A Hollywood Encounter

Story by Norm Richards


I'm on Facebook. I do Google. I'm linked at Linkedin and any number of related places. I search for fun sometimes. Sometimes I seek out enlightenment. I enjoy the exchange and repartee with many. It's usually about music since it seems to be more focused this year on playing my new drums and sharing my deep love for music. My family and I are active on-line. So, we do laptop searches during our visits. It adds to and improves our time together. There is just no downtime or bordom. Remember when you got to visit at your aunts place? You couldn't get out fast enough. We're secure and informed at the same time. Perhaps it's the modern way. 

Much of the sharing is found on Facebook these days. I'm looking forward to some great musical associations this fall and to play the big concert my friends and I will do in August 2012. Now, that experience is going to be wonderful but I'm sure it will be fleeting. It would almost be better if we played the hometown's birthday party only after doing several road shows beforehand. I don't think it would be cheating our audience at home. Well, it was home when I was a kid. Now I live in the city.

Since social networking has evolved, email has become less attractive. It has it's good points of course, don't get me wrong. Being Linkedin also puts me in-touch with the film industry. Since I graduated film school as a screenwriter and worked as a producer for many years, I feel the need to stay in-touch.

To make a long story short, I'm logged-in at the Screenwriters and the Independent Filmmaker organizations. It's informative and good for me. I feel better after going there. I keep up with industry change. Occasionally, I throw in a quip or reply to someone seeking advice. I don't mind. It feels good to help and to share. But on the whole, I seldom advise. I'd rather read what others have to say. 

While on Linkedin, I encountered a filmmaker who posted; do we know of a "fairy godmother" who's interested in helping him. The guy appears in his profile photo holding a major size cigar. Like, he needs money and he needs to ask us? It's odd however since his question appears on the Independent Filmmakers site where the host asks: "Should new writers write for the studios or the indie market?" I felt the need to answer the guy with the cigar, although my advice is targeted for writers.

Well, he came back with a tirade and vengeance, spewing venom. I couldn't believe it! This guy is too much, I thought. I replied back. He came back with more venom. It shocked me, really. I don't think I'd ever had such an exchange. I like a good debate but it should be focused on the subject. It should never be personal. This guy, does not know me? He thought that about himself, I'm sure since he came back bragging about his track record. He has a single co-workers recommendation. He's also listed as a teacher. This is a great way to teach others, I thought to myself.

Later on in the day, I checked another filmmakers exchange with him. While, I was tempted to call him names or worse, swear at him, I didn't. But this other guy went after him for his being rude and obnoxious. I felt better! I had a little laugh too. Boy, I'm not the only one. If this is the kind of guy I'm going to encounter in Hollywood, I'm pleased to have stayed in Canada when I graduated my screenwriting studies.

Perhaps my birthday week wasn't entirely all love and bliss.  

You think?             

Evening at the Birthday Party

By Norm Richards

Wouldn't be right if I didn't bring Scott a new fishing cap for the Renegade Bass Fishing Tournament http://renegadebass.com/en/results_stats.html this coming weekend. He's a major competitor on these annual events. I want him to have good luck while wearing the new Winnipeg Jets hockey logo. It fit and he loves it. I'm pleased.

Before long we do dinner and enjoy our cake hand carried from Winnipeg. My daughter asked me to bring out the favourite, its marble. I enjoy any of the cakes made at Jeanne's Bakery.

Some enjoy the cake more than others including Breana!

The evening couldn't have been better because I got to share everyone's birthday all in one night since I can't be on-hand for each and every birthday when they actually occur.

What a wonderful evening! I look forward to next year.

Afternoon At My Destination

By Norm Richards


Just as in my last visit, photo's with the Prime Minister were necessary. Got to keep up the image, you know? My son in-law asked if I was hungry. Since the coffee and donuts at five thirty, lunch seemed a long way off. By the time we landed I was ready for a hot meal of any kind. Airline food was sparse as you can see from the photo on the right.

Scott told me he had the best place in mind. We stopped for a bowl of soup in Kanata. This wasn't just any soup. It was a meal in itself. I love when you get hot tea and sweet roles brought to the table almost without asking. Scott ordered for both of us, so I counted on him.

On arrival, his business partner was there with his wife and another couple. We knew we were in good company right away. Also, I like a restaurant that's full of the people who's country the food originates from. The next table over was festuned with a large group of oriental folks smiling and having a nice conversation. It's a good sign.

 

Sure enough, nearly burnt my face off consuming the hot sauce that accompanies the soup. Glad Scott asked for it on the side. I couldn't help stiring the sauce in librally since I like hot and spicy food. Wow! Ultra Hot! But, I was in the mood for hot food after the long flight. I sure got it. How often do you spend the time over a meal and your host spends the whole time laughing at you? Happened to me.    

