tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post6847504595395785545..comments2024-02-25T09:45:48.931-05:00Comments on Lally's Alley: HOLLYWOOD VS. NEW JERSEYLallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310472614196384595noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-75328742344590313252010-07-01T13:20:25.602-04:002010-07-01T13:20:25.602-04:00There's that old story about being careful how...There's that old story about being careful how you treat the production assistant because she or he could one day be the studio head. In other words, be respectful of everyone and don't right someone off because they're not wearing the right clothes, driving the right car, don't have a recognizable name or a posse, or even because they don't speak in a certain way. Hopefully, those people who treated you so shabbily will learn this lesson. I hold two quotes close to my heart, and share them as much as I can: 1) my friend Mike Moyer's grandpa told him: "You belong in any room you walk into." and 2) Tony Persico's grandpa told him: "Don't let anybody tell you who you are."<br /><br />I used to get miffed when I'd call someone's office and the assistant would ask "What is this regarding?" etc. Now, I answer specifically, informatively, in a profession, courteous manner, so that they can do their job. And, presto, most of the time I'm put right through, or responded to promptly!Robert G. Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450306458083217831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-64143799099472282642010-07-01T12:41:52.076-04:002010-07-01T12:41:52.076-04:00Anonymous, (why anonymous by the way?), this has n...Anonymous, (why anonymous by the way?), this has nothing to do with "killing the messenger" but I have been around "stars" of all kinds for almost all my adult life now and have seen this phenomenon occur again and again in all kinds of scenarios. I've even been treated in various situations at different times of my life as a "star" and watched some of these things occur. Many of the readers of this blog are "stars" etc. They know what I'm talking about. People in these positions, either the "star" or working for one, can respond in as many ways as the rest of us in any situation, but there is often a confusion of standards of importance, what is and what isn't, that reflects an overblown idea of difference rather than common humanity. I've been guilty of it in my time for sure, as I suspect most of us have. I'm not judging or condemning anyone, I'm just reporting on an experience. If my old friend hadn't wanted to see me, she just would have told her assistant that she was tired or whatever and we'd see each other another time. This wasn't a casual acquaintance, this is some in whose house I have eaten and slept and hung around the pool on lazy afternoons and spent birthdays and holidays with etc. etc. etc. This was a case of treating a fellow human, me, impolitely to say the least.Lallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310472614196384595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-64195179816445612402010-07-01T12:33:51.282-04:002010-07-01T12:33:51.282-04:00Michael, true story: i was in London in '07 wo...Michael, true story: i was in London in '07 working on National Treasure 2. A friend of mine from there, an actress named Claudia - she and her boyfriend wanted to take me to dinner at a very in spot. But she said they'd told her it would be three hours before we could get a table. Half in jest I said, "tell them your with Jerry Bruckheimer's photographer." Claudia decided to have fun - she called back and in her most official British voice said: "Yes, Robert Bruckheimer would like a table with two guests." and they told her "Fifteen minutes." Thus, my recommendation to use Pacino, DeNiro, DiCaprio, Clooney, whatever gets the job done - play the game! Don Juan taught Carlos about this - it's called "controlled folly."Robert G. Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450306458083217831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-13080766164117294452010-07-01T12:19:03.510-04:002010-07-01T12:19:03.510-04:00More likely the black Tee crowd were stagehands lo...More likely the black Tee crowd were stagehands looking to wrap up for the night and get to where they wanted to go.<br /><br />Rest assured that the stagehands were not acting in awe of the Hollywood personage. They come in contact on a regular basis with all types from world leaders in the audience to TV or movie or music people giving the boards a try.<br /><br />Worst case scenario would be that your message was delivered but no audience was granted. Don't kill the messenger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-14257668142156205392010-07-01T09:47:25.787-04:002010-07-01T09:47:25.787-04:00Suz,
It's a fair sized theater. I'm trying...Suz,<br />It's a fair sized theater. I'm trying to keep the "star" as anonymous as I can because this isn't about her but about the intermediaries.<br />Anonymous,<br />I tried to condense the actual experience so the post wouldn't go on forever, but I did follow directions. I asked the woman I thought was the house manager where I could find the stage manager after the show and she told me to wait. But as I've said in the post I've done this many many many many many many many times over the past many decades and have never had this particular problem before, because, as you say, "theater" folks are generally pretty nice and accommodating, some of them. But this star was more "Hollywood" than "theater" thus the title and theme of the post! I followed the directions of everyone I encountered with patience and humility, as best I could, but their sense of self importance was overwhelming exactly BECAUSE they were theater folk working with or for a "Hollywood" personage, etc.<br />It's no big deal, I just found it interesting and telling. And by the way Robert, I've been backstage to see Pacino after plays he's been in, and with Pacino when we were both seeing the same play and visiting the same actor. He's always been super nice and humble about his position, very sure to make it clear he considers himself a theater actor first, a movie actor second and a "star" not at all, even though he can't avoid the impact of his presence on fans, etc.Lallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310472614196384595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-56500142065909734212010-07-01T09:38:42.869-04:002010-07-01T09:38:42.869-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310472614196384595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-83207483009632502262010-07-01T08:39:32.022-04:002010-07-01T08:39:32.022-04:00Michael, what size is the theater?
suzMichael, what size is the theater?<br />suzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-29186029377502894282010-07-01T06:54:24.557-04:002010-07-01T06:54:24.557-04:00The lesson of the night is 'follow directions&...The lesson of the night is 'follow directions'.<br /><br />If told to see the Stage Manager, seeing the House Manager is not following directions.<br /><br />Normal protocol in any theater is to first see the door man and make your request. You'll find that stage folk can be very nice people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-61323138211271451102010-07-01T01:40:16.443-04:002010-07-01T01:40:16.443-04:00Michael, next time, if there is one, just tell the...Michael, next time, if there is one, just tell them you're "Michael Pacino." I joking, but deadly serious. I guaranty you'll get through.Robert G. Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450306458083217831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-22259061530480218032010-06-30T21:18:21.419-04:002010-06-30T21:18:21.419-04:00Yep.Yep.Jamie Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10770708627188563210noreply@blogger.com