Comments | hcombs: Yes, I know

hcombs

Yes, I know

Jul 12, 2006 11:50

Can anyone say that a total stranger changed their life? I can. Flashback to 1989, fifteen years old. I was riding the subway home after another unsuccessful audition. My Mom, Lauralei, only thirty herself, had grabbed the only seat available. I slipped into a seat the first chance I got, beaming knowing I wouldn't have to spend the rest of the ( Read more... )

Comments 13

marc_blucas July 12 2006, 15:59:38 UTC

This makes me now want to think back for myself to remember if a stranger ever said something that impacted me in such a way, even if it was just for a brief time in figuring something out. I think that's a wonderful piece of advice and I just had to say I really enjoyed this entry, it definitely gives one something to think about.

hcombs July 14 2006, 11:46:02 UTC

I think everyone can say something like this happened, even if it was so small it seems totally insignificant now. Let me know if you figure out a for instance. And thank you.

jimmyduval July 13 2006, 05:16:58 UTC

He was a middle-aged man, Asian, slightly scruffy

Reminds me of when I met Gregg Araki, my first director. Only he was thirty then, but he looked about twenty. We'd been watching each other for a while, in this ice cream parlor where I hung out cause I could get free food from one of the people that worked there, and he was writing the screenplay for "Totally Fucked Up". But we never said anything to each other until he walked over to me and said, "Are you an actor?" and I said, "Yeah. I could be. If you wanted me to be."

rose_mcgowan July 14 2006, 00:24:38 UTC

HA! I was just thinking the same thing. And there were times we thought he was Jesus, Buddha, and the Devil all in one. He's given us some mythic advice too. Lord knows he definitely has made an impression on how I act in sex scenes. He handled those as no other director I have ever known does. And I kinda want to tack on a "Thank God" to that.

jimmyduval July 15 2006, 06:36:55 UTC

Did I already send you this link? Drinks With Tony. The first segment, I talk about The Bathtub Scene, about halfway through. But I only talk about me and Jonathan. I was wasted off my ass, even before the interview started.

It was such a trip, working with Gregg, cause he would tell us every single thing to do, don't scratch your ass until I say so, he was fine with me not having acting lessons or anything, cause that way I wouldn't try to put my own artistic stamp on it, like a trained actor would do. I didn't mind. I was glad, cause I really didn't know what to do. He told me once I'd make a great sub. What he didn't know...*snerk* Then when I worked with James Merendino, my first movie after "Independence Day", he was the exact opposite. He was like, ok, you're in the hot tub, and Richard (Chamberlain) walks in on you. What are you gonna say? He'd totally expect us to ad lib. So between the two of them, I got a complete education in how to act.

hcombs July 14 2006, 11:46:57 UTC

Wow, that's interesting. But would you call thirty middle-aged?

Thread 5

rose_mcgowan July 14 2006, 00:25:52 UTC

I really enjoyed this. The smallest things can make such an impact on us.

hcombs July 14 2006, 11:47:27 UTC

Thank you, and that is so true. This has stuck with me ever since.

heneedsme July 14 2006, 14:29:43 UTC

This was so cute.

heiglkm July 15 2006, 17:34:12 UTC

This whole thing is very true. Not the specifics but the idea that something so small can really change a person's mind set and how they behave and what they gain or lose as a result. You and your mom are so adorable, I wish that I had a relationship as close as you two do with my mother. The general lack of age difference between you two must have been difficult obviously, but a real blessing. I am glad to see you back in action and I hope you'll be sticking around and not leaving me for another 4 weeks! I love you.