Oscar at the Beach

I struck up a conversation with a group of gentleman at a studio on my way to an audition a few weeks ago. They invited me to join them after my read to get a sneak peek at the movie the were working on, a major headliner with a multiple mega-star cast.  Um, tschya!!  Half an hour later I found myself hanging out with a group of probably some of the biggest Oscar-winning sound mixers in Hollywood and watched them work on what looks like it might be the next big comedy.  It was a huge learning experience as well since us players never really see the magic that happens after the cameras stop pointing at us.  Plus I just freaking love anything movies.  Especially movies like that: the huge star-studded blockbusters that I dream to be in someday.

I ended up establishing a pretty good relationship with one of them and we followed up our initial meeting with lunch the other day.  He is pretty major.  So major in fact that he's been nominated for seven Oscars.  

He's won four.  Yeah.  Four.

Our lunch meeting was fantastic.  Just networking, getting to know each other, talking about movies and why we love what we do, etc.  Totally unpretentious -- despite our chi-chi locale -- and genuine.  Then he got up to use the restroom and says, "Oh, I brought something for you.  You might get a kick out of it."

As he pulled out his bag and started digging around in it, I kept thinking, "What the heck could he possibly have brought for me?  A video to view on his ipad?"  Couldn't think of anything.  Then out pops this....

He casually drops it in my lap and walks off.  What?!!  An Oscar?! I'm a little embarassed to admit that my heart started pitter-pattering at the feel of an Oscar in my hands.  It felt good.  Really good.

After what seemed like an awkward eternity -- I mean, how can one casually sit at a table in the middle of a restaurant in the middle of the day with a f*$%ing OSCAR in your hands??!?  There was absolutely no way for me to be non-chalant.  The waiter even came by and said, "congratulations."  Um... thank you?

He finally comes back and I say, "Who the heck brings their Oscar to lunch??!"

He laughed and said, "I don't know.  I thought you might like to see one, keep you motivated.  Do you want a picture?"

"Oh my god.  I can't believe you brought this, you nerd.  .....Okay, yeah. Take my picture."