Tom Lynch

God only knows what the airplane passengers overhead are thinking.

Vehicles piling into the four-level parking garage at 300 North LaSalle are met at the gate by a giant yellow chicken. After the chicken allows them to pass, they proceed to the top level, where they are instructed to park next to a newly minted Scion, and turn their radio to 88.3FM. A fifteen-foot projection screen balances on the north end, while the river flows to the west and the lake sleeps east. And Thomas Ian Nicholas--Henry Rowengartner from "Rookie of the Year" fame who later became one of the "American Pie"-pokers--shakes to the pounding dance music coming from towering speakers.

The Chicago premiere of "L.A. DJ The Movie," Nicholas and brother Tim Scarne's brand new film, is done drive-in style, atop a River North parking facility, with a club-like atmosphere sponsored by Scion. "They just came to us," says Scion representative-on-the-scene James Thompson, "after they had so much success with this in San Francisco. We're not in the movie or anything." The brothers are touring the country with their film, a screwball comedy about two aspiring DJs, and Chi-town was the Midwest must-stop.

Scarne races around the top floor, helping direct traffic, waving a glowing orange wand. "No way could that be the guy in the movie," someone quips. "He's parking cars for Chrissake." Younger brother Tom stays relaxed and snaps pictures with adoring fans, all female. "Oh man, you haven't even seen the movie yet," Scarne giggles upon hearing congratulations, and then races off again, apparently to check on the free candy gift bags or the fresh popcorn handouts. He's doing it all.

Once the crowd is settled, he grabs the mic and introduces his brother as the kid who pitched for the Cubs all those years ago. Mild yelps from the audience. Nicholas grabs the bait. "Yeah, it's been like ten years since I was twelve and in Chicago," he says, as a boat honks some confusing horn as it travels down the river.

The film begins and... nobody really watches. Though Scarne is taking this with all seriousness-- "Let's step out of the way so we don't block any views," he says when he feels he's restricting one guy's vision of the screen, even though that guy is necking with his girlfriend--the crowd seems more impressed with the location than the film. "I am just too crazy right now to watch a movie," one attendee yells to anyone who will listen while he pops the top on a Bud, anxiously awaiting the after-party, where Scarne takes on one more responsibility--DJ.

(2004-09-29)

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