Julia Allison & Patrick Moberg:
NYPRESS: How did you first become aware of this whole story? JULIA ALLISON: Well, Patrick, he works for my boyfriend. Jakob is the founder of Vimeo, which is under the Connected Ventures rubric. And Jakob is the founder of Connected Ventures and the founder of Vimeo and hired Patrick, I dont know how long ago. But Patricks quite young. And soI think he had sent me, actually Jakob was the first person to blog about it because Patrick had sent the link to the website that he had created [to] Jakob, and then Jakob was the one who filmed Patrick talking about it. And talking...what had happened on the subway because from the website, from the initial illustration that he made, you thought to yourself, or at least I thought to myself, Well, why didnt you, you know, just go up and talk to her?
Yeah, why didnt he? Well, Ill ask him that. JA: Oh, well theres actually a video that shows. I mean, he talks about why he didnt. He was trying to get up the nerve. Patrick is a very shy guy, and thats why this is so adorable, because he [is] just the last person that youd think would ever go out on a limb like this. And thats why its so inspiring and so sweet and, you know, really a great example. I have to say, I dont usually say cheesy things like hes a good role modelbut he is. He really is. And thats why I supported it from the very beginning. And I blogged about it, and then I sent outI was so enthusiastic about the story that I sent out an email to 25 of the producers that I work with, and said, You guys should cover this story. But it was already taking off on its own at that point. Im actually gonna send youhere, Ill send it to you right now. I love technology. Im gonna send you the link to the video. And you should watch it before you talk to Patrick. So yeah, I mean, thats how, thats how I ended upso I was like, I was right on the, on the cutting edge of the Patrick Moberg story (laughs).
When you say role model do you mean to guys or do you mean JA: Well, you knowto both.
Or let me rephrase thatfrom the single womans perspective? JA: Well yesbut also in the larger context. I think Patrick is certainly a role model for men. But hes also a role model for the way that both genders should behave in the world of dating. And by that I mean, they should take chances! I cant even tell you the number of times Ive had girl friends or guy friends tell me that they saw someone they found intriguing and they didnt do anything about it. And think of the joy that theyve missed out on. Patrick and Camille have spent every day together sincebasically since they met.
Really. JA: Yeah. Its incredibly inspiring. And I am the kind of person [to] take risks like that. Ive given my card to doormen to hand to the cute guy. Ive given my card to maitreds to [hand] to guys Ive seen at tables. And Im not even the kind of girl whoI tend to be very traditional in the sense that I think that guys should ask me out. But I alsofrequently what women do in New York is, they wear sunglasses, they wear iPods, they frown, they look at the ground, they walk quicklyI mean, it makes it really difficult for men to approach them. Just something as simple as smiling to a guy on the street will make all the difference forfor a man to, just to say hello to you is huge. I mean, its a huge step in the right direction. [To] do what Patrick did is downright heroic, in my opinion.
Do you think it was just a coincidence? I mean, could this have been any person or just the one person he was intrigued with? JA: No, I mean...no, I think the reason everyone was talking about it in Jakobs office the week after wasnt because of the press, it was because it was so extraordinary. One person said to me, God, this is the most Ive heard Patrick talk about anything in the last six months.
Because hes so quiet, even among his own co-workers? JA: Yeahoh, hes very quiet, very quiet. Hes very shy. Hes a web guy. Theyre not known for their loquaciousness. To be honest though, do I believe in love at first sight? You know, I believe you can have a connection at first sight. I believe thatI tend to think of dating the way I think of photographs. If you take 20 photographs youre gonna get one or two you really like. So the odds are not necessarily on someones side for any given subway rendezvous. But, that having been said, lets say you take 20 chances and you get one that works out. It doesnt really matter about the 19 that didnt. And thats why this is so great. Yes, this one happened to work out. The odds were not necessarily on his side. I mean for Christs sake, she doesnt have a boyfriendwhat are the odds of that? You know, I dont even remember the last time I didnt have a boyfriend.
That having been said...I mean, she says she didnt even remember seeing him, which is hysterical in my opinion. What is there to lose? People are always so concerned about being rejected that they miss out on incredible opportunities. And I happen to be a ridiculously optimistic person, but I think the number one problem with dating in New York as I see it, is this depressimistic...its this depressimistic attitude, and I do mean depressimistic: Its like this combination of depressed and pessimistic. People are bitter, theyre angry, theyre depressed and their pessimistic. And its really sad because itsits a self-fulfilling prophecy. Have I ever [inaudible]? Abso-fucking-lutely. But does that mean that Im gonna go out every day and think, you know, This city is full of schmucks? No. There are Patrick Mobergs in this city and they just need to come out of their shells.
I think that thats why this story is, is soa lot of people said, Its a publicity stuntno, it wasnt, it really wasnt. I encouraged Patrick to go on Good Morning America and to go on various shows because I said if just onelike, I hate to be all clichébut if just one guy looks at this, or one girlcause it really doesnt matter what genderwatches your story and says: Next time I see someone that I find intriguing then Im going to make a point [to] make that connection, it will be worth it.
