My view from the red carpet: The ‘Milk’ premiere at the Castro Theatre

Are you exhausted by red carpet coverage? Well, this will be the last one for the week (I think) – so hang in there. Then again, how could you be tired of the red carpet? It’s the gift that keeps on giving – especially if it’s the star-studded "Milk" premiere.

All the good photos are courtesy of the Associated Press, the really ghetto ones (like the ones above) are by me.

 

Last night I endured the chilly weather and enjoyed the crowd of “No on Proposition 8” enthusiasts hollering repeated chants across the street as the red carpet awaited the celebs in front of the historic Castro Theatre.

My view from the red carpet

Dignitaries and public officials walked down the carpet and all the stars of the movie followed: Emile Hirsch, Joseph Cross, Josh Brolin, Allison Pill, Diego Luna, James Franco and the man of the hour who plays the legendary Harvey Milk in the movie, Sean Penn.

All photos here courtesy of Noah Berger/AP

Robin Wright Penn (left) and Sean Penn on the red carpet - wow - Robin looks beautimous.

Diane Lane and Josh Brolin: Diane=GORGEOUS, Josh=GORGEOUS. Remember when he played BRAND on "The Goonies?"

James Franco gives a wave to the crowd - ain't he dreamy?

Diego Luna and Emile Hirsch looking quite handsome - and bonus points for Emile's tuxedo jacket

Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Mayor Gavin Newsom go the casual route with their red carpet attire

Anyone notice how the "No on Prop 8" button was the accessory of the evening?

The movie is based on Milk, California's first openly gay elected official and was written by Dustin Lance Black (he penned some episodes of “Big Love). The film tells a story about how he got into office and his life, which ultimately ended in an assassination along with Mayor George Moscone by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White.

Writer Dustin Lance Black, adds the perfect punch of pink to a black suit

As they traveled down the gauntlet of press, I was lucky enough to talk to the director of the film – the visionary Gus Van Sant. As the man who helmed commercial movies like “Good Will Hunting” and artsy think movies like “Elephant,” “Milk” is a movie that he hopes brings will bring out the revolutionary in everyone.

My pic of Mr. Gus Van Sant

“It’s sort of the beginnings of the gay class,” says Van Sant. “As a member of history and the early gay community, (Harvey Milk) ran for office in a very grass roots style and was able to achieve office and affect change in his community. He showed that you can do change too.”

I was also lucky to speak with the actual people who played a part in Harvey Milk’s life: Daniel Nicoletta (played by Lucas Grabeel of “High School Musical” fame) and Anne Kronenberg (played by Allison Pill).

“I’d hope (the movie) would get people (involved) in more activism, not necessarily electoral politics,” says Nicoletta, a celebrated SF photographer who used to work at Milk’s camera shop. “I’d like people to start thinking about bringing something to the world and make it a better place.”

Nicoletta hit the red carpet with Juanita More (draped in a fabulously dramatic animal print dress I might add) and admitted that the movie is a tear jerker – but don’t worry, Juanita was ready. She had some tissues in her purse so that the tears wouldn’t ruin her makeup.

Kronenberg, Milk’s original campaign manager, has been waiting for a movie on Milk for nearly 30 years. Numerous people have talked to her about it, but it never came together, but this time it was “cosmic.”

Allison Pill's modernized tie-dye frock stuns the red carpet. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

“Everything was meant to be,” says Kronenberg. “We have this wonderful director, incredible writer – it just all happened.”

Besides Harvey Milk’s legacy, she trusts that this movie will give people a sense of hope for the future.

“That’s what Harvey was all about: giving people hope,” says Kronenberg. “Even though he was assassinated and his own personal story ended with such tragedy, we’ve come a long way in 30 years. People will leave (the movie) uplifted with hope.”

Famed movie composer, Danny Elfman donned an interesting bolo tie (it had some sort of critter in it and he probably summed up the movie with this mantra: “Anything is possible even if it seems impossible.”

“What he did seemed impossible when he was doing it,” says Elfman. “First, he was starting so late in life. Secondly, (he brought) together elements that had no business being together and somehow found a union between them. That is extremely relevant today.”