Love Finds A Home. Getting the part.

 

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Today he couldn’t stay indoors, he went to get a morning coffee, then decided to sit at an inside table and people watch, but no matter how much he distracted himself, he was still waiting for his commercial agent to call.  He lived a few blocks away, and half way home, his film agent’s number appeared on his cell.  She said, “We have an offer for you for a supporting role in a Hallmark T.V. movie.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t audition for it.”

“They saw your reel and loved it.”

She gave him the shoot dates.

“You’re kidding,”  he said.

“No, why?”

“I have to call you back; I’m on hold for a commercial that shoots on the same dates.”

“Okay, but we have to tell them by the end of the day.”

He called his commercial agent, and by the time he finished explaining the situation, his commercial agent received an i.m. that he had been released on the commercial.   He called his film agent back.  Accept the offer, he told her.   He heard his voice match her excitement.

After he hung up, he went to his apartment, and sat at his desk with his feet up, reading a book.

Today I’m a professional

I finished my French Toast, topped off my coffee, and put the dishes in the sink. I stayed in my slippers and Adidas sweat pants.  I checked my  email.  Editorial Staff , the subject read, Thank you for sending……, I paused before clicking onto it to read the rest. Probably another rejection, one of the many I had received that week from literary magazine I had submitted to.  They all start the same, Thank you for sending…., and then the rejection.  I had two others emails in the in box, a Facebook invite, and one message from Helen, who sends out The Actors Studio updates. Get it over with and read the one from Editorial Staff first. I clicked onto it, and it read. Thank you for sending us FACELIFTS AND CIGARETTES. We would like to publish it in 34thParallel. There are a few things we ask you to do next.

A chill spread across my shoulders and my face went luke warm. I leaned towards my computer screen. Then, I don’t know why, probably from all the rejections, I had a moment of doubt, until I read the rest of the email. I laughed and shook my head in both shock and disbelief.  I did it!  On Thursdays April 29, 2010 I became a professional writer.  A day I will never forget.

That day I continued to smile and shake my head. On occasion, when I was alone, I would let out a short laugh that was somewhere between the sound of joy and incredible-if incredible has a sound. I didn’t think it would be such a big deal; my life really hadn’t changed, I went to the gym, wondered what my next audition would be, and that night would go to my night job. Working the door at a hip restaurant bar.

I remembered what F. Scott Fitzgerald said about getting his first story published-not that I’m remotely in the same league-but the feelings are the same. He said something to the effect that the line between the amateur and professional is vast. Intellectually I understood this, but emotionally I was clueless. I’ve always felt that you never move forward in life until you emotionally comprehend what it is you are trying to overcome. Until you “Get it,” as they say. On April 29th, 2010 after the chills had gone from my shoulders, I felt as though I had “Got it.”  I had taken one giant leap across a divide I would never stand on the other of side again. I’m sure all writers must feel this, when it happens for them. That’s what else Fitzgerald said about that change happening; that inside of you, you never return to where you were.

I deleted the Facebook invite, and after reading The Actors Studio update deleted that too. I read where  Fitzgerald, like so many writers, pinned all of their rejection slips from editors on their refrigerator. Mine were in my trash folder and some deleted forever. I keep the one from 34thParallel in my in box.

Dyslexia to published writer.

Facelifts and Cigarettes

 

Is the name of my short story published by the literary magazine 34thParrallel. You can order a copy atlwww.lulu.com  or read it in the writing section of my website. Martin and the editors have been sensational to work with. So kind and down to earth.

The fruition of my story being published has been thrilling, nothing like the first time. I do feel different, and how do I explain this; it’s like I’ve joined a new group. I don’t mean that pretentiously-I really dislike pretentiousness. It’s as though I’ve stepped into a new room that I really like, and I’m not sure what is in side it yet. I’m going to have so much fun exploring this room, the doors leading to other rooms other worlds.

Here’s one of the things I keep turning over in my head. In school I was dyslexic, ADHD, told I was dumb and had so many problems in the classroom. I’ve worked hard to take hold of my ADHD and dyslexia. Unbelievable that kid just got published. So you can see why it’s a big deal for me. And if you would allow one more tidbit about over coming ones hurdles. For all you who were or are dealing with those issues I’ve just mentioned. “You are not dumb, you are not less than.  And remember just keep punching.” Okay that’s my 20 second pep talk. I hope you enjoy my little short story Facelifts and Cigarettes.

Filming of Creepshow 2

Many of you have asked these questions: Was the water cold? Was the shoot difficult? Did everyone get along on the shoot?

Heck yeah the water was cold. The lake was in the low 50 degrees and after the swimming scenes the wind made it colder and they were constantly wetting us down.  So I got hypothermia, nearly went into shock, and they shut down production for a week so I could recover. Since I was the skinniest I got it the worst. In line at lunch, someone noticed I was green and looked woozy.  The producers wanted to keep working me, but Gornick stood up for me and told them he would walk off the picture if they forced me to work. Gornick is that type of guy.  I was a teenager with no support from my family. It meant a lot what Gornick did for me and I love him for it.  When we started shooting again, I had a paramedic and could only do a couple of swimming scenes, then I had to have oxygen and I would pass out. They had to make sure my vitals were okay. I suffered a permanent cold weather injury, meaning to this day my entire body gets cold quickly, when I’m exposed to the cold, like body surfing here in the ocean. That’s what happens when you get hypothermia to a part or your entire body. You know what? When we were shooting, I never complained. You see I’m an athlete, and athletes are trained to suck it up and fight through it.  When you watch the picture, keep in mind all the scenes on the lake I have hypothermia.

All the cast and crew got along. There’s a documentary on youtube about the special effects team that gets into it. I think one of you put a link to it on one of the photo comments on this page.  The special effects team talk about how Gornick was battling the producers. The special effects team rallied around Gornick. I didn’t know it at the time. Makes sense now, how he stood up for me. I had a couple of battles with the producers too as they tried to slip stuff over on me and work me as I wrote up above.

Yeah it was a brutal shoot. My first big part and it literally changed me physically. Gosh I remember so much of it, and I have so many stories. I’m glad you all like the picture. Makes me feel that what I went through was worth it.

P.S. If you have any questions leave it on the comment page and I’ll do my best to respond.

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