Adventures of Hollywood Jim Ch. 96

Hi, everybody I'm back after a very long absence, thanks again for your patience!

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My friendship with John McDonald went back quite a way. We'd met long ago when I was just a partner in a photo business with my childhood friend Chris Foster. McDonald was regarded something of an Orson Welles-type, an auteur of cinema to some, but to others he was all talk and not a lot of action. He'd had many projects he talked up but never completed, or even started. When that happened, he'd simply pin the blame on others and move on. His name though, still guaranteed attention. His newest project was a spy thriller called "Countdown" to be shot in New York. Jackie Morrison had chosen Brian Hennessy to handle things. Brian was a very capable Lieutenant for her though I'd never worked with him. He smartly invited me to lunch a tony Beverly Hills bistro to talk over the new project.

"Jackie tells me you're the perfect guy to work with me on this, not just as a photog. You've worked with John in the past."

"I'm flattered, John's OK for the most part. I've never been around him in post-production though. That seems to be when things go haywire with him."

"So I've heard." He said as took a sip of his iced tea, his tone suggested he heard the same stories as me "...do you think he'd trust you to sit in with him?"

"What're you getting at?"

"OK..." he said as he leaned in closer to me "Jackie wants you to be her spy. If things go wrong, we'll need to pull the plug, take the film away from him, whichever cliché you want to use."

"Uh-uh, no way Brian." I said firmly "I've seen too many of these corporate squabbles and getting on John's bad side ain't something I aspire to."

"What if we made it worth your while?"

"And how would you do that?"

"Say...a portion of the gross?"

"How much?"

"Well, officially it would be an off the books kind of deal. Jackie is already guaranteed a percentage, she'd siphon off a portion of that for you."

"And what would that siphon be?"

"Twenty percent." He said casually.

I sat in silence, I was in a dilemma the likes of which I hadn't been in for many years.

"It's not illegal, you know" Brian continued "Studio people routinely visit sets, there's not a lot of directors who ban them altogether. And McDonald, for all his bluster, isn't one of those. He needs the work too much right now so he can't be too demanding."

"How soon do you need an answer?"

"There's no rush, when it gets closer to a start date I'll contact you." He said as he typed in a generous tip on his check "See you soon, 'Hollywood'."

And with that he walked away, leaving me to ponder the potential windfall I could get for my spy work.

A week later, Brian called again and casually asked if I'd thought about his (and Jackie's) proposal. When I said I hadn't, he wasn't bothered in the slightest.

"OK, no problem" he said before adding "We're doing a big press launch tomorrow, feel like sneaking in? I think it might be worth your while."

"Well, OK... I guess I could use an afternoon off."

The press launch was held at the same bistro where we'd had lunch. It was packed with all the usual press-types. When Jackie spotted me entering, she immediately called me over.

"James! I was so hoping you'd come. John's said such good things about you. Let's get you a drink."

"Thanks, I've got the feeling I might need one."

With a flourish of flashbulbs, John MacDonald made his way onto the stage.

"Thank you!" he said with customary bravado in his deep voice "I'm proud to be a part of this production, it's long been a dream project of mine and I feel with the cast we've assembled it'll be a film to remember. But I know you didn't come to hear me ramble on..." he said with a small chuckle added, it was like he expected the assembled audience to laugh on cue "It's time I introduced you to our star for 'Countdown'."

Jackie leaned in close to me "Like Brian said...this project may be quite rewarding to you..." she said and pointed at the stage.

"Would you please welcome our star...Ms. Gal Gadot."

My eyes bugged out a little as she stepped onto the stage wearing a bright red silk shirt and black leather pants, her brunette hair long and flowing.

"Thank you, Mr. MacDonald..." she began in that voice that could make a phone book reading sexy "I'm very happy to be a part of this production. I have to admit it'll be nice to do a film where I'm not wearing a corset and throwing a shield around." She said with a shy smile that made everyone in the room laugh. She took questions from the press gathered for several minutes before Jackie stepped in to thank everybody "Thank you again!" Gal said as she exited the stage.

I took that as my cue to leave, I knew Brian might try and corner me to get an answer but I pretty much knew I'd accept his offer. Twenty percent wasn't something you turned down flat. I just felt it would be better to do it in his or Jackie's office, lest Mr. MacDonald find out. Brian somehow caught my eye as I was leaving, I gave him a thumbs-up and he nodded, I was in.

