I had the chance to talk to Alvin about a week ago. He gave me some great advice. He said "Don't be cautious in your writing. Don't think about theme until you're done with a draft. And let the story come to you." I asked him to write that down for me on a napkin which I than proceeded to sell on E-bay. Just kidding.

Alvin lives up in Montecito, doesn't he? Great you got to talk with him. One of the great screenwriters of our time.

He may have a place in Montecito but he also has a place in Brentwood.

I work in a high end shoe store in Brentwood. Tons of celebrities shop there. Just this month I've talked to Alvin, Robert Towne, and had a conversation about comedy with Jay Roach. The only reason I work there is for the connections. Well, I also kind of have a foot fetish.

I've heard of PLENTY of ways people make connections in Hollywood, but a high end shoe store is s a first! Gives new meaning to the phrase 'learning the business from the ground up'!

It kind of sucked cause I was in a deep conversation with Sargent when my manager peeled me away from him to go help some elderly lady with nasty bunions. When I saw her hammer toes I almost vomited.

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