Why I Pretended Not to Recognize Him

He was right there.

I knew - I know, he’d love my concept. I know he’d see it’s fun and he’d see its potential and be happy to spend a few minutes hearing about it- maybe even offer some powerful advice, or make a connection that could blow doors wide open for me.

I could call his manager, or his agent, and try to get an appointment.

I could slide into his DM’s and see if he’d be open to meeting.

In fact, I probably will, now that I know he lives in or at least frequents my area.

Some people will say I’m an idiot for wasting that opportunity - twice. Because that was the second time Dave and I crossed paths with him in just a couple months.

It’s not unusual to see celebrities around here. We even had a well known cast member from Saturday Night Live show up at our house to buy something we posted on Facebook Marketplace.

We often see one of my favorite actors- He was in the Princess Bride and Criminal Minds, among other things- at local restaurants. Any one of them would be fascinating to have a cup of coffee with, hear their stories and seek their advice.

And this guy, the one we most recently crossed paths with, could be a game changing conversation for me.

But I’ve never even acknowledged recognizing them in those moments.

Well- except for the Princess Bride actor- we anonymously paid for his and his wife’s meal, and sent a little note of appreciation via the manager, after we left.

But any time I run across a celebrity- and for whatever reason, it’s happened often over the years that it doesn’t surprise me - I do exactly what I did when I saw this actor, and when the SNL cast member showed up in my driveway… nothing.

I treat them like an everyday person, because in that moment, that’s who they are.

In fact, I almost feel bad for some of them, sometimes, because they look so tense, and they avoid eye contact, as if they don’t want to be noticed at all. In those moments, they are not famous. They are not working. They are not “on” for interviews or autographs or selfies. They are husbands enjoying a quiet meal with their wife. They are dads taking their adorable little daughters on errands, buying something at Lowes. They are community members, shopping on Facebook marketplace.

Imagine you are a nurse or a doctor. And everywhere you go, someone starts up a conversation about their illness, or their injury, or someone they know with an injury or illness, and asks you for your opinion. Or you are a photographer, and are constantly asked to take people’s photos when out at social events. Or whatever it is you do, and you love doing, but it’s not who you are.

Imagine how annoying it would be to not be able to walk down the street without being besieged by people who want something from you. Even if it’s just being able to interact with you for a split second. Or worse- to be hunted in a fashion, and have strangers taking and posting photos of you and your children online.

That day in Lowe’s, we recognized the actor from Dutton Ranch. But we saw a dad with his young daughter. She was crying about something, seated in the little spot on top of the shopping cart. He was in overalls, like he was working in his yard. And he was so patient with his cuter-than- a puppy little girl. You could feel how badly he didn’t want to be recognized, when we caught his eye before he quickly looked away.

I tossed a comment about his daughter being a cutie- the same comment other parents tossed me back in the days I was out with my wee ones. And off we went.

So no, I didn’t get a meeting or advice. But what I did get was just as valuable to me in this moment :

I got more proof that the people who do the things I am about to attempt doing are not super humans. They are not somehow above the life I live, or the person I am.

They are just people with families and errands to run.

And if they can figure it out, so can I.

That is precisely what I need to remind myself of right now, as I meet with my Director and one of our Producers tonight to make script revisions. As I set up my LLC, hire an attorney to craft our Operating Agreement and our investor agreements, and prepare- finally- to climb the biggest mountain I have ever wanted to climb before - bringing my first screenplay to life in a film.

Oh, yeah- and I’m also creating a series I am going to shop to a studio- that’s the one the actor from Dutton Ranch would love.

Because if I can climb one mountain, I can climb two.

And if I can… so can you.

Whatever that mountain before you is… don’t let anyone- especially not yourself - tell you you can’t.