A letter from "Middle Earth"

Peter Jackson

Reference date: March 2nd





When the Hollywood trade papers announced in the late 1990's that a live action trilogy version of JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" was being produced, I was skeptical about its success.

Boy was I proven wrong!

Thanks to the singular vision and dedication of director Peter Jackson, Middle Earth was brought to life like few ever expected. Mr. Jackson's efforts were rewarded with the Academy Award for Best Director when the last of the three films was released. He followed up this phenomenal accomplishment with a re-imagining of the 1933 classic "King Kong." Currently, Jackson is hard at work on a two film adaptation of Tolkien's "The Hobbit."

I wrote to Mr. Jackson to commend him on his achievements, and got a very nice reply, mailed all the way from his offices in New Zealand. This is what he had to say:

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your letter.

I'm so pleased to hear that you enjoy my work. All of my films are the result of many hours of long, hard work but they are made worthwhile when I receive letters like yours.

I think that if one has a dream, as you do, then you must never give up.

My advice to you, Chris, would be simply to get out there. If you are as passionate about what you are doing as you seem to be, then you'll surely go far.

I wish you the very best of luck.

Kind Regards,

Peter Jackson

I sent him a thank you note the next day.

Star Trek's "Chekov" Beams up a reply

Walter Koenig





 

Walter Koenig, an accomplished actor/writer/director, who is most famous for playing Ensign Pavel Chekov on the classic TV series "Star Trek", sent me a very nice reply to my letter asking him about the ups and downs of a career in show business.  This is what he had to say:


Dear Chris,

Thanks for your note. Obviously, there are no easy answers to building an acting career. If there were I wouldn't have experienced years of unemployment at different stages in my life.

If there is any one thing I can tell you it's to create your own opportunities as much as it is humanly possible. That would involve taking classes for networking as well as growing, audition for every play that comes along and checking out the independent film making scene in New York and surrounding environs. I know there are groups on the West Coast like Filmmakers Alliance which is an acting-writing-directing-producing cooperative. People there get together to work on their own and others low budget projects. Anything from short-shorts to docs and features are made through these kinds of collectives. You meet people, learn how to make your own projects and the films do get seen at festivals, etc.

I'm not sure I have words of encouragement that can be generally applied as a blanket statement. Some things work for some people and some things don't. 

 

Perseverance, no matter how you manage it, is the primary quality, aside from talent, that you must have. Perhaps knowing that everyone suffers rejection in this business will be somewhat consoling and, then again, perhaps not. My ego is as easily bruised as the next persons's and I've suffered feelings of total defeat, feelings that at the time had me on the brink of quitting forever. 

 

On the other hand, there is some kind of mechanism operating in my brain that allows me to languish in consuming self-pity for a few days and then lets up sufficiently to try again. There is no exercise, ritual or mantra that I use for this to occur. It just happens, so I'm no good at offering a way to others of climbing off the canvas again and again over the course of many years to keep plugging away. You have to find it in yourself.

I believe you are in your forties, so I imagine that by this time you've come up with your own way to deal with vagaries of show business career experiences. I guess the one thing I would suggest, as I have suggested to others, is to always have another means of making a living (like writing a book) not only from the aspect of economic survival but as something which, while supplying you an income, will also support your self-esteem. It's extremely important to keep your confidence up while pursuing your passion and that comes from inner strength.

When things were at their worst for me career wise - which was after the TV series was canceled - I gave myself the regimen of sitting down several hours a day and writing. It brought structure to my life and gave me a goal that I could direct my energies toward. It doesn't have to be writing of course, it can be anything whether it's creative or not that gives you focus and some measure of satisfaction in the process of working at it. It will also, as I mentioned earlier, provide an income.

You might want to check out my autobiography called "Warp Factors, A Neurotics Guide to the Universe." It certainly holds no direct answers but it might give you some comfort knowing that you're not out there alone. It's probably available at Amazon.com for just a few bucks.

That's pretty much all I can offer Chris.

The best of good fortune to you.

