Down To Business

Almost half way through my trip. A trip of two halves, a bit like LA – oh, and did I say? It’s pronounced Los Angel-iss, not Los Angel-eez. A has been gently teasing me about this, and commented that all the BBC journalists constantly get it wrong! Anyway, two halves. Deprivation vs. opulence. Rich vs. poor. Purpose vs. meandering. Sunday was a very special day, all about new friendships, laughter, good food and wine, letting conversations just roll, leaping from one subject to the next and no particular order. I got the opportunity to ride around Beverly Hills, seeing such iconic names and places as Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air, Rodeo Drive, Pacific Palisades…  I got to sit at a street café and talk ‘industry’ with two actors, a married couple and long-standing friends of one of my oldest friends. To me, both familiar faces, at once down-to-earth, irreverent and very, very funny. I got to spend the day with someone I have been a fan of since 1979, and have made a lovely new friend.

 

It’s a curious thing to sit and natter with people you have watched in US movies or TV. I worried a little that I would be intimidated or star-struck but - and am sure there are many actors out there who are dreadful in person – these people are just that… people. Yesterday I met one of the women I have invited to contribute. Now this woman, C, has been working in film and TV since 1989 and I know her especially from ER – she did a whole season, and thus shared many scenes with George Clooney (!). We arranged to meet at a bar restaurant on Sunset Blvd (which, as I may have said, stretches for miles and miles), so I got there early and sat. Always a fear of not recognising someone, and goodness knows, she wouldn’t know me, but we needn’t have worried – the place was deserted! Now, I’ve told folks to come along with a companion, if that makes them feel comfortable (I mean, who the hell am I really? Could be a deranged fan!). C brought her mother! Drinks ordered, and we settled to talk about my project, me giving her a chance to interrogate me and ask as many questions as she wanted. Her view is that every opportunity presented needs to be grabbed. While still looking for acting work, she has diversified into blog-writing (food), fiction writing, producing and directing a short film, producing reality television, organising film festivals and photography. It all joins up, keeps her brain stimulated and also puts her ‘profile’ out there. My book proposal is simply another example. We laughed about the pitfalls and challenges of taking jobs, especially where nudity might be involved (no way, she said, my family will be watching – her mother laughed, apparently a wee bit more ambivalent about it), and the fact that one might be required to sign a contract for a multiple-episode job in a TV show, when only one episode script has been seen – what if they decide my character suddenly needs to have graphic sex scenes a few episodes in?? But she loves the work, the industry, and cannot imagine doing anything else. She is really up for further engagement, so I gave her the book proposal and my set of teaser questions, and we’ve agreed to Skype in the coming months so I can properly interview and record.

 

I mentioned before that I met with the brother of my good friend Bon’ when I arrived. He is an agent at WME, one of the leading talent representative companies. He gave me some advice on remodelling my ‘pitch’ emails to agents and managers so, after a wander down to Ralphs to buy stuff for dinner (Whitney gave me another discount! Gotta love that Whitney), I set to work following up some previous correspondences and also fired off some new enquiries - the challenge is to get past the agent or manager, or have them forward my enquiry to the woman with whom I wish to engage. Well, early in the evening yesterday, I pressed ‘send’ on a email, and within 20 minutes I got a reply from an actors’ manager saying ‘can we talk’, and giving her number. I called, and thus followed a fantastic 40 minute conversation, including her assistant on speaker phone. Once she was reassured I wasn’t a serial killer, she launched into a whole range of issues and observations about the business and how it treats older women. Interestingly, her take is at odds with others’ – she thinks the business is slowly embracing older women, albeit starting with those who are 40-plus. It was the Emmys on Sunday night, and while I didn’t watch, I did read all the coverage the next morning. We talked about the winners and losers, who drew attention on the red carpet and the fact that the focus was not on the twenty-somethings, and so on. We talked about the risks and benefits for a woman over 50 to open up and talk about her experiences for a book. I completely get all that, as something I am mindful of is avoiding the perception of ‘biting the hand that feeds’. Boy, I wished I had a recording device on my iPhone that can begin recording a phone conversation while its happening, but then again, that would get into permissions etc. Needless, a highly illuminative chat, she was impressed with my knowledge (decades of watching too much film and TV!) and we agreed that she would forward my proposal to her client (who had expressed interest and prompted the call). Up to her if she wants to pursue, I hope she does, but not for me to put pressure. Once again, there’s me, nothing to do with the industry, having grown up, fascinating and (without meaning to blow my own trumpet) highly informed conversations with US industry professionals. It’s both real and utterly dream-like!

 

Back to the mundane – laundry this morning. In hot weather I am happiest padding around in bare feet, but am growing tired of having to pick bits of dry cat food and/or cat litter off the soles of my feet (don’t ask). We all have standards in our homes, and goodness knows Rob and I are not the tidiest of folks, but am now resisting the urge to offer to vacuum and scrub the kitchen! After all, I am PAYING to stay here. On Sunday I unexpectedly found myself sharing a bathroom with three (admittedly lovely) Slovenians! Ah well. This afternoon I plan to head to The Margaret Herrick Library, part of the American Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences (OSCARS!). Apparently a treasure trove of research materials.

 

I need more coffee…