Filed under: Shooting Stars
It appears that ever since Lady Gaga was pictured carrying a tea cup, it's become the latest fashion accessory to be seen with, albeit at the expense of Claridges' catering department.Wednesday evening I arrive in the West End to start what I expected to be a quiet night. If I have nothing planned or no specific target, I usually follow a route into town which takes me past some known addresses and celebrity hang outs. Along this route is Claridges, where I spot Russell Brand's regular driver waiting outside. I know that Russell has only just arrived back in the UK after a stint in Los Angeles, so getting him the first day back could be useful.It's still early evening and the traffic is still heavy and there are no parking spots opposite the hotel, a bit of a pain as I'd like to follow this one in case he meets up with Katy Perry. Having no choice, I dump the car around the back and quickly walk to take up position opposite the main entrance.
After about twenty minutes Russell comes out on his own to his waiting car, bizarrely carrying a rather nice Claridges tea cup! I'm sure his driver would have waited 'till he finished his cuppa! Still, it makes for an interesting frame, especially as he hands it to the concierge to hold whilst he gets in the car, presumably so as not to spill any! Not a bad start to the night, although I can't follow as my car is too far away.
Back to cruising my route now and as drive past another celeb hotel I drop in behind a Mercedes people carrier. Now I know that the stars from Glee are staying at this particular hotel so I decide to take a gamble and follow the people carrier.I am at a distinct disadvantage here as I haven't a clue about this TV show or what the characters look like. With no time to research them, this will be a case of shoot everyone in the vehicle, send them in, and let my agent earn his percentage!
They eventually stop at a Mayfair pub so I'm quickly out of the car and ready on the pavement. This has to be somebody as the first one out is obviously a minder (given away by the fact that he asks me to 'Give them room, man' in a broad American 'Bodyguard' accent). Another four people emerge from the van and I shoot as many of them as I can, still not having a clue who they are! Whilst they're in the pub I Google them and see who I've got. It turns out my hunch was right and they are indeed some of the cast of Glee, namely Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley and Jenna Ushkowitz.
With it being quiet in town tonight, I decide to wait for them to come out and now I know what they look like it should be easier! I get something extra when they eventually leave as Chace Crawford was in the pub as well. Bonus!
Job done and I'm back to cruising, this time in Soho, not my favorite place in the world, but there's some good stuff to be had here at times. I'm just making the last turn towards Shaftsbury Avenue when I spot two very well known vehicles parked right outside the G.A.Y. bar. These cars have been carrying Nicole Richie all week so it's a good bet she is in one of the nearby bars and as it's now the early hours of the morning, there's a good chance that she's looking less than her best! I have no choice but to park in front of them and risk a parking ticket from one of the millions of covert cameras in London.
Hanging around numerous drunks, beggars, thieves, transvestites and drug dealers is not really my idea of fun, so I'm relieved when Nicole comes out of the bar after about half an hour. However, I'm not quite so relieved when her driver rams straight into my rear bumper! There's no time to inspect the damage though as I'm shooting Nicole leaving a gay bar, hand in hand with another woman... I can suffer a small dent!They all pile into her car and he takes off, followed by security... and me. It doesn't take long for security to block me however and I lose Nicole and her female friend.
A quick stop to inspect the damage, which is actually only a scratch so not worth worrying about...hazards of the job I guess - just like parking tickets, which I find out later, I also got!
So Nicole, a sixty quid ticket and a scratched bumper... I hope you sell!