Danny Boyle (left) with James Franco while filming ’127 Hours’

Sitting in a room with an Academy Award-winning director can be a little intimidating, but in this case, it was like sitting in a room with Doc from Back to the Future — except toned down a couple of notches and an English accent.

The director in question is Danny Boyle, the man who snagged the Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire and the gentleman who can possibly strike gold again with 127 Hours — also known as the movie starring James Franco where he cuts off his arm.

Franco steps into the real-life role of Aron Ralston, a All-American, self-sufficient canyoneering adventurer who finds himself literally stuck “Between a Rock and a Hard Place” (which happens to be the name of the book that the movie was adapted from). The movie documents the survival story of Ralston as his hand gets trapped under a boulder. Seeing that this is Boyle’s first feature film based on real-life material — he still wanted to reiterate that this is a feature film.

“You have to feel a responsibility that you don’t dishonor or disfigure the story because it’s a real person that’s still alive,” says Boyle, “but you also have to have freedom because it’s not a documentary.”

I had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Boyle (who liked to refer to himself as “you” — confusing, I know, but you’ll figure it out). He dished about his writing process, his affinity for toilet scenes and what he means by “building on the truth.”

When making films, do you see them as a separate entity or do you feel like you need to challenge yourself each time?

Separate entity — which is a challenge. You try to make them as different as possible, though often, you bump into yourself thinking, “I have done this before.” Then you bump into journalists that say “It’s amazing and there are similar themes in the film.” Then you think, “I was trying to do something different!” I do try to feel like I am starting from scratch with each film. You know very little — you research and you try to explore the world and build from the ground up rather than parachute in and (say) “I know how to do this!”

Did you bump into your Slumdog Millionaire self when you were making 127 Hours?

When (the character of Aron) started peeing in his CamelBak, I thought to myself, “Oh my God, another toilet scene!” (laughs). The films are full of toilet scenes — but that’s what happened. But there are moments where you’re like “Oh! That’s the same scene…”

Like deja vu?

Well, maybe audiences don’t notice it but for you, you are aware of it!

The movie is quite intense. Was the movie more emotionally demanding during the writing process or seeing the finished product?

Danny Boyle talks about writing

When tackling the source material, how accurate were you?

In truth this is — all the time he passes in the canyon is accurate — but you still have to have the ability to depart. We did do that. It’s about finding the truth through fiction. I wanted to make it as a feature and that means you have to have a sentiment of freedom to make your own version of the truth. You have to trust that your instincts are correct enough that you will arrive at the final point where the subject is proud of the work even though it has not been a totally factual-based mission.

Any specific examples in the movie?

Sentiment of freedom

In the big scene, where Aron cuts off his arm — I just couldn’t watch. I cannot handle blood and things of that sort. How did you handle such an intense scene?

It’s not sensationalized. It’s not trivialized. I was very careful to make it very, very accurate to the book. In the book, it takes him over 40 minutes, so it had to be an extended operation. It is very, very painful.

Well, you captured that well. Very well.

You have to! Otherwise, you’ll trivialize it. It’s a gateway to something else in the end. He has to pass through this to get out — as does the audience does in the theater. Although, we have had people faint in a couple of screenings — but we haven’t changed it. I was just pleased that no one walked out. Even people who didn’t want to watch it, stuck it out.

And now, for the final question…

Danny Boyle says we’re all the same

Pretty deep huh?

127 Hours opens in select theaters on November 12.

More than that, I had this appetite to pick the brain of the real Julie Powell. Portrayed in the movie by the always delectable Amy Adams, Julie is 29-years-old and she, like many of us at that age (including myself), is lost.

Julie Powell, the author of the book, The julie/Julia Project. (AP Photo/Little, Brown and Company)

Julie sets a goal to cook all 524 recipes in Julie Child’s (played by Meryl Streep in the film) acclaimed cookbook, Mastering the Art of French cooking and blog about it. It wasn’t necessarily an “A-HA!” moment for the real Julie Powell, but it was more of a project for herself.

“I didn’t know much about Julia when I started the blog,” says Julie. “I immediately started to glean as much as I could. I read her biography My Life in France and one of the things I was struck by was that she started cooking later in life. She started to cook when she was 37 and that was one of the things that inspired me. I was 29 – I thought my life was going to be over at 30 because I haven’t figured out who I was! This woman – a literal and figurative giant in our culture– didn’t even begin that journey until she was in her mid-30s. That was refreshing for me.”

While all of this is going on in the movie, it flashes to Paris where Julia Child is trying to find herself as well, making an interesting storyline that is joined at the hip.

