It’s been almost two weeks already since I got back from the Beverly Hills Film Festival! I’m sorry for not posting anything sooner. Life has been a little hectic, and I’m still trying to catch up.

My second trip to LA certainly would be characterized as having ups and downs. I’ll start with some of the downs so I can finish with the positive ups!

I immediately felt out of place in Beverly Hills. There is a LOT of money in Beverly Hills, and you can easily tell the people who have it and fit in, and the people who don’t, but are trying to fit in anyway. I felt more of a sense of fake-ness and emphasis on outer appearance than the first time I visited LA and stayed in West Hollywood. I saw an incredible amount of surgically-altered people, occasionally some of them reminding me of Suzanne Collins’ descriptions of the altered people of the Capitol in “The Hunger Games.” I stayed at the Beverly Hilton, apparently the hotel in which Whitney Houston died, and while it was beautifully maintained and manicured to the max, it felt stuffy and suffocating to me. When talking to a local who lives outside Beverly Hills, she described Beverly Hills people as displaying, “obscene, conspicuous, competitive consumption.” That really made an impression on me…those words.

At the festival, there was a completely different atmosphere than at the IFFF. Most of the people I encountered were young and trying to break into the industry. At one panel, where a bunch of highly acclaimed and established older men described what it’s like to be in the business in LA, there was almost a sense of panic from the audience, like everyone was on the verge of attacking the tables to get a word in with one of the experts. The audience asked questions of the sort, “How do we break in?” And the experts, rather smugly, answered in their cool LA attitudes of, “You probably won’t.” They didn’t say those exact words, rather said the plain truth of how difficult it is to break in to the film world. I didn’t take this as a cut to the audience, but rather as a blatant statement of fact. I did appreciate one expert’s comment, finally, of, “If the work is good, and you persist long enough, it will find a home.” At least he gave the audience a semblance of hope.

Okay, enough about the downs, now the ups!

My journey to LA started on a plane where I sat next to fellow named Jerry S. Jerry is one super-nice guy, and after talking to him for some time, he told me he happens to be a talent agent. His area of expertise is not in screenwriting or scripted material, but it was fascinating to get his take on the film world and what my future steps may be. Jerry is a testament to not giving up as he has started his own independent talent agency amidst the Big Guns, called Size Sports & Entertainment and he is making it! I appreciated that talk on the airplane to LA SO much, and also appreciate Jerry’s offer to let me send him my material in the hopes he may have a connection or two that will take a look at it.

Secondly, I met some of the nicest people while I was at the BHFF. I particularly enjoyed the time I spent with two new friends, Ben and Armeni. Ben is a smooth talker and is obviously brilliant, only 22 and graduating from college with a plethora of knowledge and experiece. Armeni is a super smart and beautiful gal from Miami who is starting a new venture with the most amazing attitude. I spent quite a bit of time with Ben and Armeni, and even accomplanied them to Santa Monica Pier and Beach for an afternoon. This was lots of fun. Here in Santa Monica, the attitude was SO different than that in Beverly Hills, and it felt good to feel normal, and be surrounded by “normal” people. We saw some interesting street performers, including “Pinhead,” an acoustic guitar player and singer of whom I bought his CD.  

Back at the BHFF, I had a chance to catch up with a friend I’d met at the IFFF, Serita S. And lastly, I sat next to some wonderful people at the BHFF Gala Dinner, a screenwriter, Maria C. and a fabulous couple from Texas interested in getting into the film world themselves as investors.

I saw some great films at the BHFF, including, “Worth the Weight,” and “I am Neda,” which would probably have to be my two favs.

Lastly, I’ll finish by letting you all know, I did not win a prize at the BHFF, but did find out that there were over two thousand scripts in the competition, and only three won actual prizes. Since I was one of the Official Selections, I felt pretty good that my script stood out enough amidst the 2,000+ others to be chosen.

Wrapping up the Beverly Hills Film Festival, while it had it’s ups and downs, I was glad I went. Each time I go, I learn a little more and get better insight as to what I’ll have to do to get myself established as a screenwriter. Also, I meet fantastic people from all over the world. I believe in my writing, and think the expert’s words of persistence may just have been directed at me. I won’t give up, and believe my stories will find a home.

Thanks for your support!

Rachel

I had the pleasure of doing a book talk at the Ashippun Historical Society Thursday night, April 19, 2012. This particular setting was perfect for discussing “My Wooden Wings” as much of the book takes place in the Ashippun area. In fact, the ski slide itself, which existed in the 20′s and 30′s, was within the Town of Ashippun.

I was greeted by some of the friendliest people one could ever meet. Their enthusiasm was palpable and the emotion was nostalgic, excited and happy. Approximately 30-40 people showed up for my talk.

Bob Campbell and I

I was introduced by one of the contributors of “My Wooden Wings,” Bob Campbell. Bob was a young boy when the Ashippun/Hartford Ski Club existed. He remembers watching the daring men and boys jump from the ski slide at breakneck speed. He remembers thinking it would be his turn soon to learn to jump, but then the war came, and Harald Skalstad (head of the ski club) was injured in a farming accident. Wires holding up the jump were confiscated for the war, and within a few windy storms, the ski slide fell to its death. The jump was never built again.

Bob would like to point out, the book gets really good on page 163…this is the page when he is introduced as a character.  : )

Devil's Hollow Ski Jump

One of the best parts of this book talk, was getting to see some live footage from the 1940′s of ski jumpers at a nearby ski slide, Devil’s Hollow. A year or two after I finished writing, “My Wooden Wings,” I got to see the remnants of the Devil’s Hollow ski slide. Here is one of the pictures I took back then.

I certainly hope to someday have a digital copy of that footage! It was shocking to see HOW FAST those skiers came down the slide and fell, probably due to the extremely heavy weight of their solid wood skis. Many/most of them didn’t make it to the bottom without falling.

My first grade teacher, Mrs. McGrath was there! I haven’t seen her in about 25 years! It was so nice to see her again, she has the exact same smile as I remember.

Some dear friends of mine were there, too, as well as quite a few of Erv and Harald Skalstad’s family members. Thank you all for coming!

All in all, it was a wonderful, emotional, happy book talk and I was thrilled to be there.

Thank you to the Ashippun Historical Society!

Rachel