Gentlewriter

The Valley Wire 9-9-2011

2011-09-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hollywood and the Flashback Movie Night
By Mary Beth Gentle

The blockbusters have left the theatres. The Premiere of the new TV Season is still weeks away. And the late night summer barbeque's are being packed away as we ready for the fall. Which can mean only one thing; it’s time for a Flashback Movie Night! Dust off the stack of DVD classics hidden on the back shelf or visit your local rental store and pick out a long forgotten title. There are so many movies to choose from. There are comedies, dramas and action adventures that promise hours of enjoyment to you, your family and your friends.

For my Flashback Movie Night, so many titles filled my head. Should I go with a classic screwball comedy from the thirties? It’s been years since I sat down and watched Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in It Happened one Night or Cary Grant and Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth. Maybe my flashback movie night required a trip down the memory lane of my childhood with the classic Walt Disney animation of Cinderella or the light hearted Walt Disney adventure of The Swiss Family Robinson. Or maybe my movie night required one of the movies that helped define the modern day blockbuster, Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark. And then it came to me, a movie that I had not watched in years, a movie that had me on the edge of my seat, a movie that the whole family could enjoy, Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is one of those movies that has it all; heart, adventure, humor and at its core is the bond of friendship. It is a movie that reminds of us that anything, including friendship with a wayward alien, is possible. The young hero of the movie, Elliot, perfectly embodies the innocence of childhood. We see the world through his eyes as he sits up all night with a flashlight in hand hoping to lure the mysterious creature out. It is a story of Aliens in the suburbs, of family and friendship and of the amazing power of love. As Elliot and the alien bond, Elliot knows that no matter the cost, he must save his new friend and help him find his way home. Elliot enlists the help of his siblings and friends to outwit the government powers and rescue E.T.

With its 10.5 million dollar budget, Studios today should take a lesson in how to make a movie that will make audiences everywhere line up again and again. In today’s movie making world, Studios are lucky to keep budgets under 100 million dollars and few have the heart and charm of Steven Spielberg’s classic tale. So if you are one of the few that haven’t seen E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial or like me you haven’t watched it in years, I recommend you add it to your Flashback Movie Night list and settle in for a heart warming tale filled with wonder, tears, humor and adventure. Enjoy!

The Valley Wire 4-1-2011

2011-04-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Finds Inspiration
By Mary Beth Gentle

Inspiration. It doesn’t matter if you are the Director, the Writer, the Producer or even the lowly Cube Dweller; inspiration is a hard thing to come by in Hollywood. By definition, inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. I used to feel that way on a daily basis. Just walking on the Studio lot would fill me with the inspiration I needed to continue down the path I had chosen, to see my stories play out on the big screen.

I had already jumped so many hurdles and completed so many tasks to even get a job on a Studio lot. The inspiration I found there should have lasted forever. Then something I had not expected happened; I began to take it all for granted and I lost my inspiration. This past weekend I was reminded of the creative forces and creative community that I am a part of when I attended an event at the Directors Guild of America honoring Francis Ford Coppola. The event was titled, “The Impact of Francis Ford Coppola on the Next Generation” and he was interviewed by directors David O. Russell (Three Kings, The Fighter), Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Twilight) and Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love). Each one of those directors has achieved success in their own rights, but they sat there much like those of us in the audience in awe of one of the men that has paved the way for them to follow.

Francis Ford Coppola is one of the most innovative Filmmakers of our time. He is best known for directing the Godfather Series and Apocalypse Now. His films have earned multiple nominations, and he has won Academy Awards for his screenplays on Patton, The Godfather and The Godfather Part II and for his directing on The Godfather Part II. He founded his production company American Zoetrope which is where he helped launch talents such as George Lucas and where he continues to produce his own independent films.

The event at the DGA was filled with film clips of Mr. Coppola’s work. He shared stories on the making of his iconic films, and he reminded everyone in the room that filmmaking is a big gamble at best, but if you don’t play, you won’t win. He talked of days where movies were made without charts tracking potential ticket sales. He talked about the importance of the art form to him and his own need to explore its possibilities. And he talked about taking that gamble, no matter the cost, to achieve our own creative goals.

From now on when I walk across the studio lot I know I will again feel that old surge of inspiration to be a part of the movie making process and to one day take that risk to achieve my own creative goals.

2011-04-01T14:43:00.000-07:00

Pololu Valley Lookout - Hawaii

"In the morning there was a big wind blowing and the waves were running high up on the beach and he was awake a long time before he remembered that his heart was broken." - Ernest Hemingway

The Valley Wire 2-10-2011

2011-02-10T16:39:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Golden Statue
By Mary Elizabeth Gentle

Hollywood’s quest for gold has begun and there are ten films in contention for the top honors at the Academy Awards. Everyone in town from the top studio brass to the star talent to the lowly cube dwellers are trying their best to predict the outcome and root their favorites on. The titles this year are; The King’s Speech, Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids are All Right, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit and Winter’s Bone.

The British monarchy saga, The King’s Speech, is the front-runner for the best picture award with twelve nominations total. The story centers around Prince Albert (played by Colin Firth) who went onto become King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. Plagued by a stammer and considered unfit to become King, he engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue (played by Geoffrey Rush) to help him overcome his stammer for a radio address at the start of World War II. The story centers on the friendship formed between the two men. The film has surpassed expectations at the box office and has already won top awards from the Producer’s Guild, the Director’s Guild and the Screen Actor’s Guild, including a Golden Globe for Colin Firth.

The next film at the top of many “Oscar Prediction” lists for best picture would be The Social Network, nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards. The film tells the story of the creation of the world’s largest social networking site by Harvard undergrad Mark Zuckerberg. The story follows the young genius and his friends as they turn a programming phenomenon into a billion dollar success story. It has already been a big winner of many Critics Awards, Film Festivals and it has won David Fincher the best director award at the Golden Globes.

And of course, there is my personal favorite, Toy Story 3. That is not to say I think it stands a chance against top contenders The King’s Speech or The Social Network, but I think that it deserves a mention and a few hopeful wishes. The heartwarming family film tells the continuing story of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and our favorite gang of toys. Little Andy is all grown up and heading off to college and through a bit of a mix up the toys are shipped off to a Daycare Center. Woody and the Gang have to face off with sticky-fingered tiny tots and a gang of toys with an evil teddy bear leader. In the end the Toys have to say good-bye to Andy. It has already won a handful of Best Animated Film Awards.

But, no matter which title is your favorite, the Oscar show promises to deliver another chapter of Hollywood movie making history as it hands out another set of golden statues to the lucky winners. I plan to settle in with my ballot and see just how close I can get to winning the top honors in the office pool!

The Old Woman and the Bench

2011-01-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

By Mary Elizabeth Gentle

The air was crisp with the chill of the early October morning. An old woman sat on a weathered bench in a small neighborhood park. The worn wooden planks of the bench had not invited her in with their comforting familiarity as they once had. The bench felt harder than it had the other times she had sat there. The bench knew something had changed. The old woman shifted slightly to lean her weight against the back of the bench, hoping it would again cradle her, as it had not so long ago. But, all she felt was the hard cold wood chilling through her woolen winter coat.

The old woman looked down to the rumpled brown paper lunch bag that sat on her lap. The bag was worn and had been used many times over. She moved the bag from her lap and sat it on the bench next to her. The bag was lighter than it once was, but still she felt the bench sag from its weight. It was the same heaviness that her heart had been carrying for weeks.

The old woman shifted again, she began to wonder if her trip to the bench had been a mistake. But, before her thought had been completed, the bench began to cradle the old woman, comforting her with its warmth and memories. The bench understood that there was now only one. There would no longer be two. The old woman reached into the lunch bag and pulled out her lone sandwich, she was comforted in the fact that for at least one hour a day, she could sit where they had once sat and feel what they had once felt. The bench had understood.

The Valley Wire - 1/14/2011

2011-01-19T11:35:00.000-08:00

Hollywood’s Midseason TV Preview
By Mary Beth Gentle

The Holiday’s are over, resolutions are upon us and Hollywood has geared up a full selection of Midseason TV Shows for the New Year. The Fall Season of TV has had its successes and its failures, now its time to see what can step in and take over our DVR’s and TV’s for the coming months. There will be new family comedies, new cop shows and at least a few reality shows will make an appearance.

January brings us the return of old TV Star Favorites with Matt LeBlanc in Showtime’s, Episodes and Paula Abdul’s return to reality in Live to Dance. There is also a Comic Book adaptation, an over the top family drama, a couple of British remakes, a few family comedies and the ever-popular Cop Dramas.

Episodes is the first on the list of midseason offerings that I plan to check out. Friends Star Matt LeBlanc makes his return to the world of Series TV in the Showtime series that follows British Comedy writers as they make their big break into Hollywood with the remake of their popular TV series. Matt LeBlanc plays a less than appealing version of himself as the Actor set to star in the remake of their British hit series. Next up is the NBC Comic Book series, The Cape. Series centers on a framed cop who disguises himself as a comic-book hero to fight the villains that framed him. And finally, I can’t help but tune in to the Medical drama, Off the Map; it has been described as Lost meets Grey’s Anatomy. It is the tale of damaged Doctors staffing a South American clinic – I am sure there will be lots of medical and human drama to go around.

February thru April brings fewer entries, but also some high profile talent venturing into the TV World. Biggest hopeful on this list is the return of another Friends star to the small screen, Matthew Perry takes a turn in the February premiere of Mr. Sunshine. He plays the part of a sports arena manager in San Diego who goes through a mid life crisis when he turns forty. He will sort through his life as he tackles the unusual demands of his job and his boss. March brings the premiere of medical/cop show, Body of Proof starting Dana Delany as a Medical examiner with a unique approach to solving crimes. And April offers up the Christian Slater comedy, Breaking In, about a team of security consultants that take extreme and often questionable measures to sell their protection services.

So no matter which new shows you decide to check out, get your DVR’s ready and settle in with a bowl of popcorn – midseason TV shows are here! Enjoy!

Examiner Article - 11/19/2010

2011-01-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Wizards
By Mary Beth Gentle

The tale of a small, orphaned boy who lived under the stairs on Privet Drive to his entry into the wizarding world of Hogwarts has captured hearts around the world. From the imagination of author JK Rowling was born a Hollywood mega franchise, the “Harry Potter” series. We have watched Harry and his friends at Hogwarts grow up in a world filled with magic and wonder, a world threatened by a dark lord and a world where a young boy can become a hero.

The first film in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was a little bit fantasy, a little bit coming of age and a little bit mystery. It offered a bright and friendly look in to the new world that Harry Potter was discovering and only glimpsing slightly at the darkness that was buried underneath. As Harry Potter grew so did the world around him and so did the intensity of each movie that came out. Without a doubt, the Harry Potter movies have successfully created a visual and captivating glimpse into the magical book series.

On Friday November 19th, the seventh movie in the Harry Potter series hits the big screen and is sure to deliver edge of your seat excitement. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is the first of two movies to bring JK Rowling’s final book to life. In this first installment Harry, Ron and Hermione decide to finish Dumbledor’s work and find the rest of the Horcruxes to defeat the dark lord. The three young wizards will face their hardest challenges yet when they go up against the evil forces surrounding them.

The Hollywood Cubicles have jumped on the bandwagon and caught Harry Potter fever. The books are being reread and the movies are being re-watched as we speak. What started as a fun movie franchise has turned into a bit of an obsession. And I have to admit that I am part of it. I have read the entire series at least twice, I have listened to the books on tape and I have watched the first six movies countless times. I even purchased my ticket three weeks ago in anticipation of opening night insanity.

Even though I know the story and I know how it turns out, I can’t help but feel like a kid on Christmas Eve, the anticipation is almost too much to bear. I can’t wait for Harry Potter and his friends to take me along on their journey through the magical world of wizarding and potions. I will be sitting in the center of the theatre with my bucket of popcorn enjoying every minute!

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Hollywood and the Wizards - Los Angeles Film Industry | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/film-industry-in-los-angeles/hollywood-and-the-wizards#ixzz1BVlMb0PT

Examiner Article - 9/26/2010

2011-01-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the New Season of Reality
By Mary Beth Gentle

The new season of TV is geared up and hitting the airwaves. The dramas are going for the heartstrings. The comedies are aiming for full belly laughs. And the action shows are putting us on the edge of our seats. But, there is one genre of TV that has all of that and more – Reality! Reality TV has come a long way from its ‘game show’ beginnings. Today’s reality is a roller coaster of excitement. These are the top network reality shows being talked about in the Hollywood Cubicles right now; Survivor, Undercover Boss and Amazing Race.

Survivor has moved to Wednesday nights and has already had its premiere on September 15th. The castaways were shocked this season with a new twist, the ‘under 30 year-olds” verses the ‘over 40 year-olds’. Will the younger and more athletic tribe be able to defeat the older and wiser tribe? Apparently famous NFL Coach Jimmy Johnson has been a long time fan of the show and has signed on for the adventure and the once in a lifetime experience. No matter if you are a longtime fan or new to the world of Survivor – this season promises to deliver a good mix of drama, comedy and action!

Undercover Boss is the next one to make my list of must watch Reality TV. The second season premieres Sunday, September 26th. The CBS reality series follows high-level CEO’s as they slip anonymously into the rank and file of their companies. Each week a different executive leaves the comfort of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. They get an up close look at how their companies actually run and a chance to see the unsung heroes and correct the problems they find. This show has a lot of heart and who doesn’t fantasize about the big boss having to work in the trenches!

And finally there is the number one Reality show to make my list, Amazing Race. The new season of the ‘Race’ starts Sunday, September 26th and I can’t wait. This is the ultimate, race around the world reality show. Teams of two go up against their opponents each week to be the first ones to make it to the ‘pit stop’. Teams must complete at least two tasks every episode before they can race to the weekly finish line - the last one there may be eliminated. The goal is to make it to the end of the season and cross the final finish line to with the grand prize. It is always exciting to tune in and see which part of the world they are in and what new adventures await them.

These are my top picks for a little Fall TV viewing - so pick a show and tune in for a little ‘Reality’ TV this season!

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Hollywood and the New Season of Reality - Los Angeles Film Industry | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/film-industry-in-los-angeles/hollywood-and-the-new-season-of-reality#ixzz1BVjSHXYl

The Valley Wire - 9/20/2010

2011-01-19T11:23:00.000-08:00

Hollywood Returns to TV
By Mary Beth Gentle

It’s that time of year again. Young children everywhere are returning to school and prepping to write that ever popular, ‘How I spent my summer vacation’ report. Well, as I prepare for the return of TV this Fall, I can tell you right now how I spent my summer vacation, I cleared out the DVR. I watched the things that I recorded throughout the year but never had the time to watch. I deleted the shows that I knew I would never really watch and I’m at close to ninety percent of available space and ready to go for the new season.

I have made room for the returning favorites; Chuck, Glee, Modern Family, Survivor, Fringe and The Amazing Race. These are the core shows that are guaranteed to please. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to test out a few new ones. I have studied the sites, reviewed the lists and watched the trailers. And there are quite a few that will make the first cut.

The Event is the first on the list. The official Press release from NBC says, “The Event is an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter), an everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée, Leila and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in US History. Sean’s quest will send ripples through the lives of an eclectic band of strangers, including newly elected U.S. President Martinez (Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood); Sophia (Emmy Award nominee Laura Innes), who is the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Sean's shadowy father-in-law (Scott Patterson). Their futures are on a collision course in a global conspiracy that could ultimately change the fate of mankind.” This could fall along the wayside much like Flash Forward did last season, but I can’t help having hopes that this one will hold enough mystery and drama to make it. The Event airs Monday nights at 9PM on NBC and premieres on September 2oth.

