I heard about the passing of The amazing Ivan Reitman and debated sharing the interesting and incredible things he brought into my life… and although I’ll be from here on out known as a criminal… I’ve decided it will be fun to share:
When I was 16, I was called in for a part in a movie Ivan was directing. It was a long shot. I remember driving onto the Universal backlot and telling them I was going to building 489. After checking my name and calling the office I was let in. The song “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman was playing as I pulled into the parking lot underneath his building. I sat nervously and let the song finish before I walked up the stairs. I mustered up all the confidence I could and walked in, immediately deflated to see every starlet I knew from tv and screen sitting in the lobby. My sister had helped me dress. I was wearing bell bottom leggings that laced up the front and a shiny silver blouse tied up over my belly button and black motoycle boots. I walked in like I owned the place and pretended I dressed like this all the time. All the while chocking back the awkwardness trying to shoot out of every pore of my being- as the ‘famous girls’ had convos about cool things-to which I had no business being part of. I said to myself “just sit in the corner and be quiet. That’s what Daria does and she seems intimidating and mysterious”. (Daria was a cartoon character on MTV at the time) “you can cry at how out of place you are and how you shouldn’t have even come when you get home. Buck up buttercup. You’re here to play a badass, Harley motorcycle riding, hootchie. They don’t know who you are…you could have ridden here on a motorcycle and they wrote this character about you. I went in for a quick audition and walked out feeing like an idiot. To my surprise I got a callback!
On my return to Universal the song “Give Me One Reason” played as I pulled through the gates! How weird. I’ll take it as a sign. I’m supposed to be here. I AM a badass. There was an incredible motorcycle parked at the bottom of the stairs. I stopped to look at it. It was a chopper. The kind where you have to reach up to the handlebars. The kind that are parked outside of the “bars you shouldn’t go into” in all the movies. I was standing next to it when a few of ‘starlets’ walked by… they could have thought it was mine. I touched the helmet like I was putting it on the seat. They totally thought it was mine. “Get intimidated bitches. You’re reading for a role that is basically me in a nutshell” my body language yelled. Hahaha. I wasn’t the Haylie who was singing in the worship band at my little church in Burbank the night before-having never even held a boys hand, Haylie.
I walked into the lobby with my *totally pretend* confidence, sat back, like if you questioned me I might kill you… I’m the head of the Hells Angels daughter and my dad had threatened casting to see me. You better watch out. I went in for my audition with two people this time and had hyped myself into believing that I was so wild, that without thinking I threw my legs up and my motorcycle boots hit the desk. “You ready to read?” was the first thing I blurted out. Couldn’t mess up this aura of fake badass by small talking with the real Haylie. I read and was on my way.
Next day I got a callback and back to Universal I went. “Give me One Reason” played on the radio as I rolled past security. “489” I yelled and they nodded. They knew me! I wasn’t even stopped! Tracy Chapman was basically telling me that this was my part. This was the meeting where I met Ivan. He was kind and I was there to read a scene where I have to tell someone off. He asked me to sit down and I told him that “I dont tell people off while sitting down. “. He said “so you’re not going to listen to the director… *crap* “nope!” I was already in too far- I just had to go with it. “how about read the scene with me since you seem to have an easy time being rude to me.” “Sounds perfect.” I told him off and left. I cried the second I hit the car.
Somehow by the time I got home there was a message on my answering machine to come back and read with the boy they had hired! No joke, the song “Give me One Reason” came on the radio as I drove in!!! This was my part y’all. I walked in and there were only two other way too hot girls, that I’d watched for years, in line in front of me. But they didn’t have the magic of Tracy Chapman behind them. I read last and he told me I got it right then and there!!! We sat and talked for what felt like hours. Ivan met the real me. Sheltered, Christian, Haylie who was such a goody two shoes nerd that she’d homeschooled her last two years of high school to avoid being around other kids and was in her 2nd year taking film classes at UCLA.
Upon finding this out, he told me that I could come on set and watch even when I wasn’t working! I came to read throughs and was told to stay after to hear the writers and him tweak the script as a fly on the wall. He was gentle yet held the space with power. He was easy going and the farthest from intimidating. He told me to always get to know the crew and I got to sit in with lighting some days, sound others, props. He plopped my chair up next to the camera to watch that team flow while somehow keeping a crazy unscripted flailing Robin Williams in frame. This was better than any film school I could have EVER been a part of. Short but magical.
He involved some nobody teenager in some of his day to days to be a mentor when he clearly had bigger things to fill his time with. We were never buddies by any means. He was just this inspiring figure I looked up to, who happened to give me a chance and at the same time give me an unforgettable glimpse into what my dream career was. My last time hearing from him was after the premiere when he sent me a letter of recommendation for my future endevours! What a way to end a mentorship I had never in my wildest dreams even wished for.
What he didn’t know was that during this whole, driving on the lot constantly deal, he had given me cred with security! I didn’t let that go! When one of my best friends Scott Budnick moved in across the street from Univeral and asked me to be his roommate I jumped at the opportunity. I’d drive on that lot every night and yell “489” as I drove through the gates. Sometimes not even opening up the window. Just waiving as I drove through the employee lane. I’d park and walk into whatever set had a dinner being served. Yes you guys- I ate free catered set dinners every night and basically stole food from who knows how many production companies! Hahaha. No one would have dared asked who I was because for all they knew I was Speilbergs kid and questioning me could get them fired.
There are bungalows all through Universal that are used for temp offices while movies and shows film. A lot of the time they are empty. I took up shop in one of them and would bring my computer and write! All the phones were working and had their numbers printed underneath the receiver. Everyone knew that the 818-954-xxxx came from universal or WB. I’d give that out as my number and take calls there answering with “Hello you’ve reached Loose Screw Productions” which I had named my so called ‘production company’. 😂 I wrote so much crap that year.
So inadvertently, Ivan opened up this incredible dream world and gave me creative writing space and freedom to dream and pretend. I had so much time walking by myself through that backlot and all the sets in some of my most integral years. I found myself and got to figure out who I was behind those prestigious desks. And it was all because he gave some random nobody a chance. I never got to tell him thank you for all this because… well… it was illegal and I clearly could have been arrested for the amount of food consumption that I never paid for. ***Believe me Universal*** If you’re looking to retroactively sue me for the thousands I ate on your dime, know this: I’ve paid back that and more to feed my 5 children in your theme park on overpriced junk food over the years😂.
Memories. Exciting, dreamer, Illegal, exhilarating memories. Thank you Ivan for showing me that life can be whatever you go out and go for. Sorry for using your prestige to run an illegal office. That teenager sure did love and appreciate you!! I probably am who I am today in part because of those crazy years I lived across from 489. Rest In Peace Ivan. You will be remembered through you’re awesome films. You left such a legacy and a wonderful son and daughter who are both following in your footsteps. Jason and Catherine- we met a few times on set. Thank you for sharing your dad and his talent with the world. I was one of the many blessed by his kindness.
