Donna in Hollywoodland

Sunday Lessons and Movies

Church this morning was at Hollywood Presbyterian Church .
And after that it was a quick trip to Whole Foods on Beverly.
I made a huge salad from their salad bar... and brought it home while I updated my Zazzle page .

Then I volunteered again tonight at Egyptian Theatre , for Crispin Glover's movie "What Is It?".
I was ticket taker, and then I got to go in and see the movie.

One of the more interesting questions I was asked tonight as ticket taker was "Do you think we will be offended by this movie?"
I guess the woman who asked me that works with Disabled people and thats why she wanted to see it. But it an experimental movie, and its not to some people's tastes.
I tried to explain that the reason some people find it interesting is that there are Disabled people who are cast in roles that are not necessarily written for Disabled people... and that is explained more in the Question and Answer that is given at the end.

If someone asks that question - Will They Be Offended - its difficult to answer.
Because first, I think if you are going to a movie and you think that the movie might be offensive itself, its best to research it more on the internet before you go. And second, if you are the type of person who is picky about what they see so you have to ask that question- well, its probably best not to see it. Go see something else instead.

As for me - do I get offended ? Yes, alot of things offend me.
But I have developed a Method.
Most scenes in movies are over with in a few minutes. And then its on to the next scene.
That is any movie you see these days - in any movie theatre. Big Hollywood Blockbusters, as well as small independent films.
So I have learned to close my eyes. Listen to the dialog. Then open my eyes again when that scene is over.
If its to bloody or gory or sexual for my taste - just close my eyes.
And when I open them again, its a whole new scene.

All in all, I liked the movie "What Is It?".
And if you knew me personally, you might be surprised by that - especially if you noticed the first paragraph in the above blog entry notes I started off the day at church this morning.
But, I think there are many underlying messages, and if you are okay with Experimental Films I think you could find this a very interesting movie - if you look for messages underneath the plot.

As for closing my eyes - there were a few scenes to sexual for my taste, and so I closed my eyes.
And I absolutely do not like needles - so any scenes with injections - well, I had to close my eyes or I'll just pass right out.

The Q&A with Crispin Glover after the movie... almost everyone who saw the movie stayed for the Q&A.
It was almost like attending a Master Class in Independent film making. I got the impression many of the people in the audience wanted to be doing what he is doing - making their own type of movie, with their own creative expression, and independently distributing it themselves.
There was alot of learning and teaching going on.

I think Crispin Glover gave one of the Best Q&A sessions I have ever heard at The Egyptian.

I desperately wanted to stay and volunteer for the Book Signing that was going on in the lobby afterwards.
But the Q&A was going on forever, and it was close to midnight.
So I had to tell the theatre manager I could not stay - tomorrow is a work day.
And I had to take off.

Here's a link to the official Crispin Glover Website.

Labels: celebrities, cinema, film, hollywood, movies

Saturday in Hollywood


Headed over to the Mann 6 Theatres in the Hollywood and Highland , to see "Knocked Up".

What is the deal with the tourists, who can't obey the traffic laws ?
And why aren't there more traffic cops making the tourists obey the laws?
I don't really ever cuss out strangers, but I did today.
I am going north on Orange, with the green light to turn left on to Hollywood Blvd.
In the middle of my green light - three German men start to cross Orange right in front of my car.
I slam on the breaks, and yell "I have the green light you Morons!" followed by a long string of cuss words out of my mouth.
I had really truly almost hit them.
They yell back at me in German - and I can tell they are drunk.
Its not even Two o'clock in the afternoon yet.
After I drive away, they continue crossing against their Red Light.

Next I head down the steep ramp on Orange into the Hollywood and Highland Complex.
Its really sunny and bright out - and as you go down the ramp, the parking structure is a dark shadow.
For a few seconds you are blinded because you are in bright light - looking down into a dark shadow.
My car makes it into the dark shadow - and then I see Tourist walking Up the steep ramp !
Right straight into my car !
They are walking up the side that the cars go down.
Again, I slam on my breaks, and more cussing out of my mouth.
They just look at me.

As I get my ticket from the machine - I yell over to the guys in the booths cashing people out of the parking structure "You have people walking UP THE RAMP!"
They just ignore me, like I am some crazy woman.
I drive through the structure and I see an parking employee:
"You know there are people walking up the ramp. They are going to get hit. You should have someone placed at the ramp, to make sure people don't go up it."
He shrugs at me "I'm down here - I don't see whats going on up there."
I reply "Well, can you at least tell your Supervisor that someone complained about people walking up the ramp?"
"Oh, yeah, uh-huh, I can do that", he said.

