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My friend, Jay Kamen, is writing, directing, and producing his original script Not Your Time.  He asked me to be a glorified extra (“We’ll throw you a line!”), but since Jason Alexander and Kathy Najimy were playing two of the leading roles, I agreed to do it because who wouldn’t want to hang out with Jason Alexander and Kathy Najimy?  I found out later that the scene I was to get thrown my line would be after both Jay and Kathy wrapped (show business talk for they wouldn’t be there), but, what the heck, I could go and have some fun. 

Jay called me on Friday night, the day before I was supposed to shoot, and told me that two of the children who were supposed to be in the scene I was going to be in had cancelled and asked me if I knew any kids who would be willing to come down and work on short notice.  I called my friends, Mike and Laurie Cole and asked if their youngest son, Aiden, would be interested.  He said yes!  Then I called my friend Danny and asked him if his niece Amber would like to do also do it.  Of course she would!  What seventh grader doesn’t want to be in a movie? 

Aiden Cole and Sam

Danny Rivero and Amber Rivero

Both kids were ecstatic to be on a real movie set.  The each had a costume fitting and then went to hair and make up, where they chatted up the crew and impressed everyone with their enthusiasm and questions.  They were working with Robert Sean Flaherty, who has been in Daddy Day Care (they were both extremely impressed).  They were given their blocking and spent about 1/2 hour rehearsing.  Then came time for the shoot.

Amber and Aiden

The camera was put into position and the kids were all given their marks.  I was seated at the side of the stage (mostly to create a frame for the stage).  We ran through the 45 second scene a few times for lighting and camera, with Aiden and Amber hitting their marks each time and improving with each try.  Finally we were ready to shoot the scene.  Neither one could believe they were actually filming a movie, but there they were, acting away each time Jay said “Action!”   We shot the scene about 6 times, and they nailed their bits each time. 

Ours was the last shot of the day, so when we finished we heard “that’s a wrap!”  We gathered Jay and had a picture taken with the writer/director and all of us in the scene. 

The actors with Jay Kamen

We all had a blast.  The kids were great.  I still hope to meet Jason Alexander one day, but I can always say I was present when two stars were born! Uh. . . Make that three – I am sure Jay will be writing and directing features soon.  

Sam and Jay Kamen

Without intending to start one, I find myself with the rather cool beginnings of a signed, original copy book collection.  The realization hit me when I came home a few weeks ago with my copy of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius signed by its author Dave Eggers.  I read the book when it was first published and was moved by his story and thrilled by his writing.  I thought it was a great book, assigned it as a book report, and began to keep an eye on Mr. Eggers and what he was working on.  (He co-wrote the screenplay for the upcoming film adaptation of Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are)  As I became familiar with him, I became even more impressed with him as a writer and as a person determined to use his position to help others discover the joy and the freedom of the written word (sorry about the cliche).  He started a foundation called 826, which is a series of drop in centers in big city inner cities that offer free writing workshops for kids in K – 12, including 2 here in Los Angeles.  http://www.826la.com/   He is my idea of a real community based artist. 

When I heard Eggers was giving a reading of his latest book Zeitoun AND supporting a cool neighborhhod bookstore in Los Feliz, Skylight Books, I gathered up my copy of A Heartbreaking Work. . . and went to the reading.   I waited in line two hours (yes, he is that popular).  I would have been slaphappy after signing books for 2 hours, but the guy is the real thing – genuine, taking time with each person to thank him/her for reading his work. 

my copy of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius"

I was worn out when I finally stepped up with my books for him to sign, but he smiled and when he saw my name is Sam, and not knowing my affinity for Sam-I-Am and Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess (I have a litho print of the opening page of the book, and my friends The Coles gave my the coolest “Verde Huevos y Jambon” T-Shirt for my birthday.  One of my best friends from SDSU, Sally Rudnick, still calls me Sam-I-Am), he signed my dogeared copy of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius “TO Sam! (you are) With vast thanks and eternal apologies. Dave Eggers.”  

Sam! (you are)

 I guess he was apologizing for the long wait.  I spoke to him briefly about my admiration for 826 and the work he is trying to do and urged him to open a workshop in the Valley, where I live.  He took the time to really talk to me for the few moments I was standing in fron of him.  I truly appreciated his presence.

I think the signed copy is now one of the coolest things I now possess.  Thanks Mr. Eggers!

I also realize I have a few other signed copies of books, but this one really begins the collection.

Here is Joan Greene Kuglen, Teresa Greene Toplak and her daughters Eva and Tessa this summer in San Diego.  According to Teresa,  ”We absolutely love San Diego and hope to make it our home one day.  Or at least have a home away from home!” 

3 generations of Greene women

School is starting.  Well, actually, it began for me three weeks ago on August 17.  I teach 11th grade Honors and 12th grade College Prep English at John Burroughs High School in Burbank.  The 11th graders are easy to teach because they do their homework and even if they are not interested in the topic we are discussing, they are usually good at faking it because they are concerned about their semester grade – either because they are hoping to get into a good four year college or their parents put pressure on them to get good grades.  12th graders are a different story.  Most of them are not on an Honors/AP track, meaning they show up and attend class, but exert little effort unless they become interested in the topic. 

Over the 10 months they are in my classroom, I am constantly telling them that college is different than high school and the expectations are much different and the work more rigorous.  Of course, being 17/18, and having completed 11 years of education, they think they know everything and don’t pay much attention to my predictions, especially as the school year progresses.  Inevitably I have students return not too long after the school year has begun and tell me how everything I said was true.  I know it happens to several of them and I have a dab more respect for those who are willing to admit it.  I think writing the email is one last shedding of childhood and taking a step into adulthood. 

Here is an email I received from one of my students, Kristen Walters, misspellings and all, who graduated last spring: 

 Dear Mr Kuglen,

     I honestly didn’t think of all people to write to you it would be me. I don’t know if you thought the same thing, knowing how “well” I did in your class. I just started going to Pierce College and although I’m not in the highest English course, I am in one. I was given the homework to write an and research for an essay due this coming Friday. I am only on my second paragraph and kept thinking of everything you had taught us and couldn’t write another word until I wrote this email. Last year, I was not fully into everything you were teaching, I rarely read the books you assigned, I honestly only read on per year since there was always only one I was interested in. And as I was writing I realized I was using an ellipse in one of the quotations I was using. I thought it was kind of funny how I never really thought I would need to use this stuff, I mean, I was going to Community. They aren’t as strict as they are in a UC or  a Cal State. But, as I usually am about these things, I was wrong. Everything you said was right and I wish I listened more and tried harder, because there was so many different things you taught us that, I said to myself “don’t write that down, you’ll remember it. It will take too long.” And I remember you telling us about the different students who had writen or come back to see you and I thought, well now you have a new example. Thank you for everything that you taught us, and for everything you told us about, because in the end you were right. I guess I was in that stage in life where you think I’m almost 18, I know everything I need to know and your not going to change that. I was pretty dumb for not listening and retaining as much as someone like Dellon did. I also want to apologize for how disruptive Dellon, Wendy and I were.  We were always in trouble. But anyway, thanks again.

Sincerely,

Kristin Walters
Period 1 2008- 2009

Gray and Haila are getting married today in San Francisco.  They are having a small family wedding – I wish I was there; since I am not, HAVE A GREAT DAY, I hope you have a blast and that you are surrounded by love and joy and promise. (I also hope the weather is warm and sunny – that would guarantee a perfect day!)

Gray is a terrific person, a great guy, and a fantastic cousin, so if he fell in love with Haila, she must be equally (if not more) terrific.  Congratualtions to you and your families!

Haila and Gray