My encounter with Ray Bradbury
This morning, Ray Bradbury passed away. Like many who lived in LA, Bradbury seemed to be everywhere. The man never slowed down. And like a few lucky ones, I somehow managed to have my own an encounter with Ray.
Back when I was at UC Santa Cruz, I made a film called A Picasso on the Beach. When it began showing on HBO, someone alerted me to an obscure Ray Bradbury story called In a Season of Calm Weather (which I just now found out was also made into a feature film called Picasso Summer with Albert Finney!). Well, I had no memory of reading it and was horrified to think I might had pilfered without permission. I found the story and yes, both my film and his story were about an encounter with Picasso on a beach where he draws an image in the sand and the protagonist watches this masterpiece wash away.
Click to viewI had never in my life read this little masterpiece, but maybe somebody had told me about it long ago and I just forgot the reference. So I knew I needed to do something about it.
I needed to find Ray Bradbury.
It didn't take long. Ray was always doing readings around LA and I happen to track him down at one in Hollywood. I explained the situation and gave him a copy of the movie, hoping he wouldn't sue my ass off. He was very gracious.
At the time, I was an up and comer in Hollywood (read:I was a runner for a studio post production facility). It was a meager existence and I was at the bottom of the totem pole, taking my boss's car to get washed or fixing his tennis shoes. He knew nothing of my immense talent as a future directing superstar, but one day, while I was in his office getting berated, an announcement came over the PA system.
"Call for Greg Neri, Line 2. It's Ray Bradbury."
I looked at my boss and smiled. "Excuse me. Ray is calling." and walked out head held high.
That alone was worth it. But then talking to Ray on the phone was even better. Ray was very down to earth and encouraging. He had no problem with my film. Thought it was great-- totally different than his story and he gave me his blessing. We chatted for a few minutes but by then, I was off floating in the clouds somewhere else.
So here's to Ray Bradbury, a master storyteller and a true Angeleno. Now he really is in the city of angels.