Last Night at The Hoboken International Film Festival where I am the Festival DJ, I was getting ready for the crowd to enter the main theatre for the Opening Night Gala and movie release party and who crept in before anybody else? Robert Loggia and his charming wife Audrey!
Robert Loggia has starred in many classic films and received a list of awards. Here is a partial list of some of the more popular films he has appeared in: Scarface, An Office and A Gentleman, Big, Prizzi’s Honor, The Sopranos, Independence Day, The Pink Panther series and one of my favorite films ever, Wide Awake.
Robert Loggia was interviewwed by AC Club and I thought this piece was interesting:
“AVC: When you’re doing such an intense movie like Scarface, what did you guys do to blow off steam when you weren’t working?
Robert Loggia: I think most of us who stayed on the set went to our trailer. I would meditate a lot. I’m 81, so it’s more than 50 years of a way of working. I guess for each actor they have a different style.
AVC: How does the meditation help you?
Robert Loggia: It quiets you, and gives you energy. Doesn’t keep you revved up. So when they claw you back to the set, you’re fresh as a daisy, ready to go. I can’t be under the weight of the character for a 14-hour shooting day. I don’t think anybody can do that.”
Every year they enter the theatre before the rest of the crowd to get into their seats without all the chaos of a red carpet event. Last year we had some conversation and I found out they are Sinatra fans like me. So, when they found their seats, I asked if they wanted me to play some music for them before everybody else joins us.
He smiled and Audrey responded, “Sure. That would be great.”
“I remember from last year you both enjoy Frank Sinatra.”
“Wow! What a memory!”
“It’s my job. Besides, you two are special guests.”
I selected a couple of Sinatra tunes, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Come Dance With Me”” and turned on the speakers of my BOSE L1 System and got the desired result, both Audrey and Robert loggia were smiling and slid back into their seats to relax and enjoy the music. Of course, our moment together was short before the theatre was packed with all the Actors, Writers, Directors and Producers.
It was an experience that this professional DJ will treasure for quite a while.
