Blind Items Revealed #52 - Himmmm - Kindness

March 5, 2018

Oscars

My companion for the evening just witnessed the most glorious act of kindness I've seen or heard since one at the Golden Globes.  She had to wipe the tears away to tell me what she witnessed when she came from the rest rooms.  This (foreign born permanent A-/B+ list mostly movie actor who is an Academy Award winner/nominee) walked into the lobby near the end of the ceremony.  While waiting for someone, he recognized a young man he'd seen running around the ceremony inside all night, and called him over.  The actor asked him who he was, but the young man said he's not supposed to fraternize with the attendees. The actor waved his hand, "Hell with all that. Who are you? I've seen you running  all over all night.  You're an employee?", the actor asked.  The young man nervously said he was working a temp job as a seat filler tonight; that he is a scholarship student at UCLA film school; and originally from a small town in Alabama…but is honestly finding it too hard to break in to the movies as a hopeful director without knowing "the right people".

The actor pulled out his glasses, put them on, and took an envelope from his coat pocket.  He removed two small cards (which he tucked back into his coat), and handed the envelope to the young man.  The confused student looked through the contents.  Inside was a stack of VIP passes to the Governor's Ball; the Vanity Fair after party; and a dozen other tickets and free vouchers for swag.  The actor told the speechless student: "If they give you any shit? Tell them you're my grandson and they'll have to answer to me."

The student was dumbstruck, and kept thanking the actor over and over.  The actor just smiled and waved his hand in the air, saying: "Here's some advice: remember, keep your ears open and mouth closed.  Learn all you can.  Don't be shy and go make some new contacts.  Believe in yourself, and always be respectful to everyone no matter what they look like or where they're from. Then when your time comes to be invited to one of these fancy things? You do a favor to someone else who deserves it. Good luck, son."

The actor's date had emerged from the restroom, and they strolled arm-in-arm out of the exits.  The smiling student wiped the tears from his eyes and whispered "Thank you" to the old man.  My companion stepped over, handed the young man a producer's business card, and told him to contact the number when he has a demo reel to share.  The appreciative student floated back into the auditorium.

Christopher Plummer