Movie night is here!

  • Aug. 9th, 2008 at 8:24 PM
lola
In typical Lara fashion, nothing amazing can happen in my life without something not-so-amazing to keep me humble. Yesterday morning, I was walking out of a doctor's office, missed a curb, and landed my full weight on my left ankle. It promptly swelled to twice its size and hurts something fierce. I can barely walk; today I managed to get around the house in my office chair, propelling myself forward with my good foot.

Now I'm at my Mom's, eagerly awaiting our viewing partners. Veggies have been cut, eggs have been deviled, and my ankle's been wrapped with a nice Ace bandage. As soon as Amy gets here with her hot dog casserole, I can take some yummy Naprosen and let the de-swelling begin.

Only 36 minutes until the movie!

Her name was Lola, she was an author ...

  • Aug. 8th, 2008 at 12:18 AM
lola
T-minus ONE DAY until the premiere of the Lifetime Original Movie, TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET! (Saturday, August 9th @ 9PM, with encores on Sunday at 7 PM and Monday at 9 PM, in case you don't have a DVR and won't be home on Saturday.)

MORE PRESS:

The Hollywood Reporter calls TRUE CONFESSIONS "a little gem of a movie," and advises viewers to pay attention to "the funny dialogue." Those of you who've read the book will recognize that a nice chunk of that dialogue came DIRECTLY FROM THE NOVEL ITSELF. This is not to discredit the screenplay's awesome writer, Elisa Bell, who came up with some seriously funny bits that I never would have thought of in a million years.

Another profile - this time from the New York Daily News - about how JoJo would never end up like Morgan Carter.

And thanks to [info]scienceproject, I just found out that the movie got a little shout-out on PerezHilton.com. (If you watch the clip - that whole voice over part is one of the ones I wrote during the writers strike!)

MORE GCC STOPS:

The inimitable E. Lockhart asks me about my prankster past.

And today's birthday girl Shanna Swendson asks me about the process of seeing my book turned into a movie.

THE LOLA STORY

So, the story of how I became Lola isn't as sexy as you might think. In fact, it's a little embarrassing. See, I never set out to be Lola. What happened was this:

When I moved back to Delaware in Dec. 2001, I couldn't find a full-time job. But I was offered a part-time teaching gig at UD. That first semester I had exactly one class and was doing a lot of freelance work for Allyn & Bacon, the company I'd worked for in Boston before I moved home. Then I sold a couple more books (under my name) and got a few more teaching gigs, and suddenly going back to work full time didn't seem like the best idea. After all, I teaching left me with summers off and a few days each week free to do school visits and stuff.

But as any author knows, contract advances can only be stretched so far. And adjunct teaching gigs are unpredictable; some semesters I'd have three classes, and others I'd only have one again. I remembered reading this article about how Rob Thomas, he of VERONICA MARS fame, used to support himself by ghostwriting crappy series fiction. You bust out a novel that's already been meticulously outlined in a handful of weeks, and voila! Five grand easy. So I talked to my agent and asked him if it was possible for me to do this, so that I'd have more money in the bank and less fiscal worry.

Long story short: he introduced me to the editor at a book packaging company, who pitched me one idea that I had absolutely no idea how to write. (It was a very New York City kind of book, and I'm allergic to NYC and wouldn't know how to write about it like an insider even if I spent a year reading up on it.) So then she asked me what kind of book I wanted to write, and I told her that I was dying to do a diary format novel. She asked me whose diary I'd like to read, and I didn't know what hadn't been done already. She told me to think about it and get back to her.

On the ride home from New Jersey (I'd taken the train in from Princeton), I was trying to answer that very question. Drew Barrymore came to mind. Very quickly, I had this idea of a Drew Barrymore-esque young actress getting out of rehab and being sent to Fort Wayne, Indiana to continue her recovery incognito. Then I said, "God, that's such a far-fetched, movie-of-the-week plot." Then I thought, "Well, what if I acknowledge that the plot sounds like it comes from a bad movie-of-the-week? Could I make it work well enough for readers to suspend disbelief?" (Nowadays we call this the "Hannah Montana Effect.") At home, I titled the proposal "Diary of a Teenaged Has-Been" and sent it off to my agent soon after. Two editors were interested in the project; we went with the one whose vision more closely matched my own.