When I got back to the office, amidst the usual mail was a package containing the script for "Countdown". It was a spy thriller set on a remote missile base during the cold war and starred Gal as a Russian agent defecting to the West. In the days that followed I learned it was shaping up to be a more complicated film than originally projected. John was making increasingly outrageous demands and the budget was climbing with each one. For one thing, he wanted to change locations and shoot the film in Sweden, but it was looking to be a milder than normal winter there. Jackie tried to sell him on a shoot in Vancouver, but he was adamant in his demands. She was finally forced to execute a clause in his contract and shut down production of the film before it had even started.

So ended my spy gig.

John immediately left for Europe but not before ranting to any press outlet that would listen how he'd been maligned by the studio and would never work with her again.

"The Jackal" knew better, if he needed cash, he'd be back in town.

"So, what's the next move?" I asked her at a breakfast meeting a few days later.

"Remakes are always in fashion, Jim...and there's a great one for her." She said without looking up from her phone "Remember a film called 'Kindergarten Cop'?"

"Yeah, Schwarzenegger did it back in the 80's."

"Imagine Gal Gadot in a remake." She said with a smile.

"Heyyyy...I can imagine that. Have you pitched it to her?"

"Yep, turns out she was a big fan of the original. The remake's been sitting on a shelf for two years and it just went into turnaround. How much you wanna bet I can put this deal together in an hour?"

"Hmmm, I'll bet you the next breakfast check."

"You got a deal Hollywood." She said with a crafty smile as she took out her cellphone "I'll see you back at the office."

Exactly one hour later, I got a text message from her;

"I'll have lox and eggs from Nate 'n Al's with a side order of blueberry pancakes."

"The Jackal" had worked her magic once again.

Jackie was spot-on in her claim that Gal was a fan of the original film. When the deal was announced she recanted a story how she watched the film numerous times with members of her military unit and they quoted lines from the film when they were on maneuvers.

Gal had lobbied to get her "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins for this film, but she was busy on another project so there'd be a new director I'd never met before, David Brewster. Jackie read his filmography closely and agreed he would be the right one. David immediately jumped into pre-production on the film and also took it upon himself to take apart the script and give it new twists in addition to the gender change. He sold the studio on locations in Nashville as he was originally from the area and thought having someone like Gal there would make for a decent culture-shock angle since her character would be coming from Los Angeles (by way of Israel). For the new "Kindergarten Cop", Gal would be playing an LA cop on the trail of a crime boss who's hiding out in Nashville and may be planning to kidnap his son and take him out of the country.

And this time I'd just be an observer from the studio keeping an eye on our director (and perhaps, our star).

It had been a longtime since I'd been in Nashville and I was hoping I'd get to explore the bars and clubs on what was often called "Honky-Tonk Row" again. The studio put us all up in suites at the ultra-luxe Hermitage hotel which was within walking distance to everything, cool. David had done much location scouting and would film much of the "school" scenes at a local public school using its students as extras. I had to wonder if the school's daily attendance rates shot up once the kids (or their parents) knew that "Wonder Woman" would be there, even if she was just playing a teacher. On one of the first days of filming, David called me over to him.

"Gal's got a great idea and I think someone should document it."

"Someone who just happens to have a camera, right?" I replied

"Ahhh, something like that." He said with a little snicker added "Hey! Gal, over here."

YIKES! I just realized this would be my first meeting with her!

Gal strolled over wearing an olive drab hoodie and blue jeans, so casual but so chic. For a minute I thought I could see military lettering on it, perhaps this was something from her days in the IDF.

"Gal, this is Jim. He's from Morrison Group and he's doing all the photos on the film."

"Hey, good to meet you...Jackie told me you'd be here." She said in that cool accent with broad smile added "And you got the camera too."

"Oh, uh, yes." I croaked out before clearing my throat "Yes, um, David said you've got a great idea."

Geez I sounded like one of the schoolkids for a minute! Great way to make an impression "Hollywood".

"OK, what I wanna do is surprise the kids in their classroom. I figure it's only fair, y'know?"

"Cool, great idea. Let's go."

"Alright." She said with a nod and a beaming smile.

