There and Back Again
Page 37
The role, you might say, was in my wheelhouse. In fact, as I review the last few pages of this manuscript, I’m standing in the customs section of Los Angeles International Airport. Christine is waiting for the luggage. Ali and Elizabeth are with us. We’ve just returned from a weekend visiting Jeff in Shanghai.
What’s next? I don’t really know. There have been other offers, lots of them. I’m trying to wade through the scripts and make smart decisions. I might get a chance to direct, which would be cool. Or I might just focus on acting (but I doubt it). I look ahead and see nothing but blinking lights. Some will turn red; some will turn green. Either way, this much is certain:
The road goes ever on.
Notes
CHAPTER ONE
1. “Piece of shit” is a phrase I use comfortably in everyday conversation. In this context it’s meant to be both funny and descriptive, but not mean-spirited. It does, however, reflect a certain point of view, which I can’t deny.
2. Please forgive me for being pompous, and grant me a little fun. There’s a very thin line between delusions of grandeur and extraordinary human achievement, if only in the early stages of planning. If I succeed—wonderful! If I fail—well, at least you all were gracious enough not to spoil my good time.
CHAPTER SIX
3. Please take the paranoia reference in the spirit it’s intended: Funny, people, funny …
4. Not that I have anything against comic books. In fact, one of my goals now is to work on a film actually based on a comic book.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
5. I hold nothing against Elliott, either. The fact is, he’s a good man and a gifted actor. When we wrapped The Rules of Marriage, he presented me with a gift: a tiny mezuzah inscribed with the words, “Forever, Elliott.” That, in the end, far outweighed any discomfort I might have experienced on the set.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
6. John now claims to have sent his stunt double. He knows, or should know, that he doesn’t need a tattoo to be a permanent, deserving, and integral member of our Fellowship—for all time.
THERE AND BACK AGAIN. Copyright © 2004 by Sean Astin. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
ISBN 0-312-33146-0
EAN 978-0312-33146-7
First Edition: October 2004
eISBN 9781466856356
First eBook edition: October 2013