Next on the list is, Hawaii Five-O. The official Press release from CBS says, “Hawaii Five-O is a contemporary take on the classic series about a new elite federalized task force whose mission is to wipe out the crime that washes up on the Islands' sun-drenched beaches. Detective Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin), a decorated Naval officer turned cop, returns to Oahu to investigate his father's murder and stays after Hawaii's governor persuades him to head up the new team: his rules, her backing, no red tape and full blanket immunity to hunt down the biggest "game" in town. Joining McGarrett is Detective Danny "Danno" Williams (Scott Caan), a newly relocated ex-New Jersey cop who prefers skyscrapers to the coastline but is committed to keeping the Islands safe for his 8-year-old daughter; and Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), an ex-Honolulu Police Detective wrongly accused of corruption and relegated to a federal security patrol, who is also a former protege of McGarrett's father. Chin's cousin, Kono (Grace Park), is a beautiful and fearless native, fresh out of the academy and eager to establish herself among the department's elite. McGarrett vows to bring closure to his father's case while the state's brash new FIVE-0 unit, who may spar and jest among themselves, is determined to eliminate the seedy elements from the 50th state.” I can’t help myself with this one, it looks like the ‘popcorn’ TV show for next season. I may not tune in every week for the car crashes and explosions, but it might be worth loading the DVR up with this one for next summer’s viewing! Hawaii Five-O airs Monday nights at 10PM on CBS and premieres on September 20th.

And finally on the list is No Ordinary Family. The official press release from ABC says, “The Powells are about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. After 16 years of marriage, Jim and Stephanie's relationship lacks the spark it once had, and their family life now consists of balancing work and their two children, leaving little time for family bonding. During a family vacation set up by Jim in an attempt to reconnect, their plane crashes into the Amazon River. But this is where the fun starts for the Powells, as they soon discover that something's not quite right. Each of them now possesses unique and distinct superpowers. But saving and savoring their family life will be equally important, as they try to find purpose for their new powers and embark on a journey to find out what defines and unifies them. The Powells are a totally relatable family who happen to be a little bit amazing.” This one could be silly, but I have hopes that it might be worth watching. No Ordinary Family airs Tuesday nights at 8PM on ABC and premieres on September 28th.

So no matter which old shows you tune back into or which new ones you check out, get your DVR’s ready and settle in with a bowl of popcorn – the new season of TV is here! Enjoy!

Examiner Article - 7/15/2010

2011-01-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

Hollywood Dreams of the Blockbuster
By Mary Beth Gentle

Did you ever have a dream that you wanted so bad you could taste it? For me that dream was and in many ways still is, Hollywood. It started as something far away and intangible, something that other people went on to do, certainly not something a quiet, shy kid from No-where’s-ville, USA would ever be a part of.

Sometimes I wonder where my dream of a life in Hollywood all began, where and at what moment I was hooked. Maybe it was the Saturday Matinees at the little theatre on our small town’s Main Street, where they would play old Disney movies while we ate our popcorn and slurped our sodas. Maybe it was the Sunday afternoons spent watching old black and white Cary Grant movies with my Grandmother. Or maybe it was the seventh grade field trip to the local TV station where I got to see the cameras and lights close up.

I think all those things helped nurture the dream, but the more I think about it the dream for me was created by the Hollywood Summer Blockbuster. These are the big budget movies that every Studio spends all year prepping, shooting and posting to get on screen for Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. For me, that was my summer vacation, I had it planned from the moment school let out to the moment it started back up in September. I knew which ones I had to see and which ones I would see over and over again.

And I am still the same way. My summer is not planned out by elaborate vacation plans to some great escape or a tropical get away. It’s planned out by what movie opens on what weekend, how early I am going to buy my tickets and where I am going to see it. This summer I have kept pretty current on my movies - without a doubt Toy Story is the blockbuster of the summer. But, i just saw a movie that reminded me of the favorite movies of my youth. Sorcerer's Apprentice.

It is a pure 'popcorn' movie through and through. Sorcerer's Apprentice tells the story of master sorcerer, Balthazar Blake (Nicolas Cage) and his more than century long quest to find the worthy apprentice that can help him defeat the evil Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina) once and for all. He recruits NYU college student, Dave Stutler (Jay Baruchel) to be that apprentice. With a crash course in magic the two go on to battle evil and save the city from peril. It won't win any awards out there - but I had a great time!

So, even when I have weeks like this past one, where I have worked close to sixty-hours and I’m not sure if any of the powers that be care or recognize my efforts, I still smile a little at the thought that I’m actually here, living my dream. And at least for one moment, during one movie this summer, I got to be a kid again with my bucket of popcorn and my dreams of a blockbuster.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Hollywood Dreams of the Blockbuster - Los Angeles Film Industry | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/film-industry-in-los-angeles/hollywood-dreams-of-the-blockbuster#ixzz1BVhw3tke

Examiner Article 6/25/2010

2011-01-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

Hollywood makes 16 Wishes
By Mary Beth Gentle

Screenwriter Annie DeYoung and the Cast of 16 Wishes!
Photo: Just Jared

Tonight (June 25th 8PM) is the Premiere of the long awaited Disney Channel movie, 16 Wishes! Written by Disney Channel favorite screenwriter Annie DeYoung, 16 Wishes promises to deliver a whole birthday cake full of wishes! Annie also wrote wrote the Disney Channel classics, Princess Protection Program and StarStruck. With my options for entertainment this weekend being staying in for a wonderful Disney movie or venturing out for another Tom Cruise movie - I pick 16 Wishes!

16 Wishes tells the story of Abby Jensen (Debby Ryan) and the 16 wishes that have been building to her sweet sixteen birthday. A list of wishes combined with a box of mysterious birthday candles makes for an interesting day for Abby. When her wishes go horribly wrong, she has until midnight to get her old life back before they become permanent. Debby Ryan will also be showing off her singing talents in the movie with the song, “A Wish Comes True”.

My DVR has been set and I can't wait to settle in for some good family fun! You can get to know Abby and the whole gang at 16wishesthemovie.com. And for those of you who can't get enough of 16 Wishes head over to Borders to check out their line of exclusive merchandise.
Enjoy!

The Valley Wire - 6/17/2010

2011-01-19T11:10:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Toys
By Mary Beth Gentle

“To infinity, and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear

“You’re my favorite Deputy!” – Woody

“The Claw is our Master.” – Three-Eyed Alien

The Toy Story franchise has not only invaded our pop culture, it has invaded our homes and our hearts. From the smallest toddler carting around his Buzz Lightyear action figure to adults everywhere, the release of Toy Story 3 cannot come fast enough. The last installment in the saga of Buzz, Woody and the gang was in 1999 so we are long overdue to see just how the adventure continues.

The official synopsis for the movie has little Andy all grown up and heading off to college and through a bit of a mix up the toys are all shipped off to a Daycare center. As Buzz, Woody and the gang find themselves facing a multitude of tiny tots and their sticky little fingers, plans for the great escape quickly get underway. Where they end up is anyone’s guess, but knowing our favorite toy gang it won’t matter as long as they are there together.

I have watched the trailer numerous times and have gone to the official Disney site to check out the new characters and was met with all kinds of interactive fun. The old gang is back in full force; Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody, Jessie, Bullseye, Barbie, Rex, Ham, Slinky Dog and of course the Potato Heads. And there is a whole Daycare full of new toys including; Lots-‘O-Huggin’ Bear, Ken, Stretch, Big Baby, Mr. Pricklepants, Dolly, Trixie and Buttercup. It is hard to tell from the pictures and the trailer, but I have to say it already looks like ‘Ken’ is going to steal the show. At least for the adults in the theatre.

Pixar has always done a great job at entertaining the adults as well as the kids in the audience. Which might be the main reason why the excitement is mounting all throughout the Hollywood cubicles. There are tiny toys appearing on every desk. The original Toy Story favorites are there, but the new ones are starting to appear as well. I have to admit, I even found myself eyeing all the toys on the shelves at Target the other day. And even though I was there under the guise of buying something for my nephews, I couldn’t help but pick up a small action figure of a cute little unicorn named ‘Buttercup’. For my nephews of course.

Toy Story releases on June 18th and I can’t wait to get in line to see what my favorite toy heroes are up to. As always I am sure Disney and Pixar will deliver the goods and add another family favorite to their collection!

Examiner Article - 6/7/2010

2011-01-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and Sex and the City...
By Mary Beth Gentle

Cosmopolitans. High fashion. Girl power. Sex and the City 2 was everything I was expecting and more. Oh so much more. For those of you who have seen it...I will drop one name and one name only...Liza Minnelli. Her guest spot was one of those movie moments that made me either want to hide under my seat or jump aboard and just enjoy. And that is what I decided to do with the entire movie, I jumped aboard and enjoyed every minute.

I know that the movie is in its second weekend and in Hollywood terms that means that I am way behind schedule, but I have to admit, I was worried. I have watched every episode of Sex and the City at least twice. I have had my share of Cosmopolitans. And from season one to the last movie, I never gave up rooting for Mr. Big. The thought of being disappointed was almost too much to bear.

But this weekend, I had a cosmo for old time sake, I ignored the somewhat lukewarm reviews and I settled into my seat and hoped for the best. And that is exactly what I got. And I say that as a fan not a seasoned Hollywood movie-goer. If I wanted to, I could join the other reviewers and point out the flaws, but I'm not going to do that. For this movie, I am just a fan and I am going to tell the other fans to go out and enjoy Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda at their neurotic, sex-crazed, perfect and workaholic best.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Hollywood and Sex and the City... - Los Angeles Film Industry | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/film-industry-in-los-angeles/hollywood-and-sex-and-the-city#ixzz1BVeMPkHp

The Valley Wire - 6/2010

2011-01-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Great Outdoors
by Mary Beth Gentle

Blue skies. Sunshine. Fresh air. As summer settles in around us, thoughts turn to vacations and for some people that means the great outdoors. Life in the Hollywood Cubicle is a little like tackling the wilds of the outdoors, the survival skills are the same, but I don’t have to deal with all the bugs. So even though I will be enjoying all the wonders Mother Nature has to offer from the comforts of my living room, I do have my summer of nature planned out.

It begins, as most things do, with a list of movies. The first of these are the purist nature movies and the best of these are the Imax Nature Collection on Blu-ray, Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series on Blu-ray and Disney Nature Earth on Blu-ray. As you can tell by these titles, the Blu-ray is key to having that truer than life outdoor experience. I plan on putting on my favorite outdoor outfit, complete with fishing hat and settling in on the couch with a plate of smores to enjoy all nature has to offer.

The next in my movie line-up will be, Nature films for the family. My favorite titles here would be, Wall-E, Avatar and March of the Penguins. Wall-E is a great family movie with a strong environmental message; it is time that we take care of good old mother earth. Avatar was not only visually amazing to watch, but it was also drove the lesson home that we must take care to live with and respect nature. And March of the Penguins is a great circle of life look at just how amazing nature can be.

But without a doubt the best back to nature, break out the camping gear movie of all time is the John Hughes classic, The Great Outdoors. John Candy and Dan Aykroyd take getting back to nature to a whole new level of fun. When Chicago native, Chet (John Candy) takes his wife and two sons on a family vacation to lake resort in Pechoggin, Wisconsin, he must learn what it truly means to be one with nature. He will be faced with garbage stealing Raccoons, a grizzly bear out for revenge and a crazed bat. But, surviving the wilds of nature are only part of his problems, he will also has to deal with his snobby brother-in-law Roman (Aykroyd) and his family when they decide to crash Chet’s vacation.

So, if you are like me and the thought of leaving the comfort of your couch and your air conditioner this summer are more than you are ready to tackle then load up your movie schedule, cook up some camp-out favorites and settle in for a back to nature movie marathon!

The Valley Wire -5/7/2010

2010-05-14T15:29:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Kicks Summer Off Early
By Mary Beth Gentle

Clear your schedule. Start the Countdown. Prepare to dive into a tub of popcorn. Because folks, summer has come early to Hollywood. Even though it is still May and we are barely into spring, the summer movies have arrived. The first three films this cube dweller has circled on her calendar are; Iron Man 2 on May 7th and Robin Hood and Letters to Juliet both May 14th. These are the three kick-off movies for what looks to be a very good movie summer.

From the trailer, Iron Man 2 promises to be the sequel to end all sequels. In the first Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. delivered the action-packed tale of wealthy, playboy genius Tony Stark who after a tragic accident is turned into the ultimate super human machine. In the second movie, Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark/Iron Man and will have to battle it out against his Russian arch nemesis, Whiplash, played by Mickey Rourke. Also making their Iron Man debuts are Sam Rockwell as corporate rival Justin Hammer and Scarlett Johansson as Russian spy Black Widow. Early word from those in the Hollywood cubicles who were lucky enough to catch an advanced screening is thumbs up!

The next movie I will be racing from my cube on to go see will be Robin Hood on May 14th. It is being advertised as ‘The story behind the legend’. This latest take on the classic tale of adventure stars Russell Crowe and is directed by Ridley Scott. That right there tells me that this movie will blow the classic Errol Flynn Robin Hood out of the water! If you haven’t seen the trailer, go check it out online and I am sure you will be standing in line to see it on opening night.

And finally, there is Letters to Juliet, also out May 14th. Just typing the title made me smile a little. I have been watching this trailer for months and I can’t wait to go see it. This is not a race to the theatre, guns and swords blazing summer popcorn movie, this one looks to be a heartwarming tale of that ever elusive second chance at love and I have very high hopes for it. When a Young American girl, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) travels to the city of Verona and finds a long lost love letter she inspires its author (Vanessa Redgrave) to go in search of her lost love. Along the way Sophie finds true love of her own. Now, if that doesn’t get you to the theater I don’t know what will!

So, whether it is the action hero intensity of Iron Man 2, the swashbuckling heroics of Robin Hood or the search for true love in Letters to Juliet, this summer movie season looks to be shaping up to be a great one! So, even though we are still in spring, my summer starts May 7th with Iron Man 2!

The Valley Wire - 3/5/2010 Column

2010-05-11T21:12:00.001-07:00

Hollywood Rolls Out the Red Carpet
By Mary Beth Gentle

This year when Hollywood rolls out the red carpet there will be quite a few more hopeful filmmakers walking down it. This year, the best picture category goes from five films to ten, with all of them vying for the coveted title of Best Picture. That’s five more films that Academy Members have to watch, five more sets of filmmakers crossing their fingers and five more chances that a movie I actually saw will win the top prize. The top ten contenders this year are; Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Bastards, Precious, A Serious Man, Up and The Air Up There.

It’s tough to clearly know which Film will be the big winner this year. There are more choices than there have been since 1944 – that was the year the Academy began restricting the nominations to five films. But, it seems like this year, even with double the titles – it looks to be coming down to two films that will be going for the golden statue, Avatar and The Hurt Locker. They have gone head to head at all the award events up to this point.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker follows a United States Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team during the Iraq War as they deal with defusing bombs, the threat of insurgency and their own internal tensions. The film is based on the accounts of freelance journalist Mark Boal as he expertly tells the story of soldiers dealing with life in a war zone. The film practically swept the BAFTA’s (British Academy Awards) and has been winning Guild Awards all over town.

In the story of Avatar, Oscar-winning director James Cameron takes us to a world beyond the imagination. Set in the future, paraplegic war veteran, Jake Sully is sent to the moon called Pandora where he will become an Avatar. He will regain the use of his legs as he is transformed into one of the indigenous people on the planet. In his new body, he will embark on an epic adventure to save a race of people and a planet from its human invaders. Avatar has also won awards with Best Picture at the Golden Globes, but with a gross of 700 Million domestically and close to 2.5 Billion worldwide, it has really been the biggest winner at the box office.

This is the first year in a long time that I have actually seen more than just one of the nominated films. For that reason alone, it promises to be an exciting Awards show. And even though there are films that deserve the golden statue for their dramatic story telling or for their heartbreaking honesty, I can’t help but cling to the hope that the box office favorite, Avatar, will take home the big win. And it’s not for any other reason than it has done for movies what none other has done in a long while, it has pulled people out of their homes, out of their routines, away from their television sets and brought them back into the movie theatre.

