. . .
BLAIR
On my rideto Everest Studios, I scroll through pics and interviews with Sophia to make sure I know all I can about her. I know she makes her living pretending to be someone she’s not, but she looks incredibly happy and well adjusted for someone who started in this town at such a young age.
She’s already won an Oscar—she’s incredibly talented—and her movie won Best Picture because audiences want—no, crave—movies that push you to think and feel. Women make you think and feel. Just as much as any man can.
The unwritten rules in Hollywood are so deeply embedded that it’s hard to break the carefully crafted mold, especially if you are a woman. But I continue to watch the trends in our industry, and the old guard is acutely unaware of the power a woman-led, woman-produced, or woman-directed story can have on a box office or ratings. Just tuck it into the “consistently underrated” file.
I've witnessed Reese Witherspoon build a lucrative empire by elevating women's stories. I'm in awe of her ability to consistently prove the value of women in front of and behind the camera, often amplifying diverse voices. She's inspired a dreamof mine to open my own talent agency focused on representing marginalized talent, primarily women.
I take one more look at my file on Sophia. I’ve done my homework, and I know in my heart she is of like mind in this space. As I step into her makeup trailer, I see a tall, dark, and handsome man with his fingers smudging gloss across Sophia’s lips.
Holy hotness.
“Hello, gorgeous,” a young Ricky Martin look-a-like says to me. “Welcome. Come on in.”
“Am I interrupting?” I ask. “I can wait outside.”
I didn’t mean to interrupt an intimate moment between Sophia and whoever this handsome stranger is. Go, Sophia! I didn’t realize she was dating anyone.
Sophia turns in her chair. “Blair?”
“Yes, that’s me!”
“I’m so excited to meet you! Brandon, this is the agent I was just telling you about.”
I’m immediately nervous. I shouldn’t be. I’ve closed deals with some of the biggest stars out there.
“I think I’m more excited to meet you!” I confess. “I hate to admit it, but I’m a little nervous!”
“Ha, nervous. Nobody’s ever been nervous around a five-foot-nothing woman in Hollywood.”
I laugh at the joke, even though it’s laced with so much truth.
She’s flawless in real life. And tiny. Her dark hair forces you to notice her ice-blue eyes. The same eyes as Wyatt, although that seems to be the only similar feature.
“Hi, Blair. I’m Brandon. And you’re not interrupting.”
“Oh, no, not at all,” Sophia says. “Brandon is a stunt actor and doing a few scenes with me today. He’s one of my best friends. We met when I started in the business. He has aproblem with personal space and filters, so please excuse him in advance.”
“Nice to meet you, Brandon.” I reach out to shake his hand, and just as Sophia warned, he knocks it away and comes in for a big bear hug.
“Here, take my seat,” he says.
As I settle, Sophia immediately makes me feel welcome and comfortable. She asks me questions about myself and what it’s like to work for TWA. I tell her a little about my client list and projects, and I tease a few that I know are coming. I keep it strictly professional but feel a little guilty that I don’t even mention that I know her brother. Wyatt has nothing to do with this, though, and I don’t want to win—or lose—this opportunity based on a past connection with him. I decide right then to keep the past where it belongs. I’ll wait until I’ve established credibility on my own and there’s a better time to bring it up casually.
She admits that her agent is retiring and she is looking for new representation. I listen as she gets right into it.
“I want to parlay this Oscar win into more meaty roles. I want to Kate Winslet the shiitake out of my career.”
I smile at her use of the word shiitake. I’ve heard she doesn’t swear. Years of kids’ programming will likely do that to you.
“I hear you have a reputation for finding powerful roles for women,” she says.
I beam at the compliment while flinching on the inside. I can find her great roles. I can find her roles that women have written and women are directing. My concern is that Lance will try to leverage her star power for traditional and male-led blockbuster opportunities. Not that she shouldn’t do that. It’s just getting harder to influence him these days.
“I know I’m still considered new in this business,” Sophia continues, “but I’ve been here for years, and I’m ready to moveinto more than just acting. I want to produce and eventually direct.”