Julie’s project wasn’t really just a hobby, it became more for her. As she plowed through her recipes, she was slowly coming into her own. I had a chance to chat with the real Julie Powell and she gave me some insight into how it was like working with the director and screenwriter, Nora Ephron and why boning a duck can induce a sweaty brow.

When you were writing your blog, did you immediately see a parallel between Julia Child’s life and your own?

As I continued through that year (of cooking) and working on the book, I tried to learn more about her by reading her archived letters. My book is not built the same way as the movie. The structure in the book tells her story up to that moment when she goes to Cordon Bleu Cooking School which is the moment that changes her life; whereas my story is from that moment of deciding to cook my way though Mastering the Art of French Cooking and forward. I do think there are parallels and I think Nora (Ephron) brings them up in the movie very well.

From the moment you heard this was going to become a film and throughout the whole process, how have you been feeling? Is it surreal?

Clearly it’s surreal! Once Amanda Hesser wrote that article in the New York Times about me, my world exploded that day – the “surreality” has been ramping up since. From my book deal to the movie to Nora Ephron being involved – surreal has been kind of normal for me. I’ve gotten to the point where I accept each new bizarre development as an addition to the “crazy family.” (laughs)

When you were watching Amy Adams play you, were you getting all nostalgic?

I actually didn’t spend time with Amy. I spent time with Nora early on when she was working on the script and it became her baby. When it came time to film, I think Nora, Amy and Chris (Messina), who plays my husband, Eric, all sat down and discussed how they wanted to approach it. They decided for clarity’s sake, they would develop the characters from the script and reading the book rather than meeting me. Amy Adams is a wonderful actress and I think she does a lovely job in the movie; but the Julie Powell of the movie is not me. It’s a fictional character that shares my name, history and experience. It’s a character in a romantic comedy. She’s “softer” than I am; nicer than I am – she doesn’t curse as much as I do (laughs). She sort of lacks a certain self-awareness that I, as a writer, had to have – and this is sort of necessary for the script and what Nora was doing. It was essential that I notice certain things about myself. Julie in the movie doesn’t need that in the movie. In fact, too much self-awareness in that character would get distracted and complicated in the movie.

Amy Adams playing a Julie Powell – apparently she doesn’t curse as much…

How did Julia Child’s book, My Life in France get thrown into mix?

When the movie rights were first bought by an independent producer named Eric Steel – he did that documentary, The Bridge. He’s this fascinating guy and we’re friends. He’s sort of a dark guy that likes to do these idiosyncratic things. It was going to be this little idiosyncratic movie. As soon as Nora came on and decided to weave in Julia’s book, we immediately knew it was going to be a different than my book – which is great. They compliment one another.

You started this blog in the infancy of the fad. How familiar were with blogging? And in the movie, Eric (the husband) says that blogging is a self-centered thing? What are your thoughts on that?

I was not familiar with the technology or the medium. The movie is almost a “period” piece. I knew less about blogs than the Julie in the movie knew about blogs. I wanted to be a writer. I was frustrated. I loved to cook so my subject matter was at hand. My husband suggested I start a blog and I was like, “I don’t know what that is.” It was some new thing. So I started it with zero idea of what I was getting into. It was a self-centered act – but using the word “self-centered” is disingenuous because (a blog) is focused on self, voice and tone. It was designed to help me. I had no idea what the medium could do. It was an online diary. I just got very lucky. I happened upon the medium in its infancy. I didn’t have to work very hard to get people to read me – I wouldn’t know how. (laughs) In its birth, for me, blogging was a way for people to sound their barbaric yawn and express themselves in any idiosyncratic way the wanted to. Now, blogging is a profession and a full time job. I think there are people who blog and there are bloggers. I’m a person who blogs. I just don’t have the wherewithal or fortitude to blog in the how it demands.

What was your favorite moment in that year of cooking?

Boning the duck. I was terrified. I was sweating. It was August and I bought this knife special. I was sitting there and I knew I couldn’t do it. It was the second to last recipe. When I did it; with minimal fuss it was like the skies opened up for me and the Hallelujah chorus played. It was really the pinnacle for me.

Julie & Julia is in theaters today.

When the noms were announced this week I was NOT surprised that Shannon got the nod for his performance as the brashly honest certified lunatic in the suburban opus of depression and shattered dreams. It is well deserved. And I just wanted to take this moment to brag and say “I interviewed him.”

Click here to read the interview.

Thank you for appreciating my awesomeness.