So why didn't I write this under my own name? Well, I already owed my primary publisher, Random House, another book. Contractually I wasn't allowed to write YA for any other publisher except for them. So when we accepted the offer on the proposal, one of the stipulations was that the book would have to be published under a pseudonym. As for the name itself: Lola was a nickname a friend of mine had given me in college. When it came to her last name, I told my new editor I just wanted to move up in the alphabet. I gave her an A name, a B name, a C name, and a D name. She chose the D name, which also happens to be the first name of Douglas Coupland, whose early fiction made me want to be a writer to begin with.

As much fun as I have being Lola, I am still very much me. As in, Lara-me. And I'm so super-psyched about my next project for Random House, which used to be called WHAT'S COOKING WITH STELLA MADISON? and was recently renamed THE SWEET LIFE OF STELLA MADISON. Here's the jacket copy for it:

It’s not easy being the daughter of a famous chef and a restaurant owner when your idea of a great meal is the kind served via a drive-through window. Harder still when your food-loving parents, who have been separated for years, are still as sweet to each other as can be. When their connections help seventeen year old Stella Madison land a summer job at the local newspaper, the salary is hard to resist. There’s only one catch: she’s expected to write about food.

Now Stella needs all the advice she can get to complete her assignments. Luckily she has Jeremy, the hot new intern at her mom’s restaurant, who’s more than happy to help. Soon Stella can’t stop thinking about Jeremy--but where does that leave Stella’s boyfriend, Max, who recently dropped the L-word? If that’s not confusing enough, her dad’s interest in the pretentious programming director for the Food Network seems to go beyond the culinary, and now it looks like her mother might be cooking up a romance of her own …

The Sweet Life of Stella Madison is a warmhearted, delectable novel about what it means to love and be loved, especially when there are a few too many cooks in the kitchen.

It's got an absolutely adorable cover, too - but that's for another post entirely.

Thanks for tuning in during Lola Week! Hope you guys watch (and enjoy) the movie ... and don't forget to check my blog during the Saturday premiere to find out all sorts of juicy tidbits!

Live Blogging Event!

  • Aug. 6th, 2008 at 2:18 AM
lola
Ooh! I keep forgetting to post about this but on Saturday night, I'll be blogging LIVE during the Lifetime premiere of TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET. Meaning, from 9 PM EST to 11 PM EST, I will be dishing all about the movie and my reactions to it and all sorts of fun stuff. It's not exactly the red carpet event I'd wanted to throw to celebrate, but at least this way I get to wear my PJs while I watch.

It's Lola Week!

  • Aug. 4th, 2008 at 1:40 AM
lola
It's "Fallen Angels Week" on Lifetime, which I'm assuming is a tie-in to the Saturday night premiere of Lifetime's film adaptation of TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET (August 9th at 9 p.m.). Well, here on "Girl Uninterrupted," it's "Lola Week" - all Lola, all the time. Be prepared to learn more than you ever wanted to know about the movie, how and why I became Lola Douglas to begin with, and what's next for my alter ego.

But first, something really freaking cool:

You know how ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY has its weekly "What to Watch" column, now penned by the lovely and talented Jessica Shaw? Well, this week's ONLY pick for Saturday is TRUE CONFESSIONS! EW's Leah Greenblatt, who is also very lovely and talented, writes, "Despite some yawning plot holes (superfamous blond actress + brunet dye job = total undercover stranger! who knew?), it's surprisingly self-aware fun."

In my defense, Morgan's transformation into Claudia Miller involves more than a dye job. Book Morgan gets a nose job and a breast reduction, puts on a significant amount of weight, and wears glasses in addition to turning her golden locks mousy brown. AND people notice that Claudia resembles Morgan, though the lack of boobs and excess booty, in addition to the Everygirl Target wardrobe, makes them all think, "nah." Yes, it's still far-fetched, but not QUITE as far-fetched as it is in the TV movie.

