In 1998 or so, the art director for the James Cameron film came here to San Miguel to "take some time off" after the filming of the movie. In fact, the movie was in theaters while she was still here. Although she had a boyfriend back in Canada, she was unencumbered here although she generally behaved herself and was a good friend. Sometimes we got close enough that the electricity started to arc, but I behaved myself too with the help of a somewhat possessive girlfriend at the time keeping close tabs on me. I would describe the film's art director at that time as disturbingly hot to the point of distraction. She has a non-speaking roll in the film: that's her washing the contents of the safe off while the action takes place around her and the original hand-drawing of Rose is discovered as the safe is opened.
She was even hotter in real life. She had an incredible array of "Titanic" the film memorabilia. She had a life jacket. She had 3 different versions of the original black-and-white drawing of Rose with the gem at her throat, although she told me that the one that was used in the film was NOT one of the two drawn by her but was the one in fact drawn by...James Cameron. Yes, that's what she told me. Those were not Leo's hands doing the drawing in the actual film, it was James Cameron himself. She said! She had that original with her as well. I held it, but she would not let me "black-and-white photocopy" it. I guess electricity doesn't help with some things.
She told me and my friends many little anecdotes about the filming (and the inevitable gossip such as James Cameron and Linda Hamilton's problems at the time). She told me that the water they filmed in as the set "flooded" was quite cold and that Leo was shivering for real. She had a version of the film on VHS tape that was quite expanded from the theatrical release which we watched. Only a few years ago on the 100th anniversary of the sinking they played the expanded version of the film here in San Miguel (on the night) and I went with my wife. Much of the "new footage" in the 100th Anniversary release was exactly what I had seen at the big Titanic Party we had one night where the film was shown to me, some friends, and my staff (whom are all basically still working here) back on that VHS tape back in the late `90's. There was some new stuff in the 100th Anniversary edition, and certainly anything CGI was new, but a lot of what got cut out of the theatrical release in the '90's was on her video tape.
One thing she had was a complete set of dishes and silverware that Cameron had made up for the filming and given a set to everyone on the crew. We had a big spagetti cook that night with the inevitable wine and beer and coffee and tea...and everyone of my employees ate with some piece of china or tea or coffee cup or silverware with the White Star Line markings on it. Of course, everyone was appreciatively careful, and nothing was broken.
I have no photos of that night, I am not a tourist and I did not carry a camera during most of the time I have been here because what happens around here is what happens around here. Cel phones existed at that time, but not with cameras. So I have no photos for this thread.
I suppose the fondest memory I have of the evening, when I think about it, was the life jacket. The life jacket she had with her was not very big, made for a large child or very small adult. One of my employees (who has worked here all 26 years that the store has existed) is quite small, hardly coming up to 4 feet, 6 inches and quite slim and was even slimmer at the time. So you can imagine who got dressed up in the lifejacket and paraded around for everyone to look at and imagine "what if?"
Mexicans in general did not know much about the Titanic until the movie came out as it was not a part of their societal lore. Still, all my staff had seen the movie by the time we had this party -- and then they got to see the extended version on VHS!!! But sitting there, eating their spagetti and Ice Cream, I believe I caught one or two of them running their fingertips over the "White Star Line" markings on their china or cups....and pursing their lips a little bit in thought.