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TRICKSTERS AND HUCKSTERS: SHOW BIZ ARCHETYPES
by Addison De Witt
“The Good Guys”
I am often asked, “What is it about Show Business that appears to bring out such horrid behavior in people?” My knee-jerk response is to suggest that other fields of endeavor are equally populated with users and back-stabbers, narcissists and egomaniacs, Tricksters and Hucksters, if you will. Academia, for instance, I’ll say. Or how about politics? In fact, there is ample evidence to suggest that evil can flourish almost anywhere the human heart may dwell. Still, from where I write, in my lair atop the hills of Hollywood, the ceaseless ability to rationalize, even justify, one’s indefensible behavior is a particularly spellbinding phenomenon to observe.
To survive in the Hollywood jungle, one must quickly develop a thick skin, for to take each slight and blow personally is a certain path to despair. Yet, successfully developing a thick skin, inuring oneself to the pain inflicted regularly by producers, agents and the like, can sometimes lead to one’s own insensitivity to the pain of others. So it is all the more remarkable that people of character and quality do, in fact, exist in the show business realm. In the spirit of the new year, I should like to retract my claws for a moment and celebrate some people of uncommon decency.
To the Singing Star who telephoned personally, sent a telegram, followed by flowers and a personal note, after the successful premiere of the film I wrote for her. Thank you.
To the Oscar-Winning Actress who intervened on my behalf when she learned the writer was the only one of the film’s principals being excluded from a press junket at Disneyland. This is the same woman who, when starring in a Broadway musical, bought out all the seats for an added July 4th performance herself just to give her tired cast a much-needed day of rest, and then refused to divulge how the performance came to be canceled. What a gal.
To the Producer who grabbed a bunch of junk food off of a craft services table and personally brought it to my office, where she sat and held my hand during a particularly tortuous rewrite. Married to a writer herself, she knew that we respond better to TLC than to threats and intimidation. This woman is now running a network, proof-positive that good people can succeed through talent, hard work and determination. I salute you.
To the Television Star who treated the writer with genuine warmth and respect, setting an example for everyone on the set. He insisted on following the script as written and appreciated the care that went into every line of dialogue, a very rare thing indeed.
To the Director who sat down with me and went over every single scene of a four-hour mini-series script, wanting to know how the writer envisioned each moment. This same man took pleasure on the set in asking me to view each set-up through the eye of the camera. Somehow he missed class in film school the day they taught how to treat writers.
To the Tony-Winning Actress, who I’d admired all my life, who invited me to sit down with her before shooting started to get to know each other and to have me tell her how I saw her character. A class act, all the way.
To the Producer who thanked me for my work on his film by sending me a beautifully leather-bound copy of my script.
To the fellow Writer who invited me to lunch the day after I beat him out for an award he coveted. He dealt with his disappointment by deciding to make friends with a stranger. And to the other generous writers I’ve known who’ve given me support and guidance, and made me feel less alone. I am grateful to you all.
Next month, it’s back to settling scores with more Tricksters and Hucksters. Until then, Dear Reader, I remain faithfully yours.
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