So, no matter what your favorite film may be, I hope you take the time to tune into the Academy Awards show on March 7th, grab a bowl of popcorn and sit back and enjoy the show. Because no matter what film takes home the prize this year, it’s bound to be worth watching.

The Valley Wire - 2/5/2010 Column

2010-02-13T22:57:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Valentine
by Mary Beth Gentle

Love is in the air in Hollywood. Some desks in the Hollywood cubicles are scattered with rose petals, while dishes of little candy hearts adorn others and a few are even draped in black with warnings to stay clear until after February 14th. But, no matter who you are or what your view of the heart shaped holiday might be, Hollywood has always been more than happy to fill our Valentine's Day with a love story or two.

From the classics to the current favorites, if this Valentine's Day involves a movie night, you will have more than enough to choose from. If you decide to go the classic movie route, then topping my list would have to be An Affair to Remember. For me, nothing says 'romantic movie' like Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr falling in love, falling apart and finding each other again. I don't care how many times I have sat and watched that movie, it still gets me right in the heart, every single time. Another of my favorite classic love stories is a romantic comedy called, The Shop Around the Corner. You may know this one as the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks remake, You've Got Mail. But, if you haven't seen the original starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan as two pen-pals who find love, trust me, it's worth the rental!

An addition to the Valentine Day movie list this year is La Cucina. The triple-award winning film featuring Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) in her feature film debut opposite international star Joaquim de Almeida (The Burning Plain and 24), super-model-turned actress, Rachel Hunter (A Walk in the Park) and Showtime's L Word pin-up girl Leisha Hailey has just been released on DVD and Blu-Ray.

La Cucina is a slice of life about the ways in which we search for love. In the kitchens of neighboring apartments, two conversations go late into the night. Downstairs, young successful Lily (Hendricks) squares off in an emotional duel with the dashing and sophisticated older man, Michael (de Almeida). In the kitchen above, the very pregnant Shelly (Hailey) is terrified that becoming a mother will drive her husband away and turns to her lesbian friend Jude (Hunter) who is in a long-term relationship for advice. Through the night, as they cook up culinary delights, they share their dreams and fears, they argue and they reveal their darkest secrets on their quest to figure out what makes a relationship work. Delving into the tangled web of their lives, La Cucina also reminds us, in mouthwatering detail, that food and love go hand in hand.

La Cucina was written by award winning screenwriter and novelist, AW Gryphon. Recently, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak with her about her latest film...

What was your inspiration for writing La Cucina?
I love to cook. I love the kitchen. And I love what the process of preparing a meal does to people. In my experience, the kitchen is the least self-conscious room in the house. People relax, they eat, they drink. People tend not to over think things in the kitchen, they just live - and they talk. For me, the best conversations always happen in the kitchen, and one night after a doozey, a friend of mine suggested that I write it down. The idea swirled around in my head for a few years, and then one day I just decided it was time to put it down on paper. Seven months later we began filming. Just like that.

How closely did the final film follow your original script?
The final movie is not too far from the script I wrote. There were some dialogue adjustments, as to be expected. The neighbor paying guitar was not in the script at all, that was an idea that the Director brought to the table. That character (Ian Ball) was also our composer and is the lead guitarist in the band Gomez. The biggest change was that in the original script all of the characters lived in various parts of Los Angeles, and in the final product they are all neighbors living in the same apartment building.

La Cucina won Best Screenplay at the Bragacine International Festival of Independent Cinema and in addition to it's DVD release, has been airing on Showtime.

And if you are looking for a Family movie night this Valentine's Day, then the Disney Channel has a brand new one premiering just for the occasion, Starstruck. Written by the wonderful screenwriter, Annie DeYoung, Starstruck is a music and adventure-filled movie about a Hollywood pop star who, after unexpectedly meeting a down-to-earth Midwest girl is faced with either following his heart or doing what is best for his glitzy career. The movie stars the Disney Channel favorite, Sterling Knight and Danielle Campbell and premieres Sunday, February 14th on the Disney Channel.

So, no matter if your Valentine's Day is filled with rose petals, candy hearts or draped in black there are plenty of movies out there to fit your mood and remind us that when it comes to Hollywood - Love is in the air! Happy Valentine's Day!

The Valley Wire -1/15/2010

2010-01-15T11:55:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the New Year
By Mary Beth Gentle

New Year’s Resolution lists begin the same way every year; Start that long overdue exercise routine. Tackle the dreaded diet. Spend more time with Family and Friends. And everyone in Hollywood, from the super elite to the lowly cube dwellers, want the same thing, a fresh start. Each New Year holds the promise for a chance to begin again. It is the chance to wash away the mistakes of the past year and to set out on a new path. Whether we believe we will be able to achieve everything that we write down on our list or not, we cling to the hope that it just might be possible.

I can only begin to guess what the Hollywood Elite have put on their New Years Resolution list. I am sure that the one thing topping the Studio Executives list for 2010 is to be the lucky Studio to have a hit like Avatar. I can almost guarantee that there have already been a multitude of meetings to figure out how to achieve this goal. Entire Studio conference rooms are no doubt filled with writers pitching their epic Sci-Fi love stories to overly eager creative teams. Production executives are busily analyzing the new technology trends to see what they can imitate. And Finance Executives are plotting out budget scenario after budget scenario.

And I am sure the Hollywood talent roster has the same type of list going, although since most of them already live and breathe salads and sit-ups, theirs will probably start off with hopes of being on the short list for the Oscar worthy material making its way around town. Or they could be hoping to star in the next big hit movie or TV Series so they can be even bigger mega-stars than they already are.

But here in the lowly Hollywood Cubicle, the lists are a little more down to earth and I think realistic. When I sat down to write my list this year, I decided that I wanted it to be something I could actually achieve. So this year I left off the big grand goals of winning the lottery or jetting off to Paris on a whim and I decided to get down to the bare roots of what I wanted to achieve in a years time. I started off with the required three resolutions:

1. Get myself to the gym at least three times a week.
2. Stick to my Diet and eat healthier.
3. Spend more time with my Family and Friends.

With the standards out of the way I really dug deep to see what mattered and what I thought I could achieve:

4. Sit down at the computer and write a few articles a month (something I a sure your Editor will appreciate!)
5. Organize my photographs – I have boxes and computer files full of them. (This one is tedious but totally achievable)
6. Pull out the novel that I have been working on for years, dust it off and get it finished.

Okay. That was the one that got me. That was the one that mattered. And that was when it hit me – I could do this. This list was something I could put up on my cube wall and make happen. And then because lists are no fun without at least on big grand goal I wrote down one more:

7. Get my book published.

And that was it, my list was complete and I was ready for the New Year. If you haven’t made your New Year’s Resolution list yet, it’s not too late. You never know what you can achieve until you try – Imagine the possibilities! Happy 2010 everyone!

La Cucina on DVD!!!

2010-01-13T16:00:00.000-08:00

Out on DVD and BLU-RAY TODAY from the wonderful Writer AW Gryphon!!! Order your copy now! You can also rent from Netflix!

A triple-award winning film starring Christina Hendricks ( Mad Men breakout sensation) in her film debut opposite international star Joaquim de Almeida ( Three Rivers, The Burning Plain, 24 ), supermodel-turned actress Rachel Hunter ( A Walk in the Park ) and Showtime s L Word pin-up girl Leisha Hailey, La Cucina is a brief slice of life about the ways in which we search for love. In the kitchens of neighboring apartments, two conversations go late into the night. Downstairs, young successful Lily (Hendricks) squares off in an emotional duel with the dashing and sophisticated older man, Michael (Almeida). In the kitchen above, the very pregnant Shelly (Hailey) is terrified that becoming a mother will drive away her husband and has turned for advice to her lesbian friend Jude (Hunter),sure that this magnificent cook who s been in a long-term relationship has it all figured out. Through the night, as they cook up culinary delights, they share dreams and fears, argue, and reveal their darkest secrets, as they try to figure out what makes a relationship work. Delving into the tangled web of attraction, lust, commitment, marriage, betrayal, insecurity, affection and hope, La Cucina also reminds us, in mouthwatering detail, that food and love go hand in hand.

The Valley Wire -12/4/2009

2010-01-13T15:55:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Holiday Movie
By Mary Beth Gentle

Candy canes hanging on the Christmas tree. Sugar cookies baking in the oven. Burl Ives belting out a classic tune on the radio. These are just a few of the holiday traditions that I look forward to every year. But, the one thing that always makes my holiday season complete is sitting down and deciding which of the big studio movies will make it onto my Christmas movie wish list. And this year without a doubt, my top three holiday picks are Walt Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, James Cameron’s Avatar and Universal Pictures It’s Complicated.

The Princess and the Frog is Walt Disney Animation Studios return to 2D Animation. It is the real thing; it is old school hand-drawn animation that we have not seen from Disney for quite some time. Christmas came early for me this year, I was lucky enough to attend an advanced screening and the one thing I can say is that Disney has delivered classic family fun, complete with an unforgettable soundtrack in The Princess and the Frog.

The story is set during the Jazz era in the heart of New Orleans. A young woman named Tiana works three jobs to fulfill a dream born out of the love for her father and the many hours spent cooking in the family kitchen. She plans to save enough money to open her own restaurant to make those dreams come true. When the young and handsome, jazz-loving Prince Naveen of Maldonia comes to town, he gets into trouble with a shady Voodoo Doctor in the hopes of making money the easy way. But, the Voodoo Doctor sees it as his own chance to make a fortune and turns the Prince into a frog. That is when the classic tale takes a turn for the worse and the fateful kiss from the beautiful girl, Tiana, turns her into a frog instead of turning the young Prince into a human again. The story quickly takes the two young frogs on an unexpected adventure through the bayous of Louisiana and the excitement of the New Orleans Mardi Gras as they learn to dig deep to find the true meaning of life and love.

In the story of Avatar, Oscar-winning director James Cameron takes us to a world beyond the imagination. Set in the future, paraplegic war veteran, Jake Sully is sent to the moon called Pandora where he will become an Avatar. He will regain the use of his legs as he is transformed into one of the indigenous people on the planet. In his new body, he will embark on an epic adventure to save a race of people and a planet from its human invaders. It took James Cameron over five years to bring his vision to the screen and as VFX Editor, Christopher Marino, who has worked on the movie for the past three years says, “Avatar promises to deliver the goods on December 18th!”

It’s Complicated is the third movie on my Holiday movie wish list. It stars Meryl Streep as Jane, the mother of three grown children and the owner of a thriving restaurant. After a decade of divorce, she has formed an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, Jake, played by Alec Baldwin. But, when Jane and Jake find themselves out of town for their son’s college graduation, emotions and old desires get out of control. The complication begins as we learn of Jake’s remarriage to a much younger woman and Jane’s involvement with Adam, an architect played by Steve Martin. Should Jane and Jake move on with their lives or do they give love a second chance? Thus the title, It’s complicated.

The Princess and the Frog leaps to the screen on December 11th, Avatar lands in theatres on December 18th and It’s Complicated hits the screens on Christmas day. Three weeks of what promises to be top-notch entertainment and the perfect gift this Christmas. I hope you all get the opportunity to sneak away from the Office party, skip out on one trip to the mall or maybe turn a family holiday outing into a trip to the Cineplex for at least one movie this busy Holiday season. Happy Holiday’s from the Hollywood Cubicle, to one and all!

The Valley Wire - 10/30/2009 Column

2010-01-12T22:27:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Spookiest Time of the Year
By Mary Beth Gentle

Blood curdling screams. Nightmares come to life. Hearts pounding in fear. And those are not just the sounds coming from the offices of studio executives as they react to the latest box office flop, but clear signs that Halloween time has come to Hollywood. No one, except maybe the real ghouls themselves, can do Halloween quite like Hollywood. From the frighteningly real make-up to the edge of your seat Visual EFX to the spine tingling soundtracks, Hollywood has spent years perfecting the fine art of fear.

Every year we fill up our movie viewing time with our favorite scary movies. If it’s classic horror that you are after, you can try a chilling line-up such as Psycho, The Birds and Rosemary’s Baby. If it’s tales from your nightmares that make your Halloween complete you can watch a title or two from one of the famed series such as, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street or Halloween. Or maybe it’s just plain spooky family fun you are looking for with It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Hocus Pocus or The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I grew up trick or treating, eating caramel apples and watching It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown every Halloween. And even though age has insisted that I stop trick or treating and calorie counting has ruined the fun of a chewy sugary caramel apple, I still sit down every year and watch Charlie Brown and the gang set out to fill their trick or treat bags and convince Linus that there is no such thing as a ‘Great Pumpkin’.

The Peanuts special first aired in 1966 and has captured many hearts since that time. And every year I tune in to see the kids prepare their costumes, see the excitement in Charlie Brown’s face when he gets invited to the big Halloween party and watch Linus’ unending faith in the Great Pumpkin. And even though I know the story by heart, I still hope that poor old Charlie Brown is going to get more than just a rock in his goodie bag.

But, when it comes to Halloween in Hollywood, the big and the small screen is not the only place to see the spooky holiday come to life. I just have to walk across the Studio lot on the big day to see the real fun begin. There is always one guy whose cube looks like a scene from Tales from the Crypt, clearly he knows someone in the Prop Department. Then there is the woman a few cubes over who looks like she just might be the Wicked Witch of the West. And a trip to the Studio commissary at lunchtime is like walking onto a set of The Living Dead.

I have been in this business long enough to know that it is all make believe. I have been on set with the fake monsters and watched the make-up artists work wonders with tubes of fake blood. But, even knowing all of that, my imagination still gets the best of me. So even though there is quite a list of fright filled movies to pick from, I will probably opt for yet another viewing of Charlie Brown this year.

The Valley Wire - 9/25/2009

2009-09-28T09:53:00.001-07:00

Hollywood Tunes into TV
By Mary Beth Gentle

It’s that magical time of year. All that glitters is gold. And for one brief moment in time all shows on the New Fall TV Schedule hold the promise of brilliance. And much like a kid on Christmas morning, I race home from work eager to unwrap each new show. Luckily the new and returning shows are premiering in a staggered schedule so my DVR should be able to keep up.

My favorite new TV show of the fall season so far is Glee, the story of a high school glee club full of underdogs. I can already tell that this musical ‘dramady’ with a heart will be my guilty pleasure. The story lines and cliché characters are nothing we haven’t seen before, but once the music starts to play and the characters burst into song I am a willing and captive audience.

Glee centers around the ever optimistic High School teacher and glee leader, Will Shuester (Matthew Morrison), as he helps a rag tag group of adolescents discover their dreams and at the same time re-discovering his own. The glee club consists of awkward teen misfit, Rachel (Lea Michele), football star Finn (Cory Monteith), wheel chair bound Arty (Kevin Mchale), flamboyant fashion plate Kurt (Chris Colfer) and diva in training Mercedes (Amber Riley) to name a few. Every high school click is covered in the show, even down to the overly perfect cheerleaders out to take down the glee club.

You might think the drama ends there, but most of the drama actually takes place in the teachers lounge. There is the domineering cheerleading coach who refuses to let a dime of the schools budget go to the support of the glee club, there is a testosterone charged football coach and a germ phobic guidance counselor who has a crush on Will. Not to mention the drama that Will encounters on a daily basis with his somewhat shrewish wife who would rather he was in a job that was more upwardly mobile.

From the onset, the pilot is packed with musical numbers that are both impressive and entertaining. And there is enough quirkiness to raise this show above all the other teen-based dramas clogging up the airwaves. In the pilot episode when Will takes the glee club to check out the competition, we quickly understand as do the kids in the club, that it’s going to be a long year with lots of musical numbers if they are going to make it to the State Championships. But, with lines like Rachel’s, “We’re gonna win because we’re different. That’s what makes us special.” She proves that the show has the heart needed to make us care about the characters. And when it comes to TV, new or old, without heart we aren’t going to tune in.

