The day all the blood sweat and tears I had given away for was finally here. The AFM (American Film Market). The cross roads of the film industry world was at the Lowes Hotel in Santa Monica. Everybody whos anybody in film was there. Executives from Singapore, Japan, and England. Buyers from France, Italy, and China. Sellers from Spain, Poland, and Ukrane. They were all concentrated in this one ocean front luxery hotel…and yes, I was invited. Everyone was dressed in black, but not funeral type black, rich type black. I was in a suit as well. I sat at the desk and greated potential sellers and buyers as they walked in. Some had a meeting set up whiles others did not. For the people who did not, I would sit them down and show them several trailers for up and coming movies the company would be releasing. The whole point is to get these movies to sell internationally. Some people were impressed while others not so much. While the executives were waiting for a meeting i would also ask them if they would like a diet coke or “cucumber water” which is a huge LA obsession although I’m not sure why. While waiting on a Parisian gentelmen who asked for a diet coke, my boss told me not to put ice in it because the french do not believe in putting so much ice in their drinks. Tid bits of information like that are extremely important to remember.

After the film market, which i had worked for about 9 hours, I was told, not asked, to go to attend the industry after party on a rooftop terrace at an asian restaurant in Santa Monica. If that was thrilling enough, the CEO of the company told me to ride with him in his car because I had to be at the door with a list of names to check people in ASAP. I’ve never sweat so much in my life. He called me slow, and told basically to hurry the fuck up or he’d be leaving without me…frantically I ran after him down the hall. Looking back now, I probably looked like i had just wrestled a giant pit bull. We get down to the garage and a smile crept its way onto my face because a beautiful 2 door convertable aston martin was in my sights and obviously it was none other than his!! The thrill quickly went away however as soon as i realized i didnt know how to open the door =. I stood there grabbing at nothing bc there was no handle. I then embarrassingly said “how do you open this thing??” and he just starred at me as he got into the car and leaned over to open my door. I got in and we were off

Driving down ocean boulevard in Santa Monica in this luxery car was the best feeling in the world. I GET IT, IM SHALLOW. but it really was. Everyone we passed stopped and looked at the car, better yet, they stopped to look who was in the car and there sat me in my suit and my boss in his. If only I as rich as i looked. Everyone must have though i was a millionaire just being in that car, looks can be decieving and life can be ironic because little did they know i was calling my mom and dad asking for money every month. My boss had then told me to call the assistant and ask for a tape. I did that and while i was talking to him on the phone my boss was driving…I then hung up the phone and 3 minutes later he asked “so did u call my assistant?”…ok PAUSE. This is classic. How in the world did not just hear me on the phone with him? Were 5 inches from each other. Is is self absorption? Is your world so packed full of work and stress that your mind wonders into other realities? Is it an act? I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER but it was the most bizzarre question ever been asked. That’s just how he operated though, many times when trying to talk to him he would seem like he was in another world. If u had his attention for 2 seconds consider yourself fucking lucky. and if he remembers a word u say consider yourself a lottery winner.

We pulled up into the restuarant and walked in. I was told to stay at the door with the assistand with the list of exclusive names and anyone who was on the list must be turned away. True Hollywood Party style.

Interview after interview after interview! They were rolling in from the second I touched down on LA territory. My first was on the Disney lot. Seeing the tall walls and gigantic gates was exciting enough for me. I had arrived on one of the most famous lots in the world and it fulfilled every one of my expectations. Sound stages, people in suits, impeccable and fake looking buildings, this was it. I had to nail this interview. I walked into the building I was told my interview was going to be in and took a seat on the couch. I looked at the coffee table and saw Variety and Hollywood Reporter scattered across the top. These were the industry magazines I had begged for but of course the subscription was way to expensive. I watched the assistants door swing open and my competition walked out while making direct eye contact with me. Let the games begin folks. I took a big gulp and walked nervously into the office. The second assistant and producer (whom i will not name) were out of the office and I was a little relieved that I’d only have to impress the first assistant. He was really cool and spat out the producers impressive track record….Wedding Crashers, When in Rome, Van Wilder, ect. Unfortunately I didnt get the job. My little experience with scripts had damned me! Oh well…onto the next one.

My interview at Universal went better, however the women (whom again I will not name) came off as a cold bitch and so did her lackeys. I had walked into the office and both her servants (assistants) looked at me as if they were disgusted by the sight of an unknown human. I said “hi I’m here for an interview” and the one servant said “ok” and continued to stare. I looked around awkwardly not knowing what to do. A good 2 minutes later she said “take a seat” Gee thanks for telling me this now! Even if I got the job I wasn’t sure I’d accept. ONTO THE NEXT ONE! 

I nailed, and I mean NAILED my next inerview. It was at a Talent Management Company that is pretty well known. The woman was stylish, nice, and said I reminded her of a certain actor. I was in love with myself in that interview because everything coming out of my mouth was so charismatic and natural…pure gold iI tell u ;) Not sure what came over me, but I liked it. She loved me, and it was confirmed when she offered me the job on the spot. I was about to accept right then and there but told myself not to look desperate. I walked out, called my parents and gave them the news of my life. My trip here would finally be worth it.

NOT SO FAST…..

Literally 2 hours later I got a call form a studio/production company asking me to interview. I decided to go. This one would be easy since there’s now no pressure to get the job. Hmmm, strange, since what happened in the interview is something I can’t really explain. Ok don’t judge me, but often times my mind get the best of me. For some odd reason while in the interview my eyes started to tear and burn. They only do this when I tell myself “dont let your eyes tear” It’s like it has the opposite affect. While trying to avoid my eyes tearing, my eyes often start to twitch, as if this is more normal. I then am forced to looked down or away from the person who is speaking, this casues them to think I’m not interested in something they are saying. Either that or they just think I’m a weird fuck. Luckily, the assistant who interviewed me either didn’t notice or didnt mind because I was offered the job on the spot. I gave them the “ok” and accepted. The building was right across the street from CAA, how could I not accept?? I was asked to start the next day at my new job

Where to start, where to start? I was a dough eyed boy with dreams bigger then the town I lived in. My whole life I had imagined myself in LA having my champagne wished granted, and caviar dreams fulfilled. Little did I know the roller coaster I was about to embark on would send me to cloud 9 and plummet me to hell within seconds…and then take me back again.

The work it took me to to get to LA was a ton but I am a driven individual that stops at nothing when it comes to something I want. I am the most decisive individual I know. I finally said goodbye to my first love, New York City, and said hello to bittersweet LA on  August 2ed. As I exited the plane and stepped outside, I quickly noticed the sun was no match for LA’s cool breeze. My dad was loving it and I was too. The place I had fantazed about 24 hours a day 7 days a week was mine, ALLLLLL mine. 

I walked into my apartment and met my roommates for the first time. There were 5 of us in a 2 bedroom apartment, talk about crammed quarters! They all seemed cool at first and I figured we would get along just fine…good intuition Teej considering you now talk to uhhh, non of them…but I’m getting ahead of myself so back to the story!! I unpacked my things, got settled, and said goodbye to my dad a week later. If I had known what I know now, I would have balled my eyes out like a baby saying goodbye to the last piece of home I would come in contact with for 6 months.