Comfortable around celebrities

I tried to play it very cool throughout my interview, explaining that I would feel "extremely comfortable" working directly with celebrities, whom The Festival organizers refer to as talent, although many of them lack this key trait. I think overall I did a pretty good job. The interviewer assumed that the reason I would feel "comfortable" around the celebrities was because I didn't care about them. Really it's because I know more about them than they know about themselves. She thought I was there volunteering because I have a deep appreciation for film, but I really just love famous people. Like Kate Hudson's character, Penny Lane, says in the movie Almost Famous after someone asks, "Don't you have any normal friends?" she replies, "Famous people are just more interesting." More on that later.

In the world of volunteering, flexibility is key, especially when there are 2,000 other people just as anxious to help out. So when my interviewer asked me what hours I was available to work, I said without any need to consult my daily calendar, "Whenever you tell me you want me." Yes, of course, I am a full-time college student and school should always come first, but there's absolutely no chance of spotting a famous person in my psychology class. Film festivals are the Mecca of celebrity sightings. At the end of the interview, after I had practically sold my soul to the Festival, the woman shook my hand and said, "We like people like you". I thought to myself, "Does she mean fanatical?" "I'm just happy to help," I responded.

***

Prospective Barnard students have taken over my school, and, temporarily, my life. They're in my classes, my dining halls - even my dorms. This past weekend, my roommates and I put up three recently admitted Barnard girls in our cubbyhole dorm room. Coincidentally, two of them are from Berkeley and the other is from Glendora, Calif. During the day, they ran around campus with admissions officers, going from luncheon to meeting to walking tours around the campus. They even had the chance to sit in on classes.

At night, though, we were at their service. Whatever they wanted to do, wherever they wanted to go, we were at their beck and call. On Saturday, the girls wanted to see the tourist highlights, like the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. On Sunday we window-shopped through SoHo, explored New York University and walked uptown through Riverside Park, ending the day at Grant's Tomb. In a nutshell, we were responsible for providing endless entertainment, all the while encouraging them to enroll at Barnard for next fall. May 1 is decision day. Most of the girls visiting didn't need any convincing. The city and the campus speak for themselves.

***

Famous People, Part Deux. In the two weeks since my last column, the weather here in New York City has been amazing. And as the temperature continues to rise, so do the number of my weekly celebrity sightings. During the snow and sleet season everyone is bundled up in down coats and wool scarves, so it's nearly practically impossible to people watch. These days, though, the sunshine is perfect for spotting the famous and near-famous.

Here are my most recent: Kieran Culkin ("Igby Goes Down") and Mila Kunis ("That '70s Show") were part of a three-in-one night. The younger Culkin was performing in his off-Broadway show "After Ashley," while Kunis lovingly watched her soon-to-be brother-in-law from the comfort of the audience (She's dating Macaulay Culkin, you know). Anna Paquin ("Fly Away Home") was also in the play. Sienna Miller ("Alfie"), a.k.a. Mrs. Jude Law, was spotted wearing an over-sized tan raincoat, huge Oliver Peoples sunglasses and a sea foam green Balenciaga purse; she was scouring the sales purses at the Midtown Bloomingdale's. Finally, Richard Lewis ("Curb Your Enthusiasm" and Prince John in "Robin Hood: Men in Tights") was hastily walking down Park Avenue when he nearly knocked me over as I was on my way to Jamba Juice.

OK, so I'm hooked on all those who are US Weekly fodder, but, hey, isn't everyone?

Grace Kallis is a graduate of Aragon High School. She is currently attending Barnard College in New York City. Her column, Graceland, appears every other Tuesday. If you have some news you'd like to send Grace's way, e-mail her at gk2143@barnard.edu.