Never mind, its Summer - there are tourists all over the place.
And Hollywood doesn't seem to be doing anything to control the pedestrian traffic.
I am surprised more people don't get hit by cars.

After I get my movie ticket, I run to the concession stand.
And there is not a single employee anywhere.
Not an employee in sight.

Two other people are also standing at the concession standing looking lost and forlorn.

I finally yell across the lobby
"Is there a Concession Stand person?"
The manager finds someone - and now I am super-late for the movie.
So late for the movie, I sit in the very last seat in the very last row by the door.

I liked "Knocked Up" , it was funny.
And Katherine Heigl is great in it.
The story-line was uplifting. And even though alot of the humor is very raunchy, it had a very real pro-life lesson, about making the right decisions - and emotionally growing through making these strong decisions. And.. plus, lots of raunchy humor.

After the movie, I grab a chicken wrap sandwich from the corner restaurant,
and I head over to the Egyptian Theatre .
I am volunteering tonight, for Crispin Glover's movie "What Is It?".
I am Captain, which means I have to hang-out in the lobby all night and watch the front door.

The theatre was very full, as it was the night before. And the movie "What Is It?", is experimental and draws a very Artsy Hip crowd.
So hanging out in the lobby is fun, because I get to people watch.

After the movie, Crispin Glover had a table set-up. He is selling his books, and doing autographs.
Many of his fans came with a digital camera - and I ended up helping out by taking photographs during the evening.

It was getting way passed midnight, and I just can't stay up that late - not even on a weekend.
One of the other volunteers took over for me, as I headed home.

Here's a link to the official Crispin Glover Website.

Labels: celebrities, cinema, egyptian, film, hollywood, movies, volunteer

From One End Of Town To Another

My agent called me yesterday. I have an audition at 4:30pm this afternoon out in West Los Angeles.
That meant I had to fight traffic after leaving my job in Hollywood early, and then somehow try to make it back in time to volunteer at The Egyptian tonight.

I don't like driving the freeway. So I take Olympic straight down. The Casting Offices are on Purdue, near Pico.
Since I used to work in the area for 12 years, I kind of know my way around. But the last time I auditioned at this place, the parking was horrible.
Low and Behold - my Parking Angel was looking out for me - and some one pulled out, just as I arrived.
I got a parking spot right across the street from the Casting offices.

All I knew was that was for a commercial that would show in Turkey. We would never see it in the United States.
I looked up the name of the product on the internet, but it was a popular word in Turkish.
So I really wasn't sure what product I would be auditioning for.
Its either an alcoholic drink, or the latest Pop star's new album.

I even ask a 20-something young man who was looking at the story-board with me, if he knew what the product was.
He just smiled and walked away.
I guess he didn't want to chat.

We look at the story-board, read a description, and get a Polaroid taken.
They call us in groups of six.
Turns out my role is that of a Coffee Shop Waitress.

We were told "This is not a McDonalds commercial. Do not be bright and cheery. This is very melodramatic.
A dark setting. This of it as a David Lynch movie."

My role was to be a sad, distant Coffee Shop Waitress.
And when the product appears, I look happy and hopeful.

After the Casting Associate was done filming my group of six - someone asked him, when were "They" going to be looking at our tapes and making their decision ?
The Casting Associate answered "Oh, they will see it in about 5 minutes. They are working in Brazil right now, and I transmit the auditions over the internet to them. So someone in Brazil will be seeing your audition in a few minutes."

Well, I can actually say I have transmitted over the internet, and watched in Brazil.
Its kind of a weird feeling actually.

As I was leaving West LA, I stopped at Big Tomy's on Pico Blvd and Sawtelle for some fried zucchini.
Which I ate in the car on the drive back to Hollywood.

Everything was fine, untill I tried to go North on Highland.
Traffic was unbelievably backed up. All the way to Santa Monica Blvd.
I turn up Franklin - and I try to take Orange up to Hollywood and Highland.
But one the small residential street by the Roosevelt, Orange is backed up and not moving.
So I turn left on a Sunset and come up La Brea. Then to Franklin.
As I approach Hollywood & Highland, I see all sorts of "NO Right Turn" signs.
I take another side street, and make a left on Hollywood.
Finally, I make it to Orange, and to the Validated Parking at Hollywood and Highland.

I later learn, that Ratatouille was premiering at The El Capitan , and most of the street was of blocked off.
AND there was a big opening night concert with Jack Black, and Kristin Chenoweth and Plácido Domingo, at The Hollywood Bowl .

So that all explains the traffic nightmare.

