One Week, One Day

One week, one day to go for pilot season.

I must say, I am truly in awe of my co-workers at Central Casting.  They have patience I wish I could achieve.  That just ain't me.

The evolution of Central Casting since I started five years ago got a bad rap, but the current state of affairs should lead any production company to hire no one else but Central Casting for their casting needs.  They have the best technology.  The best casting staff.  The largest data base.  A 24/7 on call basis.  The management strives to give their staff everything they need.  Management WANTS to have the best and keep them.  It's the only company in all of Hollywoodland that is a family and a cohesive ensemble.

But if I have to stay a casting director for more than another week, I'm going to kill myself.  It has NOTHING to do with the company - it's the work.

I always strived to be THE BEST casting director.  I wanted to be the one everyone wanted.  I wanted to be the golden boy.  But now that I've set my sights on writing, I've realized that goal isn't necessary or attainable.  Would Eva go back to "America's Next Top Model?"  No.

In hindsight, going back into casting did nothing but make me look like an idiot.  I've killed myself over the past six weeks and four days.  I've puked all over the bathroom.  Screamed like a banshee.  Aged 20 years.  And all the while, the rest of the office has professionally plugged along.  There comes a time when you need to stop and say, you can't be a perfectionist.

I went back to a) make contacts for writing.  b) stay visible.  c) have access to all the pilot scripts.

I haven't been able to visit my sets like I would like to because I'm in the office casting.

BUT

a) I got to finish off "Alias."  b) work on Tim Kring's pilot "Heroes."  c) make some money.

We got the outline for the finale of "Alias" this morning then had our final concept meeting at the studio for three hours this morning.

If nothing else, I am so happy to be a part of the shows finale.  Drew Goddard and Jeff Pinkner are writing the final script, and the final two hours air back to back.  It's perfect.  It's brilliant.  It's exactly the way the show should end.  And sitting around that table with people I've worked with for five years, and watching as we hash out the last hour of the series was such a powerful experience.  "Alias" was like getting my doctorate.  Because of the accessability of the producers and writers, I've learned more in five years on THAT show than 100 years in college.  And it's nice to have five box sets of DVDs and point to it on a shelf and say, "that is the work that I am most proud of."

And it will be sad when it is over, but when it is over, I will begin MY new journey as a writer.  Come Hell.  Come High Water.

All that being said, I'm so excited about the midnight showing of "Basic Instinct 2."  I sent out an e-mail to my friends saying, "I'll buy the tickets if you go."  I wanted to get them t-shirts that read:  "Friends Help You Move.  Real Friends Go To See A Midnight Showing Of Basic Instinct 2" and make them wear them.   I would have too... had it been for time.

Marcellas is going.  And Tara and Lisa are going.  It's only fitting that Tara and Lisa should attend.  They experienced a dozen "Basic Instinct" parties in Atlanta when I was in college and afterwards.

-C