If you have already missed the opening episodes of Glee, you can catch them online at either Fox.com or Hulu.com. And if musical teen dramadies are just not your thing, there are still plenty of new and returning TV shows to tune into in the coming weeks, some of the other new shows that I will be checking out are; Flash Forward, Cougar Town, V, The Good Wife and the Vampire Diaries. And the returning TV shows that I can’t wait to tune back into are; Fringe, Survivor, Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sister to name a few. This is one Hollywood Cube Dweller that has her fall TV schedule all planned out…and here’s hoping that a least a few shows live up to my hope for brilliance.

The Valley Wire - 9/4/2009

2009-09-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Pays Tribute
By Mary Beth Gentle

Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; these are just a few titles from the man that put pen to paper and helped define a generation, my generation. When the news hit my desk last month that Writer/Director John Hughes had died, a black cloud drifted over the Hollywood Cubicles. My entire youth flashed before my eyes and then slowly, I began to smile at the memories his movies brought to mind. John Hughes was a master at capturing the moments of teen angst with a perfect balance of heart and humor in a way no one had before or has since.

I pulled up his list of credits and was amazed at just how many films John Hughes had written, produced and directed. And was even more amazed by the fact that I have probably seen most of them at some point in my life. I sat down and decided I was going to try to pick my top three John Hughes movies. Too hard. So, I had to narrow it down to the top three that he both wrote and directed. Here is the list I came up with:

Sixteen Candles – 1984

The story centers around a slightly awkward high school sophomore, Samantha "Sam" Baker played by Molly Ringwald, as she struggles to get through her sixteenth birthday, which her entire family has forgotten as they prep for her sister Ginny’s big wedding day. As Sam struggles to survive a house filled with chaotic wedding plans, two sets of slightly insane Grandparents and a ‘geek’ with a giant crush on her, she must also come to terms with her own infatuation with the very popular and attractive senior, Jake Ryan. John Hughes captured the angst of high school life in this coming of age tale with real characters dealing with real problems in what is still a very funny movie. Will anyone remember it’s Sam’s birthday? Will her sister actually get married? And will true love find Sam and Jake together at the end? If you haven’t seen this one – it’s worth checking out.

The Breakfast Club – 1985

This ultimate teen angst movie finds a diverse group of high school students, consisting of an athlete (Emilio Estevez), a criminal (Judd Nelson), a basket case (Ally Sheedy), a princess (Molly Ringwald), and a brain (Anthony Michael Hall), sharing Saturday detention. Over the course of the day, they attack the barriers that ordinarily kept them apart, they discover more than just a few similarities in their lives and new bonds are formed. They discover that maybe they are not as easily defined as the labels put upon them by both the outside world and themselves. At the end of the film they go their separate ways, but still hopeful that these bonds will exist outside of detention. This movie had something that everyone could relate to, because some part of each of us can be found somewhere in these characters.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – 1986

Deciding he needs a day of fun with his girlfriend and his best friend before they all head off to different colleges, high school senior Ferris Bueller, played by Matthew Broderick, decides to skip school on a spring day by convincing his parents that he is sick. When the rest of the school learns of Ferris's exaggerated illness, they begin to offer donations to help "Save Ferris”. But there is one person not convinced by the deception, the school's Dean of Students, Edward Rooney. Ferris and his friends arrive in downtown Chicago and have the time of their lives, all the while avoiding Ed Rooney and making sure they get back home before Ferris’ parents get off work. Ferris Bueller did what the rest of us could only dream of doing – he took the day off!

Here are a few more of the many John Hughes movies that I have enjoyed over the years; She’s having a baby, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors, Planes Trains and Automobiles…the list goes on and on. So whether you in the mood for the teen angst of The Breakfast Club, the comedy of Dan Aykroyd and John Candy or some good old family fun with the Home Alone Movies, I recommend you settle in and watch a movie in honor of John Hughes.

The Valley Wire - 8/14/2009

2009-08-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Hollywood, Comic-Con and the Vampires
By Mary Beth Gentle

Hollywood was out in full force at the annual San Diego International Comic-Con last Month. The Studio’s had rolled out Sneak Peaks of the new TV Season and the upcoming tent pole movies. The Celebrities were paraded around in all their glory. And the fans packed into the convention halls to catch every moment of fun. But, this year there was an added element at Comic-Con, this year the vampire people had come out of the shadows.

On the evening I arrived, I left my hotel to head across the street to check into the convention and get my badge. And that was when I first saw them, the ‘Twilighters’ – the fans of all things related to the Twilight books and movies. It wasn’t just a small gathering of fans of the vampire phenomenon, it was a crowd of close to a thousand, desperate to make sure they were guaranteed entry into the convention auditorium to see and hear the stars of the latest in the saga speak. It was the night before Summit Entertainment’s New Moon panel was set to take the stage and there was already a line wrapping itself around the building. There were tents erected, sleeping bags rolled out and some very confused security guards trying to keep a sense of calm in the vampire madness.

The next day, those who were lucky enough to make it inside the convention hall were treated to a sneak peak of scenes from the upcoming New Moon release and a panel of the full cast from the movie. Was it worth it? The people I talked to on the inside said it made their whole year. One young girl even went so far as to say it made her whole life. Having industry access to the panel, I decided to poke my head in and see what all the fuss was about. And as I looked up to the cast of pretty people and swooned a little at the site of Robert Pattinson, it was the fan base that really caught my attention. For the most part they were all women. In fact, I would have to say that this may have been the first time in Comic-Con history that there were that many Women in attendance at any one event. They were enraptured. And from a Studio point of view, I can only say one thing, ‘Ka-ching’.

When the New Moon Panel was over, I thought the madness would stop. But, it did not stop there, it quickly spilled out onto the floor of the main convention. It consumed anything that got in its way. It seemed as if everything was suddenly vampire related. Everywhere you looked there were T-Shirts with Twilight inspired sayings such as; ‘ Team Edward’ or ‘Team Jacob’. The advertisers were even getting into the act by hanging giant banners all over the convention. Apparently BMW feels that vampires would drive Mini Coopers.

And where New Moon left off, HBO’s True Blood took over. True Blood is the more mature telling of forbidden Vampire love. And it was one of the more frightening and frenzied moments on the convention floor when the cast of True Blood made an appearance at the Warner Brothers booth. Neither the Warner Brothers representatives nor Convention Security were ready for the number of vampire people that descended upon them. I was not willing to take any elbows to the ribs, but I did get a ‘True’ Vampire fan to fight her way through the crowd for a great shot of the cast. I, on the other hand, went and stood with a few lone Sci-Fi Fans that were clinging to the hope that the vampire craze would die before their very eyes.

From the amount of vampire material the Studios are filling their movie and TV slates with, it doesn’t sound like the vampire craze will die off anytime soon. The CW will try its hand at vampire love with Vampire Diaries in the fall, Universal will release The Vampire Assistant and Johnny Depp has just signed on for a remake of The Dark Shadows. I am not sure how long the vampire craze will actually last or if Comic-Con will ever be the same again, but I do know that with the vampire people around, things will stay interesting.

The Valley Wire - 7/17/2009

2009-07-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Hollywood and the Summer Hours
By Mary Beth Gentle

My little corner of Hollywood has decided to adopt summer hours. I’ve often heard of this concept. In the past it only seemed to apply to an elite few, but not this year. This year the Hollywood cube dweller has made the grade! When we first got the news that we could have half day Friday’s for the remainder of the summer, I nearly fell-off my chair at the generosity of the powers that be. My fellow cube dwellers immediately began racing up and down the hallways jumping for joy and spreading the news. For one brief moment in time we were kids again and the concept of a summer break actually meant something. It was the ever-elusive ‘golden ticket’ and we had just won.

Of course, we weren’t really getting our entire summers back. Those lazy endless days of summer from our childhoods were long since gone. But, we would be getting five free hours a week. Which meant that we would be starting our weekends five hours earlier, five hours of unexpected time, five hours to remind us of our lazy days of summer. Life was good. The sky was blue. The world was full of possibilities.

And on paper that was exactly how it sounded, it was beyond exciting. The first week of summer hours was only a few weeks ago and on that first Monday I was already making plans for that first half-day Friday. But, by mid-week reality had started to sink in. With summer releases looming at every turn, comic-com preparations hitting full swing and new movies prepping to shoot, the pile on my desk was growing by the second. It was becoming clear that I was going to have to work even harder and stay later the rest of the week to have a shot at an early Friday departure.

And there was the Catch-22. Were the powers that be truly being kind or had they simply devised a new and diabolical plot to get the Hollywood Cube Dwellers to work twice as hard all week for the promise of a few hours of free time on a Friday? Was it worth it? Were we all being played? By Wednesday I hadn’t left my cube to go home until well past eight o’clock. If I was going to make that early departure on Friday, I knew Thursday would be even later. But, it would be worth it after all I was going to get a half-day on Friday. I was going to have my lazy days of summer.

By that first Friday at Noon, I still had a pile of paperwork that needed to be put in order, a couple of crew members that needed travel approvals and a press screening that needed to be organized. How was I ever going to get everything done and still make my departure time? I was only one cube in a sea of cubes and I was surrounded on all sides by equally busy and equally frantic cube dwellers with the same story. Too much work to do and not enough time to do it in. None of us had ever worked so hard for a long weekend before.

So far, I have only managed to make it out of the office a few hours early. On the first couple of Friday’s I ended up spending my ‘free’ time sitting poolside with a blackberry in one hand and a cell phone in the other, it might not sound ideal, but I would rather be poolside returning emails than sitting in an office on a beautiful summer day! As one forever-hopeful cube dweller, I can’t help but cling to the dream that at least one Friday this summer I will leave early and without a cell phone glued to my ear!

Princess Protection Program on DVD Today!!!

2009-06-30T10:14:00.001-07:00

Screenwriter Annie DeYoung's Princess Protection Program - Is great fun for the whole family - Get your copy today!!

The Valley Wire - 6/30/2009

2009-06-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hollywood and the Princess
By Mary Beth Gentle

Hollywood has always held a certain fascination with the Princess. The concept of a gentle and refined heroine forced to overcome incredible odds is classic Hollywood storytelling at it’s best. Since there has been a Hollywood, there has been a Princess movie. There are many classics, family favorites and new movies on the list; Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, The Princess Bride, Princess Diaries and Enchanted to name a few. And of course no Studio does the Princess movie better than Disney.

The Disney Channel premieres a new entry into the Princess line-up this week with the Princess Protection Program. The Disney Channel Original Movie stars real life friends Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez as a pair of unlikely friends. The story brings together an insecure girl from rural Louisiana, Carter Mason (Selena) and a teenage monarch of the fictional country Costa Luna, Rosalinda Marie Montoya Fiore (Demi). When an evil dictator threatens to take over her small kingdom, the young Princess’ life is put in danger and an agent from the Princess Protection Program must rescue her. His mission is to keep her undercover and safe from harm. That agent is Carter’s Father, Mason and he brings Princess Rosalinda (Rosie) to the small Louisiana town where she must learn to behave like a normal American teenager. It takes a while for the two girls to bond, but when they do there is no stopping them.

I had the opportunity to sit down with the screenwriter of Princess Protection Program, Annie DeYoung, writer of such other Disney Channel movies as; Return to Halloweentown and Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board as well as the highly acclaimed TNT movie, The Ron Clark Story. I asked her a few questions about the experience of working on the next Disney Princess movie.

Every script, every story told begins first with inspiration. I asked Annie where she found that inspiration for her Princess story, “The idea for the Princess Protection Program was inspired by two of my favorite stories, one a movie and one a TV show. I loved the idea of a secret government organization that you only find out about when you need it, like in "Alias." In this case, it's an organization of secret agents who exist solely to protect princesses in peril. I also loved the clash of cultures: the average American girl getting stuck living with a princess. I must have watched "Roman Holiday" fifty times while I was writing the script!”

The Princess Protection Program is definitely a modern take on the classic Princess movie. I asked Annie how she felt her new Princess would fit in with the classic Disney Princesses. “There are actually two princesses in Princess Protection Program. One is a real royal princess -- like Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday" -- pampered, entitled, wealthy. The other is this average American girl -- like you and me -- who learns every girl has a princess deep down inside of her. Both of these girls have aspects of the classic Disney princess, who is always a normal girl at heart.”

This average American girl can’t wait to settle in on the couch and enjoy the premiere of the Princess Protection Program. And maybe while watching the movie, I will not only be entertained, but I will rediscover that little girl who grew up watching Cinderella as often as she could. And the world again will be filled with dreams of fairy godmothers, ball gowns and Prince Charming!

The Princess Protection Program premieres on the Disney Channel this Friday, June 26th and then releases on DVD the following Tuesday. I recommend everyone take the opportunity to watch the next Disney Princess Classic!

The Valley Wire - 6/5/2009

2009-06-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Heats Up For Summer
By Mary Beth Gentle

It’s that time of year again and Hollywood is hoping to set the Box Office on fire. The month of May has already started off with a bang with early openers; X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels and Demons and Up. I can already tell that it’s going to be one of those summers, the kind where if you miss just one weekend at the movies, there may be no hope of catching up at all. Of the big May releases I have only seen two so far, so unless I do a marathon movie weekend I may be waiting for the fall DVD season.

Of the two movies that I have seen so far, I am happy to report that the summer is shaping up to be a good one for movies. Star Trek was one of the best ‘popcorn’ movies I have seen in awhile. Director, J.J. Abrams breathed new life into an otherwise sagging franchise. I think whether you are a full-blown ‘Trekkie” or have never watched one incarnation of the series – you will enjoy this action packed adventure. The other early summer movie I saw was Disney/Pixar’s Up. It is the story of 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen and the adventure he embarks on by tying thousands of balloons to his house to float away to a remote waterfall in South America. What he expects to be his final journey is only the beginning as his adventure brings him new friends and a new sense of purpose. The bonus was the amazing 3D imagery.

June promises more fun with a slew of new movies every week, with the big ones being; Land of the Lost, The Taking of Pelham 123, The Proposal and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. That does not even cover the buddy comedies or the horror films that will make their debuts in the month of June. I can’t help but look forward to The Proposal. In an otherwise testosterone filled summer of car chases, monsters and space battles, it’s nice to look forward to at least one romantic comedy. Sandra Bullock plays a high-powered book publisher who forces her younger assistant, Ryan Reynolds, into marriage so she can avoid deportation to Canada. If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, take my advice, put this one on your must see list.

And then there is always one movie that is the hands down favorite to win the summer box-office and this summer it is without a doubt, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. July is the month of Harry Potter and it is the movie to beat. Although, there are a few other entries that will attempt to challenge the young wizard, namely, Johnny Depp as gangster Dillinger in Public Enemies, 3D family comedy G-Force from Disney and finally Adam Sandler will take a shot with the comedy Funny People. But, as much as a few of these other movies look interesting, I have read the books, seen the movies and I can’t help but root for the boy wizard to win this one.

August has always been the traditional summer dumping ground, the place where Studios release the movies that they hold little faith in. But, in a crowded summer box-office season I don’t know how true that is anymore. August holds a few potentials with G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, Julie & Julia and Inglorious Basterds. Not one of those titles sounds like dumping ground material to me. I especially look forward to checking out Meryl Streep as Julia Child in Julie & Julia. It looks like an utterly charming movie as it chronicles the life of frustrated secretary Julie Brown (Amy Adams) as she sets out to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s famous cookbook in the span of a year.

This list of movies alone should be enough to keep us all busy throughout the summer, but sprinkled throughout the three months are smaller movies that might steal away some of the lime light from the tent-pole Studio offerings. A few that have made my potential list are; My Life in Ruins – the trailer alone makes me want to pack it in and head to Greece! The July entry Adam, looks like it could steal a few hearts in the moving tale of an emotionally fragile writer who is drawn to her handsome downstairs neighbor who has Asperger’s Syndrome. It looks quirky enough to be a nice escape from the normal summer fare. And finally August offers a 1960’s comedy, The Boat that Rocked about an illegal radio station run by a group of rogue DJ’s. Looks like a fun way to wrap up the summer!