Anyway, Leah G gives the movie a B overall, so I ain't complaining.

MORE MOVIE GOODIES:

Win a copy of Valerie Bertinelli's juicy autobiography, LOSING IT!

Check out a newly blond JoJo discussing "Hollywood's Temptations."

ReadSlate's take on "The Lifetime Original Movie 2.0" - great article but contains two factual errors (1. Morgan DOES complete a successful stint in rehab and 2. Even though Valerie Bertinelli's TV movies may have appeared on Lifetime previously, this is actually her very first ORIGINAL Lifetime TV movie.)

In fact, Valerie discusses this very thing here. One more correction: sorry, Jacqueline Cutler, but despite your assertation that "Morgan [is] a thinly veiled Lindsay Lohan," she's totally not. I BASED MORGAN ON A YOUNG DREW BARRYMORE YEARS BEFORE LINDSAY STARTED TRAIPSING IN AND OUT OF REHAB. However, Jacqueline, your assessment that JoJo is "terrific" as Morgan is 100% correct.

Something I knew: JoJo turned down the role of Hannah Montanna. Something I didn't: she almost turned down the role of Morgan Carter.

BACK TO THE BOOK:

TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET is a Readergrlz recommended read for August! This month's theme is body image. And, because this also happens to be the month the movie premieres on Lifetime (this Saturday! August 9th! At 9 p.m.!), we're giving away autographed copies of the book! Just check out the Readergirlz forum on MySpace on August 9th and leave a comment under the thread "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet Giveaway"!

Next Up: links to my recent GCC tour stops!
lola



"It's a terrific book by Lola Douglas ..." - Valerie Bertinelli.

A trio of video clip goodies from myLifetime.com!

(BTW: the "Stinky Sandwich Man and Sweaty Fat Guy" line - in the "Director's Favorite Scene" clip - was one of the voice-over lines I got to contribute during the writer's strike last winter!)

Here's the IMDB page.

MORE PRESS:

Valerie Bertinelli dishes about TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET on ACCESS HOLLYWOOD.

JoJo talks about the movie with the Boston Herald.

That article plus screenshots of the movie made it into "Oh No They Didn't" - and judging from the comments LJ'ers do NOT seem fond of either JoJo OR the upcoming movie ... but a couple gave big kudos to the book, so I guess that's something.

[P.S. - to the LJ'er who says my Lola site is badly in need of updating: girlfriend, I hear you. It's a priority for the next couple of weeks ...]

More JoJo, this time at the NATIONAL LEDGER.

Me, oddly misquoted (but not in a bad way), in the August issue of DELAWARE TODAY.

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Glimpse inside TRUE CONFESSIONS movie!

  • Feb. 19th, 2008 at 10:08 AM
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It's a bit shaky and hand-cammy, but you get to see the actress JoJo and the cutie who's playing Eli on a motorcycle. Also: hear JoJo hate on Valentine's Day!

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Thanks to [info]jessicaburkhart, I found out that a short segment about the STARLET movie was on ET last night! Still searching for a full clip, but they have this posted on their website ...

[Update: this has more info about the movie - you have to get past the bathing suit woes stuff first ...]

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Missing Mississauga.

  • Oct. 26th, 2007 at 12:52 AM
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So, a week ago I was in Mississauga, Ontario. The purpose of this trip was, of course, to spend a day watching my book, TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET, being filmed as a Lifetime movie starring the actress JoJo. Which is exactly what I did, for about three and a half of the most surreal hours of my life.

The day started off odd, because Tami, the production coordinator, called in the morning to tell us not to arrive before 1:30 p.m. Then, not even ten minutes later, Barbara, the executive producer, called demanding to know where I was. I told her about Tami's orders and she said, "I don't know what she's talking about. Get down here, I'm dying to meet you!"

Showers were taken, hair blow dried, make up applied. We drove straight to Port Credit High School, which is acting as the fictional Hillhaven High School.



