cissi's studio

The whole thing happened so fast but actually probably as long as eternity in terms of catching the moment with Cate Blanchett (the Cate Blanchett!!!). As now sitting in the airport recalling what just happened this morning (Dec 31, 2016) on the 47th street, not too far away from Barrymore Theatre, I still feel like that someone has just woke me up from a crazy dream, a crazily wild one.

As soon as we got out of the metro station, we saw the police has already blocked the block. ‘Good thing then, I think this way Cate will have to walk to the theatre.’ I said. But still, which entrance?

We got to the theatre at 9 am, sharp. Having to experience endless painful wait in the cruel NYC chill and wind and Cate’s not necessarily going through the state door, we were out of ideas what to do. Nevertheless, our strategy this morning was to circle around the entire block between 47th and 48th Streets and 7th and 8th Avenues. Walking, stopping, and walking again, we’ve totally walked around the block 5 times, 7 more times back and forth on the 47th alone. As the clock ticking, we found a warmer spot across the street and decided to stay there while keeping our eyes on the stage door to the theatre. It was around 11 am when things started to get intense. More fans turned up in front of the stage door, 1, 2, 3. 3 or 5 others, total, maybe? I can’t recall. Suspecting that Cate’s assistant arranged her to get in through other door yesterday, we were very worried that due to the circumstances (Cate’s not being well the night before and now fans at the door), Cate might choose other entrance again today. It’s getting so close that she can show up at any moment or might have been inside the theatre already without us knowing (which would just add weight to our long-existing misery). All the sudden we spotted Tod in front of the theatre opening the stage door and quickly disappearing behind it.

‘Oh… yesterday… he told me Cate’s already here when he arrived.’ I said, still fixing my eyes across the street.
‘Oops, not good news, is it?’
‘Should I go ask him? If Cate’s already in, we can just completely forget about all these.’

We went across the street and now in front of the theatre, joking that it seems that we have been more or less waiting for Tod in and out these days. While waiting, we took some more pictures in front of the theatre. After a while, Tod opened the stage door but apparently busy putting up the barricades. We walked past the stage door and continued walking. Are we still going to go check the 48th Street? We pondered on the idea for a while, now, in front of the theatre, and chose to walk there. Just walking along the theatre side of the 47th Street, 2 buildings away from the theatre, I saw something… (given my poor vision, my mind had difficulty registering, or trusting, what I just saw…) Wait, I saw someone! I think I saw someone! I think I saw her! But could it be really her?!?! I stopped or… walked backwards. I winked or… did I?

Tall, slim, blond hair, sharp jaw, tight lips. A long green wool sweater and her signature of a pair of fashionable glasses. Walking along the 47th Street. No one was at her sides.

Various voices raised in my mind, each has a thousand lines. ‘THAT’S HER!!!’ Finally, I found my own voice, ‘OMG! It’s her! It’s Cate!’ I’m the first one recognizing her on this street!

I CAN’T BELIEVE CATE BLANCHETT IS WALKING TOWARD ME!!!

She’s right in front of me but I can’t remember what I was doing. Where were my hands? What were they doing? Why didn’t I take out the phone in my pocket? The marker, huh?

Instead, I looked straight into her eyes, almost couldn’t believe she’s right in front of me. Just looked at her, as if trying to imprint the images onto my permanent memory.

We talked. We actually talked!!! Converse, I think that’s the more proper word.
‘Hi, Cate. Can we take a picture with you?’
‘Sure!’
In fact, we actually didn’t know what to do. Believe it or not, practically we have mentally rehearsed possible Cate encounters multiple times at all the stakeouts though none of them actually played out. We did not rehearse any (ANY!) scenarios in which we would have met Cate on the street walking. Probably because we don’t know if she will stop her pace long enough for us to take multiple photos, our hands weaving around in the air and at the end we decided to take a selfie just so both of us can be with Cate if that’s our only shot. (God, we are so not ready!)

‘How are you? Are you feeling better?’ (She wasn’t well last night after the show.)
‘Yes, I’m better now.’
It may probably sound funny that the ‘How are you?’ part coming after the ‘Can we take a picture with you?’ But with a star like her, not easily seen, disappearing from the sight within a blink of eyes, we knew to get to the point first.

‘…’
‘… I’m flying back to Texas this afternoon.’ I can’t remember if I just blunted this out or there’s ‘I can’t believe I get to see you because…’ in front.
We chatted some during Wayne’s nervous selfie. In order to squeeze myself in the picture, I leaned on her a little bit.

‘Thank you so much, Cate, for the performance. Happy new year!’
‘Happy new year!’ then she walked toward the door.


Right away Wayne checked the shot on her phone and we realized that half of my face was outside of the picture. I ran toward Cate while she was now at the stage door signing for the other fans. Catching her after her last signature, I asked ‘Cate, sorry, my face was cropped out. Can I have another picture with you?’
‘Sure.’ She’s nice, right? Who gets to have a second chance with Cate Blanchett? Lucky me.
After my shot, Wayne stood up to the other side of Cate, I took over her phone. Another 2nd chance! Lucky us. Two in one day! Hooray!

I took three pictures. And a lot of words followed when Cate turned around, going inside the door.
‘Thank you so much, Cate!’
‘Happy new year, Cate!’
‘Break a leg! Happy new year!’ I said at last. It was indeed year 2017 in Taiwan and Hong Kong.


We screamed. I think both of us literally screamed! The crazy two on the 47th Street. Tod was there after Cate left. I didn’t know when he came out or if he has been there this whole time. He smiled big at us, seemingly greatly happy for us that we finally got to meet and talk to Cate the way we have dreamed for. I couldn’t help ran toward Tod and hugged him big. There’s no other way I knew to express my excitement.

It was so incredible, so unbelievable, so amazing, so incredibly unbelievably amazing. The moment with Cate Blanchett. Wayne and I were speechless for so long, smiled awfully big, stared at each other still in awe and hugged. There were just no words.





PS. Names in this account may be altered to protect individuals' identity.