FUTURE OSCAR WINNER HAS IMPROMPTU SCREEN TEST AT HOME OF HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR

(After pitching a screenplay, a young improv performer, stand up comic and computer programmer has a bizarre screen test.)

More laughs and a round of applause followed Gia’s delivery of Lt. Palermo’s final line: “Knowing your crew, I may bring a few cops.”

Gia bowed and pointed toward Dakota who also got a nice hand. Preston said, “You may know that I like to use non-actors in my films . . .”

 “I’ll have you know, Preston Powell, that I was a star of stage and screen long before Spence and I met on the MGM lot.” She did Katherine Hepburn flawlessly with hands on hips, one foot forward, chin out, showing lots of teeth.

She grinned and so did he as he continued, “but a big question always is, does the camera like them? I know we have you on videotape, Kate, but would you mind, just in case, doing a quick take of directed dialogue and action?” Gia smiled with teeth together and lips apart and primped extravagantly.

“Larry, bring down a handheld video camera, patch it to the screen and pick up Gia’s mic.” Larry appeared in a few minutes and took up position stage left with Preston beside him. Larry asked Gia, who was stage right, for a sound check, racked the focus and nodded to Preston as Gia’s image came up on the big screen.

“Gia, when I point to you, I want you to look into the camera and walk slowly toward me while saying “Preston, I really believe you are full of shit.” He pointed and Gia began her walk.

“Preston, I could never speak to you that way after all we’ve been through together, all we’ve meant to each other. I’ll never forget that midnight swim at Malibu.” David headed for the exit. “Your bare ass in the moonlight.” There was an explosion of laughter, and the big-screen image jumped. People thought: Was that a bump? Did she just throw a little a little bump?  Dakota must have caught it because she hit a single, synchronous low note. “How you got the cramp and began to sink, and the first thing I grabbed was . . .” and Gia licked the lens.

Stella paused in her laughter to shout, “The camera likes her, Preston.”

“I think she likes the camera,” a grinning Preston said.

Gia turned to the group feet apart, arms thrown wide, head back and let go with a Broadway production number finale that was part Janis scream, and part Eydie Gorme wail: ‘Moonlight on Malibu.’ It was enough to bring the dogs out. Dakota concluded the saucy bit with a diminishing glissando, as people rolled in their chairs. Gia bowed and sat on the edge of the stage.

"Excerpted from Larceny of Love," a contemporary novel of danger, love, emotion, action in cutthroat technology, big-time sports and Hollywood deals. http://amzn.to/19QmSVH