And surprised they were. She visited every classroom and gave the kids a thrill meeting her and getting photos and autographs. And I gotta admit I got a smile out of seeing their reactions to her. Like she said, it was only fair. She sat in the back of a few classes observing how the teachers worked and getting ideas for her character.

For someone without a lot of film credits, David seemed to be a master at planning and scheduling, rare for a director. He was getting scenes done in less than 10 takes and after 5 days it looked like we were ahead of schedule and would be going back to LA sooner than expected to film the interior scenes.

And I was right. After a week, David proudly announced to the cast and crew that we'd finished all the location shooting and would leave for LA in the morning. But not before a last night in Nashville party at the Wildhorse Saloon. Just to get everyone a little fired up, he casually added that the night would be on the company's dime. Immediately there were lots of whoops and hollers, including one from me.

I decided that if I was going to a place like the Wildhorse, I needed to get properly outfitted with some decent country bar boots. A quick Google search led to me a place called Boot Country, sounds good to me. I always wanted a pair of rattlesnake skin boots and as luck would have it, they were running a buy 1 pair get 2 free sale, cool! My cheapskate side would be happy. The place was just as I expected and I was eagerly looking at their selection. As I was ogling a pair of black boots whose material was of unknown origin, I overheard an accent I'd been hearing for the last few days. Only this time, it was speaking a different tongue. I looked through the shelving and saw it was Gal with another woman as they were looking at boots too.

I worked up some courage and went over to the pair

"I guess you had the same idea as me." I said hesitantly to Gal as I held up the pair I'd been looking at.

"Hey, Jim! Yeah, someone said I needed some boots if I wanna try line dancing." She said as she held up a brown suede boot "I've never bought cowboy boots, have you?"

"Once, a long time ago, and it wasn't for line dancing." I replied.

"What're you gonna get?"

"I saw these snakeskin ones over there, always wanted to try those."

"Ohhh, sounds dangerous!" she said with a giggle before turning to her companion "Oh, this is Shar, she works with me on sets. She's from Israel too."

"Nice, good to meet you." I said as we shook hands.

"I'm gonna see if they've got my size over there." Shar said to Gal "Nice to meet you Jim."

Shar walked away leaving me with Gal.

"I'm really curious what this is gonna be like, I'm not the best dancer." She said to me.

"Same here, I think I went to this place a few years back, mainly I just drank and watched the bands."

"That sounds more like me, but I'll give it a go on the dance floor."

"OK, I'll do the dance if you will too."

Gal laughed "OK, Mister Jim...you got a deal."

"I kinda think I owe it to myself to see if Wonder Woman can dance."

Gal laughed heartily at that and playfully slapped my arm as we gathered our purchases. She bought one pair for herself and used the special deal on a pair each for her daughters. We agreed to meet up later at the club with everyone else.

Before going to Wildhorse I had to take a stroll down the Main Street. All the memories of previous times here started rushing back. There was the bar where I'd photographed Carrie Underwood one early morning and the ensuing photo became a classic that still got me a residual check every so often. And far down the street I remembered the stage I'd crouched on to shoot Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Julianne Hough on one wild night in front of untold thousands of music fans. And now I was back at the Wildhorse where I'd seen Miranda do an impromptu gig with her side project, the Pistol Annies. The film crew was given a VIP part of the club but we couldn't help but blend into the rowdy crowd that was there that night. David spotted me and called me over to his table where Gal was laughing and chatting with other patrons.

"Yo! Hollywood Jim!" he yelled "Ya made it!" he yelled over the music

"Yeah, I gotta break in these boots, y'know."

"You got the snakeskin boots, too!" Gal yelled over the crowd "Show 'em off Jim!"

I threw a leg up and the boot hit the table with a distinctive thump, making everyone laugh.

"Snakeskin boots baby, put 'em on your feet, I got the goodtime music with the Bo Diddley beat!" I said in a singsong tone.

"Oh my god those are so cool looking!" Gal laughed.

"I'm gonna get a beer, anybody want anything?" I asked

"Yeah, I'm gonna get a refill, C'mon Jim." Gal said as she got up and playfully wrapped her arm around mine as we headed for the huge bar area. She looked so cool in tight jeans and a faded denim shirt. Her smile was electric.

"So...what does this lovely lady from Israel drink?" I boldly asked.