I make it to the Egyptian by 7:15 - but I had already told them I expected to be late for my volunteer shift.

Crispin Glover's show started at 8pm.
I was volunteering as Ticket Taker. But I went in after the show started, and saw Crispin Glover's live performance of "The Big Show".
I stayed for about 10 minutes of "What Is It?" - but I was to tired from driving to West LA and back in traffic.
I will be able to see it some other time over the weekend.

Labels: acting, celebrities, egyptian, food, hollywood, losangeles, restaurants, volunteer, westla

The Grove


After early afternoon of dealing with my Car... I headed over to The Grove .

First I headed over towards the Farmers Market .
Stopped for lunch at Johnny Rockets .
I ordered a burger, with mushrooms and swiss cheese. And it was terrible. It was the greasiest burger I have ever had. The grease was dripping of my burger as I ate it.

I thought about returning it.... but I was trying to make the movie showtime.

So I head on over to the Pacific Movie Theatres ,
to see Pirates of The Caribbean .
I really wanted to see this movie... but I was waiting until all the crowds died down to go.

And just as the movie started ... my stomach started to do weird things.
It was all the grease from the burger.
I usually don't eat fatty things like that.
Oh, no... I worried I was going to get sick during a 3 hour movie.
I made it through the movie ... but the entire bag of popcorn I bought, sat on the floor. I couldn't touch it after that hamburger.

I loved Pirates of The Caribbean .
I just wish there would have been more scenes with Johnny Depp.
But my favorite scene of all is when Bill Nighy transforms back into what he was before he had all those tentacles all over the place.

--------------
If you like Pirates, here are a few designs by some of my friends on Zazzle - that have a Pirate theme.
Just click on the picture to see more.

Ms. Skull & Crossbones with Gold Tooth by sixteenthkid

pirates IIby seawolf

62Skull_Cross
by liljulez

Octopus by epicpirates

Labels: cinema, film, hollywood, losangeles, movies, restaurants, shopping, store, zazzle

Smog Check


The renewal from the DMV for my license plate stickers has been sitting on my coffee table for about three months now.
And it was due on June 12.
I can't blame the DMV on this one - they gave me plenty of notice.

I went on-line a few weeks ago, and I paid my renewal fee.
That way I won't get a late fee on top of it.
But there is still the issue of the Smog Check to deal with.

So I tried to wake up early today, and go to my favorite car repair shop - Sams Sunset Fuel on Sunset Blvd in East Hollywood.
It didn't work. I turned off the alarm, and I went back to sleep.

After I woke up, and had my cup of coffee - I resigned myself to dealing with it.
I drove over to Auto Chek Centers, about a block away from Sams.

By this time it was the afternoon, and I was the only customer.
They guy with the clipboard, took all the information.

I laughed and said "Don't worry. I really don't expect to pass."

Nearly one year ago, I had been told I needed a new fuel pump.
My 1995 Crysler LeBaron Convertible still has the original fuel pump.
But I was told those fuel pumps are very expensive.
I needed a new radiator at the time, so I opted for that instead - and I have just never gone to get the fuel pump.
The car repair guy told me my engine was good, my transmission was good - and the 1995 Chrysler Le Baron only has 65,000 miles on it .... so get the fuel pump.
I've never gone to get the fuel pump.
I am probably getting terrible mileage.

I waited in the Auto Chek Service area. The guy reved up the engine in the stall - much faster that I have ever drove or ever will drive.... my poor car.

I was joking with the cashier "Its not going to pass."

And guess what ! The car passed !

The guy comes in with his clip board, and says "It passed"
My reply "Really ?? That surprises me!"

Labels: hollywood, losangeles

Sunday in Hollywood

First, I overslept really late ... and was rushing to get out the door.
I wanted to grab dinner at a restaurant, but I didn't have time.
So once at Hollywood and Hollywood ,
I ran into the new Quiznos .

The guy behind the counter looks at me and says :
"First, before you order - we are out of ......"
and he lists about 20 different things like "all of our salads" and "roast beef",

I stood there saying "Okay, what DO you have?"
And I ended up with some beefy cheese sandwich ...I think it had mushrooms in it too.

Then ran down Hollywood Blvd, to make it in time for my volunteer shift at the
Egyptian Theatre .
There was a performance of Brand Upon The Brain by Guy Maddin.

Labels: cinema, egyptian, food, hollywood, losangeles, movies, restaurants

May 5 2007 Photos

Me in a window during my photo walk in Hollywood

Silhouettes in Hollywood

Rub the Kitty's Back - Cinnamon the Cat Loves it

Labels: cat, hollywood, photography, photos