Holly v. Hollywood

So, Lisa Soloway went to Hollywood to start her career as an actress. A year later, she came back to San Francisco, no further along in that career. She faced disappointment, self-centered and unscrupulous fellow actors, agents, and shyster of many breeds. Instead of firmly affixing her tail between her legs and living in embarrassment at her lack of progress, she wrote a screenplay about her experiences in Hollywood, blaming the system, her co-actors, the scam artists, the acting teachers, everybody. And she feels much better. She'll make her own movie, jump start her own career, get rich and famous outside of the system. More power to her. Lisa writes, stars and co-produces with her mother Beth, and Jeffrey Scott Johnson directs. I play her best friend, Gail (or the least offensive of the people she meets in L.A.), and we're off.
In this scene, Gail (me in yellow), Holly (Lisa to my right) and the others meet at a local actors' bar to either talk about the harrowing auditions of the day, stab each other in the back by trying to steal vital information about roles, or snidely brag about roles they've gotten (not Holly; she doesn't get any). I talk about the wonderful, new age, "out there" acting class that I love. Holly suffers my eccentricities because I'm the most harmless of the lot. I'm her court jester.

Here, I have a word with director Jeffrey Scott Johnson.
Honestly, I didn't know he was the director till about two
weeks into shooting. When one person writes, stars and
Co-produces, and the actual director is very soft spoken,
an actor can make that mistake. I just figured I had my
character down pat because nobody gave me any direction.
But once I found out who the director was (when this
picture was taken), I started discussions about my
motivation and lighting.

In this scene, Holly and I go to an art gallery opening
because there's lots of free eats. A starving artist can't
pass up unguarded food on a table (even if there is "art" staring at us from all quadrants. I particularly enjoyed this scene. Thanks, Lisa.
This scene takes place in an acting class Holly (next to me) and I attend. Again, Holly feels it's a rip-off and complains to me about it. I actually crocheted that sweater. Isn't it cool? If you get to see this film, you'll notice I wear an array of really crazy sweaters and huge, distinctive earrings -- all mine. Gale is eccentric, free wheeling, optimistic, naive -- a sprite in a big body. I really like her, even if Holly didn't appreciate her finer qualities. Or maybe she did. I'm going to look at the tape again. Yes, I did receive one. I wish Lisa the best and hope her career does take off. It's a big step taking your destiny in your own hands, in this case, by making your own vehicle. The most I do is hand my photo-resume to the guests I interview my show, "Movie Close Up," on the public access station in San Francisco. It airs the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month on Channel 29, SF. Check it out.

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