As members of SAG-AFTRA theyre on strike, Lopez said.
He noted Galitzine and Perezs absence.
Theyre not here, of course, because theyre on strike, he said.
‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ London Premiere and director Matthew López (inset)Baz Bamigboye/Getty
Backstage earlier, he lamented that a director being there without actors and screenwriters is pretty pitiful.
So we need to sort this strike out.
We need to get a fair deal from the studios, and we need to get back to work.
Matthew Lopezagreed to turn his back to pose. (Baz Bamigboye/Deadline)Baz Bamigboye
In the meantime, I am a playwright.
When I sought permission to shoot his portrait, Lopez shook his head.
No, no, were not going to do that, he politely informed me.
Im keeping a low profile.
When this film releases and responsibilities as a director are over, I am purely a striking writer.
What about, I suggested, a shot of the back of his head.
Nodding his agreement, Lopez turned around and presented his back.
However, teams from Premier PR, Amazon and Concorde Media ensured that the Imax was packed.
Also some Amazon executives plus a bunch of folk Id never seen before in my life.
I did spot broadcaster Paul Gambaccini and Alex Baley, head of marketing at the National Theatre.
Baleys building is next door to the BFIs National Film Theatre on the Southbank nearby.
There were zero thespians.
A man and a woman were costumed in full-dress Kings Guard uniforms of red tunics and bearskins.
They stood sentry in front of a Prime Video logo board.
Guests were encouraged to snap photographs with them or in front of a stationary London cab.
The press pen was empty.
A security guard watched over it.
He had excellent teeth.
Could he be an actor between jobs?
I just look after my knashers, he explained.
Thered normally be about 40 of us at an event like this, he reckoned.
Laughing, he said that the only place to find stars these days is on the picket line.
Brian Cox and Hayley Atwell were there.
Theres a big rally in L.A. at the weekend, and all the A-list stars are being bused in.
Might jump on a plane and cover it, he joked.
Clifton Collins Jr. plays the First Dad.
Casting was something perfectly within my purview as a director.
I know the rules, dont worry, Lopez assured.
He spent five months auditioning hundreds of actors searching for his two leads.
I kept seeing them, then Id go to other people.
Then Id go back to them.
I saw hundreds of guys for this role, which was heartening actually.
It was Taylor, once I met Taylor.
Then it was putting them together in a chemistry read and praying that they had chemistry.
Both actors did their chemistry read on Zoom in different cities.
Nick was in New Orleans and Taylor was in Los Angeles, Lopez said.
Galitzine and Perez were off the charts, and I cant imagine the movie without them now.
In theater, Lopez has hit musicalSome Like It Hoton Broadway and productions ofThe Inheritanceall over the world now.
Now, that was a terrific event.
Packed red carpet, flashbulbs popping away, and every star in town was there.
Those were the days.
