A few of the lessons I learned while working on a "Blockbuster" commercial.
"BLOCKBUSTER WOMAN"
A few years ago, before I joined SAG and began auditioning for principal parts, I worked background on a “Blockbuster” commercial.For a couple of days, I was featured in the crowd that chanted ,”No more late fees” as we marched up and down streets on the back lots of Universal Studios.There was a woman on that commercial who rubbed me the wrong way.She was brassy and loud and convinced that everything she said was comical.She laughed loud.She talked incessantly.It seemed as though no matter where I went, I could not get away from her presence.
Then, towards the second night, when it was getting near freezing again, and we were all huddled around a propane heater, she burst into tears.She had tried to retrieve hot water for a fellow actor, and since we had none in our nonunion camp, she had gone to the union station.Whereupon the craft service man cussed at her and called her a damned useless nonunion extra.It had broken her heart.All she was trying to do was make a living, so she said, and get some hot water for a friend whilst working.Needless to say, she was crushed.
With us, she wondered when nonunion people lost the right to even have water, much less some respect.And with her bravado gone, I saw the true lady in her.I saw the one who was getting older, the one without a wedding band upon her finger, the one who was there in the freezing weather, trying, working, laughing when hurting, and joking instead of complaining.And I realized I was the one who had had the problem.Her tears broke the hardness of my heart.And when I saw her a few hours later with her composure regained and her tall tales flying, I didn’t mind.In fact, I stood nearby and listened without her knowing, and enjoyed her.
What a lovely piece! I love the humanity shared--on both levels... that of showing her (and your) human sides...annoyingness, irritation--and that of being humane... she, with running an errand for another, you with forgiving. It is amazing, is it not, how contagious compassion is? Spread the wealth, Sharon! I've got your back. --Charlie
FRIENDS ARE ALCHEMISTS THAT MAKE GOLD FROM THE FOAM OF WAVES ON THE SHORE OF THEIR GRACE, AND MAKE DIAMOND FROM CONDENSED VAPORS OF THE RAINBOW OF LOVE. FRIENDS ARE THE PILLARS OF PEACE. – By Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU
I have enjoyed the reading of this story. "Blockbuster Woman" is an arrow to show the way to fraternity.
This story brought to mind that line from the Beatles' song 'Though I act and laugh like a clown, beneath this mask I am wearing a frown'
It goes without saying that each of us are daily performers, individuals of a thousand faces. We draw from an extensive psychological wardrobe often wearing a mask that goes against type. The mask can be very fragile.
This was clearly the case with the woman in this story. A simple conflict involving a drop of water removed the face she was wearing (Oops, another Beatles' line 'Wearing the face that she keeps in the jar by the door').
Conversely, the face we wear when confronted with someone's we find uncomfortable, is removed in encounters such as the story relates. (Tut, here I go again, another Beatles line, 'Misunderstanding all we see, it's getting hard to be someone but it all works out').
A short story but one bearing volumes of insights that stimulate discourse (and Beatles' songs).
Often times it is hard to see past the easy facade that surrounds the people we meet or work with daily until somthing happens such as you describe and we see how callous we can be. Loved this human interest story and also by the way loved your new profile picture you truly have a classic beauty that I can see why it is in demand.
Sharon - Reading this today is phenomenal. Why? Yours is the second instance in which a friend has seen a loud and brassy person fold their front and collapse into a ball of emotion. Is it possible that we are getting more adept at probing the paper shield that so many persons around us use?
Your story is so concise and well written. It also tells me how kind and helpful you are in dealing with up front braggarts and bores. I trust that what you've written here will help both parties handle situations similar. Thanks for writing it. - Bill
Imogene, a country-bred girl, longs to make a life for herself in New York City. She joins forces with her former college roommate to start a movie production company in the big city.
Major League ballplayer Justin Moore is kidnapped from his own ballpark and transported to a foreign land. It might take high-level international negotiations to free him. Or maybe he will take matters into his own hands.
