All photos by Marla Aufmuth Michel Gondry with friends, bassist Sebastian Steinberg and musician Jon Brion

• Name: Michel Gondry 2 DVD Premiere
• Date: Tuesday April 14, 2009
• Location: The Montalbán
• Who was there: Filmmaker Michel Gondry, Musician Jon Brion, Bassist Sebastian Steinberg, Seth Rogen, Patricia Arquette, Melonie Diaz, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emile Hirsch, Ace Norton, China Chow, Andy Dick, Ayako Fujitani, Mia Doi Todd, Peter Weller, Saul Williams, Jason Bentley, Peanut Butter Wolf, Evan Goldberg and more.
• What was served: Tacos, Belvedere and custom-printed journals

Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, maxi pads and Matthieu Schreyer were only some of the seasonings that flavored the raucous and bursting-at-the-seams DVD launch event that we did for Gondry’s second DVD compilation, Michel Gondry 2: More videos (before and after DVD 1), hosted by Nike Sportswear at The Montalbán. Once inside and past the ridiculously long lines (it could not be helped, the man has a serious following) and the unusually blustery, cold weather, Gondry unlocked a few facets of his personality, dreams, musical stylings, friends and desires that surprised us all.

We’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Crazy long lines can sometimes lead to surprises…

…especially when Gondry himself stepped out to interview the guests and showed the film minutes later on the big screen

Checking his crib sheet

Lyrics to TINY?

Michel’s mini instrument installation

Rehearsing on drums

DJ Mathieu Schreyer (KCRW, Spacek Soundsystem)

Gondry personalizing everyone’s journal and merchandise

Gondry’s original illustrations just for us…Squeesm, Humanism, Earism, Fashionism and Runism

Nothing is sacred, TP ala Gondry

Actor Seth Rogen introduces the band’s rendition of the Green Hornet theme.

Jam session of 80s cover songs

A roomful of Gondry love

Human Nature’s Patricia Arquette

Be Kind Rewind’s Melonie Diaz

The Montalbán lobby = Squeesm

Happy as a clam