Tuesday: Screening of “Milk” (Please, go see this movie. It is one of the best this year – and it was shot in SF!). Wrote. In the evening, I sat through a “Twilight” screening with a bunch of hormonal tweens dressed as characters from the film. My personal favorite: the little dude dressed as a member of the Volturi.

Wednesday: Was a part of a fashion panel on “Sustainable Fashion” for the Innovative Fashion Council of San Francisco, where I spoke of all my knowledge on the topic alongside five other fashion industry professionals to a standing room-only audience. Steven, Charles and Cheryl gave me great reviews on my performance. I felt I was obnoxious throughout the whole ordeal – but still charming!

Thursday: Wrote during the day, met Bernardo with Cheryl for a meeting. Went to a Saks Fifth Avenue/GQ event, then a Ferragamo thing and then to a 2.5 hour (without credits mind you) screening of “Australia” – which was an unbelievable romantic epic! I love Baz Luhrmann.

Friday: Erline flew in, but have yet to hang with her. Had a meeting and then interviewed “Australia” costume designer, Catherine Martin via phone. Interviewed GQ style correspondent, Brett Fahlgren at Saks. Visited a new store called Shotwell. Ate cookies, pizza and then frozen yogurt. Went on a hunt to buy something expensive, ended up buying a Podoll shirt at a warehouse sale in Hayes Valley for $25 – but I am still on the hunt for some lace up boots. Which reminds me: Nice Collective – can you please hook me up with a pair of your new boots?

Plans for the weekend: Saturday: Tagging along with my sister to Cupcake’s party. Yes, her nickname is Cupcake and I shall be known as Bundt Cake that day. Then later that evening, my cousin is making it hot with a b-day party. Sunday: Hip Hop DanceFest at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Aren’t you glad I just bragged about how busy I am during my work week? Don’t you hate it when people always say “I’m SOOOOOO busy!” Instead of saying that, I am just going to show you how busy I am – so take that! And believe me, I will excessively name drop when appropriate. Also, you can stalk me this weekend since I told you everything I am doing short of bowel movements and morning jogs.

So I did an interview with Robert Pattinson – I didn’t get to take a pic with him like I normally do when I interview a celebrity because they wouldn’t let me. Damn. And I was supposed to moderate a Q&A at Hot Topic the same day, but because those tweens were outta control, they ruined my chance to become the next James Lipton from “Inside the Actors Studio”.

Nonetheless, Robert was nice and very polite – he was a good interview and you can tell that he thought VERY deeply about the character of Edward Cullen in “Twilight.”

Check it out…

It’s been two hours since Robert Pattinson landed in San Francisco. Dressed in a no-fuss pair of jeans and an opened button down short-sleeve shirt layered on top of a plain T-shirt, he’s waiting in a huge conference room at the Ritz Carlton. As he sips on some soda, two huge Twilight movie posters stand at attention in separate corners of the room. I introduce myself. He smiles a crooked smile and I smile my russet-colored crooked smile as I lay my digital recorder down on the table to document this monumental occasion.

“Is this your first time in San Francisco?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies as he takes another sip from his soda.

“How do you like it?”

“Ummm…it’s a really nice hotel room,” he chuckles.

Read the rest of the interview by clicking here

Sometimes I feel as though this blog (or any of my “personal” writing) is my child. It’s as though I gave birth to it and now I am so self-involved with my job(s) and I always say, “I’ll spend time with you next time, okay sport?” Unfortunately, by the time I get home, my blog is tucked away in his bed and I open the door to peek in his room and kick myself for not coming home early enough, or putting my work aside so that I can play video games with him or teach him how to smoke a cigarette or do any other of the paternal things one is supposed to do when they have a child.

Now that I have actually made the time to write on here, guess what I am going to talk about?

Work.

So on Monday, I interviewed Paris Hilton. This was my second time interviewing her. The first time I chatted with her, she was almost two hours late. This time, she was just about one hour. No harm, no foul. She was nice enough the second time around.

Isn’t that picture above just annoyingly cute? It’s like seeing a little girl run up to you and say, “HI MISTER! DO YA LIKE MY DRESS?!”

Her answers to my probing interview questions about her new perfume she was promoting at Macy’s seemed to be programmed into her brain – a tad bit robotic. And she does love San Francisco – she enjoys going to Fisherman’s Wharf to see the seals, Sanrio (the Hello Kitty emporium), Chinatown and she likes fine dining at Alioto’s. Don’t worry – all her answers are legit because she apparently told every other journalist the same exact list of llikes. I’ve eaten at Alioto’s before – does she really like it there? I think she said she loves getting calamari there. After reading this, some misguided tween is probably going to change their favorite restaurants on their Facebook page to Alioto’s.