(FUN FACT #1: In the book, Morgan and co. go to Snider High School. But, since Snider is a real high school in Fort Wayne, the name had to be changed for the movie. Additionally, Debbie Ackerman is now Debbie Ackerson, presumably because there is an actual Debbie Ackerman in the greater Fort Wayne area. We found this out when the production assistants were applying Indiana license plates to cars that would be in the shot, as they legally can only use license plate numbers that are not assigned to real cars.)

The lot where we were supposed to park turned out to be the location where they were filming when we arrived just after noon. The scene was of Morgan and Eli walking out of the school, hopping on Eli's vintage motorcycle, and driving off into the sunset.



(FUN FACT #2: In the book, Eli is kind of a nerdly boy who turns out to be multifaceted and cool. In the movie version, he has been turned into someone who's outwardly cool, not to mention deep and philosophical. And a motorcyclist.)

I watched giddily as Tim Matheson directed the actress JoJo and leading man Ian.



During a break, I called Barbara (the exec producer) on her cell to let her know we'd arrived. She rushed over and gave me a big hug. Then she started making things "happen." Like, her assistant Jonathan showed up with copies of the script and "sides," which are mini-photocopies of the pages being shot that day. And someone else got me a headset, so I could listen while scenes were being filmed.



Next she introduced us to Ian, who's as charming as he is adorable. The high school girls on the set were completely gaga over this guy. He was pretty funny, too. He kept trying to tell us the best part of being on a movie set was craft services. He wasn't the only one, either - everyone we talked to wanted us to go to craft services and get food and beverage. I mean everyone - even JoJo.

Oh, yeah. So JoJo - aka Joanna Levesque - was the second person I got to meet. She looks the same in person as she does in her photos, and she's incredibly sweet. She's also alarmingly mature for a 16-year-old. Very poised, very polished, very confident. She could even carry on a decent conversation while eating a craft services burrito. But, since she's the star, we only got to chat for a few minutes before she had to put her motorcycle helmet back on and shoot some more footage on the back of Eli's vintage bike.

(FUN FACT #3: JoJo is semi-oblivious to the rabidness of her fan base. I was telling her about how the JoJo bloggers knew all about the movie before I did, and she was like, "JoJo bloggers? What's a JoJo blogger? You mean my MySpace?" And I had to explain that no, I meant there were people who had entire blogs/websites devoted to her. Her eyes widened. She was genuinely surprised by this news.)

Now, you may notice that I do not have many clear shots of JoJo, or anyone for that matter. This is because I WAS SO FREAKING EXCITED that I couldn't remember to take many pictures. Honestly, it was just completely overwhelming. (More on that in a bit.)

The set then moved to a football field for the next scene. This one opened with Morgan trying to do her math homework on a picnic bench. Then Emily storms up to her and demands to know if Morgan is dating her brother (Eli).



They did about seven or eight takes of this scene - maybe more - and it was funny how each time the girls varied their delivery and tinkered with the lines. But, before that, there was blocking (where the director tells the actors where he wants them to stand). While the shot was getting set up, JoJo came to talk to me. She wanted to hear my take on Morgan. This was an awkward exchange, because as I was describing my take on Morgan - how she'd been in the business since she was a little kid, and how she was everyone's meal ticket, and how that since her fall from grace, no one wanted anything to do with her and that made her feel sad and worthless - well, JoJo winced a bit. I could feel the blood drain from my face, because I realized how it sounded. I mean, JoJo had been in the business since she was little. She was several people's meal ticket.

More interesting (and comfortable) was the Lindsay conversation. See, most people now assume that I wrote STARLET because I was inspired by the downfall of Lindsay Lohan. This isn't true. I came up with the idea for the book in 2003, long before Lindsay turned to the dark side. My muse was actually a young Drew Barrymore. But, I know that part of the reason STARLET is becoming a movie is because of what's going on with girls like Lindsay, and even JoJo acknowledged that her casting had a little something to do with a Lindsay resemblance. Physically, I mean.

