Part VII: Desperately seeking Kasdan:

Hi Everyone. In-between my on-call volunteer gopher duties at the Austin Film Festival I wandered into seminars and reading rooms, as well as running a couple errands to copy shops and lunch counters. I asked whoever I focused on for whatever help they could give. There was a female script doctor that was part of a panel, and by this point I honestly can't remeber what advice she gave me because I found it so immediately useless. There was a male literary agent who gave me the requisite few seconds and said I had a good story, but what was the genre?  I told him. "Nah.", he says. "Can't sell science-fiction/fantasy. I personally am not interested in it, and likewise I've never been able to pitch it and sell it. Give me a great crime story though? That's what I'm good at. Sorry. Good luck, though." Lawrence Kasdan was booked all weekend with what turned out to be wonderful seminars, starting with the official opening of the festival on Friday night with a screening of SILVERADO. One of my favorites! Guardian Angels placed me in line at the right time: he was standing in the wings of the lobby just by the first aisle of seating as I entered. I did a double-take and made a decision; he was talking with only one other person, and she was from the festival office. Safe! Safe to interrupt. Which I did, telling him I needed his help with a problem I couldn't voice in front of a crowd in a question -and-answer session. Would he help me get my script to the office at Universal studios who had set me this impossible task? "I have never worked with that office, I'm sorry. And neither has anybody I know. But good luck."

He did answer a puzzle, though. Before the screening, someone in the audience asked why he's worked with the same people for most of his career. Was it because they were friends, exceptionally talented, or what? So: why IS this business all about who-knows-who? He said that most people are completely unaware of how stressful it is to make a film; each day in production especially costs millions of dollars, you work every day straight for months, you are up at 4:00 in the morning each of those days. And: when you arrive on the set you want to see a friendly face. Belonging to someone you know. Who will love and support you, and also get their own job done well. You want to see a friendly face. Later that evening, in the main socializing bar, I interrupted the original agent who had pointed out two of her colleagues and gave her an update: no luck with these two fellows, and Kasdan couldn't help either. This funny look crosses her face. Her lips move, but it's kinda loud in the bar, so I can't tell if she's asking "what" or "who". I go with "who" and repeat myself; "Kasdan? You know, Lawrence Kasdan? I asked him and he couldn't help either." "Kasdan? You ASKED Kasdan?!" "Uh. Yeah?" She grabbed my upper arm, eyes wide. "GOD, girl!! You're Brave!!" Oh. cheers--Hilary