So wherever your movie tastes run, whether it be the long buried inner ‘Trekkie’ with Star Trek or the desperate for a descent romantic comedy with The Proposal you are sure to be pleased this summer. I know that I will be venturing out of my Hollywood Cubicle to catch more than a few of these movies.

The Valley Wire - 5/8/2009

2009-06-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Works Out
By Mary Beth Gentle

Spring has arrived in Hollywood and all the ‘A’ Lister’s are prepping their minds and bodies for the summer. They have their personal chefs blending up their protein shakes. They have their personal assistants scouring the shops along Rodeo Drive for the perfect summer beachwear. And they are spending quality time in their private gyms with their personal trainers. And those of us in the Hollywood cubicles are no different.

Well…okay…we are a little different. Our personal chefs work in the Studio Commissary, we shop at the local Target for our summer fashions and we tune into the Biggest Loser for our personal training sessions. But, this year things are going to be a little different for this cube dweller, I nabbed the golden ticket and was one of the lucky few to be awarded entrance to the brand new Studio Gym. It has state of the art equipment, flat screen televisions and on the plus side it is completely affordable.

A lottery was held and only a limited number of employees were accepted to the new gym. So already, in typical Hollywood fashion, it has become a gym for the elite few and a waiting list of over seven hundred has been formed. Normally, I would be against such elitism and shout from the rooftops that it is unfair to the masses. But, this time around, for the first time in all my years working at the different Studio Lots – I have made the ‘A’ list for something!

Having spent so many years on the ‘B’ or ‘C’ lists I played it very cool in the cubicle hallways as not everyone who entered the lottery in my area made it in. It was hard not be giddy when I came back from my tour of the new gym. It was hard not to be giddy when one of the senior executives in the area did not make it into the gym. It was hard not to be giddy the first morning I went to the gym for my workout. I think I did a pretty good job at not outwardly displaying my excitement.

But, as with all things, there are always strings attached. There are always great insights to be learned when you see life on the other side of the tracks. And I quickly learned that life on the gym ‘A’ list was not as easy as it seemed. Because everyone wants to be on the ‘A’ list, you have to work extra hard to stay there or get booted off. And that was when the other shoe fell, it was announced that you had to go a required number of times a week in order to keep your gym membership or you would be booted and someone from the waiting list would move into your spot.

And suddenly life on the ‘A’ list was not so glamorous after all. If I was going to stay on that list I was going to have to work for it. I was going to have to get to work extra early or stay extra late to get that work out in if I was going to keep my good standing. And in the beginning I was okay with that. I got here, I did my workout, it felt good. Then I did the one thing I shouldn’t have done, I started to wonder who was going to the gym during the non-work hours. Who was there at eleven in the morning? Who was there at three in the afternoon? And that was when I realized that maybe I wasn’t so elite after all. The executives that can schedule their own time and go to the gym whenever they wanted, were really the elite ‘A’ Lister’s and I was merely ‘A’ list filler.

So, even though the bloom is off the rose, I am going to stay with my gym membership. I am going to continue to get up early to do my workout. And even though I don’t have a personal chef, I don’t shop on rodeo drive and I don’t have a personal trainer sculpting my body, I am getting in shape and those ‘Target’ fashions are going to look great this summer!

The Valley Wire - 2/20/2009

2009-03-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Takes a Gamble
By Mary Beth Gentle

This year when the Academy Awards come to town it won’t be LA that they come to, it will be more like Las Vegas. And I say that only because the Hollywood Cube Dweller Oscar pool ballot is due any day and I have not seen one movie. I know that is hard to believe – I do work in Hollywood after all – but it is true. I have my list of the five nominated movies for best picture; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Reader and Slumdog Millionaire. And amazingly enough, I haven’t seen one of them.

The nominations were announced on January 22nd and I thought I would have more than enough time to see everything on the list. I have always prided myself on the fact that I see all the top movies and then I sit down with my office pool ballot and I vote with my heart. I never listen to who Vegas predicts as the odds on favorites or who the Hollywood insiders guarantee to pull out the win. But, this year I may just be out of time. It’s been almost a month since the announcements were made and I still have not seen anything.

I quickly started making the calls around town to see who might have an Academy Screener or two that I could borrow. For those of you that don’t know what those are – they are DVD copies of the nominated movies that go out to Academy and Guild members all over town. Academy Screeners are one of the biggest gambles the Studios take throughout the year. These DVD’s have always been a top source for piracy rings. The Studios have taken steps to secure their product by putting in security codes on the discs and sending out scary legal letters to all the recipients about not losing track of or sharing their copies. Needless to say, the DVD’s still make their way all over town.

But, as with anything in Hollywood, the lists to borrow any of the top movies on DVD were a mile long and I was, as always, on the bottom of the list. So, I have done the only thing I could do, I went on line with my office pool ballot at my side and decided to throw my heart out the window and vote with the best odds I could find. I mean come on, my hard earned five bucks was at stake and during an economic downturn, a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

So, I read about the Vegas handicaps. I went to all the Entertainment sites and read their predictions. I tallied what pictures had won at the Golden Globes, which actors had won at the SAG Awards and which Guild awarded what to who in their Academy Bake-off’s. And I basically came to the following conclusions: I am not Vegas material, the internet is filled with people with too much time on their hands and most importantly, I really just need to go to a movie theatre and see the movies.

So, this year I made the decision not to join the office pool. I figure if I can’t vote with my heart there is really no point voting at all. I will just have to tune in to root for my favorite actors, rate the nights best and worst fashions and enjoy the show. Next year, I will make sure I see al the movies, so that this Hollywood Cube Dweller is ready for next office pool.

The Valley Wire - 1/20/2009

2009-03-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hollywood and the Hero
By Mary Beth Gentle

Explosions. Natural disasters. Diabolical bad guys. Hollywood has always known how to set the scene that puts us on the edge of our seats waiting for the hero to appear and save the day. And for the most part, whether Hollywood gives us a character that is inherently heroic or reluctantly heroic, they do a pretty good job at delivering. Bottom line, Hollywood loves a hero. They create them. They promote them. And whenever possible they build an entire franchise around them.

From the time we are very young we find heroes at every turn. They are in our bedtime stories, our television shows and our movies. We pick our favorites, we collect our action figures and we fight over who gets to play the hero and who has to be the bad guy. Hollywood did not invent the concept of the hero, but they are better than anyone at making them larger than life.

There have always been heroes and the tales of their heroic deeds have been told and written down since the beginning of time. By definition a hero or heroine is a person endowed with great strength or ability and who in the face of danger or adversity displays great courage. Hollywood has made a pretty good business out of the telling and re-telling of the famous Heroes throughout time. There have been countless movies of swashbuckling and sword-fighting heroes, cowboy movies helped define the early Hollywood hero and of course Superheroes have become the ultimate Hollywood box office hero.

And whenever possible, Hollywood will look to the world around them for heroes that have walked among us. Every war movie ever made is based on a true-life hero or an amalgamation of the many heroes that have served our country, historical heroes are an easy mark for Hollywood as they can spin the facts in order to tell the most captivating story and then there is the modern day hero. He is the every-man, the imperfect hero who steps forward when no one else will or can.

We have had one such man in the news over the recent week, Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger. He was the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 who went on to safely land the Airbus A320 in the Hudson River saving all 155 people on board. This is the type of heroic event that had all of us in the Hollywood cubicles glued to our computers to watch and read every detail we could. In the Hollywood cubicles we spend our days working on the TV shows and movies of the make believe heroes. It was amazing to see something that heroic happen in real life.

It is events like this that in many ways prove Hollywood right. We all want a hero. We want the innocent to be saved. We want the wrongs to be righted. We want the hero to save the day. And right now that hero is a commercial airline pilot named “Sully”.

And I know that in many ways there are heroes all around us. They are serving our communities, caring for our children or even simply taking the time to help a neighbor in need. In someway to someone, we are all heroes. But, when you want to escape the daily routine and see something that is larger than life, it’s Hollywood that we turn to for that escape.

And I can guarantee you that right now every Producer in Hollywood would love to be the person that ends up owing the rights to tell “Sully’s” story. Because of this man, what could have been a horrible disaster had a very happy ending. It is a story with all the elements to be found in a Hollywood movie, but this one has a real life modern day hero in Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger.

The Valley Wire - 12/19/2008 Column

2008-12-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and Christmas Memories
By Mary Beth Gentle

Yes Osceola, there is a Santa Claus and he comes from Hollywood. Every year without fail he brings a whole sack full of Holiday themed movies for us to unwrap and enjoy. There are the classics, there are the funny ones and there are the heart wrenching sad ones and until we have seen our favorite ones, our Holiday’s can’t really get started. I watch my first Christmas movie on Thanksgiving Day and I don’t stop until the New Year has been rung in. I watch them on DVD, I watch them on the Lifetime Channel and I watch them in the movie theatres.

My memories are interwoven with the Holiday movies I have watched over the years. I grew up watching little Natalie Wood believe in Santa Claus for the first time in a Miracle on 34th Street. And no matter how old I got, I believed right along with her, every time. As a child, I couldn’t wait for A Charlie Brown Christmas to play on TV. It was a big night in the Gentle household when Mom and Dad would let my sisters and I stay up late to watch Charlie Brown search for the true meaning of Christmas. But, without a doubt some of my fondest memories were when the whole family would camp out in front of the television every year to watch Frank Capra’s classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.

This is the first year that I was fortunate enough to see It’s a Wonderful Life up on the big screen. I watched George Bailey as he offered to throw a lasso around the moon and pull it down, proving his love to Mary Hatch. I watched as his life grew further and further away from the life he had dreamed of, until it spiraled into a place of utter hopelessness. And I watched as angel second-class Clarence Oddbody showed George just what life would have been like had he never been born. It is truly one of my favorite movies, and there is a lesson to be learned every time I watch it. Because just like George it is good to be reminded that “No man is a failure who has friends.”

I decided to take a quick poll of my fellow Hollywood cube dwellers to see what their favorite Holiday movies were. Of course I was sure they would all say It’s a Wonderful Life and my claim that it is the best Holiday movie to ever come out of Hollywood would be proven. And I got some answers in my favor and I got a few more of the classics as responses, White Christmas, Holiday Inn and The Bishop’s Wife. But, I was very surprised to see that some of the newer films made the top of the list, in fact they were in the top three. After I recovered from my favorite not being in the running, I decided to take a closer look at the top three.

Number three on the list was Elf. Not only was it a top favorite and described as an instant classic, I was amazed at how many of my fellow cube dwellers could deliver quotes from the movie without hesitating. The favorite of Post Production Supervisor, Brent Hall, was, “ You sit on the throne of lies!” He described the movie as “heart warming and hilarious”. To him, it was a perfect Holiday movie, pure happiness. And I have to say that Elf delivered just that, Will Ferrell plays, Buddy, an orphan who was raised by Santa’s elves. The twist here, they never told Buddy that he wasn’t an elf at all, that he was human. Buddy’s journey of discovery and pure joy of everything Christmas was enough to win me over.

Number two on the list was Chevy Chase’s, Christmas Vacation. The Griswold family set out to have a perfect old-fashioned family Christmas and instead got a house full of insanity. Editor, Don Thompson, called it a Classic saying, “Everyone has or has had this kind of crazy neighbor, thinks about their Christmas bonus and has family that you wish never showed up!” And Animation Coordinator, Alyssa Mauney, said, “I love everything from the opening credits to the jelly of the month club…it’s the gift that keeps on giving.” I haven’t seen this one in years, but I do remember the hilarious twists and turns and think it’s time to add it back onto my Christmas movie list.

And finally, number one on the list was cult classic, A Christmas Story. Hands down this one came in as a favorite on everyone’s list. Of course the movie is all about Christmas lists, 9-year old Ralphie Parker’s to be exact and in his words he only wants one thing, “an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time.” When he makes his wish known, he gets the same response from everyone, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Financial Analyst, Karen Alana, had this to say about the movie, “From Ralphie’s obsession with getting a Red Ryder BB Gun to the family being serenaded with Deck the Halls in the Chinese restaurant on Christmas, it’s just my cup of tea!”

A Christmas Story is such a cult classic that every year it plays on TV for 24 hours straight starting on Christmas Eve. Ultimate fan, Post Production Supervisor, Jill Breitzman, said, “I have it playing for the full 24 hours every year since it started. My Sister and I even go so far as to dress in our pink bunny suits as a special “gift” to our Mom.” And Jill was kind enough to share this Christmas memory with a photo from her Hollywood Christmas Cubical!

So, no matter what your favorite Holiday movie is, whether you happen upon it while you are flicking channels or set aside time to settle in with a bowl of popcorn and the DVD, this Hollywood Cube Dweller hopes you have a wonderful Holiday season!

The Valley Wire - 11/14/2008 Column

2008-11-15T22:24:00.000-08:00

Hollywood Holiday Movie Guide
By Mary Beth Gentle

The holiday movies have arrived and this year Hollywood’s gift basket is filled to the brim with tales of Vampires, stories to capture a child’s imagination, a ‘Yes man’ and an epic love story. And those are just the ones that have this cube dweller eager to escape the holiday madness and hide out in the local Cineplex. Every weekend from now until the end of the year there will be a slew of movies making their debut. From the mainstream movie fare to the Oscar contenders this year has a lot of entertainment to offer.

November starts the season off early with family fun in Madagascar 2, outrageous comedy in Role Models, action-adventure with James Bond in Quantum of Solace and an early Oscar entry with The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas. But, for me, the first big weekend of Holiday Movies comes on the weekend of November 21st with the release of a Walt Disney Pictures family film 3D event called Bolt and the highly anticipated film adaptation of the much loved book, Twilight.

Bolt hits 2D film Screens and where available Digital 3D Screens with a lot of anticipation. From what I have heard around town, this one sounds like it is going to be a hit and defiantly worth checking out, especially if you have access to theatre with 3D. Bolt tells the story of a pampered pouch that is also the star of a TV show about a ‘Super-Dog’. The twist here is that Bolt thinks he really is that Super-Dog and the actress that plays Penny, his young owner, really is his owner. So, when the season ends in a cliffhanger leaving Penny in dire straights, Bolt carries on the mission of his character to save Penny. With the voices of John Travolta and Miley Cyrus, we are taken on a journey with Bolt and his furry friends as a little dog discovers what true heroes really are.

Twilight is the next big release of the season and one I can’t wait to see. In fact, I have already bought my ticket for a sneak screening a day early! For anyone who has not caught the Twilight fever and read the book, this is a story of forbidden love between Bella, a seventeen-year-old girl and Edward, a forever young and handsome Vampire. There are millions of teenage girls and their mothers who have read the book and are standing by anxiously awaiting its release. The trick for this release will be to see if they can capture more than just their core audience. And with the amount of press I have seen on this one, they certainly are trying.

When seventeen-year-old Bella Swan moves to live with her father in the rainy little town of Forks Washington, she never expects to come face to face with mysterious and amazingly handsome Edward Cullen. Everyone, including Edward, warns Bella to stay away, but Bella cannot. As she is drawn further into her obsession of Edward, Bella soon discovers his and his family’s secret, they are vampires. Vampires that try really hard not to eat people, but vampires nonetheless. Knowing that being in his company can only lead to danger, love-smitten Edward tries to stay away from Bella, but their bond is too strong. And before long, Bella does fall into danger and it will be up to Edward to save her. To me, Twilight sounds like built-in movie fun, even if I hadn’t read the book.