I also got to talk to JoJo's mom Diane. This is when we found out that poor JoJo was working very long days and then "banking" school hours on her two days off. She also said that JoJo never sleeps, and that she's always trying to get her to go to bed. Diane is a very young looking mom and when she and JoJo interact you can tell how close they are.



I forgot to mention that I met Tim Matheson for like two minutes somewhere in the midst of all this. I was dead nervous. I wanted to tell him how much I loved the last Lifetime movie he directed, AUGUSTA GONE, but I wasn't able to before he flitted off to take care of more stuff.

JoJo bounced back and forth during the filming; at one point she got all giggly over oggling soccer player extras. I never did get to meet the actress playing Emily.

(FUN FACT #4: When I read the full script on the ride home from Canada, I realized that Emily's part had been drastically cut. From the book, that is. I mean, in the book, she's Morgan's best friend in Indiana. In the movie, she's got a handful of small scenes and there's very little bonding that goes on between her and Morgan. She, too, is less nerdly than her book counterpart. Sadly, her addiction to DDR didn't make it into the adaptation.)

When confrontation scene wrapped, we moved to the front of the high school, to film a continuation of the motorcycle scene we'd walked in on when we arrived on set. This one had a lot of extras - the high school kids were SO PSYCHED. It was thoroughly adorable. JoJo had a bit of down time, so I got her to sign copies of my book for two of my friends' young daughters, my mom, and Wendy's friend Kenny (who's as big a pop culture dork as we are). I didn't get anything signed for myself because Barbara promised to get a copy of the script signed for me by everyone in the cast. This was crucial because a) Valerie Bertinelli was in Detroit watching her son play bass for Van Halen and b) Shenae Grimes (of DEGRASSI fame) wasn't scheduled to shoot that day. And those were two signatures I was dying to get.

Anyway, then JoJo and Ian got back on the bike to film what turns out to be the climactic shot. They filmed it a couple of ways, one of which features the extras cheering Morgan and Eli on. I really, really, really hope they don't use that version, because it seemed so cheesy to me.



Around this time, everyone was getting ready to break for lunch, which would be served in the cafeteria of the school. We decided to sit apart from the actors - well, I decided this, actually - because it was their one-hour break and I didn't want them to feel like they had to be "on" or entertain me. And this is about the time that I got completely overwhelmed being on set. I'd spend most of the afternoon answering questions like, "It must be really trippy for you to watch your book being made into a movie," and I nodded and repeated how tickled I was. But right there, in the cafeteria, watching literally a hundred people load their plates up with craft service food, I realized, "Oh my god ... all of these people are here because of something I wrote. I planted the seed that turned into this." It made me dizzy.

Not long after, it was back to the football field, to film another Morgan/Eli scene. Only, it started raining, and Tim had to reblock the whole sequence indoors. I was feeling tired and overwhelmed and kind of in the way, so we decided to take off. I know, I know - it seems counterintuitive to drive all that way for 3.5 hours on set. But, I'd gotten what I wanted. I got to talk to producers and assistant directors. I got to meet JoJo and Tim and Ian and the rest. I got copies of the script and sides. And I'd gotten to see what a real movie set looked and felt like.

It was magical.

Some other cool stuff I got to see:



A props cart. You can't see the writing on the bin but it contained all of "Morgan's" school supplies.



This is Trudy's house. Or, at least, this is where they're filming Trudy's house. The exterior might be different in the movie - I'm not sure.



Finally, Trudy's car.

(FUN FACT #5: Movie Trudy is a plant lady who wants to be a doctor. Dave, her boyfriend, is now a dentist. Wendy was worried that Trudy was described as a "quirky" aunt, but when I read the script, I saw that she's mostly the same with a few more quips and funny bits.)

There's probably a ton I'm forgetting, but it's taken me a week to find enough time to upload the pictures and write all of this, so ... yeah.

I'm still not sure when the movie is coming out, though I do know it's next year. Barbara said she thought it might be late spring or summer. Which isn't all that far away, if you think about it.

