A Moment with Michael Douglas

It was last day of shooting Fatal Attraction. I don’t know if you saw the movie with Glen Close and Michael Douglas but for a brief moment, this actor had the pleasure of being there on the set, a part of an extraordinary movie.

There we were in a bowling alley. I watched the star roll up his sleeves and hit every bowling ball right off the mark, time after time.  What a guy.During the break, I did what I always do, talk to the main star in a personal way. I sauntered over to himself. “I loved your movie, Running.” He lifted his handsome face to look me right in the eye. “You did?” I nodded. He said, “I always wondered why the movie didn’t do better.” I touched his muscular arm. “Well, I loved it, especially when you finally finished the run.”

That’s all it took, folks. A word of praise when he didn’t expect it. ‘Places’ was called. I went back to sit in a bleachers kind of setting wearing a blue plaid shirt and jeans like a mom watching her kids, where a few other moms and dads watched the bowling scene.

A morning’s worth of work on Riverside Drive, a moment to remember, a frightening movie. Good day’s job.

Thanks for stopping by, my friends.

Charmaine

Often when I write these blogs, I’m reminded of stories I’ve written. Movies find their way into many of my books. When you’re looking for a good read to keep you company on a cold night, check out The Beginning. . .Not the End. Three humorous stories are in there. The last one is a real show business tale titled Before The Final Curtain.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

A Moment With Michael Douglas. . .

Yes, I was there. The last day of Fatal Attraction, spirits high. We were in ,would you believe , a bowling alley. No I didn’t bowl. I played the mother of one of the kids. Dressed in a plaid shirt and jeans, I watched the scene. Michael hit strike after strike beaming the whole time. Leave it to me, during the break, I strolled over to him as if we were old friends. “Michael, I loved your movie, “Running.”

The  handsome star lit up. “I don’t know why it didn’t do well at the box office.” I patted his arm. “Well, my husband and I loved it.” He hugged me, the director called places and work began again. An easy morning on set for a movie that turned out to be a huge success.

You can’t forsee the future, of course. Later he married Catherine Zeta Jones and had two children. My precious husband died and I remarried a sweet man to begin a new life. Michael battled cancer; I lost my voice. I write books. Life changes. We move on.

 

This is what I do now. . .every day. And I love writing.

 

 

Together, Again

by Charmaine Gordon

Now Available in All Ebook Editions!

Together, Again

by Charmaine Gordon

A wealthy couple, no children in sight, answer the door one day to find a replica of the woman living there, titian hair and all. Charlie is her name and so begins the story. Years later, Charlie’s young twin sisters , now seventeen, are rescued by the same couple with a big heart. It’s a tale of love and hearts that keep on giving.

 

 

 

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Share  with me in the joy in this story of family love.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 

A Moment with Michael J. Fox

There have been many delightful moments during my acting career. This one was a doozy. No excitement, just standing by. Oh well.The movie Doc Hollywood showed up last night on the telly. Oh yeah, I thought, been there one sunny day in New York years ago and watched him in action or rather watched the famous actor guarded by two-not one but two- beefy armed guards, one on each side of the actor. He spoke to no one; no one got near enough not even yours truly who always had a revealing fun time with the stars. Perhaps Mr. Fox had a bad experience  and needed protection. Who knows. The actors sat at a distance outside on the cold stone steps of a hospital. for a long time, relieved when lunch break came. We couldn’t wait for the tedious day to end.

The star we loved and laughed with on a television series Family Ties became seriously ill way too young. Fearlessly he battled and won; raised a family with a lovely actress,Tracy Pollan, how well I recall them meeting on the TV series, so here’s to you during this holiday season, Michael J. Fox from an admirer long ago. My best to you and your loved ones.

A Moment With Michael Douglas. . .

1987:  “A bowling scene,” the casting director said. Of course I was available. “Half day work, full day’s pay.” Sounded good to me. What to wear, I wondered. I called a friend. She suggested jeans, a plaid shirt and stuff like that there. Good to go for an early call.