And finally November’s offering of Holiday fare comes to a close on November 26th with the release of the Epic love story, Australia. This one re-teams Moulin Rouge director Baz Luhrmann with actress Nicole Kidman. The story unfolds in the outback of Northern Australia during World War II when a rich English aristocrat, Kidman, joins forces with a rough around the edges Australian cattle herder, Hugh Jackman, to save her cattle ranch from a takeover. Along the way they must survive an attack from the Japanese forces and come to terms with their growing attraction for each other, the result being a Hollywood Epic that I can’t wait to see. This is the kind of movie that promises adventure, romance and I’m sure a little heartbreak and from everything I have seen it looks sure to deliver.

Most of the big Oscar contenders will make themselves known in December and this year is no different with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s Revolutionary Road, Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt and Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Those are just a few of the growing list of December releases that hope to capture the Academy’s attention. But, two of the December Releases that have stood out to me as, again, good fun and a chance to escape the Holiday madness, are Jim Carrey’s Yes Man and Adam Sandler’s Bedtime Stories. Yes Man is the first one up, releasing to the big screen on December 19th. Based on the book by Danny Wallace, Yes Man tells the story of a man who decides to change his life by saying ‘Yes’ to everything that comes his way. By unleashing the power of yes into his life Jim Carrey’s character, Carl Allen, changes his life in many surprising and amazing ways. One look at the trailer and I added this to my list of must see fun Holiday movies. It looks to be classic Jim Carrey outrageous comedy with, I’m hoping, a little heart mixed in.

And finally, to be released on Christmas Day, is Adam Sandler’s, Bedtime Stories. This one is sure to capture the imagination in this family comedy of a Hotel handyman, Sandler, whose life changes when the elaborate bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to magically come to life. When he attempts to turn this mysterious phenomenon into financial gain for himself by weaving his own good fortune into his stories, his niece and nephew also add their own twists to the tales, turning his life upside down. Maybe it’s because I tell stories to my two nephews all the time, or maybe it’s because I just can’t help laughing at Adam Sandler’s antics, but this one looks like it might be worth a trip to the theatre over the holiday season.

So, as the Holiday madness of Turkey dinners and hours of shopping descend on our lives, just remember that we can all find a little solace in the aroma of popcorn and the slurp of a good Icee at our local theatres this Holiday movie season. Happy Holiday movie watching from the Hollywood cubicle.

The Valley Wire - 10/17/2008 Column

2008-11-15T22:18:00.000-08:00

Hollywood Travels the Hard Times
By Mary Beth Gentle

Hollywood is preparing to travel the hard financial times ahead. They are making cuts and reviewing budgets. They are no different than any other big business and cannot escape the effects of the current financial crisis. In fact, Hollywood could hardly be called a newcomer to hard times. It has survived many turbulent financial periods over the years, including the Great Depression. Because no matter how hard the times get, the American public still wants to be entertained, which means Hollywood will survive. And no movie reflects this sentiment better than the Preston Sturges 1941 classic, Sullivan’s Travels.

The movie follows a young and naïve Hollywood director, John ‘Sully’ Sullivan, and his desire to make a film about the troubles of the poor and downtrodden. He decides to leave behind the comforts of his mansion, his swimming pool and his bank account to go out into the real world and experience life among the masses. Can you imagine if the CEO of one of the Fortune 500 companies or a Hollywood mogul of today decided to do that?

I, for one, cannot. Especially when my view from the Hollywood cubicle is that of the Senior Executives walking the hallways and shaking their heads at the plight of their stock options while they monitor the tumbling market on their Blackberry’s. Of course, those of us in the Hollywood cubicles have never seen a stock option, so we are not as dramatic about the effects of the current situation, we just know that our already tight budgets are going to have to get a little tighter.

In my little corner of the Hollywood cubicle world, we have decided to start brown bagging our lunches. Although, I’m sure it will do nothing for our ‘Hollywood Hipster’ images, it will keep our checkbooks out of the red. It may not be hip to sit in the corner of the commissary with a brown bag lunch, but who knows, maybe we will start a trend because we can’t be the only cubicle dwellers trying to save a buck in these hard times.

But, even if our brown bag lunches get a little leaner and times get a little tougher, the one thing we know we can count on is that Hollywood will see us through the hard times by keeping us entertained. This is the lesson John ‘Sully’ Sullivan learned on his travels. His journey took him to a point where he has lost his money, his freedom, his identity, his health and his pride. Incarcerated in a prison work camp he learned the importance of laughter one evening when he and his fellow prisoners were allowed to watch a Walt Disney Cartoon. It was there, surrounded by the poor and downtrodden that he had so desperately wanted to understand, that John ‘Sully’ Sullivan realized that even though he had lost everything, he still had the ability to laugh. He saw the true power of laughter first hand.

I think the opening dedication in Sullivan’s Travels says it all, “To the memory of those who made us laugh: the motley mountebanks, the clowns, the buffoons, in all times and in all nations, whose efforts have lightened our burden a little, this picture is affectionately dedicated.” So when the gas prices go on the rise again or the scrimping and saving to make ends meet starts to wear thin, just remember that laughter may be the best medicine. Take in a movie, tune into a sitcom or if you haven’t seen it yet rent Sullivan’s Travels and escape the hard times for just a little while.

Blood Moon - Charity Book Auction

2008-10-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

Need A Dress Up Idea For Halloween This Year?

Why Not Be A Women’s Cancer Fighting Super Hero!

Make a donation. Bid on an item. Join Blood Moon author A.W. Gryphon and Jeepers Creepers Jonathan Breck for an auction of celebrity collectibles, hosted by the Charity Folks organization, in support of the Entertainment Industry Foundations Women’s Cancer Programs.

October ends with Halloween and its Breast Cancer Month all month long. Join in on the bidding at CharityFolks.com for a host of celebrity items, including a personalized Jeepers Creepers 1 DVD paired with a signed Creeper Action Figure and a personalized, leather bound, No. 1 copy of Blood Moon from a limited edition series.

The bidding begins on September 30 and closes on October 14, the night of this year’s Blood Moon!

Every penny helps. Please visit the Events page at www.awgryphon.com for more information about Charity Folks, EIF Women’s Cancer Programs and how you can help or Go Straight to the Link Below To Place Your Bid!

http://www.charityfolks.com/cfauctions/auction_verticalngo.asp?slrid=59

BLOOD MOON - New Book to Read!

2008-10-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

Blood Moon is a new book by first time novelist and friend A.W. Gryphon (Allison). It is the first of a three part series and having just read part one - I already can't wait for the next installment. I encourage all of you to pick up a copy (Available at Amazon) to support a fellow writer and enjoy a great read!

Set in the world of Wiccan lore, the story follows young Amelia Pivens, whose perfect childhood crashes to a halt the night her mother is murdered right infront of her. She turns her back on her wiccan life and her study of the craft until the year of her 28th birthday when it all comes back to her full force. As her birthday and the Blood Moon approaches, Amelia must rediscover who she is if she is going to face the truths of her past and survive the murderous plots surrounding her.

This is a great Halloween read!!

And Don't forget to check out Allison's website! http://www.awgryphon.com/

The Valley Wire Column - 9/19/2008

2008-10-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Falls for the New TV Season
By Mary Beth Gentle

It’s over! It’s over! No more re-runs! No more retakes on Japanese Game Shows! No more bad summer TV! I don’t know about the rest of you, but those of us in the Hollywood cubicles are beside ourselves with excitement at the prospect of new TV to watch. Because it is finally that time of year again, summer is over, school is starting and the Fall TV season is upon us. Old favorite shows return and new ones try to capture an audience. And we, the audience, are ready to leave behind the drudgery of summer re-runs and settle in on our couches for our weekly favorites.

The line-ups have been set and the Networks are busily analyzing the rating numbers of the shows that have already premiered and trying to predict the numbers of the shows yet to begin. It’s a busy time of year. And not just for the networks, it’s busy in the Hollywood cubicles. And by busy I don’t mean the work that goes into the creating, posting and promoting the shows. I mean busy in the watching of the shows.

When you work in a Hollywood cubicle it’s important to watch, monitor and predict the success and failure of the fall season. I guess it is not that much different than working on Wall Street and keeping up on the latest hot stocks. Or any business for that matter, it’s important to know the product if you are going to predict it’s future. The only difference here, I have a DVR that is about to explode.

Returning favorites that cannot be missed include; Heroes, Chuck, Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles to name just a few. The shows have had their premiere parties, their new season cast photos have been distributed to all the magazines and the recap episodes are all available on-line. Maybe it’s another sign that I may never run with the Hollywood Hipsters, but I for one can’t wait to see what villains the writers of Heroes have in store for us this season. Not to mention what the ladies of Wysteria Lane and the popular kids of Gossip Girl are going to get up to.

New shows that have been hyped just enough to peak my interest include; Worst Week, 90210, Fringe, Gary Unmarried, Kath & Kim, and Life on Mars. This is the first year in awhile that there are more than a few new sitcoms that hold some potential. Worst Week, based on a BBC series, follows hapless magazine editor, Sam Briggs, as he bumbles thru his week trying to impress his girlfriend and his future in-laws. Re-vamping a BBC show worked for The Office, here’s hoping it works for this one too. Gary Unmarried stars Jay Mohr as newly divorced dad of two traversing his way thru the changes in his life – basically the draw here is the humor of Jay Mohr. And who can resist tuning into the soapy retro fun of 90210 to see what has happened to Brenda and Kelly. These are a few of the new shows that are going to make it onto my ‘record list’- at least for the first few episodes.

Some of these shows are already a few weeks into the new season, which means that by the time I add in returning reality shows like Survivor, Dancing with the Stars and Amazing Race and cable shows like Entourage, Tru Blood or The Tudors. I’m looking at a DVR that will quickly be reaching maximum capacity. But, I guess if I am going to try to stay ahead in the Hollywood cubicle I need to stay on top of all that TV watching so I can throw my two cents in when the hallways turn to talk of which shows will make it and which shows will be cut. It’s like I’m my own little network!

The Valley Wire - 8/29/2008 Column

2008-09-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

Hollywood is Crazy for Sports
By Mary Beth Gentle

Hollywood has always been crazy for sports, some might even say it’s a bit of an obsession. Right now in Hollywood, everyone from the lowly cube dwellers to the senior studio executives are in recovery mode after all the late hours spent watching Team USA night after night pursue Olympic glory. The struggles and hardships that many Olympic competitors had to overcome on their road to the medal podium was captivating, exciting and inspirational. All of which was a constant reminder as to why Hollywood loves making a good sports movie, its heroes are bigger than life and their stories touch something in all of us.

One of the first Hollywood sports movies that falls into this category would have to be 1942’s The Pride of the Yankees starring Gary Cooper as the great Lou Gehrig. It is not praised for its baseball playing accuracy, but it’s touching tale of the baseball great from his New York Childhood to his famous ‘Luckiest Man’ speech set the standard for heartfelt sports movies. The themes in this movie are the same as they are today. At the core of any good sport movie is love, friendship, compassion and heroism.

Another movie that has to be mentioned is 1976’s Rocky starring Sylvester Stallone. And when I say Rocky, I mean the original not the many mediocre films that followed in the series. The Original Rocky not only won best picture that year, but it won the hearts of millions as it told the story of the struggling, small time boxer Rocky Balboa. We watched as his training routine had him pummeling sides of beef in the meat factory, we watched as he won the heart of shy pet store worker Adrian Pennino and we watched as he put everything he had into going the distance against champion Apollo Creed. Rocky was the hero that the ‘everyman’ could relate to.

And my personal favorite is a slightly different sport movie, the 1989, Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner. When Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella hears a voice from his cornfield bidding him, ‘If you build it, he will come’ he is compelled to tear out part of his crop to build a baseball field. What he thought was going to be a ball field for disgraced White Sox baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson and his teammates quickly became more of a quest to give second chances to people who sacrificed what might have been. Ray ends up on a journey of self-discovery as he helps a disillusioned writer and an old Doctor find joy in their own baseball dreams again.

But, at the end of the day Ray gets a second chance of his own when someone close to his heart comes to the ball park for one final ‘throw’. The love of baseball is what draws all these characters to this small field in Iowa, but at the core of this movie is a lesson to be learned about holding onto your dreams.

There have been many more inspiring sport stories over the years; Hoosiers, The Natural, Rudy, Miracle and Remember the Titans to name a just a few. It doesn’t matter what your goals are, it doesn’t matter if they are even sports related, these movies are filled with enough inspiration and heart to go around. And for a struggling writer sitting in a Hollywood cubicle, I will take inspiration wherever I can get it.

The Valley Wire - 8/8/2008 Column

2008-08-23T22:37:00.000-07:00

Hollywood and the Musical
By Mary Beth Gentle

Hollywood and the musical have had an on again, off again, relationship for years now. And I for one am thrilled that this summer the Hollywood musical is back on. This is the summer of Mama Mia!. And not only has it had more than steady box office returns it is downright fun.

The Hollywood musical has been around from just about the beginning. Basically, as soon as movies managed to get sound, they got music. It all began back in 1929 with Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer. By the 1930’s the Hollywood musical had become a box office force to be reckoned with. From Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers to Judy Garland, there seemed to be no stopping them. By the 1950’s and 1960’s the musical had become a cinematic event with movies like; Guys and Dolls, The King and I and The Sound of Music.

Then came the Seventies and Disco and the face of the Hollywood musical changed. The only musicals that were allowed came to us from the theatre first and foremost. Once they had been tried and tested on the stage, the Studios were willing to take a risk, not many of which paid off financially. When we hit the late Eighties and Nineties, thanks to Disney, the musical was saved. Of course, they were only accepted if they were animated.

And now, today, there may be hope for the musical again. Last year we had Enchanted and Across the Universe. And this year we have Mama Mia!. Mama Mia! is a feature film adaptation of the hit stage production based on ABBA’s music. The all star cast includes; Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper in the story of a mother, a daughter and her three possible fathers.

The movie opens with twenty-year-old Sophie (Seyfried) preparing to marry her boyfriend Sky (Cooper) at her mother's (Streep) hotel on a tiny Greek island. Her deepest wish is to be given away by her father at her wedding. By reading her mother's diary she discovers that she has three possible fathers (Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard). Sophie secretly invites all three men to the wedding. But, not all goes according to plan and old loves are re-kindled as Sophie risks everything to discover the true identity of her father.

Combine the cast and the performances with the already widely popular stage play and Universal has a built-in formula for a hit. Which is exactly what this movie is. You may ask why a Hollywood Cube dweller like myself is going on and on about a musical amid a summer of superhero blockbusters and all I can say is that it has been the best surprise of the summer.

In two weeks time, Mama Mia! has already grossed over 75 million dollars. And in the summer box office world of movies that contain no explosions, no flying superheroes or villainous bad guys that is a very good start to what will be classified as a bone fide hit by the end of the summer. It won’t hit The Dark Knights numbers, it won’t even come close, but its production budget was far less, so they don’t have to make as much to find themselves out of the red and into the black.

So, take it from a Hollywood Cube Dweller who has seen all the big summer blockbusters, this is my new pick of the summer. And as I crank up the soundtrack a little louder in my cube, I can only hope the musical is on it’s way back for good.

The Valley Wire - 7/18/2008 Column

2008-07-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Goes to the Comics
By Mary Beth Gentle

Every summer without fail Hollywood gets their ‘geek on’ and goes to the Comics. The biggest movies of the summer are usually based on one comic book character or another. What was once considered light reading for children or a favorite pastime for the geek-at-heart has become a mega-million dollar business, a business which Hollywood has always been only too happy to capitalize upon. This summer alone we have Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and, of course, Batman.

And nowhere are these comics bigger or their fans more serious about their Comics, their Movies and their TV than at the San Diego International Comic-Con. This is an annual event held every July in the San Diego, California Convention Center. For those of you that have not heard of it, you might think, hmmm…a comic book convention and immediately picture a bunch of geeks reading, buying and trading comics.

