A DAY WITH MY IDOL

My day started with so much anxiety, my tummy rumbling with excitement and butterflies flying around too... LoL.

I was supposed to go do a commercial video with him(my idol) the previous day, finally I said to myself, the long-awaited day has come, I felt like it's the day my wife is about to put to birth, fast forward to the time the car arrived to come to pick me to the venue of the recording.

I entered the car, used my seat belt, and focused on the road as the driver revved his engine, not quite 5 minutes after our departure, I told myself let me do a quick last check to ensure everything remains the same.

As soon as I dialed the number of my colleague to confirm the venue and time because am a very punctual guy who loves to arrive at a place 45 minutes before the appointment.

When I called my colleague because she knows the terrain better, Of course you remember from my first post have I mentioned me coming to Asaba, Delta State for this Talent show..... she told me that the movie star had an emergency call and pleaded to reschedule of which my spirit dampened and waiting a day longer seemed forever.

Hesitantly, I accepted and asked the driver to turn back and take me back to the studio.
On getting to the studio, I had to engage with the housemates, teaching them rudiments of acting, presenting, and stage presence.
It helped me relax and dowse the anxiety I had to meet with my idol.

Let me introduce him, he's very versatile, full of energy, has a commanding presence, exudes confidence in every of his act.
If 30 movies are produced in a month, he's in 28 of those movies, playing exceptional roles, he's popularly called EZE NDI ALA, meaning, King of mad people, this name stuck because of the role he played in the movie and he's no other than ZUBBY MICHAEL, you can check him out on Instagram, etc
Back to my feelings while waiting for another agonizing 24 hours to meet with him and eventually it was nightfall and I knew this time, nothing will stop me or cause him to reschedule.

And before I knew it, I was awake by 4 am and I started preparing for the day I've always looked forward to.
Equipment packed, everything necessary for the recording packed before the driver arrived to pick me, I did a last-minute check of everything again before he finally arrived.

Fast forward to when we drove off, I decided to call my escort to confirm the venue once again of which he asked me to come to his house for the recording, my heart sank, I was like, oh my world, am not just going to see my idol but also in his house, wow, the butterflies in my tummy multiplied by millions.

Now, it's confirmed that am meeting with him, my heart started racing, my challenge is I don't want to make mistakes during my recording with him and be termed unprofessional.

How did I do it eventually?

I stepped out of the car when we got to the gate of his residence, my mind racing, a lot was running through my mind, at that moment, a call came through my cell phone asking me to come to Golden Tulip Hotel which is about 20 minutes drive from his residence, immediately we drove to the Hotel and I called him and he said I should see him driving in behind me when I heard his voice, my I felt a thumb in my stomach.

Immediately I alighted from the car, walked briskly toward his, it was a well-tinted and branded car, looking at the car, one would notice he's a brand Ambassador for the company.
So, when he came down from the car, I swallowed heavily, braced up, and soon as I could get to him, he was surrounded by other fans who saw him and couldn't hold their excitement, I waited patiently because, after the pleasantries, he needs to see who he's been speaking with on phone, so I positioned to be accessible.

When he gave me a handshake instead of the usual way of knuckle pleasantries because of COVID-19, I felt so much peace within, you know why?

It's become an embarrassing moment each time you approach someone for a handshake, not knowing whether the person will give you a proper handshake or the knuckle, while your hand has been stretched forth for a proper handshake.

Back to the moment we know had a proper conversation concerning why we are here, I told him how huge a fan he is to me and he gave me complete and undivided attention, after that, we took a quick picture together before he asked me to give him 5 minutes to read through the script for the advert.
At that moment of waiting for him, I was relieved, relaxed, and ready to film with every expertise in me.

He came to me after 5mins as he requested and he said "Let's do this", meanwhile, my camera and everything required to film was said, that's professional of me right, LOL.
Well, as I said, am a very punctual person and always ready to work under pressure while multi-tasking on the job.
I positioned him and my heart started racing again....... Imagine me telling my idol where to stand, how I want the gesticulation and all.

I directed the recording, monitored sound, checked for ambiance, positioned the sun-gun where I wanted, and set the second camera for a medium shot.

On action, as a movie director will always say before an actor commences his/her act, he started doing what he knows how to do best, after the first take, we did a take 2 and then eventually rounded it up with a final take and I had already gotten the shots I needed for the 1-minute infomercial.
He left the scene of action, dipped his hands into his pocket, brought out some wads of cash, placed it in my palms, and asked me to get some drinks for myself.
Note, while I was filming, there was a little crowd building up, so we took a few more pictures, shook my hands, and walked toward his car, immediately I felt this whole thing was worth the wait.

Being the generous person that I am, I shared the cash amongst the crowd and had little or nothing to put in my pocket, but still, I was satisfied with everything.
When I came, I had to copy out rushes from the memory card into the computer system at the work station, I then previewed the rushes, irrespective of the fact that I multi-task, I leave the editor to do his job while I seat beside him in the studio and supervise the cutting of the clips.
As usual, I had to enter the kitchen to prepare dinner for my team and me.

I know you might be wondering why after a hectic day, I still go into the kitchen to prepare dinner of any kind.
The reason is that am a man who loves to cook in a hygienic environment and am very meticulous with washing items to cook with...... Don't blame me... Smile

I prepared white yam with egg sauce for dinner and everyone ate to their fill.
I had my bath and retired to the bed where I reminisced every moment I had with my idol during the cause of the day.
I will get an autograph from him in about 2-3 weeks from today and will share that lovely moment with you my amazing readers.
Please feel free to comment if you've had this kind of experience and how you felt.

You know I'll never leave you without pictures of that very moment.....Adios, ciao, au revoir, bye.