MISSING-IN-ACTION, SECRET BALLOTS, AND CARLA LAEMMLE “AMONG THE RUGGED PEAKS”

Up front, I must apologize for my missing-in-action, 3-week hiatus of sorts.  I could say, “my dog ate my blog,” even though I don’t have a dog.  Or seeing that we are in LA, “I was stuck in traffic,” but, alas, I simply got behind in the adventure of life.  So sorry!  That said, here I am!  Miss me?

As I write this week’s blog I have my “SECRET BALLOT ENVELOPE” in hand.  What you ask?  Well, my long awaited Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) 2009 Commercials Contract has arrived.  In April, the committee finally reached a tentative agreement with the advertisers, after negotiations that began last year.  A full rundown of what this agreement includes is explained in the press release posted on SAG’s official website, here.

The ballot makes me feel as though I am back in school and taking a test, because it is in scantron, machine-readable paper, on which students mark answers to academic test questions, form.  I now need to decide whether or not I agree with the contract as is; one on which both unions are strongly urging it’s members to vote YES, by filling in the bubble that reflects my vote and mailing it in by the May 21st deadline.

Aside from my personal blogging delays and “tests” like SAG and AFTRA ballots, I have been auditioning and attending callbacks for some great TV shows, while keeping fairly busy overall.  Something special and fun I got to be a part of was my dear friend Carla Laemmle’s book signing, in Burbank a couple weeks ago.  I received one of her lovely phone calls the afternoon prior to the event to let me know she would be in my neighborhood for her first book signing at the age of 99!  It was held at Dark Delicacies, which she said is “a darker, spookier place that sells books from the horror genre, but hopefully she wouldn’t be too scary,” as she laughed, in true Carla fashion.

Carla Laemmle, whom I have mentioned in a prior blog, “99 YEARS AND COUNTING,” is the niece of Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal Pictures.  Her book, Among the Rugged Peaks: An Intimate Biography of Carla Laemmle, is written by another wonderful friend of mine Rick Atkins.  It’s a “tell all” autobiography, whose title reflects the first line of the classic 1931 “Dracula” movie, spoken by Miss Laemmle herself.  The book includes a number of stories and beautiful pictures from her many years in Hollywood, which started in January of 1921, when her family made the big move from Chicago to Universal City.

She so kindly personalized an autographed copy of her book for me.  She also graciously signed for me a black and white 8×10 studio picture of her in the first scene from “Dracula,” on which she penned her very famous first line.  I already have it framed and on display among my James Dean, Audrey Hepburn, and cousin Zita Johann’s photographs, and prints and art, from what I like to refer to as the Hollywood years of sophistication.  I could go on and on about the beautiful person Carla is inside and out, as I have before.  She is an inspiration to me, as well as the many who cross her path.  I feel so honored to be considered one of her friends.

Till next time, I hope you are all having a Splendid Spring, and I will be sure not to go into hiding, so to speak, for so long!  Thank you again for the continued support and many wonderful comments, messages, and e-mails.  They all mean so much.  I cannot express enough how I truly appreciate all of you who continue to take with me this rather bumpy journey towards my trying to become a successful actor, in this fairly difficult, unstable, and rapidly changing industry….one baby step at a time!

“Among the rugged peaks that frown down upon the Borgo Pass, are found crumbling castles of a bygone age.” – Carla Laemmle - the first line in “Dracula” (1931)

SIDE NOTE: I have the links set to open in a separate window, but the server appears to be overriding it, so sorry! Just hit the back button and it will take you back pretty quickly!