Starlet

A Little TRIVIAL PURSUIT

 I spent my morning yesterday at the Sunset Bronson Studios trying to be a contestant on, yes, a game show!  The NEW TRIVIAL PURSUIT just may be in my future.  And this game show is actually hosted by none other than Peter Brady, or Christopher Knight!  Is he still married to that has-been drunk model contest winner??

Showing up at this gate at the appointed time, we were told to wait...in the scalding sun.  Some of us sought shade and grumbled...and then 15 minutes later, back into the sun for photos and instruction until we entered the inner sanctum of Sunset Bronson, where we waited then filled out paperwork...then took a quiz about a bunch of trivia.  I actually knew most of it and about half of us passed into eligibility. 

We then played a mock game of Trivial Pursuit (although I kept hitting the buzzer early, I did know that the star that came out of "21 Jump Street" was none other than Johnny Depp and that Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon were husband and wife!).  So, now I wait and see when I'll beup to win thousands for knowing a bunch a "TRIVIAL" facts!

A WICKED Little Lottery!

  Word is out the the smash Broadway show "Wicked" is about to wrap up its run in Los Angeles...and we still haven't seen it.  Not because we didn't want to, but tickets are VERY expensive!

But, then, a little witch (a more well-informed friend) told me about the Wicked lottery.  Cheapskate theatre lovers line up every night of the show about 2 1/2 hours before curtain to put their name in a barrel for the opportunity to buy tickets for $25 cash!  Yes, front row, in the heat of the action for a mere 5 footlongs!  Or 25 double stacks...or any other trade off combination of cheap eats for cheap seats.  And, not only do you get to get fab tickets for practically nothing but a way cool bright green pin that says "I won the WICKED lottery."

But, alas, WICKED seats eluded us on our first attempt...but now every chance we get we'll be in that line of wide-eyed WICKED wannabes hoping and praying for our chance at the best bargain in LA theatre! 

Charlotte's Birthday....she takes up fencing!

  What does every 11-year-old want for their birthday?  A chance to stab other kids in the heart with a sword?

Yes, Hollywood can be the land of backstabbers, but why not just do it to their faces?!  Fencing.  What a cool sport that allows you to prance and lunge, whip and slash, all with relatively little damage done because of the big ball that sits on the end of the foil allowing your opponent to avoid certain death.

And that's what Charlotte wanted for her birthday and here she is in her fourth lesson at Swordplay Studios in Burbank, a fencing studio famous for teaching hundreds of actors how to play with swords - and make it look real - in all kinds of films.  The place is chock full of photos and it's unbelievable how many films actually use a little flash of the foil to ramp up the action.....www.swordplayla.com

Charlotte's First Commercial....can you spot her?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS0Tlz-r-0c

Click on the link above to see Charlotte's first commercial....it got her SAG status and it is super creative, but can you actually spot the three kids chosen as principle actors out of a field of about 250 wannabe soccer players?

This is another lesson in "you never know what will make the final cut!"  They filmed dozens of close ups of the three kids and their reactions to the baby kicking the ball, but did any of them make it to the final print?  No....

This commercial was completely rushed after a fire started up behind the homes on the bluff....we were actually evacuated by the fire marshal within fifteen minutes and the producation team had to go with what they had....so Charlotte got a nice paycheck and a meal, got to play soccer with a bunch of other kids, but can't use this for her reel....blink and you'll miss her!

Did you see me on Shear Genius?

  Well, I didn't even see me on "Shear Genius" but I heard  mixed reviews, depending if you were related to me "you looked nervous" or whether you were a kind friend "you looked lovely, so poised, great hair."

In truth, I was terrified.  Not of the camera, but of falling off the five inch heels I was wearing (along with the gorgeous Gucci men's tuxedo shirt my stylist brought from his own collection!).  My knees were shaking as I wobbled down the runway to the judges, including the absolutely ageless Jaclyn Smith.

In return for being a hair model, we got basically some color and a cut if you were lucky.  It was a long day and only for the glory of the stylists.  We were lucky they remembered to hold some lunch for us!  Twelve hours inside some weird studio (I think an abandoned hotel) with not even a bottle of shampoo as compensation.  Really, with Nexxus as sponsor, a few products would be a nice bonus!

On the flip side, I found my stylist, Charlie, to be delightful...and, frankly, I think he should have won.  When we left for the day, we had no idea who would prevail...of course, I blogged immediately about the "Shear Genius" experience...but was quickly contacted by the powers that be at Bravo Network and told to take down my comments.  I was pleased they actually found the blog.

Check out the photos....there's a great one of Charlie and the blondes...he wanted to make me a femme fatale, in the Hitchcockian thriller way.  I loved the look but don't think I gave Grace Kelly any competition!

http://www.bravotv.com/Shear_Genius/season/2/index.php

C Different and "Victory Over Darkness" Premiere

  Wow!  What an unexpected experience Charlotte and I had Tuesday when we were invited (by good friend and SAG Awards PR queen Rosalind Jarrett) to see the film "Victory Over Darkness" at its Los Angeles debut.

