Meeting Leonardo Dicaprio and Russell Crowe.

JY_Blue said:
try being the one who doesn't want something from them other than good company. bet they'd appreciate it.
Click to expand...

How can we be that? Could you? I really don't think I can. Because even if I don't want their money, their connections, their services in my film, I want them to like me, and for no reason other than that they're famous. I think the power of fame on those around the famous is inescapable. Obviously, we try our best. I'm just very aware of the fact that I'm not myself, because even when I'm being myself, I'm aware of the fact that I'm being myself around them. I have a couple "famous" friends, but we were friends before they were famous, so it's a bit different I guess.
 
Why not just treat it, like meeting *any* other people, for the first time?

When I meet someone for the first time, I just want to meet them. Not pump them for information, or professional advantage.

sean90291 said:
None of us act normal around stars, which is why stars get so insane, I think.
Click to expand...

I don't know what you're basing this upon. I mean, how do you think we get anything done, on set? Everyone there is there to behave normally (or as close to it, as is natural for them) and get the job done.

I mean, sure, it's nice when people *like* you. But it's not particularly relevant, to what you're there to do.
 
Sad Max said:
Why not just treat it, like meeting *any* other people, for the first time?

When I meet someone for the first time, I just want to meet them. Not pump them for information, or professional advantage.



I don't know what you're basing this upon. I mean, how do you think we get anything done, on set? Everyone there is there to behave normally (or as close to it, as is natural for them) and get the job done.

I mean, sure, it's nice when people *like* you. But it's not particularly relevant, to what you're there to do.
Click to expand...

When you're working a job, it's different than trying to hang out with them. And even then, you can't tell me every single crew member isn't aware of the fact Julia Roberts just walked on the set. You put your head down and you do your job. That's not the same as trying to socialize with someone who's famous. I base it on seeing how people are around famous people, and noting how I myself am around famous people. Many of the people who claim not to care/notice are actually completely star-struck, sometimes going way out of their way to act like they don't care. I saw one guy who took on himself to argue with a famous person all the time, with the excuse that he was just trying not to treat him any differently. But in fact, he was totally over-compensating. Fame's effect is interesting. I just don't think we can avoid its effect, that's all.

Look, I once had dinner with this super famous woman from China. I mean she's famous to a billion people in another country. I had no idea at the time. THAT is an incident where I probably was completely myself. If I was from China, it would probably have been really hard not to feel different around her.
 
Just don't stare at their freakish shortness. But if you're quite a bit taller than they, DOMINATE THEM!

And maybe ask Leo what it's like being dumped by Giselle.
 
sean90291 said:
When you're working a job, it's different than trying to hang out with them.
Click to expand...

Depends upon the on-set atmosphere, how the day is going, how the set is run, what the people involved are like...for example, Air Force One was a very relaxed set. Going to work was like going in to hang out with friends, for a day. It's not impossible, to be both professional and casual with the rest of the team.

sean90291 said:
And even then, you can't tell me every single crew member isn't aware of the fact Julia Roberts just walked on the set.
Click to expand...

If you're working on-set, it's kind of obligatory to know what's going on around you.

sean90291 said:
You put your head down and you do your job. That's not the same as trying to socialize with someone who's famous.
Click to expand...

I don't "put my head down." Unless people above my pay grade are on the warpath, and I want to avoid notice. Which isn't very often, on set, or off.

sean90291 said:
I base it on seeing how people are around famous people, and noting how I myself am around famous people.
Click to expand...

Sure. I'm not basing my position on anything but my own experience, either.

sean90291 said:
Many of the people who claim not to care/notice are actually completely star-struck, sometimes going way out of their way to act like they don't care.
Click to expand...

Maybe. Some people, I suppose. No one that I can think of, with whom I routinely work.

sean90291 said:
I saw one guy who took on himself to argue with a famous person all the time, with the excuse that he was just trying not to treat him any differently.
Click to expand...

People decide to do dumb things, all the time...

sean90291 said:
Fame's effect is interesting. I just don't think we can avoid its effect, that's all.
Click to expand...

I don't know. Fame doesn't mean anything to me, really. After all, it's no trick, getting famous...if what you want, is to be famous.

On the other hand, I am very impressed by ability.

sean90291 said:
Look, I once had dinner with this super famous woman from China. I mean she's famous to a billion people in another country. I had no idea at the time. THAT is an incident where I probably was completely myself. If I was from China, it would probably have been really hard not to feel different around her.
Click to expand...

