“The Two Hollywoods; Hollywood Squares and
Hipsters”
The New York Times, November 16, 1997
Life styles of the rich and famous versus the not
so rich and famous.
Aspires to Be
Indie: Quentin Tarantino (last year); Paul Thomas Anderson (this year).
Mainstream: Spielberg (all years).
Status Symbol
Indie: Harvey Weinstein's home numbers (the city, Connecticut, Martha's
Vineyard).
Mainstream: Studio wave (perfected over the years to bypass any studio
guard).
Ultimate Status
Indie: A spanking-new agent; blind deal at Miramax; front table at the
Independent Spirit Awards -- you're not even nominated, but you take a
supermodel.
Mainstream: Bathroom in your office (when you are young); headlines in
the trades (perennial); Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award at the Oscars
(you are old, but you take a supermodel).
Vehicle
Indie: Rental; intern's blue, dented Nissan; nothing -- it's in hock for
raw film stock and portable phone.
Mainstream: Mercedes (the off-road one is ungettable, ergo must be got);
new Jaguar; any very large new truck.
Restaurant
Indie: The Formosa (noir institution -- very ''L.A. Confidential''); Jones
(trendy, rock-meets-film-meets-fashion-meets-rehab); Mr. Chow's (if agent
will pay).
Mainstream: Mr. Chow's (another homage to the 70's); Spago (Beverly Hills
branch only -- packed with moguls on Saturday night); Dominick's, whenever
it reopens (60's Rat Pack haunt -- instant hangout for whichever rat pack
is reigning).
L.A. Hotel
Indie: Producer's mom's guest room; production office floor; Drew Barrymore's
office couch; Chateau Marmont (on producer's expense account).
Mainstream: Shutters on the Beach (director's top choice); Bel Air (movie
stars resting); Four Seasons (press junkets with movie stars galore, all
in a hurry).
Saturday Night
Indie: Go out at 10:30 P.M., have drinks, party; return at 4, have sex.
Mainstream: Go out to dinner at 7:30 P.M.; go to sleep at 10:30; wake
up at 4, make a list, read five pages of a bad script, go back to sleep.
Weekend
Indie: Lying in bed sleeping; shopping at flea markets; yoga on Larchmont;
begging friends to work on film without pay.
Mainstream: Lying in bed reading scripts; shopping at Barneys, Fred Segal,
Armani; golf with studio exec; hike with actor.
Vacation
Indie: A paid room at any film festival.
Mainstream: Anywhere by private jet. (How you get there has become more
important than where you're going.)
Music
Indie: Nothing 60's; anything 70's or 80's; any club single that's grunge,
industrial or garage.
Mainstream: Anything 60's; nothing 70's or 80's; any hit single that helps
open your movie.
Idols
Indie: John Cassavetes (and anyone related to him); Elvis (early and late);
Sean Penn (even though he is alive).
Mainstream: Irving Thalberg (conceptually); Steven Spielberg (actually);
your current studio head.
What They Will Sacrifice For Work
Indie: Lodging; vehicle; clothing.
Mainstream: A social life; freedom; friends.
What They Won't Sacrifice For Work
Indie: A social life; freedom; friends.
Mainstream: Lodging; vehicle; clothing.
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