I'm a media personality and radio broadcaster in Honolulu, Hawaii who does a lot of interviews with artists -- see more at my homepage http://davelawrenceonline.com as well as Facebook http://facebook.com/davelawrence and Twitter http://twitter.com/davelawrence -- and this ranked as a very cool encounter, plus one I learned from.

In the fall of 2005, after a trip to see the Cream reunion in New York, I returned to Honolulu with just days to go until the annual Honolulu International Film Festival was to start. As I recall, a sales woman at the radio station I was working with asked me if I wanted to attend some kind of media event relating to the festival. Never having attended anything to do with the HIFF before, I was stoked, and grateful to be included. A small group of a few sales women and myself departed from the station, driving from Honolulu to Kahala, now the Kahala Hotel, then the Kahala Mandarin. That's where the press event was happening, and the event was to feature the celebrity guest of this year for the festival, Samuel L. Jackson.

We were in a ballroom/dining room style space, pretty large and open, and there was a stage with a few people. I was in the front or second row, as I recall. I can't remember him arriving, but I know we were there in advance, I was hoping to record a short interview with him. As it turned out, having just come back from a trip, I didn't have time to get the gear properly prepped. Back then I was using station gear, which was crap, and the MD machine had relentless trouble while trying to get it set. That is my main memory of the day, being pissed about the recorder, and not being prepared.

Samuel L. Jackson arrived, took a seat at the table on a small stage facing the seating, and the event producer spoke for a while. Then Samuel was introduced, and we got to -- as a room of journalists -- ask questions (typical press event stuff).

I forget what exactly I asked, but stuff about Pulp Fiction, working with John Travolta, his unique character in that, as well as the Star Wars saga, and some other stuff. Everybody got to ask a few questions - there were not too many people there... let's say 25-30 tops? Maybe less, including everyone there, so not packed, not hard to ask stuff or get things answered. The producer asked for questions, you raised your hand, identified yourself, and ask. This was a good opportunity, and looking back, he spent about 5 minutes just answering my stuff, and I am forever more "on it" about recording stuff on-location from the hard lessons learned that time (like many other times lol).

No doubt, I am a huge fan of this guy, and was excited just to sit a few feet away and watch him answer questions, listen to his heartfelt personal stories about working with actors and on well-known films, and recognizing that he was a class-act. He looked healthy, was well-dressed as you can see, and casual. I think any fan would be satisfied with his demeanor that day. He could have been way difficult, considering his status, but that was not his groove. My impression was he is a down-to-earth guy. No security, entourage, nothing.

Samuel answered some other questions that were interesting from other folks, too, and when it was over, the producer thanked everyone, people were packing up, and he was essentially alone, getting ready to leave. After approaching him and introducing myself again directly, we shook hands, and I remember he seemed very solid, like he was made of rock, and looked like a tough guy up close, he could kick some serious ass, I thought. The was it is in memory, he looked like the guy from the screen, and was very impressive in-person.  Asked if he'd be willing to cut an ID for me (a personalized radio endorsement/introduction), which I had scripted and in front of him on paper, with my gear ready to roll and record, he obliged. The ID I got from him that, a 4:20/DL thing all rolled into one, was stellar. He read it like a pro actor would, as if I should be cutting him a check for the ID. It was and is brilliant, without question one of my very most prized IDs.

He was alone, said little other than his ripping slam on two takes of my ID, and the stuff from the actual question session (where he spoke passionately about working with John Travolta, the Pulp Fiction character and his time working w/George Lucas on Star Wars). When asked stuff during the press thing, he was on it. When asked for an ID, he was on it. When asked for a picture, he was on it. I have only good things to say about my man. Very cool guy. After getting the ID and pic, I was done, ready to get on with the busy day, as I recall, and on the air in minutes, so eager to get back to the station. He was alone when I left him. Below I have no idea how to say he was friendly, when he was reserved and totally available, but not "friendly". Don't take a low friendly rating wrong; he was not "friendly", but he was super pro, super giving of his time and did what was asked. As for hot, I'm a guy so, I rate him 5/5 for the ladies in the house LOL. Don't know how that one is to be answered.