Walter Koenig

I sent him a thank you note the next day

A letter from Mr. New Year's Eve

Dick Clark

Reference date: January 1st




Mr. Clark has done almost everything there is to do in media. Primarily known for his on camera hosting duties on "American Bandstand", "Pyramid" and "Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve", he is a cultural icon. Indeed, for a generation (or more) of Americans, Dick Clark is Mr. New Years Eve.  Television as we know it would not have been the same without this incredible talent.

In addition to his role as a pioneer of the early days of live TV, Dick Clark is an incredibly successful producer. (Many awards shows and TV events are done by his company.) In 2004, he unfortunately suffered a stroke and had to cut back on his broadcast schedule, but "America's Oldest Teenager" still makes appearances on television and is active in production.

This what he had to say:


Please forgive the long delay in responding. I've been quite sick and, unfortunately, didn't get much work done.

In response to your note, here we go...

The best words of encouragement I received early in my career were from an old morning disc jockey and they were to never become discouraged with the outcome... just forge on.

The only pitfalls I have met are ones I built for myself with my over-enthusiasm. One must be careful not to oversell oneself.

The greatest lesson I ever learned was work hard and steadily. Never become discouraged and look forward to your next challenge.

Thank you for your very kind note. Again I apologize for not being able to reply sooner. Keep up the good work!







I sent him a thank you note the next day.

Another reply appropriate for the Holy season

Father Ted Hesburgh

Reference Date: November 27th




The University of Notre Dame has always held a special place in my heart. I did not attend the school, but their team name is "the Fighting Irish" and their long storied history of academics and sports is matched by few others.

For many years, the public face of Notre Dame has been Father Theodore (Ted) Hesburgh, who was President of the University from 1952-1987 and was awarded the prestigious US Presidential Medal of Freedom. The University's library is named for him. (I actually sent the letter to Father Hesburgh c/o the Father Hesburgh Library. How often is someone's name the same as their mailing address?)

This is what Father Hesburgh had to say in his reply to me:

Dear Chris,

Thank you for that wonderful letter. I have just the advice you need.

All of my life I have realized that we need special inspiration from God to do what He wants us to do - to enlighten us about that and give us the strength each day to carry it out. I have found that, after more than sixty years as a priest, the best I can do in beginning each day is to pray a very short prayer: "Come, Holy Spirit". That puts you at the disposal of the Spirit for all the inspiration and strength you need.

I find that through the day when I face a problem which seems to have no answer, I simply pray, "Come, Holy Spirit". The answer becomes apparent and I think I have the right words to say to the person with the problem.

This is also a great prayer for your personal life. There are many options we all have in life and, as we face them, it is important to pray, "Come, Holy Spirit", so that we will know the right things to do and we will have the strength to do it. The Spirit brings us both the inspiration and the strength.

I hope this is helpful to you and I encourage you to keep up the good life you have begun. I know, with the help of the Holy Spirit you will have great fruits. It will also bring you great peace.

With a daily prayer for you and yours, and all blessings from here,

Ever devotedly in Notre Dame,

Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.
President Emeritus, University of Notre Dame 

I sent him a thank you note the next day.

A major religious leader replies

For the Easter/Passover season, a letter from a respected theologian

Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams

Reference date: March 7th





I have always been an Anglophile (lover of all things British.) From the time I was young, I've identified with our cousins across the pond. Many of my friends and relatives are British, and I also have a close friend, Tim G., who worked for British Airways, and who kept me up to speed on the latest developments in U.K. politics and culture.

I've written to many British leaders, entertainers, and business people. One of the most notable people I wrote to was the Archbishop of Canterbury, leader of the Church of England. The history of this most reverent office (The Primate of All England) goes back a long way, (back to Saint Augustine, in fact) and has been featured in literature and film ("Becket", "The Canterbury Tales") Since the man who holds this title is very busy, I never expected to get a personal, detailed reply to my questions, and was floored when the envelope arrived from Lambeth Palace (The Archbishop's official residence.) Here is the response:


Dear Chris,

Do forgive my slowness in replying to your letter - a full diary has left me a bit behind with letters. But I must write personally to thank you for your generous support and prayer. I hope you won't mind my not writing at great length, I'm struggling to clear my desk a bit!

