrenaline of being so close to those we love and admire.

And this was just day one, you guys.