My Brilliant Career: How I Found My Proper Place in Film and TV
I got bitten by the film bug when I lived in L.A.
and did some sort of movie work most every single day.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, I always had a class.
The U.C.L.A. campus is where they came to pass.
I studied film production and took screenwriting, too;
but my class in documentaries was where I scored a coup.
We made a documentary. In fact, I helped with two,
but I knew by the end of them I hadn’t found my place.
I simply didn’t have the balls to run the movie race.
Then I studied acting at an actor’s studio.
I really did the best at this, but still, it was “no go.”
When it came to trying out for parts, I didn’t have the nerve.
Once again my movie plans took another swerve.
I worked as an apprentice at a Hollywood agency.
There were so many candidates, yet they selected me.
They had me reading novels and sitting in on sessions;
and this was more exciting than my former classroom lessons.
I met some famous actors and tried to be real cool,
and writing out readers reports was easier than school,
but still I knew that in my heart it just wasn’t for me.
After all this time, I didn’t know who I should be.
I’d been in California for three years by then;
and although I hadn’t found my place, still I had the yen.
But I’d run out of money. It was time to find employment
that would involve a paycheck and not just my enjoyment!
I’d heard of a position where I thought that I could cope
as publicity assistant for none other than Bob Hope!
So I wound up in production: typing, phoning, organizing.
The people in my Rolodex were frankly quite surprising.
I set up radio interviews with the famous Bob.
To read the National Enquirer was required in this job!
I went to filmings of the shows, sent out his Christmas gifts,
ran back and forth to N.B.C. and soothed some office rifts.
But all-in-all though it was fun to be there on the fringe,
to be completely honest, I was not a vital hinge.
And so when I was married, we decided to move north.
I left my life in filmdom and boldly sallied forth,
moving up to Santa Cruz to live by doing art–
never really finishing what I had tried to start.
I had adventures plenty and saw much of the scene
and I enjoy remembering everywhere I’ve been;
but all-in-all, the truth is that there’s one place I’m most groovy.
When it comes to all the skills that have to go into a movie,
the only place that doesn’t make me sort of tense
Is center row and half way back, in the audience!
The Prompt: The Show Must Go On–If you were involved in making a film, would you want to be the director, producer or lead actor? You cannot be the writer.
Important note to all readers: I’ve had four followers report that all my comments to them are going into their spam folder. Would you please check your spam folders today and see if this is so and also check them tomorrow and tell me if this is still the case?
Also, my yesterday’s post would not link to the WordPress Daily Post Site, so if you haven’t read it and would like to, you can reach it through my blog. Thanks, Judy
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_prompt/the-show-must-go-on/
And I like sitting right next to you.
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We’ve spent a lot of time doing just that in the past. They cost a bit more now than the 10 cents it used to cost to go to a White River show!!!
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Judy I enjoyed your flim poem. It reminded me of the family. If you read my post ‘stars and stripes’ the uncle mentioned it it has a star on the pavement in Hollywood. Also it literally is 100% true, for once. 🙂 Anton
) Anton
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Hi Anton. Glad you could read it. I’m curious about whether you can read this comment, as well, as four people have reported today that my comments are going into their Spam folders. I think I’m getting April fooled a day or two early this year by WordPress. Thanks for your comments. I’ll check Stars and Stripes!!! Judy
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What a fascinating life you’ve led!
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Yup, you were in my spam folder. That’s not good 😦
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So I think you can okay me and then I’ll start going into your regular folder. I hope.
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I think so too. I’ll let you know if you show up there again.
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The wind was strong, day was bright. I believe I could get this directing all right
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Whew!
Clap! Clap! On your life, and the way you present it.
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Thanks, Sheryl. Fun to tell stories back and forth, isn’t it? Judy
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I really enjoyed that one!
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Thanks, Roger.
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