Couple years ago I ate lunch sitting across from a Chinese actress who's famous in this country. I was myself; I assume she was the same. She asked for the salt, I passed it. I asked for the ketchup, she passed it. Small talk, lunch over, she goes back to work, I go back to work. No fuss, no muss.
 
Arson said:
If the Little Rascal turns out to be Robert Blake (he played Mickey) don't let him take you out to an italian restaurant.
RobertMickey.jpg
Click to expand...

MICKEY WAS ROBERT BLAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????

Oh man..... I jsut watched in Cold blood... AWSOME movie...
 
Sad Max said:
Couple years ago I ate lunch sitting across from a Chinese actress who's famous in this country. I was myself; I assume she was the same. She asked for the salt, I passed it. I asked for the ketchup, she passed it. Small talk, lunch over, she goes back to work, I go back to work. No fuss, no muss.
Click to expand...

You have incredible powers. ;-)

By the way, you remember passing the salt.

She doesn't.
 
Well, don't get me wrong...I was terribly disappointed that she *ahem* didn't ask me to pass her anything else...
sean90291 said:
By the way, you remember passing the salt.

She doesn't.
Click to expand...

It might have been the pepper. I think you're missing the point.

I remember passing things to a wide variety of attractive women over the last few years...none of whom likely remember me.

So?
 
Last edited:
I mean no offense, but if it requires this much deliberation and apprehension to meet two other human beings, don't go.

People want to be comfortable around people. If you aren't grounded in your own self, you won't be comfortable in that situation, and you'll make others uncomfortable...famous or not.

I have friends and family members who befriended Crowe while he was in town shooting a few years back. It was at the point of where a "come over to my place for dinner" kind of thing was being entertained. Then a little thing happened, and Crowe lost it...in a public place. The guy is supposedly ok, but he can fly off the handle if he thinks you are taking advantage, that you have transgressed, or whatever.

And they don't get you P.A. jobs. Their gigs are usually union shoots, so there are rules, too.

Martin Bregman once told me "...if you really want to make films, go to the place where the most films get made."

...to which I replied "India?" He gave me such a look, but his point was to get out where the action is and involve one's self.
 
PA jobs are by definition non union.

Although it's true that chatting up actors is probably not the ideal way to pursue one.
 
Sad Max said:
Although it's true that chatting up actors is probably not the ideal way to pursue one.
Click to expand...

Its starting to sound like chatting up Steve Jobs to get a job as a security guard in the Apple parking lot.

This will either be an interesting opportunity to sit in with two people you would otherwise never meet - or it just won't happen. But its' really nothing more than a chance to be able to someday at a bar tell your friends "yeah, I met Crowe and DiCaprio once."
 
I'm presently working with a fellow who is regarded as one of the top gizmo-gadget practical fx guys in LA...who started out as a security guard at Amblin. One day he presented them with this beautiful, gorgeous scale model he'd made, of the Amblin compound, and when Steven S. saw it, he basically said What is a guy with your talent, doing working as a security guard?

So this guy was brought in to work on (I think it was) Jurassic Park, and has never looked back professionally, since.
 
Last edited:
Sad Max said:
PA jobs are by definition non union.
Click to expand...

In Ontario, the Director's Guild of Canada represents P.A.s...both on set and off.

When I first wanted to make films, becoming a member of the DGC was the goal. I started as a location assistant some years ago (non-union) to try and get experience, make connections, and get signatures for the PA Permittee Program (those programs and their requirements kept changing for PAs, Editors, Art Dep, etc...hard to keep track.)

Now (if I am not mistaken) location assitants are union, too, and they're part of the DGC.
 
Sounds a little bit like the DGA AD trainee program here.

PA jobs in the Los Angeles market are by definition non union.
 
Sad Max said:
I'm presently working with a fellow who is regarded as one of the top gizmo-gadget practical fx guys in LA...who started out as a security guard at Amblin. One day he presented them with this beautiful, gorgeous scale model he'd made, of the Amblin compound, and when Steven S. saw it, he basically said What is a guy with your talent, doing working as a security guard?

So this guy was brought in to work on (I think it was) Jurrassic Park, and has never looked back professionally, since.
Click to expand...

That kind of stuff rarely happens. But its nice to know its possible.
 
Sad Max said:
Sounds a little bit like the DGA AD trainee program here.

PA jobs in the Los Angeles market are by definition non union.
Click to expand...

There is also an AD (TAD) trainee thing here, too. The thing about the DGC is that once you're in as one thing, you can work at any other position covered by the union.

I knew a Location Scout who was registered in the DGC as an editor. He had been doing locations for something like 12 years. It never occured to him or anyone else to change his official 'status.'
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top