A first for me sharing about the passing of a celebrity but…
In the center of my office hangs a poster of my favorite film #TheWayWeWere, gifted to me by
@deborahkaplan and
@harry.elfont on the first birthday I celebrated after moving to LA 31 years ago. A few years later, I landed a job with
@portraitsinjazz (Bill Horberg), who ran Mirage, the company #SidneyPollack founded & the director of this very film! In my first year, the company made #SlidingDoors which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It was my first time attending and I went to an exclusive filmmakers luncheon…sitting in awe as #RobertRedford shared his wisdom and encouragement with us all. It was a dream come true to be in the orbit of my childhood crush, surrounded by storytellers and actors I had long admired. Years later, as a talent agent, I found myself back at Sundance, this time in the green room on opening night. When Robert Redford walked in, he greeted the room with warmth as he made his way to the stage. To my surprise…and everyone else’s…he stopped, wrapped me in a hug, and began to chat, clearly mistaking me for someone else & I did not correct him. My colleagues teased me for years, but I wore it as a badge of honor. Looking back, I was so lucky the universe kept gifting me these moments in the presence of greatness, and with the man who unknowingly became my benchmark for artistry, humanity…& boyfriends 😋! Redford embodied everything I look for in the artists I want to represent: that rare mix of talent, vulnerability, passion, warmth, charm, charisma, honesty, intelligence, integrity, and total commitment to their craft. Every film he touched carried a piece of our humanity making us laugh, cry, fall in love, and see ourselves more clearly. It’s the kind of storytelling that made me want to work in the film business. And beyond his artistry, his humanity reminded us what truly matters: to live with purpose and give something back. Today, as I stare at this poster across from my desk, it’s a daily reminder of where it all began, and of the spark that continues to inspire me. Thank you for your legacy Robert Redford. The way we were…and the way you were, will live on forever 💔