Random thoughts:

- I can't wait to start seeing commercials run on Lifetime.
- Now that Valerie is a permanent correspondent on Rachael Ray, I'm sure they'll do promo stuff for the movie near its release.
- The script features a number of lines taken directly from the book - I am hoping they stay intact and make it on screen.
- At some point, I'll have to remember to blog about the Canadian TV we saw whilst in the hotel room.
- I still can't believe this is my life.

Packing up to go on a three-day writing retreat with NO Internet access whatsoever - bliss! Be back on Monday ...

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Legit.

  • Oct. 15th, 2007 at 4:15 PM
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So, the movie finally has its own imdb page. Granted, it's completely blank as I type this, but I was fortunate enough to get a copy of the cast list this morning and let me tell you: girls are going to LOVE the dude who's playing Eli. BONUS: a DEGRASSI regular has a supporting role - and it's one of my favorites (actually, they both are favorites - the regular AND the role).

Only 2.5 days until we hit the road ...

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It just keeps getting better ...

  • Oct. 12th, 2007 at 10:27 AM
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Lifetime Networks Partners With Starz Media to Produce and Distribute Original TV Movies Globally


International Co-Production Deal Kicks Off With Three New Lifetime Original
Movies: "True Confessions of A Hollywood Starlet" Starring JoJo and Valerie
Bertinelli; "Queen Sized" Starring Nikki Blonsky; and "Wisegal" Starring
Alyssa Milano and Jason Gedrick


LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime Networks is partnering
with Starz Media to co-produce three Lifetime Original Movies, which will
air in 2008, featuring high-profile casts and compelling, mass-appeal
stories. The announcement of this important deal for both companies was
made today by Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment, Lifetime Networks
and Kent Rice, President and COO of Starz Media.

This is Lifetime's second major international co-production deal,
following the April announcement of its partnership with French broadcaster
TF-1 International to produce and distribute three original television
movies for worldwide release. For Starz Media, it's a continuation of the
new studio's expansion into top-quality primetime movies, and marks a new
production partner along with ABC, SCI FI Network, Cartoon Network, BET and
Starz Entertainment, among others.

Starz Media will handle worldwide distribution of the titles, including
home entertainment through its Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Since 1990, Lifetime has produced 184 Lifetime Original Movies. Ranked
#1 in primetime households and total viewers among this year's original
basic cable movies, Lifetime Original Movies received two 2007 Emmy Award
nominations, with "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy" garnering a nod
for Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Gena Rowlands for Outstanding
Actress in "What if God Were the Sun?"

"This is a truly innovative deal that has tremendous value for Lifetime
and Starz. We hope to be making more deals like this in the future," said
Daniels. Adding, "Thanks to Joey Plager and Arturo Interian, our VPs of
Original Movies, and Debbie Stasson, our business affairs consultant, as
they were both keenly instrumental in executing this deal on behalf of
Lifetime."

"We are committed to partnering with major television networks to
produce and distribute audience-pleasing programming, and this new deal
with Lifetime is certainly an outstanding example of that," Rice said.
"With these three movies, we have terrific performers, strong scripts and
talented production crews. Coupled with a world-class brand like Lifetime,
we anticipate great success with this alliance."

"TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET"

Multi-platinum recording artist JoJo ("RV," "Aquamarine") and Golden
Globe(R) Award-Winning actress Valerie Bertinelli ("One Day at a Time,"
"Touched By An Angel") are set to star in the amusing Lifetime Original
Movie "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet," the story of a superstar
teen actress whose life is turned upside down when she is sent to live
incognito with her aunt in the suburbs after a stint in rehab and must
adjust to life out of the spotlight. The movie, based on a novel of the
same name by Lola Douglas, will be directed by actor/director Tim Matheson
(Lifetime's "Augusta, Gone"). "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet"
will premiere in 2008 on Lifetime Television.

In "True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet," 17-year-old actress
Morgan Carter (JoJo) has it all - money, fame and thousands of adoring
fans. But her world comes crashing down after she passes out on the red
carpet of her movie premiere from alcohol poisoning. Morgan is quickly
whisked away to rehab but speculation about her substance abuse problem
tarnishes her image and keeps the press at her heels. Afraid that returning
to Hollywood would lead to a relapse in her partying ways and result in the
demise of her career, Morgan's mother and manager devise a plan for Morgan
to live with her offbeat Aunt Trudy (Bertinelli) in Indiana, where she can
recover without the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi and celebrity bloggers
writing about her every move.

