OVERCOMMITTED Socially, it has been a ridiculously busy spring, and it’s hardly begun. Back in the fall, it was so flattering to be invited to be on this committee and that committee, and I just said “yes” to everything without considering that all these events would occur within a month or two of one another – not to mention that South by Southwest would fall right in the middle of it all. Since the beginning of Texas Film Hall of Fame in 2001, I have helped with putting together the film tributes to the honorees, and this year was no different. I spent days on end in a housecoat and mud mask watching DVDs to figure out what would be included. I viewed all the past TFHOF ceremonies to put together Ann Richards‘ funniest TFHOF moments, as well as the clips for Betty Buckley. It would be very hard to cast Richards in a bad light, so her clips were easy to select. But I was nervous about Betty Lynn (as Ms. Buckley prefers to be called). I’ve worshiped her ever since Eight Is Enough and Carrie and knew that she has a reputation for being difficult and demanding, and I wanted to make sure she liked what we put together for her. And I’m here to tell you that she was an absolute doll to work with. After the awards, I timidly asked her if she was pleased with what we’d done, and she threw her arms around me and said, “Yes,” and asked if she could have a copy of the tribute. I was very relieved but not as relieved as with Bill Paxton‘s response to his clips, which my sister Margaret and I worked on together. After viewing an early rough cut, Bill was afraid he was coming across like a clown and wanted some reworking. Thirty hours of DVDs and pizza deliveries later, we’d assembled something we hoped he’d like. As I had with Betty Lynn, I asked him if he was pleased … and indeed he was. Whew! So with that job done, it was on to SXSW, including the daily columns during the music portion. It meant trying to be in a hundred places at the same time while looking beyond SXSW to my other commitments. Once that was over, I kicked into high gear with the Opera Ball, which I’d woefully neglected. During SXSW I’d receive sweet notes from the Opera Ball auction chair reminding me of the things I’d agreed to do, but I could hardly see straight at that point. At last I was able to devote some attention to it, even if it was at the last moment. The ball came off splendidly, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I agreed to emcee aGLIFF‘s Bloom event coming up, as well as Project Transition‘s Top Drawer Couture fashion show. Now it’s on to Zach Scott‘s Red, Hot and Soul, and thankfully my friend Maria Groten, who is co-chairing the event, is smart enough to call me occasionally and take me out to lunch and then hijack me into collecting donations for their auction. Clever girl, she is … but not me. I’ve already agreed to be on committees for three more events later in the year. I believe the correct phrase is “glutton for punishment.”
SOUNDTRACK This week, I endlessly listened to Chrissie Hynde‘s collaboration with the Moodswings, a 15-minute version of “Spiritual High (State of Independence),” Bryan Ferry on Roxy Music‘s Avalon album, and the endearing sound of the local band Voxtrot. They’re so great and on their way up, up, up. Hear samples at www.myspace.com/voxtrot, and buy their CD!
This article appears in April 6 • 2007.