A local tourism operator had a surreal brush with Holywood royalty this week after attending a lecture on Ediacaran fossils in Port Union sponsored by the Coaker Foundation.

Skipper Bob Bartlett of Trinity Eco-Tours attended the lecture about some of the very earliest evidence of complex life on Earth, found in rock on the Bonavista Peninsula, now a part of the United Nations’ Discovery Geopark.

Bartlett says the lecture included some “heavy hitters” from the scientific community around the world and when he saw actor and director Ben Stiller in the parking lot he assumed he was an “Ediacaran fossil fan groupie” which led to an animated and unusual conversation between the two.

Bartlett asked Stiller if he attended the lecture on Ediacaran fossils, to which Stiller said “no” and wanted to learn more. Bartlett laughs “then I had to proceed to explain to him” about the area’s geological record and fossil finds. It turns out that Stiller was in the area to scout out possible movie sets.

Ever the businessman, Bartlett didn’t press the director about his film work, but did make a pitch for his business, offering to provide logistical assistance if needed.