Actor Ryan Gosling waves at the gala presentation for the film "The Place Beyond The Pines" at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival September 7, 2012.MIKE CASSESE/Reuters
There was a scream, several flashes and a testy PR team. Then, there was a split second of silence before over 50 reporters started shouting: "RYAN! RYAN! RYAN!"
The dapper homegrown hottie swaggered on to the red carpet for The Place Beyond The Pines. He went straight to the first set of cameras and started talking. It didn't even seem like he had first a sentence before his PR rep grabbed him.
What followed seemed like a choreographed dance. He'd lean in to talk to a reporter and before he could say, "Hey Girl," he was pulled away.
Even though he was 15 minutes late for the movie, he was charming.
About 10 reporters ahead of me, he mischievously tried one last time. This time two TIFF workers grabbed him. He got pulled away like a kid reaching for a candy bar would by a parent.
And before I could say, "Hey Ryan," he was gone.
I am sorry womankind, I failed you.
Beyond getting a quick glance of his beautifully fitting brown suit (strangely though, there was no tie even though his crisp white shirt was completed buttoned), I got a smile and a wave.
But that is the (mis)fortune of the red carpet. It's an unruly jungle, unpredictable at best.
And just like spotting beautiful animals in the wild, your best strategy is to stand (in six-inch stilettos) and wait. Patience is key. Sometimes all you get is a smile. But what a smile.
Madeleine White