Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Another foggy morning. It’s still quite humid here and will be for the next couple of days.

Okay. This is a news post – good and bad.

First:

Yesterday, in the middle of what was already a stressful day – more on that later – my sister texted me to say that Little Z’s assistant – the young woman who stays by his side at school to help him navigate the process – had been diagnosed with Covid and the school had called to say that Z had to be picked up and quarantined until next Monday or after a negative Covid test. My brother-in-law went to get him and then searched for a place where he could have Z tested. Florida – as we all know – is a damn mess because of their idiot Governor, so trying to find a place to be tested was very difficult. Nevertheless, John found one and Z was tested and he tested negative. Mere really wants him in school; he wears a mask the entire time he’s there. They will keep an eye on him and if he shows any symptoms, he’ll get tested again. The assistant usually wears a mask, though Mere has seen her without one, and neither she nor Z wear a mask at lunch because they’re eating. I asked Mere if the assistant had been vaccinated and Mere informed me that in Florida, you can’t ask that question because it’s private information. Even though the assistant is working with Z every day. The school couldn’t even tell Mere who had exposed Z to Covid, though Mere knew because she had been in contact with the assistant.

Needless to say, Z has had respiratory issues since he was a baby and this sent us all into a tailspin until we heard that, so far, he’s tested negative.

Please hold him in your thoughts. He’s too young to get vaccinated and the school system he’s in has not mandated masks yet.

Second:

After a long two weeks of uncertainty, I have some news to share with you – I’m going to do the dialect coaching on a film! My friend and former student Jim Parsons contacted me two weeks ago about a film his production company, along with two other production companies, is producing. Jim is also acting in it and it’s being filmed in NYC. It’s based on a true story of a couple, who happen to be gay, and their relationship as they navigate the tragedy of one of them getting cancer and, eventually, dying. The two leads are played by Jim and an actor from England named Ben. Hence, the need for me, because Ben needs to sound very American.

During the past two weeks, I’ve read the script, communicated with the production office, and then at the end of last week, I had an hour long Zoom session with Ben, to see how we worked together. He was also going to work with another coach on Sunday, so my getting the job was really up in the air. I liked Ben enormously. He’s fun and quick and smart. I thought we got along well, but you never know, do you? So I was worried. And like I do often, I thought it just might be better if I didn’t do the job. Away from home for 6 weeks, long, long 12 hour-plus days, I’ve never done film before, etc.

At the last minute, there was a snag. I thought it might not happen. Yesterday, I spoke with the Line Producer – he handles the budget – a couple of times and, again, I thought I might have to withdraw. In fact, that was my first thought yesterday morning – “You need to withdraw from the project.” Thankfully, I sat on that and waited to hear from them. I spoke to the Line Producer who handles the budget a few times and we worked it out and I’ve got the job! It pays well – much better than anything I’ve done in the theater – and they’re going to help me with expenses as I have to find some place to stay while I’m in the city for 6 weeks – from October 27th to December 10th.

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to finally – at the age of 68 – get a film credit and, more importantly, to work on a beautiful project with Jim.

If this isn’t a reminder that great things can happen at any age, I don’t know what is. Don and I are over the moon. He’s so happy for me. We stood in the kitchen after I told him the news and just stared at each other and then I started jumping up and down.

And Jim. We’ve known each other now for 23 years – his class had just received their MFAs as Don and I were about to move East. I went to see their showcase in NY not long after we moved here. It’s not as if we’re in touch all the time, we aren’t. But long ago, he told me about a project that he might want to work with me on that involved a dialect. It never happened. But he’s loyal, Jim, and many, many years later when he had a project that needed a coach, he immediately contacted me. I cry just thinking about it.

Anyway, my friends, there will be more on this later. In the weeks before filming starts, Ben and I will be working together via Zoom so that when he comes here, he feels prepared and ready to go.

Whoo hoo!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.