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The Greenlight Diaries
by Katie L. Fetting
Greetings and salutations, Greenlighters! This is Katie Fetting (klfetting) coming to you LIVE from Los Angeles, California -- home of the Lakers, Mann's Chinese Theatre and our very own LivePlanet/PGL web peeps: Kit, Allyn, Miss Lady Laura and fgonnello! Just being in the same geographic region as those legends makes my stomach queasy. (Take that any way you want ... ha ha.)
The LP team has been kind enough to allow me a bit of cyberspace to rail about my LA odyssey. Let me warn you ahead of time -- not that much is happening ...
Career-wise, I had a bunch of A-plus meetings when I arrived, but they have since cooled off ... Met primarily with producers who like my style, but are looking for a "saleable" vehicle ... Marketability -- always kicking ya in the ass.
I am currently working on a pair of scripts more geared to the mainstream (TRANSLATION: No noses in ice cube trays). One is a forensic thriller, while the other tries to be (fingers-crossed) a modern Frank Capra-style comedy ... If they aren't up the commercial alley, I may just pack my bags, move to Kentucky and grow beans.
And I do worry about growing beans. There are so few (if any) hard and fast rules in the film industry. The indisputable truth is that everyone has "answers," but no one has The Answer. Unlike, say, law - where you go to law school, pass the bar and become a lawyer - there is no certain path that leads to Hollywood success. I attempt to control the variables as much as possible (through meeting people, writing a lot, varying subjects, reading the trades) but that is no guarantee. Without a certain amount of blind good luck, I'm sunk.
On the personal front, I am SLOWLY acclimating to life in the City of Angels. Strange, even coming from Chicago, there's a bit of culture shock. In some ways the town seems like one big movie set ... Everyone's too good looking and on the make.
At Chris Schlerf's (schlerf) birthday party last weekend, I actually had to STAND IN LINE. Ridiculous. That's what I get for attending such a trendy event ...
Tiffany Schlerf (tinnylee) and I have rented a nice two bedroom in Hollywood. I've been making the swap-shop rounds, buying the worst furniture I can find. (Just kidding, Tiff :) My brother is flying in Sunday, bringing my two feline monsters ... I'm sure the abundant cat fur will make this seem more like home.
It's actually strange to buy stuff second-hand. Who owned it? Charlie Manson is always my first guess. Odd thing, despite the fact I've lived independently for years, I've never chosen my own furniture. Sofas, chairs, tables, beds have always been hand-me-downs from Mom and Dad. I'm starting to feel "grown up" for the first time.
SIDE NOTE: The first few days/weeks I was here, I had a really difficult time: panic attacks, crying/snotting bouts, homesickness. Luckily, I have a ton of great, supportive friends who got me through it. Now I'm feeling better and taking each day as it comes. What I'm trying to say is, for those of you having a rough time (for any reason), IT DOES GET BETTER. Oh, and be prepared for some separation anxiety if you're making the big move ...
In the meantime, picture me writing, eating out a lot (no fridge, yet) and eagerly scanning the newspaper for jobs. I'll update y'all when I have anything to update ... As the great Jerry Springer says, "Be kind to yourself and others."
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