Little did I know the movie was Fatal Attraction and I’d have a chat with Michael Douglas during a break. I’ve already confided to you that the ‘Don’t talk to the Stars” rule doesn’t apply to me and why, you might ask?  Because  I’m respectful and fast and always have something to say. And they are always pleased. So I parked at a bowling alley on Riverside Drive heading toward NYC and walked in. Approval from wardrobe came next and there were a few actors I knew from other shoots. And there he was. Handsome lean, smiling, a husky guy obviously  his best friend at his side. He tried out a bowling bowl and with style and grace, brought all the pins down. Applause, applause.

During a break, I walked over to the man. “I loved your movie, Running. He turned to me with wide smile. “Thanks. The reviews weren’t good and I worked so hard.” He hugged me and said “Thanks. You’ve made my day.”

Part of the sweet time I’ll never forget.                        

Michael Douglas with his best pal

A Moment With Robert Redford. . .

 

Picture this: High on a good audition for Channel Thirteen some years ago, when my voice still worked, I strolled down a wide almost empty street in NYC heading toward the parking lot where I’d buy back my car. The price for parking was exorbitant. Spring air, the sun smiled down on me; all’s well with the world.

And then life turned a lot brighter, if possible. I recognized the look of the trailer on the side street. Movies are always being shot in New York. Someone, the star, was in there. As I arrived parallel to the trailer, he stepped out. We nearly collided. I still grinned from the happy audition and dressed in faded jeans and shirt, Robert Redford smiled and said, “Well, hello.” “Hi,” I said. Snappy repartee. And at that inopportune moment an assistant ran out calling, “You’re on.”

Would he have asked me to dinner, and said leave your husband and children to run away with me right now? No.

P.S. I didn’t get the part. Came in second!

I’m writing this now because I just watched All is Lost, a remarkable movie with Robert Redford as the only actor. It stays in my mind Don’t miss it.

A Moment With Robert Redford. . .

While driving my grandest to TaeKwanDo today, I listened to public radio ‘s interview with Robert Redford and recalled a moment in time where our eyes met one day on an empty street in New York.

I’d just come back from a PBS audition and was flying high. I was supposed to be a cavewoman playing with a frisbee- don’t ask folks, it’s show business. The script was comical, something I do well and I’d created  a leopard cloth outfit and stuck a dog bone in my hair-cave woman, you know. The producers laughed a lot as I flung the frisbee and acted goofy.

I changed back into street clothes and walked-maybe swaggered is a better word-taking a short cut toward the parking lot. A star’s trailer was parked curbside and as i drew near idly wondering what was shooting and why wasn’t I called, Robert Redford stepped out wearing faded jeans, a shirt to match and looking oh so amazing.

“Well, hello there, “he said. “Hello, yourself,” I said. Just then a lackey stuck his head out the door and called ,”Places, Mr. Redford.” “So sorry,” he said and hurried to disappear behind the big door.

“Hmm.” You know I didn’t mumble hmm. So I drove home to the burbs where loving husband, too many kids, and two big dogs waited for me.

Show business. There’s nothing like it. I did not get the job I’d auditioned so brilliantly for. Coming in second means zip and better luck next time.

Age 77 still handsome  thank you, Wikipedia.

Can You Hear It Now? To Be Continued Now in Audiobook!

 

Can you hear it now? YOU BET!

 

To Be Continued by Charmaine Gordon is now available as an AUDIOBOOK on Audible, iTunes, and on Amazon! Also in All Ebook Formats and Print Editions. To Be Continued is Charmaine Gordon’s first novel with Vanilla Heart Publishing and Vanilla Heart Publishing’s first novel to be optioned for a television movie.

 

To Be Continued

by Charmaine Gordon

 

Elizabeth Malone wakes up the morning after an amazing night of passion with her husband of forty years to find a note: “Dear Lizzie, it’s not you, it’s me.”

 

Abandoned by her husband, disappointed in daughter Susie’s casual attitude – ‘Dad’s having a mid-life crisis’, Beth decides to re-establish herself as the winner she once was.

 

When Frank Malone returns, he’s in for a big surprise!

 

Review

Heat: Spicy
Rating: 4 Books
Reviewed by Camellia for Long And Short Reviews

…Everyone should be fortunate enough to have a new friend like Lisa, a pool man like Maverick (WOW), a new lawyer like Elise Bergen, and a Sister Mary Margaret type to help rekindle the fire to be a “winner” after feeling like a total “loser”. Besides these supportive new people in her life, Elizabeth’s life is influenced by a tempting but troubled psychiatrist that wrote a book entitled “Get A Grip”, a remarkable son-in-law, and some super guests at “The Night for Possibilities” not the least of which is Sam Taylor.