"Hmmm..." she said thoughtfully before adding "I think this lovely lady would like...whatever this lovely man is drinking." She said with a flirty smile directed straight at me.

"OK, 2 Coronas, then."

"2 Coronas it is." she replied.

We got our beers and went over to a small round table nearby.

"Jim, are you a rum drinker?"

"No, never tried it."

"Oh, you should. I did a TV commercial for Captain Morgan once, I really got to like it."

"OK, I'll remember that, cheers to you..." I said to her as I raised my bottle up.

"L'Chaim..." she replied as our bottles clinked together.

"Hey, I've heard that somewhere. What does it mean?"

"It's a Hebrew toast, it means 'To Life'."

"Oh...I like that, it sounds, uh, classy..."

Gal gave me a shy smile "You think so, huh?"

"I do think so."

"OK, well let me ask you something" she now began "I heard David calling you 'Hollywood Jim', where'd that come from?"

"Oh, THAT" I replied "Well...it's kind of a long story."

Gal leaned forward slightly so I could hear her.

"I love long stories..." she slowly replied in that effortlessly sexy voice of hers "Tell me a story...Hollywood Jim..."

At that moment I was, well, a little tongue-tied. No, make that a LOT tongue-tied.

"OK..." I finally said after a small cough "Well, it was a name I got as a kid 'cause I was always into movies and music, stuff like that."

Gal was listening to me intently.

"Does it make you nervous telling that?" she asked

"Yeah, maybe a little..."

"Don't be. It's something to be proud of." She said as she took another sip of her beer "Where are you from anyway? You don't seem like someone from California."

"It shows huh?"

Gal nodded "You're not from Nashville, are you?

"No, way far from that, boring little place called Connecticut."

"How'd you get out to Hollywood, then?"

"Another long story, short version is I came out here to work with a buddy from home who had a photo business and things started happening from there."

"Ahhh, OK. And he gave you the name, huh?"

"Right. Now I get to ask you something." I said.

"Go ahead, ask me anything."

"Um, w-were you really in the Israeli military?"

"Uh-huh" she nodded "It's required of all citizens. I did 2 years there before going to law school, or trying to go to law school. I never finished."

"I went to high school with a guy from Israel who was going to do his service after graduating with me, I've always wondered whatever happened to him."

"Give me his name, I still have some friends in the IDF, maybe I can find out." She said casually.

"Wow, that'd be great. If you don't mind my asking, uh, what did you do in the military anyway? I never did any service so I've always been curious about it."

"You really wanna know, huh?" she said with that flirty smile again

"Yeah, I really wanna know." I replied with a flirty smile of my own.

Gal leaned in close again.

"It's a military secret..." she said before taking another sip of her beer.

"How, um, much of a secret is it?"

Gal looked at me and playfully bit her lip, like she was thinking what she should say. She finally started laughing again.

"OK, I was a combat instructor" she finally said "Y'know martial arts."

"Ah-ha! The secret's revealed!"

"Yes! You got it out of me Mr. Hollywood! Just for that, you have to buy me another beer!"

"Something tells me I'd better do that, I don't wanna get Wonder Woman pissed off at me." I said. Just as I stood up, I felt her hand slap me on my ass.

"You naughty boy!" she said with a smile.

After another toast to life from Gal, who taught me the correct way to pronounce it, I spied

David coming over. Make that stumbling over.

"OK you two...you can't come to Nashville and not dance." He slurred.

Gal and I looked at each other.

"Think he's been into the Tennessee whiskey?" I said.

"I think so." She replied with a chuckle.

"Then maybe we better hit the dance floor."

Gal eagerly took my hand and we tried out our line-dancing abilities. To no one's surprise she picked it up fast and I looked like a total klutz. It was more fun watching her from the sides. After 3 songs she made her way over to me, looking a little worn-out.

"Oh man...it's been a long time since I tried that!" she laughed "I must've looked crazy."

"Nah, you looked like a wonder. I'M the one who looks crazy!"

Gal laughed even more as she hugged me. I could smell a beautifully soft perfume on her.

"Uh, like another drink?" I asked.

She looked at her watch

"I think I should call it a night. I've got a flight back to L.A. in the morning."

"Me too. Um, c-could I at least walk you back to the hotel?"

"Now that you can do. I think I need someone to hold me up!"