An Open Letter To a Guy I Don't Know

I just want to say a few words to Ryan John Woodward, lighting artist: double negative for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

I loved this movie. I loved it so much, I actually went there - to the really sad and ridiculous place no long-time movie fan should ever go, in which I actually, truly wondered if what seemed to have happened actually had. (Hey, this is a very different take on the Batman franchise, and I figured anything was possible.)

I loved it beyond a normal person's response - I'm pretty sure - which isn't unique for me. I do this. I like lots and lots of books and film, but I reserve full-out awe for fewer than that and then I go FULL-OUT AWE. And that's what I did here. I curled into my chair in the theater like I might be seeing the last movie ever. I changed my course in life, vowing to stop writing stories because IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. And mostly, I just felt grateful. So, so grateful for the writers who told this story that was seriously, like, the whole story - ALL the things. Horrifying evil, the depths of despair, the glimmer of hope, death, resurrection, separation, reconciliation, betrayal, love, humor - ALL of it. That was my impression anyway.

And when it was over, I sat there and sat there and sat there. Willing my husband to please let me stay until the very last name rolled from the bottom of the screen to the top. No one ever lets me stay that long. And I get this, I do. The theater empties, it's awkward. You're quite sure there's not going to be some random "last scene". And yet I SO WANT TO SIT. I want to sit for all the key grips and costume designers and production assistants who brought me the film. I want to sit for my brother-in-law Ryan, who lives in Omaha and makes shorts and works behind the scenes on a cool web show just like all those other people I wanted to sit for. And I want to sit so that if I ever get my chance, if I ever write a book that becomes a film or get that gig as Second Girl At The Counter, I can say to all the movie people around me, "I sat for you. I love this business SO MUCH that I waited for your name to scroll."

Not really movie-making, but definitely behind-the-scenes

Alas, I mostly cave. I don't actually like to be the annoying person who's super passionate about something no one else can really understand. And so I get up with the rest of them and reluctantly leave. I have no idea who gripped the keys - or whatever key grips do - on Snow White and the Huntsman, and I didn't see the song credits at the end of Brave. (I saw both of those movies with my sisters, so yeah, that's a dig.) And I didn't see your name, Ryan John Woodward, at the end of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. I looked up the cast and crew just now on imdb.com and picked out a random name for the purpose of this post and to tell at least one of you: I saw your name. I noticed.

And this movie? Whatever part you played? Thanks for that.