Charmaine Gordon brings the characters to life with humor, decisive action, shared tears and stories. In To Be Continued Ms. Gordon takes the reader from a situation of despair to one of joy and love with lots of living done with mature and some not-so-mature exuberance.

To Be Continued with a survive-and-thrive attitude is captivating.

 

To Be Continued is narrated and produced by Rebecca Roberts, professional voiceover artist and narrator, residing in Florida.       

 

       

 

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Murder, Mayhem, & Musicals

Upon awakening Monday a.m.-always a good sign-I told my husband he’d slept through both Dexter and Ray Donavon and there was only one last episode coming up on Sunday. YIKES!

He opened one eye and said, “Whatever happened to movies like “Singin’ in the Rain”?

Memories, sweet memories of my first honeymoon, the year 1952-two weeks in Miami Beach with my high school sweetie, my husband gone too soon. We saw Singin’ in the Rain there, rejoiced in the songs and dance, humor, Donald O’Connor ‘s antics as second banana, Gene Kelly’s brilliance and dear husky voice, and Debbie Reynolds-so fresh and adorable. We talked for hours in the hot sun and both of us got sun burn down one side from head to toe looking at each other. The next day we flipped over to the other side to even out tans and kept talking. Thirty seven years of conversation. That’s what marriage is. Communication with a big dose of love.

Meanwhile back to movies, Don went to the local library, borrowed Singin’ in the Rain and we laughed our way through two hours of delicious entertainment. Hollywood doesn’t make movies like that any more. Vampires,shape shifters,aliens,car chases,murder & mayhem rule.

Run don’t walk to your nearest library or buy a copy of Singin’ in the Rain, pop some corn and settle in for a great time

A Moment With Christian Slater. . .

This goes back a while. I don’t even recall the name of the film. Hired to play the woman who hands the star a bible, yes, folks, there are parts and there are parts, I had weird directions taking me way up north in New York State where I was sure to get lost. Something about a lake and turn right. Curvy road and almost there. Okay. An hour and a half of pure panic and I finally arrived to find some friendly faces of actors I knew. Yippee!

Off to wardrobe in this small town with a bridge where the action would take place, I dressed in a cotton , I don’t know what to call it, neat uh, like almost a house dress and a sweater. “Places, hurry.” someone shouted. “Looks like rain.” We were herded to the bridge, taught a song like a hymn, a church was across the way. “Hand over the bible.” Christian Slater smiled and accepted my gift among other gifts from the other “townspeople,” all union actors. The rain came down. Buckets of rain. Underneath the bridge the water raged, booming, sound of the scene gone. “Head in, fast,” blared the assistant. Soaked, we filed in to the changing area.

After changing and lunch,union rules, we were asked to return the next day and so it went. Stop and start; stop and start. A week went by and the pleasant nature of Christian Slater shone through. Always kind and easy going, it was a change from some of the arrogant stars I’d been in contact with over my “sweet time.”

Almost two weeks later , the scene, for better or worse, finished, a light drizzle persisting. A lot of money spent for a movie I can’t recall. Oh well. Memories.                                                                                               Thanks, Wikipedia

A Moment With Tim Robbins. . .”

The year–1990. The place–somewhere from my home way out in Brooklyn, a car dealership the casting director said. Uh huh. No GPS, I struggled, followed the signs and arrived on time. A cloudy day with rain threatening to fall. There were a bunch of background artists-‘extras’-I had an under five to be shot inside. I waited out with other union members for my call. A drizzle began. And the drizzle turned to a more concentrated rain. We waited. Tim Robbins ran out shouting, “Get them inside. NOW!” That’s when I fell in love with him.

Before then I’d never heard his name. Robin Williams was the star in Cadillac Man filming that day. The advertisement on the promo declared, “If you can’t trust a used car sales, who can you trust?”

Two of my favorite movie are Bull Durham and Shawshank Redemption both had Tim Robbins in a key role. Unforgettable stories so different. Movies. Don’t you love them? Here he is at age fifty four with a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes.