Alex Kurtzman, Elizabeth Banks and Chris Pine. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
You think you’ve had some wild nights, just try and top this: “When I was 30, I was at a party and a woman tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘Hey, I’m your sister,’” writer/ director Alex Kurtzman told The Observer.
Last night The Cinema Society, with Linda Wells and Allure, hosted a screening of People Like Us, a film that is loosely based on and fully inspired by Mr. Kurtzman’s own journey starting a relationship with his sister at age 30. The film stars Chris Pine and Elizabeth Banks who were both at Chelsea Cinemas to debut the drama/comedy. We’re not sure if it was the movie or something in the popcorn, but love and inclusivity was in the air.
Both Mr. Kurtzman and Mr. Pine raved about Mrs. Banks. “It’s a lot harder to be a woman in this business than a man, and she has a really amazing career,” Mr. Pine gushed in true gentlemanly fashion.
“She can take any line and spin in a thousand different ways,” Mr. Kurtzman added.
To portray Frankie, a struggling single mom, Ms. Banks told us she drew from the the real-life relationship between her sister—also a single mom—and her nephew, who is the same age as her son in the movie. ”I just fell in love with Frankie. She’s like a little broken bird—but a fighter.”
We told her how much we love her in the role of Avery Jessup on 30 Rock and asked about coming back for the seventh and final season. “I know nothing right now. They’ll go to the writers room and see what they come up with but of course I’d love to be included.”
Others filing into the theatre included model Coco Rocha (with fierce red lips and matching Rag and Bone slacks), Tiki Barber (young blond fiancée in tow) and New York Ranger Henrik Lundqvist with his very pregnant wife.
After the screening, attendees regrouped atop the breezy roof of Hotel Americano for poolside Grey Goose cocktails and schmoozing amidst the Chelsea skyline. Huddled up to Mr. Pines we found Star Trek co-star Zachary Quinto and later Zosia Mamet wearing her Girls character Shoshanna’s style staple: a center hair part. Clustered next to some model types we found Russell Simmons at the bar.
“I just got back from Israel,” he told The Observer. Mr. Simmons has been making news lately, comparing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to “a rap beef” and was in Israel on behalf of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding that he co-founded. As he craned his neck to check out a stunning Nicole Trunfio, he was still able to tell us more about his peacemaking mission.
“We have rabbis speak in mosques and imams speak in synagogues. Bringing [the organization] to Israel was like a dream come true, obviously,” he said.
The Observer asked the yoga devotee if he still found time to open up his chakras while in the Middle East. “Everyday,” he said while taking a deep breath (in through his nose and out through his mouth).
Although nobody tapped us on our shoulder to declare that we share a bloodline, we did share a little meditative moment with yogi Simmons.
Namaste.
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