It’s been oh so Long/Hollywood Here I Go
It’s been so long since I’ve blogged last, I almost forgot my password. Just to let you know, I’ve received the remains of THE CAMERA and should now be ready to run a test roll of film through the bad little boy. I think I will refer to it only as THE CAMERA (all in caps) simply because it’s so badass (and expensive.) Kind of like the film-eating version of HIM if you will. No matter the cost for, at this point anyway, it’s mine and I’m going to enjoy it. I even found some cheap photo mailers, which is a good thing from, of all places, Hollywood (no, I’m NOT making this up. If you’re a regular reader of this blog you should know by now that I could not write fiction this well and my life is more than crazy enough to make for good blogging)
Hollywood is one of the few places on earth with which I have a love-hate relationship. I love the architecture in LA and the surrounding areas. I love Venice Beach. I love the almost yearly sunshine and some of the whackos that stretch out along Hollywood Boulevard. I’m not crazy about actors and most film types. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a photographer and, as a still photog, it’s an easy extension into the world of motion pictures. So, basically, in Hollywood, we have a somewhat exaggerated extension of what I love to do. You would think I would love it right? You would think I would treat this as a mecca of sorts and flock there if, for nothing else, the presence of the robin’s egg blue sky and the white sandy beaches (think Velvia light.) You would think that I would love it just for the fact that you can walk around with a camera and not be bothered there, for you truely fit in with the norm in Hollywood if you got a lens stuck to your face. But you’d be wrong.
It’s not that I have anything against the physical location. It’s not that I hate or even dislike most of the people there. It’s the pretentious actor types coupled with the “mogel” types. It’s like they’ve taken the art form that I know and enjoy, bastardized it into some sort of corporate conglomerate and make it into some giant fake implant-wearing world capitol that attracts poor unsuspecting saps from Kansas to come and try their luck at the big wheel of fame. You just know the city’s going to eat them up, spit them out, and you won’t get to see the not-so-happy ending. That’s the essence of what I hate. It’s like the entire city has become one big set, part of one big movie, to which you don’t have the script. You walk around wondering for how long some folks can physically remain disconected with reality before they turn into statues, stars on the walk of fame, or some kind of wax likeness of themselves at Madam Truedoes. It’s like the entire city has turned into a characticture of itself, nobody gets the big joke but you, and you’re too afraid to point it all out for fear of being swallowed by the beast.
Yeah, that’s it in a nutshell. Tee hee hee. Welcome to Hollywood. Don’t mind the big beast sitting there in the corner. His fangs are only five feet thick. And he won’t chew you up and spit you out if you don’t let him. Just pat him on the head and quietly walk away. Go back to Kansas, where they have many cold drinks, the sun doesn’t always shine, and normal people rule.
Until next time, this is Carol, the Carol in “Carol’s Little World” signing off.
