Fingers crossed

On feeling hopeful (it's part of the job)

Just last week I was writing about how nothing good ever happens, but this week I’m going to sing a different tune! I have two big casting asks out currently. One for a male lead and one for a female lead and I am hoping against hope that one (or both!) of them decide(s) to do it! If you are someone who believes in putting out positive vibes, and/or know any practical magic for pleasing actors, please feel free to light a candle on my behalf!

I’m pretty sure Martin is crossing his fingers hoping for more homework, which is basically what it’s like asking to make a major Hollywood picture.

Landing a major star really remains Hollywood’s tried and true method for putting together a picture. I’m currently reading The Studio, by John Gregory Dunne, and even in 1967, studio executives lament “the package” and how difficult it can be to line up all of the various talent. In the “good old days” (read: sarcastically), the studio used to have all the stars on contract, so when you were lucky enough to have written something, you were also probably on contract, and an executive would simply snap their fingers and say, “these are our contract players who will be doing the picture. Shoots next week. Comes out three weeks from now. Now go polish up this racist musical!”

Nowadays, the package (the assembly of script or famous underlying material, famous actor, and famous director) is left up to the producers. And when you are a not-so-famous person, packaging really means a tedious game of reaching out to famous actors’ teams, gauging interest, writing a letter to that famous actor, contacting their agents, submitting the script, and following up for weeks (sometimes months) to try to get a firm answer before… doing it all again, this time with another hopefully just as famous actor. Then when you’ve collected enough “they’re going to respectfully pass” you ask your producers who is famous that they know know, like have their number in their phone know, and can they text and ask that fame-o directly. In my experience, that’s often who’s starring in any given movie. Someone the producer knew somehow.

They say Hollywood is all nepotism, and… they’re not entirely wrong! This is a relational business. There’s a reason Hollywood is always depicted as people having lunch at The Ivy. It is about who you’ve had lunch with, and when you need a favor from them, can you call and ask them for it?

So… both our actors are people that I in some way have a connection to. Not a strong connection! And not even my connection. But in a world where everyone is constantly feeling stretched too thin (and in a world where you are asking people to star in your Directorial Debut), it’s important to try to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible. Our female lead has worked with our producers before. Our male lead has worked with a producer’s good friend and colleague. Maybe we can sneak our way in to the inner circle on both counts and get a genuine “hey you should really read this.” [I know this “male/female lead” business isn’t gender inclusive I’m just trying to be descriptive without giving anything away]

That “maybe we can land a big one” hope is what my fingers are crossed for anyway. We’ve done our homework, we’ve put together as compelling as possible a pitch for why to do the movie(s), we’ve tried to finagle some personal outreach… and now… we wait.

Assuming you have put your best effort into it, and you are lucky, and you are strategic about things… good things can happen! Or at least, I hope they can!

I know, I know, I said don’t get your hopes up just last week, but that wasn’t about ME. That wasn’t about this exact scenario, where I am in fact getting my hopes up.

This "I hope something good happens to me" energy is the high point on the seesaw that is working in Hollywood. Since entertainment is a business of peaks and valleys, there’s no such thing as stable ground. We just have to enjoy where we are on the ride.

Maybe next week I’ll be back to “hope is lost” but for now… light a candle on my behalf.

While I'm just waiting around to hear back from everyone on everything, here’s your casual reminder that you should never just wait around for other people.

---

Hollyweird Helps

It’s been a nice little weekly treat to see notes from you all saying you’ve donated to the families I’m finding and listing here, and it’s been really nice to be in some small way making an impact! Let’s keep it up! ❤️

Help the Andrews Family After the Eaton Fire

Staci and her family have lived in Altadena for over 50 years. Generations of our family grew up in a place they’ve now been forced to leave. Staci is Altadena through and through… They’ve given so much to this community, and I know they’ll keep giving—but they can’t do it alone. If you can, please donate to help them get back on their feet. No amount is too small, and every little bit will make a difference.