security protocol

Last night I had the awesome opportunity to screen the movie New Moon with my friend Jackie.  James’ work was the one hosting the screening and he was able to get us some tickets in the reserved section to see the show.  Now I have gone to see a few movies with James when they were being screened and it is pretty exciting to be in the theater watching a movie that has not yet been released to the public.

7:30 was the start time so we drove to a random theater that was chosen for the event and what I was expecting as far as lines, people waiting, and getting our seats was not even close to what we found. If you think that airport security is a drag then you would not have believed the security procession that we went through.

First we were put in a line that went through a guy who was wanding people down, yeah the kind of security wand that they use to look for guns and knives and weapons of sorts. Next was the bag search, yep BAG SEARCH. If you know me then you know that I happen to carry a few extra random things in my bag just in case *whatever* life happens.  So this part of the search was kind of awkward for me. I was just glad that I had cleaned out the candy, toy cars, and diapers that I carry in there for the kids.

Can you imagine me trying to explain to this giant security officer about why I was carrying mini zip lock bags of animal crackers, dum dums, and pretzals. “Honestly officer they were not for me.” That would have been a riot to see I’m sure.

After the bag search then each of our cell phones were taken and placed in a manilla envalope with your last name on it and placed in a accordian file case…hello are we working with some organized people or what, alpabetized envalopes for your phones.  Now this is the part that I had the hardest time with, they were taking away my phone, my lifeline, my mini security blanket. How was I supposed to call James if something happened (because I always call him when I get in a situation, and I seem to find myself in situations often).

We handed over our phones and then they took our tickes, marked the back of our hands and checked in with the list lady to make sure that we were in fact on “the list” to get in. Can you imagine going through all of that and then not being able to get in.  We were given a small blue ticket that told us where we could sit and lucky for us it was in the perfect spot, and right behind the press seating. With the way some of the press guys were shaking their heads and laughing throughout the movie you would think that they were bummed that it was their job to see the movies. Oh well, poor them. I have to say that I happened to have a great time, and to top it all off I got my phone back at the end and it was safe and sound.  phew.

All of this to see the movie a day early, I wonder what it would have been like if it had been screened a month early, maybe nothing but searched people in the theaters, no jackets, no bags, empty pockets, no watches? Who knows.  Security is so much fun, don’t you think.