Morning of September 4th 2011

By Norm Richards

Well, the day started out well. I got up and showered at 4:10AM. This, after laying my head down well after midnight. On the eve of my birthday I thanked a number of early greeters from around the world and as far off as India. It's a place I've never visited. This reminded me that my social networking has grown. I noticed another friend who connected with me in 2008. I hadn't heard from him again until this evening. Nice to hear from old friends. It seems like a lifetime in cyberspace. Nevertheless, he got in touch.

My Presley family friend responded to my gentle poke from earlier. She's a lovely lady who lives in California. She's a cousin to Elvis Presley and she makes me feel like I'm in touch with the great one himself. As the night rolls by and the constant log-on at Facebook must come to an end for another day, I say goodnight to all and sign-off. I'm pleased with myself. Packing has gone well. My trip east in the morning to visit my daughter and her family is now only near hours away.
By shower time I realize I've only slept three hours and here I am again. Feeling no pain and quite awake, I slumber through my shower chore.

Later, I'm sitting three miles from home in the cab at a stop light. It's dark, quiet and no one can be seen in all directions. It hits me. I left the Jeanne's cake behind. I'm one of many who travel with those famous Jeanne's cakes. It comes in log shape complete with cookie crust and you order it in as many servings as you need. They just make it longer. Of course I have Happy Birthday written on our cake. Even though we have birthdays spread throughout the year, we celebrate them together when I arrive with the cake. I think to myself, this is going to be an expensive cake while we double back to get it.

Check in comes easy. Flights on time. Food service is limited at this hour. Coffee and donuts anyone? Just past the security area I stop to pick up a recent Nick Hornby novel to amuse myself on-route. Arriving in the waiting lounge I notice many wear jackets or sweaters for protect against the morning chill. But, it's actually a calm morning and I'm ok in my cotton shirt. I figure if I need too, I'll ask for a blanket and pillow on the airplane. But who knows, I may need to pay for that.  

It's mid flight when it strikes me I've spent the first half of the trip writing these morning pages. Julia Cameron would be proud if she knew. Julia's a modern writer's guru and creator of "The Artist's Way," a series of books to help artists and writers be better. I gave up doing her style of pages in exchange for doing a blog some time back. She's been a help for me. She got me through the development and progress of writing my first book. Now, I've found an improved routine for my writing with the blogging I do.

I remind myself, life is good. I didn't leave the cake behind or worse; out in the rain. I made the flight. I packed underwear, socks and shaver. It's the fourth day of my annual fall vacation and all is well. The sun begins to shine on me through the aircraft's port window giving me a warm safe feeling. I plug into my ipod and tune in some classic listening. It's Roxette turned up loud and reminds me of a previous visit where I shared this music with my daughter I'm about to see once again. I sense the day will be perfect.      

Plans for a Life

By Norm Richards

I remember when it was easy to make plans to do something. You'd pickup the phone and call your friends any time of the day. Apart from the cold reception when told he or she will call you back once dinner is done, they've showered or even gotten out of bed. In my case I was usually in bed.  I'm sorry, drummers get tired. But, you'd get a quick call back and plans were struck for later. Something happened. Things got done, fun would never be held up. Life happened.

Today, you make contact with friends online and wait. Sometimes days, weeks go by before response comes. You've lived a lifetime meanwhile. By the time contact comes you've forgotten who they are, never mind what they want. Oh ya, shit! Okay, let's do that!

I live a pretty busy life but it's insular and crammed with things going on. I let my brain take me in all kinds of directions. I love being spontanious to my whims. I never stray very far from music. My taste is refined and selective. Time needs never to be wasted.
I love contact with others. Seldom is it enough. People have to go, where, I don't know. Why not stay and we'll discover and have fun. Yet, I have so much to do myself. A life to live. Plans have to be realized. Okay?
   

Another bear killed today!

Yet another bear was killed today after yesterday's killing. I can't believe it. A man wearing a provincial uniform with shoulder flashes reading "conservation" said "this is what we do" when a bear wonders into a resort area. No bear traps are put in place and officers are not on hand in force with tranquilizer guns to capture and remove bears. The bear is just shot dead without any hope of living a full life without harm from humans. What is going on?

Another Bear Killed in Manitoba

I reported a black mother bear and her two cubs were shot last summer in Swan River for going into town. They never bothered anyone and were sent up a tree. They were simply shot down without a chance to escape human intervention. Again yesterday at a Lake Winnipeg resort area a young black bear was killed. He wandered near a beach area unknowingly. No doubt the smell of human food drew him near. He was hunted down by police and immediately killed, killed, not captured and returned to the wild unharmed. It just disturbs me that the provincial government has taken no steps at all toward protecting bears from humans. It sad, very sad.