When you said the producers you work with regarding contacting people about Patricks story is that who you meanttelevision producers and stuff like that? JA: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Because you know, I mean I dont, you, um thats, my like, my primary job.
Did you connect him to the studio people who expressed interest in a movie? JA:Yeah, well, you know, hes gotten a lot of offers on his own. I set him up with my agent. As you well know, the press is frequently like toddlers with a shiny object. You know, they all crowd around, and they lose interest after a couple minutes. But for those first couple minutes, you know, everyone glommed on. I sent out the email early in the week...[to] some of the...producers that I work with. And then I got some independent calls and I forwarded them all to him, and I encouraged him to do...basically everything.
Have the three of you hung out together at all? JA: No Ive never met her. No, no no. Definitely not.
Do you think I could possibly speak to Patrick? JA: Yeah. Yeah. Hold on, lemme
Is there anything you want to add by the way? JA: Um, well I mean I just think, I dont, I dont know, I mean, I dont know what, what is your angle on the, on the story?
Well, theres more than one. Part of it is just the whole idea of meeting people randomly. Its just always something thats interesting to readers. JA: Well its really romantic, I think.
Yeah. JA: More than anything else, this is a true, New York romance. You have these quintessential, New York, romantic moments. You know, in, I guess its Sleepless in Seattle, they meet at the top, it always seems to involve the Empire State Building. Well this is a true, modern, New York romance: It involves the subway; its two New Yorkers, young New Yorkers; and it involves the Internet. And so I think, I mean I think it could be, if...you know how rare it is for movies to actually get made, but if they did make a movie about it, I bet it would be incredibly successful and it might define, it might be one of those, I mean, I dont know, I could see it as a quintessential, New York romance. And thats amazing! Thats so exciting! You know? Things like this dont happen every day. They should, but they dont. Thats why I told Patrick to just go for it. Because, you know, its not something that you can necessarily repeat. Its totally unique. I think its positive. I see it in a really positive view.
But once the buzz dies down do you think itll last? JA: Oh, I dont know, but I think the fact that theyre spending every day together, I dont think you would necessarily do that just for the press. I mean hes not doing it for the press anyway. Hold on, let me get Patrick.
PATRICK MOBERG: Hello? NYP: Hey, is this Patrick? PM: Yup.
So do you have a few minutes to talk? PM: Yeah, yeah. Totally.
Can you describe your meeting Camille and why it was her rather than any number of attractive women who mightve been on the train? PM: Thats true. Yeah, I mean I absolutely see hundreds of pretty girls every, every day on the subway. I dont knowthe way, just her physical presence and the way she carried herself and, like, as weird as it sounds to say, like, there was just like, like an unnatural towards her that I really couldnt ignore and just felt like even if it wasnt a relationship necessarily, I had to get in touch with her and just find out who this person was.
NYP: Actually, thats something I wanted to ask you about as well. Because, although I know she moved to New York after graduation and is an intern at BlackBook, I couldnt find any other information about her. Can you tell me about how her apartment burned down? PM: She was living in a loft in Chinatown on Halloween, I believe it was, there was a fire that, it didnt completely burn the building down, it was just kind of on her floor, but left her kind of homeless. So she started staying with a friend down inkind of near Park Slope, I think. So thats like the only reason she was on that train.
Thats where she is (living) now? Park Slope? PM: Yup.
And you live in Brooklyn too, right? PM: Yup. Brooklyn Heights.
And youre a web designer. PM: Yup.
And when did you come to the city? PM: Beginning of June, of the summer.
And youre originally from Tennessee, is it? PM: Yeah.
How do you feel about all this media attention and everything that its stirred up? PM: Yeah, its interesting. I definitely, didnt have any of this in mind when I made the site. Truly the only reason was to kinda find this person, just get in touch with her. So this has kind of all been after the fact and Im just trying to keep a level head about everything and handle it as best I can. Yeah. Its a little overwhelming sometimes but, I dont know.
Do you ever worry about what itll be like when all the kind of headiness dies down? PM: As far as the relationship goes?
Yeah. PM: Yeah. Thats definitely something weve both thought about and talked to one another about. Yeah, its a very valid concern. I think well just have to kind of see how everything works out. Yeah.
OK, what about people outside of work? How have your friends responded to all this? PM: They think its all pretty interesting.
Did it turn out that you and Camille had a lot in common after the initial connection? PM: Yeah, absolutely. Were both very like creative people. And, theres definitely like a, a, a chemistry there that, that, we just clicked andno matter what happens Im sure well definitely be friends.
Can you tell me about the talks for a screenplay? PM: Ive been advised not to say too much. Im still, were both trying to decide what we want to do with it. I think the details are supposed to be kept secret for now. Yeah, I mean it was a tough decision because, like I said, I definitely didnt [do any of this] with, like, with that in mind. So with everything were doing, were just making sure everything [that] happens, trying to make the best decisions.
I guess you werent used to giving interviews before this. PM: No. No.
So is that something you had to kind of grow into? PM: Just, throughout the whole thing Ive kind of kept the mindset to be myself and not try to pretend to be anyone.