Assuming the name "Claudia Miller" while attending a local high school,
she goes unrecognized by her fellow students. Morgan must now adjust to
life as a typical teenager, living on a limited budget and taking geometry
and gym classes while making some new friends outside of her usual
celebrity circle.

"True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet" is produced by Barbara
Lieberman Productions for Lifetime Television. Starz Media's executives in
charge of the production are Scott D. Greenberg and Karen Bailey. Barbara
Lieberman (Lifetime's "Murder in the Hamptons") and Jon Maas ("The Last
Debate") serve as executive producers. Phil Kleinbart (Lifetime's "Augusta
Gone") serves as the supervising producer and Mark Winemaker ("The Path to
9/11") will produce. Matheson directs from a script written by Elisa Bell
("Little Black Book").


I snipped out the parts about the other two joint ventures. Also, there's a more "legit" story in Variety (as opposed to a press release), but it doesn't have nearly as much info on the STARLET movie.

And oh! Leaving for Toronto on Thursday, will see parts filmed in the renamed Hillhaven High on Friday, spending part of Saturday at Niagara Falls with the boy and then racing home for the next work week ... I can't even believe this is my life!

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Reprieve!

  • Oct. 10th, 2007 at 6:27 PM
stella
As luck would have it, the executive producer decided it would be better for me to come up next week instead of this one. So, now I have time to prep - get a hotel, get my eyebrows waxed, figure out who's going to take care of Scout ...

I am so NOT a spontaneous person, so this is good, good, good news.

Kat - if you're reading this, we have to figure out a time to meet up in TO!

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I wasn't made for Hollywood.

  • Oct. 10th, 2007 at 1:17 PM
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The boy and I have both been under the weather since Friday night, with nasty sinus infections (the highlight of which, for me, was a nine-hour-long migraine that spanned most of Sunday). So of course I'd get a call on Tuesday from the Toronto production people about coming to visit the set of TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET this coming Friday. As in, three days after the call. I start to panic; I teach a Thursday night class which is supposed to be taking a midterm and the car needs an oil change and how can I pull everything together in time and ah ah ah ah ah.

What's worse is that pretty much the only thing they did tell me was that they thought Friday would be the best day to come because they're filming at some fairgrounds (the Johnny Appleseed Festival, I presume). But, I wasn't told where to go or what time to be there or how I'd get access to the set or where would be a good place to book the hotel, etc.

Spazzing much? Hells yeah.

So then I'm at my office hours and I do my daily Google search to see if I can glean any more information about the production and I find this on some teenager's blog:

JoJo will have her first lead role, in a Lifetime movie with a very timely theme:

"In True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet, 17-year-old actress Morgan Carter (JoJo) has it all—money, fame and thousands of adoring fans. But her world comes crashing down after she passes out on the red carpet of her movie premiere from alcohol poisoning. Morgan is quickly whisked away to rehab but speculation about her substance abuse problem tarnishes her image and keeps the press at her heels. Afraid that returning to Hollywood would lead to a relapse in her partying ways and result in the demise of her career, Morgan's mother and manager devise a plan for Morgan to live with her offbeat Aunt Trudy (Valerie Bertinelli) in Indiana, where she can recover without the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi and celebrity bloggers writing about her every move."


Valerie Bertinelli as Aunt Trudy? Cool because A) she was born in Wilmington, Delaware and B) I was obsessed with ONE DAY AT A TIME when I was a kid.

But more importantly: where do these fourteen year olds get their information? They're always scooping me and I have no idea what kind of sources they've developed that makes them so "in the know." Like I said to Joe, if there was a legion of 14-year-old bloggers around in the '70s, Watergate would've been blown open a hell of a lot sooner.

So, yeah. Don't know if I'm heading to Toronto tomorrow or not. Hopefully will find out soon.

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