Spotted Shatner getting gelato. I was drinking espresso. His dogs where barking viciously at pedestrians from his vehicle parked just outside the establishment. I love LA.
I just signed the most amazing artist. Her name is Alina Chau. This is from a book she is working on. Isn't she amazing? Click on the image and you can make it twice as big and your amazement four times as huge. Not sure how the math works-- but it does.
That's right, last night I saw Harry Hamlin and his lovely wife Lisa Rinna eating out in Studio City at one of the best pizza joints in town. There is also a 42 percent chance I was almost run over by Laurence Fishburne near my favorite Hollywood coffee shop. And about a 14 percent chance I was riding along side Madonna a few weeks ago. Still it doesn't compare to the sight of the stars of "Soap Talk" and "Clash of the Titans" enjoying some Italian among the regular folk.
Todd Webb isn't an LA Dodger. He's a brilliant illustrator. The above is one of the thirty illustrations he just banged out for a new book. Perhaps the Dodgers could use him. He couldn't hurt. I'll put in a call to Torre.
Glue is genius in so many was it is not funny. Well it is funny. Very funny. Fremont has a brain like no one else's. Wait until the world sees how he is now using his powers to make brilliant books that solid citizens will embrace.
So last week the temperatures reached the mid to high 90s in I think what they refer to as "the valley" out here. It is going to be 90 again tomorrow. Good thing the magical Tina Kugler was sending illustrations for a new book she is working on about an elf who takes a vacation from the North Pole. Made things seem cooler than they were. Much cooler.
I was having dinner the other night at a Mexican place on Western in L.A. with the legendary animation director, Yvette Kaplan and a few other friends, when I noticed Nia Vardalos, the writer and actress most famous for "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" at the next table. I'm a fan. Although I do think our table was having more fun.
Had breakfast with the world's greatest entertainment lawyer, Frank Lunn, in Calabasas the other day. He mentioned how tasty his toast was to the waitress. That's the last thing I heard him say because all I could think about was Dan Goodsell's wonderful Mr. Toast character. I love Mr. Toast. And, of course, Mr. Lunn.
Yeah, I have Fang and Doodad here with me. Hopefully, Lou Dobbs doesn't find out. Roaring Brook Press is publishing their amazing story. Pam Smallcomb wrote it. Catherine Wang drew it. Who's making the TV show?
So, I'm having lunch in Hollywood. On Sunset. In a very cool hot spot. Talking with Candice Han, a world class PR whiz, who I have a feeling is going to play a huge part in my new adventure. And oh yeah, there is a movie star to our right. You can read about him later.
Okay I'm in Hollywood now, but that doesn't mean I can't think about the Orioles. Or that wonderful Baltimore illustrator, Andy Snair. Or crabs. Or formstone.
Anyway, when I had lunch with Candice Han, the great actor Paul Sorvino was at the next table. We talked for quite awhile. I did a spot with him a long, long time ago. He acts, he paints, he sculpts, he sings opera, he directs and nicest of all he made for really great company. Three cheers for Paul.
Met Messner Monday. Meeting was mesmerizing. Many memorable moments. Ate M&Ms. Made up my mind to make the man more money. More meetings may materialize momentarily.
Almost as soon as he got to Dodgerland, Proimos got on the phone and made sure that Johanna Wright's third book was sold. That's what agents in Hollywood do, babe.
The first thing Proimos did when he got to Hollywood was see the incredible Dave Fremont. Not only because the guy is super brilliant or because he is working on a few cutting-edge picture books but because Proimos is staying in his state of the art guesthouse.
1) It is 1958. James Proimos is born in Queens, New York.
2) At age 4 he decides he will never have a real job.
3) At age 5 he decides his job will have something to do with fantastical stories and amazing art. Either that or have something to do with flying a kite. By age 10 he comes to the sad realization that there is little money to be made by flying a kite. On the positive side he was really never very good at it anyway.
4) He is a terrible student all the way up through High School. Mostly spending his time drawing for his friends. The most popular request: Sister Margaret Mary picking her nose.
5) He attends the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
6) He winds up in Denver. Gets a job as a copywriter for an advertising agency.
7) Spends a lot of years (about 20) exclusively in the ad business as a copywriter, art director and creative director. He wins Clios, One Shows, Addys, A Cannes Lion and more. Just a few of the many clients he works for are Burger King, Exxon, Trump & Disney. He is employed at ad agencies in New York, Cleveland, Los Angeles and Baltimore of all shapes and sizes. Interestingly enough, during this time he himself appears in all shapes and sizes.
8) Proimos writes and illustrates his first children’s book in 1998. It is entitled Joe’s Wish and is published by Harcourt. His mother is very proud. The Loudness of Sam is next. Then a series of books about a sheep called Johnny Mutton. The books are highly acclaimed and much more profitable than kite flying. During this same period Proimos co-creates and solely designs Generation O! an animated TV show that appears on the WB. Proimos’ father still isn’t quite sure what his son does for a living.
9) Proimos gets a call from Nickelodeon Movies to co-write a film with Andy Rheingold about guinea pigs in Central Park. The boys take the writing assignment.
10) Next Proimos writes and illustrates If I Were In Charge Of The World The Rules Would Be Different, a poetry collection and Cowboy Boy, a chapter book for Scholastic. He also illustrates a series of board books for Random House. This is about the time he sells The Loudness of Sam, the book mentioned earlier, to Nelvana. Another book project, Johnny Mutton is sold to Loonland. And Schmutz, an original series idea he co-created, is bought by Klasky Csupo.
11) Proimos creates a show to Scholastic Entertainment. He also illustrates and co-authors The Day The Dog Dressed Like Dad, a picture book for Bloomsbury.
12) Proimos pitches and sells 99 Sisters to Nickelodeon Movies. Rheingold and he are hired to write it and to develop a children’s book based on their movie idea.
13) Proimos starts directing animation. He creates and sells the animated show Larry Parka, Polar Pig. He is also signed by Curious Pictures to direct animated commercials. As far as vegetables go, he sells Boiled Pea and Carrot, a TV show, to National Geographic Kids. On the subject of fruit, his most current book released is Raisin and Grape and is published by Dial Press. Proimos sells an R rated animated movie to Starz.
14) Proimos starts managing some of the most amazing talent the planet has ever seen. This makes everyone very happy.