Here are some more pics from the day’s festivities:

Wow. I am giving an unbelievable, pitch-perfect side eye to all those fans whilst I stand comfortably in the press pit.

This girl is very brave for wearing that “diva” tiara. Very brave. Very, very brave. Speaking of, I wanted to comment on the way everyone standing in line to meet Paris that day. I mean, I appreciate one’s right to be very comfortable in San Francisco, but if you are going to meet a celebrity – whether it be Paris or otherwise – wouldn’t you make yourself look a little bit more dressy? I mean, I don’t think stained jeans, a hoodie and some raggedy Ugg boots is the best “meet a celebrity” outfit. To each their own I guess.

Sadly enough, I didn’t get a pic with her. But I do have one with her from the last time I met her:

Next up? My interview with Robert Pattinson a.k.a. Edward Cullen from Twilight.

Oh yeah, I am guessing you heard about all that madness that happened in SF when he made an appearance at Hot Topic at a local mall. Holy shit, that was outta control. I will be gladly to tell you what part (or lack thereof) I had in the whole mess…

In the Sundance Film Festival hit, American Teen, Academy Award nominated director Nanette Burstein documents the life of five teenagers in Middle America with an honest grit that is a far cry from the trivial nonsense of “The Hills.”

Following the formula from John Hughes’ classic story of teen angst, “The Breakfast Club,” Burstein takes us into the lives of a jock (Colin), a popular girl (Megan), a heartthrob (Mitch), a geek (Jake) and an artsy girl (Hannah).

In a recent interview with the documentary specimens, I sat at a round table with four of the five teens (Hannah couldn’t make it, but I got answers from her later). As they nursed Starbucks lattes and tossed around a novelty “Space Chimps” inflatable beach ball, I wondered why these kids from the small town of Warsaw, Indiana wanted to be a part of this project.

The queen of the Warsaw Community High School: Megan Krizmanich

“I didn’t want to do it at all,” says Megan, who gave Burstein a tour of the town on her initial visit. “I was a little hesitant about having my final year in high school (filmed). But I watched her other films, got to know her and jumped on the bandwagon.”

Ultimately, it was the boredom of their “bubble” town that made them want to have their final year of high school documented on film.

“When something this big comes along, you obviously want to take the opportunity,” says Jake, who now has a crew cut as opposed to his shaggy ‘do in the movie. “This was something exciting.”

The band nerd: Jake Tusing

Unlike the debauchery and drunken romps had on reality shows, Burstein’s documentary brings a grounded vision to the lives of normal teenagers. Each have their own story that prove to be universal. Colin is the basketball golden boy, hounded by his Elvis impersonating dad to get a scholarship. Although Megan is the most popular girl in school, she is anxious to get an acceptance (or rejection) letter from University of Notre Dame University and while doing so, she causes some “mean girl” trouble to pass the time. The charming Mitch crosses social status boundaries and while doing so, he discovers an interesting side to himself. Jake, the awkwardly endearing nerd, just wants to have confidence and a girlfriend. As for Hannah, she just wants to get the hell out of Warsaw.

The ultimate midwest heartthrob: Mitch Reinholt

Now in college, the five teens reflect back on their senior year in high school with a film that Mitch referred to as a “living yearbook.”

“I thought it would be a good experience – something I could show my grand kids,” says Mitch, who is much taller in person and is the epitome of the All-American boy. “The more we got to know Nanette, the more comfortable we were. And the more comfortable we were on camera, the more fun we had.”

As we continued to talk, we digressed. Colin, Jake and I got into a deep discussion about “The Dark Knight,” Megan giggled at the way my southern twang came out when I said “y’all” and Mitch shared his affection for dressing in dinosaur costumes.

After getting on track, I asked them what other role in the film they would’ve liked to embody. Mitch and Megan wouldn’t mind having the free spirit of Hannah and Jake wanted to walk in Colin’s shoes as a popular star athlete. But Colin decided to take a different route.

The basketball star: Colin Clemens (center)

“I would like to be Jake in the sense that I would rather not be noticed,” as Colin says this, he apologizes to Jake, hoping he doesn’t take it the wrong way. “I’ve been in the spotlight because of basketball. It would be nice just to walk around and not have people talk to you all the time.”

Later on that week, I got the privilege of hearing from Hannah with her answer via email.

“Watching the movie, I found that I have at least one thing in common with every other kid in the movie,” says the creative rebel. “I can be a hardass like Megan, a geek like Jake, romantic like Mitch, and sometimes I can be a real jokester, like Colin. The great thing about the movie is (that) everyone can find a little bit of each us inside them.”

