The absolute toughest material in the universe is that invisible fabric that separates those who “make it” in show business and the many more who do not. Let’s look at the real people of show business both those known and unknown with an emphasis on one young lady and her path to theatrical success. I promise a fascinating trip.
I met William Holden in a bar in Hong Kong. We closed the place and the whole experience was immensely fun. A couple of years later I ran into Robert Mitchum on a dusty trail in Vietnam. It was just Mitchum and a few Marines, no cameras and no public relations flaks. Being the brilliant budding entertainment writer that I am I asked him if he was “the movie guy.” He said “Yes” to which I brilliantly continued by asking him why he wasn’t back in Hollywood with a swimming pool and a blonde bimbo. He chuckled and said convincingly that he just wanted to stop by and shake the hands of some real heroes. Well I sure as hell didn’t feel like any hero but I was impressed with the depth of sincerity and reality in both Holden and Mitchum. These were two actors who with all their fame and fortune remained at least in my experience real and very pleasant people
Several years later I found myself hosting a talk radio program in Los Angeles. In the process I had several occasions to interview “celebrities.” I found all to be very pleasant and fun to be with. I had the pleasure of interviewing Barry Levinson on his way to Thailand to shoot “Good Morning Vietnam’. I also had the opportunity to interview some new guy just in town from Australia where his “Mad Max” movie had earned him international acclaim. Yep Mel Gibson was also a lot of fun. But I was no star chaser and I never and I mean never read the tabloids nor did I ever have any desire to step on stage or in front of a camera. Radio was easy, just a room with subdued lighting, one microphone and a guy or two on the other side of the glass. Then I had my final child in this lifetime and everything changed.
It was 2005. My daughter Kari walked up to me one day and with laser like intensity and sincerity said to me: “Daddy, when I grow up I am going to NYU. When I graduate from NYU I will star on Broadway for a few years and then go to Harvard Law. Then I am going to work with production companies.” She was nine and although I understood that she did not completely grasp all of the ramifications of everything she said her focus was intense. Well it was from that day forward that Kari joined the legions seeking fame and fortune in Hollywood and we have both learned a whole lot.
We started shopping for an agent which turned out to be very daunting task. I had a beautiful and energetic young daughter with a killer smile, but zero training, zero credits, minimal experience (just grade school stuff) and not even a head shot. What the hell was a head shot anyhow? Eventually we did find an agent who would talk with us. She set us up with a head shot photographer and an acting teacher, Richard Brander. For one year Kari went twice a week to study the black art of acting with Richard Brander, He was very popular and I got to meet first hand genuine “stage door moms” because they and I got to wait outside for an hour or so while Richard Brander tried to mold our children into credible actors. I was truly shocked to learn that my daughter was one of the few who actually lived in Southern California. The rest of his class came from all over the United States and a few came from Europe. I was truly stunned by this amazing power of “Hollywood.”
I also learned that a truly good acting teacher makes a huge difference. Kari played Ve ruca Salt in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” during her first year at middle school. Her mom and I sat there enjoying as much as one can a typical middle school performance. Then Kari came on stage and she subtly but completely took over the audience. I was pleasantly stunned. All that time and money with Brander paid off it was obvious. But the big time contracts weren’t there just yet.
Next Kari earned a Hollywood experience never before achieved by any young actress. Like many folks trying get acting gigs we had subscribed to “Actors Access.” They provide you with “breaskdowns” of roles seeking actors. One day there was a part advertised for a feature film. I submitted Kari’s head shot and resume and sure enough she was invited in for an audition Now frankly most of the “breakdowns” found on Actors Access are for student films or ultra low budget films where the compensation is “copy, meals and credit.” No money but valuable experience and much needed acting credits. But this film did not say that. This film was actually a major Hollywood production backed by well known major Hollywood people with real money and real theatrical distribution.
So it was a very happy day when Kari got the coveted call back. She was one of two on the short list and that is huge news. She went and did her thing, but alas it ended there. A great little actress she w as told, but they needed someone heavier. WHAT! In a town dominated by anorexic actors she was not fat enough for the role? Go check it out, the movie was “Paul Blart, Mall Cop.”
Kari also loves to sing and dance so she was thrilled when in 2009 Terrah Bennett Smith invited Kari to participate in a new pop group she was forming. Kari eventually became one of a four girl group called “Four Tru.” They recorded a couple of songs that did make it to iTUnes. In October of 2009 they had the thrill of playing at Whiskey-A-Go-Go. They put on one kick butt show and got overwhelming positive audience response. But soon thereafter that group transformed and Kari moved on, with some enduring memories. Beyonce is still safe – for now.
She is in High School now and happily involved in her award winning Show Choir as well as her dance team “Unleashed.” Along the way she has gotten relatively small roles in several films including the well regarded feature “Some Guy Who Kills People” the multi award winning horror short “Hinnon Valley” and the award winning “Jillian Sometimes” Recently she also did some voice over acting for Ken Mora in his animated feature “Magnum Farce.”
Also last summer she had the experience of directing her first ultra short film “Open Hands” starring Brazilian heart throb Frederico Devito. It was part of a summer program offered by the New York Film Academy and shot entirely on the back lot of Universal Studios. She also received some advanced acting instruction at the Renegade Theatre in Hollywood under the tutelage of veteran awarding winning actor Chick Vennera But when does the “Super Star” thing happen?
So what is next? No one really knows. In the case of Kari she has maintained an excellent academic record while pursuing her acting. So she will almost certainly go to college, maybe NYU and maybe somewhere else, but she has kept that option open. As for acting she keeps pursuing viable avenues including one option that could well take her to Europe next summer. So I am confident that she may become a star but in any event she already is a very credible young actress and so long as she maintains her thus far good attitude she will at the very minimum have a happy life. And what about her old man?
All I can say is this has so far been one helluva ride. I have met a whole lot of really pleasant and fun people. Sure there are always frustrations and disappointments, but by in large I have gained a whole new perspective on and respect for the world of show business and the profession of acting. Following is one two and half minute video of Kari performing a monologue. I think it is very interesting as well as entertaining. I hope you enjoy it as well. THE LINK> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mjWOji_xHs
If you have not already done so please subscribe. Throughout the year I offer numerous reviews of shows in the greater Los Angeles area as well as many interviews with some of the most exciting people in the entertainment world. Its free and its fun. You may also enjoy my entertainment industry website at www.ronitwin.net. Okay, fade to black.
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