Donna in Hollywoodland

The blog from Los Angeles and Hollywood by Donna Grayson

Saturday, February 26, 2005


Last Sunday And Monday And More Rain

I started writing this last Monday... Its been such a busy week, I am just getting around to finishing it today on Saturday. Oh, boy....

Sunday was as usual. I went to church in the morning, where I helped with ushering.
Then I went over to The EgyptianTheatre to volunteer.
It was a night of the Oscar Shorts. And I love seeing the shorts. Two of the directors were there to speak about their films. The director of "Little Terrorist" and "7:35 in the Morning".
Roger Ebert describes the Oscar nominated shorts at RogerEbert.com

My favorites were "Gopher Broke". Which was and animated short about the cutest Gopher. Someone in Hollywood needs to give this Gopher a feature length film. And then I'll by the Plush Toy.
Also, "7:35 in the Morning", which is a Musical short - which breaks the First Rule of Musicals. In this, everyone knows that they are singing - and the reason is pretty scary.
And then, "Ryan". Which features the most outstanding animation. It was amazing.

Monday was difficult, because it is the last day of the three day weekend.
I ran out of the house to make a matinee of Being Julia .
All the way to Beverly Hills is the downpour of half-dollar sized raindrops, pelting the hood of my car. Plop - Plop - Plop ....

Its the only theatre close to me showing it, and I live in a major metropolitan area. You would think that with an Oscar nomination, it would have a larger
release. But I guess not. I just don't understand it. It is an amazing film.
And if you have to drive miles and miles in your area, I definately recommend that you see it.Annette Bening is perfect.

Spent the afternoon inside out of the rain on the computer. I guess everyone else is inside on their computers - because the internet was slower than molasses - even with DSL.

posted by Donna Grayson  # 6:03 PM (0) comments

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

A Joke .. And A Lesson

Every day Melvin would go to church, kneel down and pray and say "Dear God, please let me win the lottery".

He did this for years and years.
For years he prayed daily "Dear God, please let me win the lottery".

One day as he was praying, there was a huge flash of lightening.
Melvin jumped up and said "God, is that you ? Are you going to let me win the lottery? "

God answered in a thunderous voice:
"Melvin, you have to meet me half-way . GO BUY A LOTTERY TICKET ! "

- From "How to Build a Network of Power Relationships" by Harvey Mackay (AudioCD)


posted by Donna Grayson  # 7:32 PM (0) comments

Monday, February 21, 2005


The Line Between Celebrity and the Art of Acting

I usually don't drive on the Los Angeles freeways. My entire life is in the Hollywood area, with and occasional jaunt to Studio City or Beverly Hills. Today I had to drive the freeway out to Burbank because I meeting friends at the Hollywood Collectors show . They told me it was going to be a ton of fun. Well, by the time I left I had a headache.

So I drove the 5 freeway north, in the pouring rain - sometimes its was coming down so hard I couldn't see in front of me.

I walked around the display area where everyone was selling their collectables.
I didn't realize it would be so difficult for me. It was almost painful to watch. To see these wonderful celebrities from years ago, sitting at a table selling autographed pictures for $5 to $30. And some of these celebrities were people I loved watching on TV back in my childhood.

I don't collect autographs. In my teenage years, I had an autographed picture of David Cassidy when he was on the Partridge Family. I wrote him a nice fan letter, and he mailed me the autographed pic.
And once a TV actor came to a company where I worked, and the employees in
the mailroom got in line to get his autograph on a piece of paper. I didn't know who he was then, I don't know who was now.

But the fact is that in both these cases I wanted the autographs for me. They meant something to me. I was sincere in asking for them. They gave me joy to have them. I had a sense of accomplishment in having received something great. I was proud to have them. There was emotion involved in my choice to cherish someone's signature.

So I really don't understand the choice of someone in the acting profession to sit at a booth and sell their picture and signature for $5 or more. Don't they realize that in this culture, they are worth so much more than that - and I don't mean money. I mean admiration and respect.

I don't know where the whole collector thing is going. Trading items. Having tons of stuff about one certain person. Cherishing another person's accomplishments enough to keep memories of it. If it comes from the heart, and means something, then thats wonderful.
But it also seems to me that alot of collectors are just looking for the next thing to make a buck off of. Its a business investment. Will a certain star earn an Oscar this year, or pass away this year ? So they invest in memorabilia because the price will just go up and up, and they can sell it on Ebay. Not because they appreciate the celebrity that it respresents.

Alot of my thoughts are coming from being an actress myself. And my thoughts on how I cherish my craft and my desire to create. I don't know if I will ever rank up there in the realm of Celebrity anywhere. So maybe since I am not there I just don't understand why people, both the fans and the celebrities themselves, cheapen something that should have meaning, and be cherished and appreciated.

However, I must also add ... that my friends love the Hollywood Collectors show. For them, it is a real treat to chat with the stars they watched on TV back when they were young. My one friend got about 5 different autographs, and was chatting endlessly with his favorite stars. He was in Heaven seeing all these actors. And for him, that what it was all about - getting to meet and chat with the actors that he really admires.



I left there early, about 3 in the afternoon. I was trying to make it to Beverly Hills to see Being Julia. But the rain was so bad, it took me forever to get at my side of town. So I decided to stay in Hollywood and see a movie at the Archlight .

It just so happens that both movies I saw at the Archlight this evening, kind of validate what I am saying about cherishing the Craft of Acting.
Both are Oscar Nominees with outstanding acting performances.

Million Dollar Baby
- Hilary Swank and Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman give outstanding acting performances. Yeah, I do agree with some of the reviews I read that the story change after she gets hurt is alittle disturbing. I really didn't think it would happen that way. I think it would have been better with a happy ending.
If the goal of Clint Eastwood was to preach a political belief about euthanasia to us, I don't think he really drove home the point. So if you can deal with the controversial ending of euthanasia, it is a powerful film to watch - even with the strange script ending. See it for the acting.
Speaking of the acting - one supporting role you really have to pay attention to. Margo Martindale as Earline Fitzgerald, the obnoxious mother of Maggie Fitzgerald, played by Hilary Swank. I loved her performance.
The character is so disfunctional ! Look for her in two great scenes in the movie.

Hotel Rwanda
If I were a voting member of the Academy, Don Cheadle would get my vote for best actor this year.
This movie is a true story, and watching the horrors that went on brought tears to my eyes. The movie is so well done from start to finish.

There was also a supporting role in this that caught my attention. Cara Seymouras Pat Archer, who searches for the neices and nephews of Paul Rusesabagina played by Don Cheadle. Her performance is so emotionally moving.

I like to watch the supporting roles in a movie, the actors that only have a few scenes or a few lines. Sometimes these minor characters aren't so minor after all, and they really help to make the story.

Well, The good thing is that paying for two movies gave me so many points on my Archlight Membership card, that I got two concession stand items for free. It helped to justify the cost of seeing two movies in one day.


posted by Donna Grayson  # 5:20 PM (0) comments

Sunday, February 20, 2005


Wonderful Recognitions...

The organization Indie Producer.com has named the short "One Mans Trash" one of its top films of the year. They are having an Award Gala and Presentation at The Writers Guild in Beverly Hills, this coming Friday 2/25. Info is on the website.
One Mans Trash is a hilarious look at Garage Sales, and the people who frequent garage sales. I have a very funny role as an obsessed garage sale women who also sings in a rock band.

Also, a reminder that one of my other shorts "Con of One" is available for download via the internet at Master Productions . In Con of One I play a women who attends a convention - and she is the only one there.A very funny short film as well.


posted by Donna Grayson  # 12:25 AM (0) comments

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