This documentary film, five years in the making, follows three blind triathletes (pictured above) as they prepare for their first IronMan competition.  One is a 40-year-old woman, blind from birth, another is a guy in his thirties that was blinded by a gunshot to the face, and the third is a retired teacher who has gradually lost sight and is now completely blind.  Funny, charming, touching and inspirational, this film is a reminder that our daily troubles pale in comparison to the challenges of blindness.

This is of particular interest to me because my brother-in-law and his wife are both blind.  He was blindedin a car accident at the age of 21 and she has been blind since birth.  They both hold jobs in France and are raising two sighted children.

My first thought when hearing about these athletes overcoming enormous odds was "how do they run, swim and bike when they can't see?"  Well, for me, the most amazing part of this story is the guides who devote huge chunks of their lives in getting these blind athletes trained and then guide them through the race.  The guides, accomplished athletes themselves, give the gift of freedom to compete to these blind athletes.

One of these guides, former model Matt Miller, had his hands full with Heidi Massur, the 40ish woman who had been sheltered by her parents and had never been athletic.  Matt started the C Different Foundation and was the driving force behind this film, raising money and dedicating five years of his life to its completion.  He also got Heidi through the IronMan's 2.5 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26 mile marathon with only 14 minutes shy of the 17 hour deadline!

Check out the trailer  http://www.donnieeichar.com/clips/vodtrailer_Medium.mov

and the C Different Foundation at www.cdifferent.org.

Both will inspire and move you.

Buying Furniture From a Rock Star!

  In an "only in Hollywood" experience, Charlotte and I end up buying used furniture from a guy named Danny Smith, who just happens to be a well-known indie rocker, leader of the recently defunct band "The City Drive" and an all-around nice guy.

Looking for a queen bed on Craigs List led us to Danny, who lives just around the corner from us in Sherman Oaks.  Super cool guy, who is just leaving his band - and LA - to head to Toronto to begin his solo career.  He sold us his TV and stereo, too, so Charlotte's birthday presents came early this year (she turns 11 on Monday) and she walked away with a couple CDs from his band and a hip t-shirt. 

Also turns out Danny had a big acting career before entering the music world....check him out on IMDB:   http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0807831/

Now our apartment is completely furnished and we have a new friend in the rock world!

Hola! It's Esteban from Zack and Cody!

 Hola!  It's Esteban from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody!  In real life, actor Adrian R'Mante is a super nice guy who just started up a young actors camp (www.theyoungactorscamp.com) that meets at The Avery Schreiber Theatre where Charlotte takes Improv.

Adrian is a very charismatic, kind guy who, beside working steadily in television, decided to pass on his knowledge of what to do (and what not to do) as a struggling young actor in Hollywood.  And they all struggle as we are finding out.  Andrew Caldwell and Ryan Pinkston still struggle.  Hit movies and shows only last as long as the next booking. 

Fortunately, these guys are a really cool, likeable (and working) part of young Hollywood...never saw Andrew, Ryan or Adrian on TMZ or being arrested or decking photographers....Adrian was actually quite welcoming when I said "hi, nice to meet you...gotta go get my camera!" and ran to the car.  Charlotte was mortified, but that's the life of a blogger.

Our Neighbors, the Stars of "College" and Hannah Montana

http://www.college-themovie.com/#/landing Check out this link to see our neighbors, Andrew Caldwell and Ryan Pinkston in their big feature film, "College".

In an only-in-Hollywood twist, I was struggling to bring boxes up from the car into our apartment when I saw three healthy boys walking down the street.  After I promised them wine if they would help me and gushing about my daughter the actress, I found out that THEY were actually the real thing...actors who get PAID to act...and act a lot...over a long period of time...and get lots of roles....etc...

The adorable Ryan and the hysterical Andrew are part of the new young Hollywood, appearing in such shows as "Hannah Montana" (Andrew plays Thor from Minnesota) and "Punk'd" (Ryan was a regular with Ashton) as well as tons of appearances in regular series.  These guys, although not well known, are on their way...and they did a fabulous job of carrying my boxes...and they are so genuine and so nice they easily put a damper on all that "every young actor in Hollywood is all ego, drink, drugs and sex" stuff we hear every day...

ryan pinkston   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266615/

andrew caldwell   http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2255271/

And, check out Andrew in his new film "My Best Friend's Girl" opening soon!

And, Ryan is rumored to star with Courtney Love in "Mother's Little Helpers" wild!

Back in LA!

    After a summer of fun (really fun) with two months in Hawaii and a week on the Caribbean Island of Anguilla, we are back in Hollywood...or, at least, close by!  Charlotte has started Millikan Middle School, where she is in the Performing Arts Program AND the School of Advanced Studies!  So busy and the homework....how we miss Elementary School!

Now, if only the acting business was as busy....could not be slower, so crossing our fingers that something happens soon...But, in the meantime, good summer memories....