Well, it may have started out that way back in the seventies when the attendance was around three hundred people, but today it is one of the largest conventions in America with last year’s attendance topping around 127,000 people. It is one of the biggest arenas for the large and small Hollywood Studios to not only pitch and promote their latest line-ups, but to search out known and unknown comic book artists and writers in hopes of finding the next big summer hit.

And it affects even those of us sitting in the Hollywood cubicles. In the months leading up to Comic-Con, Studio Publicity Departments and the Filmmakers are busy planning out their Booths, their Panels and their Clip Reels. And by booths, I don’t mean a small table with a pile of posters on it, the Hollywood majors go all out.

At last years Comic-Con, Walt Disney Studios built a replica of the front of the Pirate ship from Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End that the fans could walk through to see a display of costumes and props from the movie. NBC Studios brought an entire set from the TV Show Heroes to put up in the middle of the convention center. I can tell you right now, they don’t do that at Cannes.

The biggest events at Comic-Con are the Film and TV Cast Panels. This year they will have talent there from; Lost, Stargate, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Twilight, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Battlestar Galactica, Pushing Daisies and those are just to name a few. Not to mention that the official name of Friday at Comic-Con is ‘Star Wars Day’. There are four days of panels, screenings and events that are for the most part already sold out.

Over the years, the level of talent that has come to Comic-Con could compete with that of Cannes or Sundance. But, the focus here is comics, so it will never get the critical acclaim or media coverage of those other big events. But, who cares about critical acclaim, this is Comic-Con. This is where the ‘geek’ gets to be a king for a few days every year. And take it from one big Movie, TV and okay…Comic Book Geek…there is nothing like it. Sundance may be where the cool kids go, but I’m telling you right now, Comic-Con is where the party is.

The other big event at Comic-Con every year is a little thing called, “Trailer Park”. This is where the Studios, big and small, premiere all their new trailers for upcoming movies. They take one of the largest rooms at the Convention Center and hang rows of giant screens so that no matter what seat you end up with, you can still see all the action.

The Studios may act like they don’t care about anyone but themselves the rest of the year, but once a year at Comic-Con they do remember the most important thing; the Fans. And the Fans are the reason those people sitting in the big offices and those of us in the Hollywood Cubicles have jobs. And I for one am glad that Hollywood has gone to the Comics.

The Valley Wire - 6/20/2008 Column

2008-07-02T15:59:00.000-07:00

Hollywood and the Summer Intern
By Mary Beth Gentle

It is that time of year in Hollywood that Summer Interns take their first steps into the exciting and glamorous world of the entertainment business. And those of us in the Hollywood cubicles are doing one of two things this time of year, we are either reminiscing about our own internships or we are stacking up dusty piles of long forgotten paperwork for the new intern to sort thru and file. Depending on how fondly we all remember our own internships will determine how high the pile of filing will be.

For me, my Internship was spent in a Producer’s office located at Raleigh Studios. Raleigh Studios is a small independent Film Studio in the heart of Hollywood. They opened back in 1915 as the Famous Players Fiction Studios. Silent film era icon, Charlie Chaplin, was one of the owners and filmed many projects there.

For a kid from nowhere’s-ville USA, it was a dream come true. I was going to work for a Producer on a historic Hollywood Studio lot, right across the street from Paramount Studios. It was a coveted internship and it was mine. I couldn’t wait to be a part of the Industry that I had spent a lifetime (all twenty-two years) reading about, studying obsessively and absorbing every detail I could get my hands on. This was going to be amazing I was going to be right in the middle of it, working in a Producer’s office, making movies.

Instead, I spent three months making all new files for the entire office and learning the in’s and out’s of the fascinating world of copy machine operation. The only time I saw the Producer was to get her a glass of water one day. I don’t think she actually knew who I was or why I was there, but she was thirsty and I was handy. Welcome to Hollywood. I wasn’t exactly sure how this internship was going to move me closer to my goals or how I could somehow spin this to make it sound really exciting to the folks back at home.

But, as with anything in life, it is what you make it. And I made the most of those three months that I could. I made files. I made the best darn files that were ever made. I took that simple task and I set out to impress anyone that would take notice. And in my case, and the case of my impressive files, it was the Producer’s Assistant. She had the all-encompassing job of managing the ever-ringing phone lines and Calendar for the Producer. And as busy as she was, she took the time to give a kid a break and she shared what she knew about the business.

Every day I would go to lunch with that Assistant. We would walk across the street to the Paramount lot and she would introduce me to the guys delivering the mail, to the security guys guarding the Sound Stages and to other Producer Assistant’s hanging out in the commissary and somewhere along the way I realized that it didn’t matter what title someone had or how high up the Hollywood ladder they were, everyone had a story to tell and all I had to do was listen. So, I listened and I learned a lot that summer.

This year, my fellow Hollywood Cubicle dwellers and I have an intern of our very own. His name is Mike, Mike the Intern, and he comes to us all the way from Georgetown University. The week before he started, I could see my co-worker’s minds working overtime and their fingers furiously typing lists of things he could do for them. They were like kids making out their lists for Santa.

I asked Mike the Intern what this experience meant to him. “This internship means one thing to me, and that's opportunity. I am at ground zero of the largest production company in the world and am looking foreword to not only a great summer, but to set the stage for a future career in the industry.”

I also asked him what he hoped to learn this summer that would help him achieve his career goals. “This summer I want nothing else, but to learn as much as I can about the industry. I want to have a firm grasp on every gear and axle that makes up the entertainment machine. Not only to narrow down my full time job, but to be knowledgeable about the entire process, so I can better understand how my role fits in the overall context of the industry.”

Mike the Intern has been working with us for a few weeks now, and yes we have had him sort thru piles of old paperwork and okay maybe we have had him make a file or two, but we have also made it our mission to show him as much as we can about the movie making process. In a few short weeks he has been to the film processing lab, he has been to a dubbing stage and he has had the opportunity to observe a day of shooting on a sound stage. Because luckily for him, we all do remember what it was like to be young, eager and an intern.

The Valley Wire - 5/16/2008 Column

2008-06-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Dreams of the Blockbuster
By Mary Beth Gentle

Did you ever have a dream that you wanted so bad you could taste it? Feel it in your soul? Make your head ache just thinking of it? For me that dream was and in many ways still is, Hollywood. It started as something far away and intangible, something that other people went on to do, certainly not something a quiet, shy kid from No-where’s-ville, USA would ever be a part of.

Sometimes I wonder where my dream of a life in Hollywood all began, where and at what moment I was hooked. Maybe it was the Saturday Matinees at the little theatre on our small town’s Main Street, where they would play old Disney movies while we ate our popcorn and slurped our sodas. Maybe it was the Sunday afternoons spent watching old black and white Cary Grant movies with my Grandmother. Or maybe it was the seventh grade field trip to the local TV station where I got to see the cameras and lights close up.

I think all those things helped nurture the dream, but the more I think about it the dream for me was created by the Hollywood Summer Blockbuster. These are the big budget movies that every Studio spends all year prepping, shooting and posting to get on screen for Memorial Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. For me, that was my summer vacation, I had it planned from the moment school let out to the moment it started back up in September. I knew which ones I had to see and which ones I would see over and over again.

And I am still the same way. My summer is not planned out by elaborate vacation plans to some great escape or a tropical get away. It’s planned out by what movie opens on what weekend, how early I am going to buy my tickets and where I am going to see it. And for me this summer is a true flashback to the days of my youth. This is the summer of one of the ultimate blockbusters, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Raiders of the Lost Ark was the movie that really cemented the dream in place for me. The movie opened on June 12, 1981 and I think I saw it five times that summer, if not more. It was the wildest movie ride I had ever been on. It was a movie that had it all; it had non-stop action like we had never seen before, a classic American Hero to root for and truly bad guys to fear. It was and still is everything a blockbuster should be; it is why we go to the movies, buy our popcorn and smile as the rare hush falls over the audience the moment the first frame of action lights up the screen.

I have already watched the trailer for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull countless times. I get a little giddy just thinking about it. And I am supposed to be a cool, jaded Hollywood Hipster. Well, I hate to break it to everyone, but when it comes to Indiana Jones, I am simply a movie geek who works in a Hollywood cubicle. And trust me, I am proud of it.

There are other movies out this summer; Wall-E, Prince Caspian, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, The Incredible Hulk to name a few. And I will see them all, but I can already tell you that none of them will compare to Indiana Jones. Because none of them hold the same sense of nostalgia, none of them come close to the level of pop culture status that Indiana Jones has and none of them can be counted as having sparked a far off dream in the mind of a young girl from No-where’s-ville, USA.

So, even when I have weeks like this past one, where I have worked a seventy-hour week and I’m not sure if any of the powers that be care or recognize my efforts, I still smile a little at the thought that I’m actually here, living my dream. And at least for one moment, during one movie this summer, I will be that kid again, standing on a long line waiting to be one of the first to see the ultimate Summer blockbuster, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

The Valley Wire - 4/18/2008 Column

2008-05-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Hollywood on Location
By Mary Beth Gentle

It used to be that kids dreamed of running away to join the Circus; the big tent, the lights and the lure of a life filled with excitement. Well, I think in our day and age, the Circus has been replaced by ‘Hollywood on Location’. There is nothing more exciting then when the ‘circus’ that is Hollywood comes to town. It’s good for revenue, it’s good for morale and it’s guaranteed to capture the hearts and imagination of anyone harboring a secret dream of working in the movie business.

Hollywood goes on location for one big reason, there is no sound stage or studio back-lot that can create the look and feel of the real thing. If their story takes place in Chicago, then they need to shoot in Chicago. They need the audience watching their movie to feel like they are actually there. The town in the script is not only a backdrop for the story being told, it helps set the scene and define the characters. John Hughes’ movies and characters would not have been the same if they had been shot anywhere else.

When the camera and equipment trucks roll into town they bring with them the allure and excitement that is Hollywood, but they also bring entire crews of people that put their day to day lives on hold to do a job. They say goodbye to their families for weeks or months at a time. They hire pet and house sitters, they find friends who are willing to collect their mail and overnight it to them once a week and they pack as much of their lives in to bags and boxes to set up ‘home’ wherever they end up.

Production crews dream of being on the movie that shoots on some tropical, sun-splashed beach, but more often than not, they end up in small towns like Vernal, Utah. These crews curse their luck and quickly go on the internet to see exactly what they are facing. What they read frightens them to their core, a city of maybe eight thousand people that is famous for a large pink dinosaur welcoming them to town. This is enough to frighten these crew members into contemplating another career, but they quickly remind themselves that they have bills and a mortgage to pay and it is only six weeks or so of their lives.

Of course, what they discover when they arrive, is a town filled with genuine, nice people in a city that is surrounded by the beauty of the Flaming Gorge National Park. For one such crew member, assistant editor, Christopher Marino, working on the movie Chill Factor in Vernal, Utah, that was exactly the experience he had. Of all the locations he has worked in, that one holds some of the fondest memories for him. Not because of the time spent seeing the sights, but for the people.

To this day, he speaks of their kindness and generosity. “I still haven’t gotten over how, at Halloween, when my wife came for a visit, we couldn’t find a pumpkin anywhere. (Vernal loves it’s holidays!) When I asked a local waitress where we could find a pumpkin, she told me that she had an extra and would have her sister bring it to the restaurant. My wife and I were just happy to have even the smallest reject-pumpkin at this point. At the end of the meal, in comes a woman carrying a twenty-pound pumpkin! My wife and I reminisce about that Halloween every year.”

Most of the people on a movie crew come to town with the Production. But, they always wait and hire the most essential crew member when they arrive on location, the Production Assistant (“PA”). This is usually someone young, eager and happy to race around town running errands and getting lunch. What the crews gets, is a person who knows the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of the area. What the entertainment industry gets, is another convert. The cubicles and production offices in Hollywood are filled with people who started their careers working as a PA on the movie that shot in their hometown.

The Valley Wire - 3/21/2008 Column

2008-03-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Does Lunch
By Mary Beth Gentle

You might think that in Hollywood the most important part of the day is when the Director yells ‘Action’ or when the Head of the Studio gives your project the ‘green light’. But actually, the most important part of the day in Hollywood is lunch. It is what gets us through. We watch our clocks for it. We plan for it. And depending how high up the Hollywood Ladder you are, determines just how much time you get for lunch.

The Agents and the Studio Bosses hold their three-hour power lunches in Beverly Hills at either ‘The Ivy’ or the ‘Grill on the Alley’. The hip hangout for the young Hollywood Celebrities and their two hour lunches would be ‘Hyde’ or ‘Les Deux’ which is easily recognized by the Paparazzi hanging around outside. And trust me, Hollywood has it down when it comes to serving up lunch from a Catering Truck. These are not ‘roach coaches’ either, these are Four Star Restaurants on wheels. When the First Assistant Director on the set of a Movie or TV show yells, ‘that’s lunch’ the cast and crew race to the chow line for their thirty minute lunch break.

None of those lunches comes close to lunch inside a Production Office. The Production Office is the hub of any Film or TV endeavor. They spend weeks and weeks prepping crews to go off and shoot in all types of conditions, they wrangle talent, they wrangle budgets and they wrangle trucks full of equipment. But, hands down the most important part of their day is wrangling lunch which is eaten at their desks.

This highly specialized and very important task ultimately rests on the shoulders of the guy or girl at the very bottom of the ladder. The Production Assistant (PA) is the lucky member of the crew to hold the position of ‘lunch wrangler’. The PA starts his day flipping through a pile of menus collected from every restaurant within a ten mile radius of the Production office. You don’t know stress until you have to figure out which one restaurant is going to make thirty or more people happy.

Most PA’s start their days praying that maybe, just maybe it will be a pizza day. Not only is it easier to order; they deliver. Sadly, pizza days are few and far between. Pizza days usually only happen when the PA must stand at the copy machine for nine hours making copies of the script for the entire cast and crew. So, really the whole concept of Pizza Day is not a winning solution.

Once a restaurant is selected, the PA will spend the next two hours taking orders from all the different departments within the Production office. You can always guarantee you will have at least thirty lunch orders to collect. And that is the easy part. You then have to go order all the lunches, pick them up and make sure they are correct and labeled for each individual in the office. This is usually where some ‘old-timer’ pats the poor kid on the back and says, “Welcome to Hollywood.”

That is how the rest of Hollywood does lunch. Of course, in the Hollywood Cubicle it is a completely different story. Those of us working the Studio jobs behind the scenes are left to fend for ourselves, but we do get to leave our desks for a whole hour. This usually means a trip to the Studio Commissary. And you better believe that there are the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to Studio Commissary food.

I have eaten at all the Studio Commissary’s and in my opinion, Twentieth Century Fox Commissary is just good eating. If you are working in a Hollywood Cubicle on the Fox lot, you have won the golden ticket. Not only are you basking in the glorious sunshine of the Westside, but you are eating high off the hog in the Fox Commissary. Now, the poor saps working in a Hollywood Cubicle on the Paramount lot, they truly are the saddest ‘Cube’ Workers in all of Hollywood. The Paramount Commissary makes a killer breakfast burrito, but when it comes to lunch you are better off brown bagging it.

No matter where you end up eating in Hollywood, it’s never about the food, it’s about the deal made at the power lunch, the crew getting a much deserved break after an already long day or the Hollywood Cube worker getting away from their four grey walls for an hour everyday.

So, the next time you head out on your lunch break and pull up a chair at your local Osceola Bistro, remember that it may not be the glamour of ‘The Ivy’ in Beverly Hills, but at least you are not eating Meatloaf Surprise at Paramount, again.

The Valley Wire - 2/22/2008 Column

2008-02-22T12:08:00.000-08:00

Hollywood and the Academy Awards
By Mary Beth Gentle

The Writer’s Strike is over! TV Shows are heading back into production. And the Academy Awards are going on as scheduled. Life in Hollywood is getting back to normal. Or, I guess, as normal as a place known to the world as ‘tinsel town’ can be. It will take some time to get the shows back on the air and to get everyone working again, but as the saying goes, ‘the show must go on’.