The artsy one: Hannah Bailey

The five remain friends to this day and plan on continuing their BFF for years to come – but that doesn’t mean that some of them have regrets about their actions in the movie. The biggest regret is from Mitch in regards to a “techie” way he ended a relationship in the film.

“Text message breakups,” cringes Mitch. “What was I thinking? It was not cool.”

I agree with that. Bad form young Mitch.

Based on this and the film itself, this is not just another teen movie.

I had the chance to interview the young man, but first I had to make an uphill Stockton Street trek to the Ritz Carlton, the site of the interview.

The day was quite hot and I was wearing jeans and my small scale gingham Polo Ralph Lauren button-up shirt. I thought it would cooperate with the weather and for a while it seemed like it did.

I did my interview with Geiger. He was very nice and I, as usual, was very giggly and annoying. I did my traditional “take a picture with a famous person” post interview ritual. I didn’t look at the picture after it was taken, because I didn’t feel the need to. I shook hands with him, wished him luck at his performance at the Great American Music Hall that evening.

I walked out lit a cigarette and confronted the city heat with the satisfaction of another celebrity interview under my belt.

Later that night when I got home, I finally looked at the picture and I saw this:

There they were. Pit stains. Staring me in the face. I look so gross. I wonder if Teddy even noticed. Maybe that’s why he is standing far away from me. Why didn’t anyone tell me? I feel so mortified and disgusted. This is totally one of the moments when I would write into one of those women’s magazines and tell them this story in hopes that I would get a high embarrassment rating to validate my life.

…and yes, I was wearing deodorant. Apparently, it wasn’t strong enough to block the perspiration under my pits on that uber-hot day in SF.

Well, like the perfectionist I am, I thought I would change history and Photoshop the pit stains out of the picture, hoping to erase this degrading moment from my life…

Wow – it looks like I didn’t sweat AT ALL.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard I Photoshop, I will probably be forever known to Teddy Geiger as that “Filipino boy who giggled and sweated a lot.”

For some reason, when I post pictures on here of myself, my eyes look really weird.

Anyways, on Thursday, I went into the city to chat with Clinton Kelly and Stacy London for a “What Not To Wear” piece I am working on. The two fashion therapists ambushed a gal in Palo Alto and they are going to work their magic on her.

I was interviewing them in their trailer parked in Jackson Square on SF’s Montgomery Street and they were very friendly. After I got a little comfortable with them, I was bold and asked them about my outfit, scared that they were going to be totally brutal – but they weren’t. Well, except for one thing Clinton said that wasn’t necessarily an insult to my outfit. I’ll get to that in a bit.

Stacy liked my yellow shirt and said it “complimented my skin tone” and they really appreciated my trench. They were a little wary about my black shoes with brown pants pairing, but they were appreciative of how I matched the belt with my fave “city-walking” boots. They loved my trench and they commented on how the hem of my pants could’ve been a little lower – no big deal. Then…Clinton said, “your fly is down a little bit.” It was an “OMG” moment. I giggled embarrassingly, but I was mortified. I might as well have let out a big fart in front of them.

Yunjin Kim! (a.k.a. Sun from Lost)

She is contributing her voice to my “Asian Americans in Entertainment” piece I am working on.

Actually she was a bit late calling me – about 30 minutes late. But that’s okay. I mean, c’mon it’s SUN from LOST! You can’t get mad at her!

So the interview went well and she gave me some great insight on her views concerning Asian Americans in entertainment. If you don’t already know, she lived in New York, went to Korea and became a movie star there and then came back stateside to work on her Hollywood career. That’s pretty much her story in a nutshell.

Of course we chatted about Asian Americans in the world of entertainment, but I just HAD to ask her about Lost.

So I asked how she felt about Sun and Jin’s story. What did she want to happen with their characters? How did she feel about their development? I asked if she could at least give me a hint – but she just gave me one of those optimistic answers of ambiguity:

“I believe in happy endings,” she said. I could tell she was smiling over the phone.

Considering Sun and Jin are two of my favorite characters, I hope that their story does end happy – but her answer can mean many things. There could be a hopeful closure to his death. Jin may not be dead at all. Sun and her child can have a joyful reunion with her husband. Who knows?

Anyways, we were chatting and having a great conversation and towards the end of the interview, I told her, “I don’t know if you remember – but I met you a couple of years ago at the Television Critics Association conference in Pasadena.”

She then said, “I thought your name sounded familiar!”

I had to contain my excitement! A famous person remembered me!!! I mean, how could you not forget someone as obnoxious as me?