Motivational advice? An old nun I knew said to me in my twenties, 'Don't try to suffer for the sins of the world; it's been done'. What she meant, I think, was that you have to try and work out what are the limits of your responsibility and capacity, and not be overwhelmed by the suffering around you. It's not about leaving compassion behind; quite the contrary. It's really saying, 'Don't confuse compassion with feeling terrible, and don't confuse your spiritual involvement in all suffering with the responsibility to "solve" it'. That's been very important to me.

Habits? At least half an hour of silence each morning; and (thanks to Buddhist advice) be aware of your breathing when there is stress or pressure around, inside and outside. Take the trouble to breathe from the pit of the stomach for a few moments. And in general, again, try to sort out what you are and aren't responsible for.

Challenges? The worst for anyone in this sort of position is knowing that everything you say is public property, so that distortion of the most gross kind is always possible, indeed likely, and more work is generated by explaining to correspondents that you didn't mean what some tiresome journalist said!

And hopes for the Church of England? That it will successfully go on being a welcoming space for the people of this country - to use a phrase of one of my former students, a place where people can put the experiences and emotions that won't go anywhere else. And that it will effectively find ways of diversifying its styles of worship and organisation so that it can keep up with shifting patterns of work and population. without losing its depth and integrity and faithfulness to God.

Every blessing and good wish to you. Thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

Rowan Williams

Archbishop of Canterbury


I sent him a thank you note the next day.

A personal phone call from a show business legend!

Jay Leno

I was absolutely stunned when my phone rang and the voice on the other end was none other than the host of NBC's "The Tonight Show", Jay Leno.

I shouldn't say that I was completely surprised, as I've always read that Mr. Leno was one of the nicest guys in the entertainment industry. For him to pick up the phone and have a fifteen minute conversation with someone who just sent him a letter is what astounded me? That's unheard of, and I genuinely appreciate it. (I told him that I will someday return the favor and thank him personally as a guest on his show.)

Because I wasn't expecting his call, I didn't have any means of creating an exact transcript of the phone conversation, but here are some highlights of the pearls of wisdom that Mr. Leno had to share with me:

- Work, work, work! (Mr. Leno's work schedule is legendary, as he rarely takes a day off from his show, and also does hundreds of stand up dates throughout the year. His theory is that work is the only way to build up necessary skills and experience that books alone can't convey.)

- Keep yourself grounded in real life, don't get lost in the business. Whether it's hobbies or a family, just have a life outside show business.

- Be yourself! Earn show business type money, but don't live a show business lifestyle by blowing it all on frivolous things.

- If you can be an actor or comedian for seven years without something stopping you, then you can make it in the business. Most people are stopped short by negativity, doubters, addiction, distraction, pessimism, self defeat or other things. Overcome those barriers and you'll do well.

- Never turn down a gig unless it goes against your personal beliefs. Work is work and every experience will bring you further along.

- Always keep your personal feelings and politics out of the discussion when you are performing or hosting. Don't let people know what your true opinions are or you'll lose some of your audience.

I sent him a thank you card as soon as our conversation was over.

A "Beary" special reply

Maxine Clark

Original Letter Sent: February 14th






I wrote to the founder and "Chief Executive Bear" of Build-A-Bear Workshop to tell her how much my young son loved his new alligator doll (which he named Yankee) that he created at the giant Build-A-Bear on 5th Avenue in New York City. In addition to the very nice reply, Ms. Clark also included an autographed  copy of her book: The Bear Necessities of Business: Building A Company with Heart.

The proceeds of this book go to charity, so I highly recommend picking up a copy, both  for inspiration and motivation.

Here is her letter:

Dear Chris:

Thank you for your letter and picture of your son at Build-A-Bear Workshop. I am glad it is one of his favorite places.

I am honored that you have asked my opinion on your industry. Yikes, entertainment--that is really hard. I assume the same principles apply of hard work and relentless pursuit of your goals. I am enclosing a copy of my new book--I think it might be helpful and answer many of your questions. The book is about my career and the creation of Build-A-Bear Workshop but it is also about having big dreams and going after them.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Beary best regards,

Maxine Clark

Founder and Chief Executive Bear

Build-A-Bear Workshop

I sent her a thank you the next day.