And in the blink of an eye, that is just what happens, the focus around town shifts from the striking writers to the Academy Awards. And excitement is in the air here in the Hollywood Cubicles. It begins the same way every year. As soon as the Nominations are announced, we all start making our lists. What have we seen? What do we need to see? What can we just pretend we saw?

Don’t get me wrong, this is not because I or anyone in my near vicinity is actually going to the Academy Awards nor will we be on any of the after party invite lists. This is for a far more important reason than walking the red carpet or sipping martinis with George Clooney. This is for the Office Oscar Pool. And it is serious business. In these hallways, this is bigger than the Superbowl. And it is not just our office pool that has us shifting into research mode, it is the Oscar pools that our family and friends across the country are in.

This is not simply picking a square in a giant grid, this is about successfully predicting the correct outcome of twenty-four different categories. You always have to start out with the big awards; best picture, best actor and best actress. The films in the running for Best Picture this year are; Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men and There will be Blood. Now early research shows that Atonement has a pretty good shot at taking the prize. But, no one is counting out Critical favorite No Country for Old Men, nor are they counting out underdog favorite Juno.

Best Actor nominations this year are; George Clooney (Michael Clayton), Daniel Day-Lewis (There will be Blood), Johnny Depp (Sweeny Todd), Tommy Lee Jones (In the Valley of Elah) and Viggo Mortensen (Eastern Promises). This category is a little tougher, early awards have gone to a few of these gentlemen with the favorites so far being Daniel Day-Lewis for There will be Blood and George Clooney for Michael Clayton.

Best Actress nominations this year are; Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth: The Golden Age), Julie Christie (Away From Her), Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), Laura Linney (The Savages) and Ellen Page (Juno). Another tough category, the favorite is looking like Julie Christie for Away From Her, but no one is counting out the star of the Underdog hit of the year, Ellen Page for Juno.

Those are the big awards. Those are the easy ones to predict. Once you narrow them down to a short list, you can start researching what the polls are saying and take a pretty good guess. I mean they have odds running in Vegas on who will win those awards.

But, the tougher ones to predict are the awards for categories like; Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay or Best Achievement in Visual Effects. This is where you really have a chance to impress you sister in Chicago if you can help her win these categories on her office Oscar pool. Because, if you do enough research and pay attention to who took the prize at the different Guild Awards Dinners this year, then you are on the fast track to getting these categories correct.

And finally, it comes down to the near impossible to predict, the awards for categories such as; Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Foreign Language Film of the Year or Best Animated Short. Don’t let anyone try to kid you either, even in the Hollywood Cubicles we really have no idea what has a shot here. It usually comes down to picking the title you may have actually heard people talking about or just picking the title that has a nice ring to it. Either way, these categories are all guess work and just plain luck.

I, myself, have never actually won an Oscar Pool. I start out every year with the best intentions. I do all the research. I read all the predictions. I should be able to win these things every year. But, at the end of the day, when it comes time to sit with my ballot and make my selections, I really can’t help but to go with my heart. I do it every year. And I lose every year.

But, isn’t that what the Academy Awards are all about anyway? Going with our hearts? Picking the films that touched something in us? Picking our favorite Actor for loyalty sake? I think it is what makes it fun to sit in front of the television every year and hope that the underdog can pull it off or hope that a surprise win will shock everyone. After all, putting on a great show is what Hollywood is all about. I don’t know about you, but I will be watching come Sunday night, with my heart-picked ballot in front of me, and my hopes high.

The Valley Wire - 1/18/2008 Column

2008-01-25T14:46:00.000-08:00

Screenwriter Annie Deyoung with Supporters James and Ethan Marino

Hollywood and the Picket Line
By Mary Beth Gentle

Not every picket line you come across has writers picketing alongside pilots and flight attendants or row after row of ‘Trekkies’ walking the line at Studio Main Gates. But, in Hollywood, that is how the picket line has come to look. They are called ‘theme’ days. Inviting the fans and crew of a particular show or members of a particular union to picket the studio where the show is produced is one way the writers on the picket line have found to keep their momentum going. It clearly shows the support from other unions and from television and film fans.

There have been quite a few ‘theme’ days to date: Teamster Support days, Bring Your Favorite Actor to Work days, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ days, Joss Whedon Fandom days, Veteran Writer days, Bring Your Kids to the Picket Line days, Bring Your Dog days, Singles on the Picket Line days, SAG Solidarity days, Horror Writer days and Crime Writer days. The list could go on, and will go on, as long as the strike continues. In doing all of this, the Writers are sending a clear message: we are not alone and we are not going anywhere.

I have not had to cross many picket lines in my life and it breaks my heart a little every day as I drive through the Studio Gate past the striking writers. So, I do little things to show support. I wave a big sign that reads ‘Support the Writers’ as I drive into the Studio, which gets me a few cheers from the cold and tired writers and more than a few glares from the security guards. I proudly wear a ‘Support the Writers’ wristband and have succeeded in getting them on quite a few wrists in my hallway. I have a ‘Support the Writers’ sign pinned to the wall of my office, which gets its share of comments from the studio executives on the floor. It is not much, but I always hope that my small show of support might help the writers know that they are not alone.

I have talked to a few of the writers who struggle every day to remain hopeful. They have been at this quite a few months now and, with the powers-that-be avoiding the negotiating table, it has become harder to walk that picket line and hold onto the hope of a quick resolution. I have talked to one of the writers on those lines directly and have asked a few questions.

Annie DeYoung, writer of The Ron Clark Story (TNT) and the Disney Channel movies Return to Halloweentown and Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, spends four out of five days on the picket line every week. She has shown her support and raised her voice at Union rallies and at a Los Angeles City Council Meeting. I asked her to quickly share with us an update directly from the picket line and have also asked her what support from fans has meant to her.

“The AMPTP (the Producers) would like people to believe that the writers are the ones depriving them of their television shows. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are and always have been ready for fair negotiations toward a contract which will compensate us in a small way for what we create. We are ready and willing to go back to work, to create great film & television. But this strike is about preserving our livelihood. It is about being paid a decent wage so we can make our mortgage payments, our car payments, our children’s tuition. We’re working for a living just like everyone else in this country. Except we earn our living by creating television shows and films. A big part of our wages are paid in residuals when a show or movie we write is rerun. The problem is that the producers don’t want to pay us a fair rate when they rerun our shows on the internet. And, since the future of television is the internet, if the AMPTP has it’s way, soon we’ll get paid next to nothing for internet reruns and downloads, even as the studios and producing companies are raking in the profits. It is hard facing this day after day, but when we have the support of our families and our fans, it means a lot. Every little bit of support gives us the courage to continue to stand up for our rights.”

As someone who lives and works in Hollywood, I have found ways to show my support for Annie and the other writers on the picket line. If you would like to show your support to the writers and to let the producers know you do care about the material that is piped into your homes and cineplexes, here are a few websites that you can visit:

Strikeswag.com is a site that sells T-Shirts about the strike so you can show your support. All profits are donated to the Writers Guild Foundation Industry Support Fund to assist non-WGA members of the industry who are in financial distress as a direct result of the strike. Fans4writers.com is a site created by the fans. This site has downloadable banners for your MySpace and FaceBook pages and websites. It also has downloadable posters for your home or storefront windows, and many ideas on how you can help wherever you live.

These are just a few of the many sites out there that have been created to help show the support the writers need from both the Hollywood community and the community at large. As always, I remain hopeful that this strike will end in a fair and amicable manner so we can all get back to the business of making and watching wonderfully scripted entertainment.

The Valley Wire - 12/21 Column

2008-01-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Tinsel Town
By Mary Beth Gentle

Christmas, Hollywood style. It’s that time of year when the overstuffed gift baskets and bottles of wine start pouring in like snow falling on the Prairies. Of course, for the row upon row of entertainment assistants sitting in the cubicles it’s more like snow falling on Hollywood Boulevard. Not going to happen. But, the flurry surrounding the ‘gift’ arrival is still exciting. For those of us sitting in our cubicles, we can hear the gift laden mail carts creaking down the hallway and one can’t help feeling like a little kid at Christmas. Is it going to stop at my office? Will it be for me?

Of course, when the mailroom kid does stop, it is only to have someone sign for the basket that gets added to the pile overtaking your boss’s desk. Which is really okay, because most of the time they will throw a basket or two your way to help spread the office Holiday cheer. And when you go home at the end of the day with your basket of gourmet food and you put your new bottle of ten dollar mustard next to your squeeze bottle of yellow store brand mustard you can’t help but catch some of that Holiday cheer yourself.

It only takes a few leftover gift baskets and before you know it that cheer is spreading throughout the cubicles in the office. People start wrapping their normally grey cubicle walls in Santa paper, stringing shiny gold garland around their IMacs and lighting up their fake pink sparkling Christmas trees. Even the really ‘cool’ Hollywood Assistants can’t help hanging a decoration or two. Because it is that time of year where the real work slows down and all of our energies shift to planning the Department Holiday party.

There are actual meetings about these events. There are budgets done, schedules are created, heck, I think they even make T-shirts. A lot goes into the planning of these productions, for a brief moment we all become crew members working on a very low budget movie. Because to those in the cubicles this could be the only Hollywood Christmas Party we get invited to.

As with any major Hollywood production, ideas start out really, really big. The excitement is everywhere when you hear that for five minutes the Holiday party might actually take place at Spago. I mean who would have thought that our little Holiday Party could be important enough to become a Spago event. For once I might actually be on the invite list for a party worth crashing. But, of course, when the budget is reviewed it becomes clear that Spago is not in our future. We quickly downgrade the plan to cocktails at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Which would still be okay, if it’s a good night we might even get to see Brittany take out a few Paparazzi’s.

But, when the ‘powers that be’ review the budget plan, reality really starts to sink in and the Accountants quickly inform us that our party will not take place at any trendy Hollywood hot spot, nor could it be downgraded to a ‘small but trendy’ spot on Ventura Boulevard in the Valley. We would, again, be holding our Holiday party in the Commissary, on a weeknight, after work.

There are a few moments of disappointment throughout the corridors, the ‘cool’ Hollywood Assistants even take their few Holiday decorations down in protest, but at the end of the day a party is still a party. And this is where the real movie making magic comes into play. Because the one thing Hollywood has always done right, they know how to put on a show. With a few calls to the Prop Department, the lighting Department and the gathering of a lot of Holiday Basket leftovers, a once dreary cafeteria is transformed into a Winter Wonderland for a terrific Holiday Party…Hollywood style.

I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday Season and I’ll be back after the New Year with an update on the Writers Strike with word directly from the Picket line. For now I’m off to enjoy my gift basket of gourmet food because after the New Year I’m back to Store brand delicacies and regular old commissary food. Happy Holidays from the Hollywood Cubicle!

The Valley Wire - 11/30 Column

2008-01-08T11:20:00.000-08:00

My Hollywood Cubicle
By Mary Beth Gentle

The Valley Wire saved my life. That may sound a little on the dramatic side, but I honestly think it might be true. And normally, I would be the last person to believe that something as out of my realm as a local newspaper from Osceola, Wisconsin, could save the life of a single girl living ‘the dream’ in the glitz and glamour that is Hollywood California. But, that is the truth. The moment the latest edition arrives in the mail, I read it cover to cover.

I work at a major Movie Studio. And for many reading this, I am sure the thought of Hollywood life brings to mind things like; Film Premieres, Movie Stars, Outrageous Parties, Paparazzi, and oh, yes, the Glamour and Glitz. I am here to tell you, that only encompasses about five percent of the reality behind the Dream. And I am not saying that in an attempt to burst any bubbles. It is a fact. The majority of the cogs turning the wheels that run ‘Hollywood’ sit in grey cubicles surrounded by other grey cubicles, wondering if we will ever get our invite to the big Premiere party or if they will pass us by again.

It is a funny business. The Business of Hollywood. For one thing, not much of it actually takes place in Hollywood. The magic happens in very unglamorous places like Burbank and Culver City to name just a few. And the offices are filled with more accountants than filmmakers. A good reminder, that at the end of the day, it is a business.

I came to Hollywood to be a screenwriter. The guy in the cube next to me plans on directing one day. And just about everyone you meet believes that they would make a great producer. I still write. Everyday! The guy that wants to be a Director, is still out there raising money to shoot his short. And everyone I know is out there pitching a project to Produce. Because the one word that never makes it into the glitzy description of Hollywood is ‘Hope’. But, we all have it. It’s what keeps us here. It’s what brings new people to this industry everyday.

The longer you are here, the longer you will remain. Because that’s how they get you, you work on one movie, then the next and pretty soon you are hooked. It gets easier and easier to envision that your movie will be the next one to be made. Maybe right now you are just getting coffee or typing up script changes for someone else. But, the thing is, you are here. You are living the dream. Those of us that have been languishing in the same grey cubicles waiting for our big breaks, recite that line to ourselves several times a day. ‘I am living the dream. Oh yes. I am living the dream.’

I am hoping that with the help of the Valley Wire, maybe I can live the dream a little sooner than most. I am writing something that someone is reading. I hope you are anyway. And in return, a couple of times a month, I will get a glimpse into your world. And maybe we will see that our worlds are not so very different.

Right now, the world I live in is in Turmoil. We have entered into our fourth week of a Writer’s Strike. I am sure by now, many of you have heard of it, whether it was the celebrity appearances that made the Primetime news channel or the latest E! Hollywood update. Celebrities aside, it is important to remember that ninety-five percent of the writers on the picket line are just regular working people (who have a really cool job), working paycheck to paycheck and doing their hardest to make sure that they are being paid fairly for the work they do. It’s no different than any other unionized industry. Well, except Jay Leno probably doesn’t bring striking airline workers a box of doughnuts nor do you see striking city bus workers marching down Hollywood Boulevard. But other than that, it is pretty much the same. When negotiations fail, you go on strike.

Basically, negotiations have broken down over the financial formula that is used to pay writers a share of the DVD revenue and the fact that the writers are currently paid nothing for Internet and other Digital sales. It is only fair that the Writers should be guaranteed a fair percentage of the money the Studios make every year on DVD and Internet sales.

And, maybe I’m biased, because I have friends walking the picket lines, so it is affecting me on a personal level. But, the longer this strike goes on, the more people it will effect. And not just the other industries or the non-union staff people who will be out of work when production on TV show after TV show shuts down, it will start to effect you as well. Without the writers we will be faced with months of reality TV. And I don’t care what part of the country you live in, there is only so much humor a person can find in bad singing and dancing.

The writers are the people that dream up the stories, create the characters and write the dialogue that we all gather around our Televisions and computers to watch every week. They make us laugh, they make us cry, they create the characters that become ingrained in our culture. So, for this hopeful girl in Hollywood, sitting in her little grey cubicle, I am going to hope for a quick resolution to the Strike. And considering that this past Monday negotiations between the Writers and the Producers have finally resumed with talk of a positive result, maybe all that hope will pay off.

I look forward to sharing more moments from life in ‘Hollywood’ with all of you.

The Valley Wire

2008-01-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

As some of you know, I have started writing a small entertainment column for a local Wisconson newspaper. Why a Wisconson Newspaper you may ask...well a good friend and fellow writer Garth Olson has started his own newspaper in the town of Osceola Wisconson. I was impressed from the first edition forward and was thrilled when he asked me to be a part of his endeavor. I have contributed to two issues so far (both posted here). And will post all future columns as they are printed.

This is not your normal Hollywood Entertainment column. I will not be writing about the latest Brittany Shennanigans nor will I have up to the minute coverage on the deals as they happen. This will be a column from the viewpoint of a tiny cog in the Hollywood wheel. I will try to give the folks of Wisconson and those reading this blog my view of life in Hollywood...for whatever that is worth.

Hope you enjoy.

Quote of the Day

2007-11-12T14:46:00.000-08:00

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Albert Einstein