Hollywood, Universal Studios, and two dinosaurs (Part 1)

Hey everyone!


Remember a month or two back when I talked about going to Hollywood to meet with some people about the Sekrit Series, the series that must not be named, possibly becoming a movie?  Don't remember that?  Well, a month or two back I was scheduled to fly out to Hollywood to talk to Universal Studios about my books, the movie option, and other exciting things.  Unfortunately, we had to postpone the Universal meeting for a later date.  Turns out some guy named Brad Pitt needed that meeting slot, so what can ya do?  ;) 

Happily, we did reschedule, and last Thursday I hopped on a plane to Los Angeles, CA, finally on my way to Hollywood.  :D


Early Thursday morning, a car arrived at my house to pick me up, and took me to the airport to catch my flight to L.A.  Thus beginning the first of many surprises.  When I checked in at the airport, I looked down at my ticket and was shocked to discover I'd be flying First Class to California.

I have never flown First Class before.  It was awesome.  They even served us breakfast.  I was the last seat in First Class, watching everyone in front of me being served food, and I was starving and a little sad that I must've missed the opportunity to place an order, but then they gave me a tray, too.

 

 

A very blurry image of my food when I was in First Class. Taken quickly because I was trying to be discreet of the fact that I was taking a picture of my food.

 

 

 

 

Several long hours later, I finally arrived in Los Angeles, and a car took me to my hotel.  Outside my hotel was the Hollywood sign.


I'm serious.  It was the Hollywood sign.


In miniature.

 

The Universal Sheraton Hollywood sign.

 

Me and Awkward author Marni Bates, whom I met the next day, below the hotel Hollywood sign. (More on that adventure later.)

 

 

 

So that first day I met with my literary agent, Laurie McLean, and we headed out to meet Brandy Rivers, my Hollywood agent, for dinner.


We might've gotten a bit lost on the way to her office.  But I did get some interesting shots.

 

That's where I want to be!

 

 

 

The first dinosaur.

 

 

 

Beware of falling McDonald signs.

 

We finally got to Brandy's office, and then we all went to dinner at Sugarfish, a fabulous sushi restaurant, and I stuffed myself with raw fish and was in heaven.


Sadly, I did not take any pictures of my dinner, but here is a picture of a fish to make up for it.

Then I went back to my hotel room to prepare for the meeting with Universal Studios the next day.


The next morning I woke up a bit nervous.  It still felt very surreal: I was in Hollywood, and that afternoon, I was going to meet the head of Universal Pictures, plus a bunch of other very important people who talked to celebrities and movie stars on a regular basis.  These people probably had drinks with Steven Spielberg and Johnny Depp.  And here I was, a tiny little author from La Grange, KY.  I kept waiting for the moment I'd wake up.


Despite my nervousness, it was a gorgeous day outside, and the view from my hotel room was spectacular.

 

Los Angeles in the morning, from the 18th floor of the Universal Sheraton.

 

 

Since my meeting wasn't until 3pm, I met Laurie again, and we decided to walk around Universal Studios Citywalk, the stretch of stores, eateries, and dance clubs you had to pass before you got to Universal Studios itself. 

 

The Gate to the legends.

 

 

 

 

Sadly, there was no time to go to the park, but Citywalk was fun.  For photos, especially.  

 

Giant guitar at the entrance.

 

 

Giant ape further down.

 

 

It's so fluffy!!!

And now, my favorite part of the walk.  Guarding the entrance of the Infusion Lounge and looming over all us puny humans, was this guy.

 

 

I must've taken a dozen pictures of him, from every angle.  He's just soooo cool. I love my dragons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, at last, we came to the gates of Universal Studios, where we had to stop.  And, as this post is getting rather long, I will stop here, as well. But tomorrow I will post about my meeting with the head of Universal Studios, as well as a couple other adventures that would happen before and after.  So check back tomorrow and I'll see you then.  :)

-Julie