biglebowskinessJul 28th, 2006 - 11:13:39

Hollywood's Backroom


July 2006
Dear Hollywood Celeb. Industry Web. Dept:
I hope your celebrity name brand of Gillian Anderson is profitable. It can be an educational tool for the general public too.
I'm confident that most are aware today--unlike the 30s and 40s--that Hollywood is a brutally hardball multi-billion dollar business. As you know, most are aware that the glitz and seeming glamour of it is just the lavish icing on top of this inedible cake and just a part of doing business. And, 'uh, that's cool, that's cool, man.'
I was doing business research and inadvertently pulled up this site. I decided to endulge in some escapism for brain rest and send this note into cyber-space.
As a fine art commodity oil painter I was working 15 hr, 6 day weeks in the year 2002 and glimpsed X-files. The female role was believable, interesting and had an innocent, survival something that showed through the camera. Mostly, because of what I do, it got my attention. Mostly.
They say that an artist/actor is only as free/protected/financially independent as:
* their last bank balance.
* their self control to: regard all flattery as a net for their feet and avoid the temptations at the Hollywood table of delicacies.
* their insight to maintain a bohemian-artist lifestyle after initial and long-term success.
* their courage and faith (in a savings-bohemian-artist lifestyle) after initial success to 'say no' to projects that pervert their art and move to a plan B for producing their works.
* their agent and publicist, who had better have an honorary Phd in sociology, philosophy, business, and psychology of film (also see alfred hitchcock documentary.)
* their standing within the hollywood rampant nepotism--old money/power.
* their political pull, or luck, in getting themselves put into the 'A-list job pool' cash-cow projects, which are based on financially conscious scripts dependent on demographic studies.
* their ability to take orders and not challenge the powerful corporate department heads.
* their luck in not getting squashed in a power struggle between two or more corp. dept. heads.
* their insight to liquidate an unrealistic wonderland lifestyle and prepare for a long financial drought in a plan B (ASAP) when necessary.
* their faith and courage to stop, rest, ponder for regrouping and refuse any crap scripts or projects that threaten their reputation ('worth more than treasures') or integrity when in a compromising position.
* their ability to: endure in a no-shame, profitable lifestyle--not bitterness/hate--should the worst befall them (go camping in the woods) and abide in lebowskiness, like, 'it's o.k, calm dude.'
*their ability to: have the mental toughness to remember: few are they who do battle with a bear without devolping an irreversible P.T.S.D. That is something, not nothing.
God help the artist/actor that makes the mistake of Rembrandt Von Ryan (see art history, 1600s Amsterdam) and finds themselves unable to feed the meter, when the first/hungriest street-predator comes roaring up, and doesn't have another/friend/artist to help left them up!!!
Of course, like most, I dislike bullies, but can a bear be considered a bully on his own turf? The corporation of Hollywood is one of the most powerful entities in the world and like police, 'they don't carry the power for no reason.' Artists and corporations have been and always will be at odds. Artists, wake up! The corporate Hollywood entity is a worthy opponent. Friendly advice and warning: should an artist/actor intentionally or inadvertently request a fight with it, the artist will lose. However, this is a moot point. Like 'The Big Lebowski,' who is a pacifist, the all-powerful muse uses 'produced' works to win the battle. Peace out..never give up.. I'm totally cereal!
signed, biglebowskiness@yahoo.com
commodity master painter connoisseur
recommended film; tomorrow (with Robert Duvall)--music; Cowboy Junkies--tv: Discovery Channel--quote; 'we are surrounded on every side, beaten and struck down to the ground but we are never out.'

copyright c public domain brook brooks 2006

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