Stepping Stone by Karin Kallmaker

Author:Karin Kallmaker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: ! Yes
ISBN: 9781594931604
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2009-11-17T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

After that intense but very informative conversation with

Selena, Gail didn’t expect any repeats, but she caught herself

more than once checking the booth Selena always chose,

remembering the conversation and her odd sense of ease and

connection. Selena’s story about her father was pretty awful, but

she still loved the movies despite the dark history in her family.

When she’d talked about shooting schedules and the way the

process worked she’d relaxed and smiled easily.

There were no repeats, though, and life went on much as

before, for over a week.

The first indication that her day-to-day existence wouldn’t

be the same was answering her phone while she was trying on

clothes at the Nordstrom Outlet to find a reporter from Variety

at the other end of the line.

“I—I’m right in the middle of something. Can you call me

back in five minutes?” She didn’t want to sound like a dunce,

and she didn’t want to embarrass the production. She didn’t even

know if it was okay for her to talk to the press.

The reporter reluctantly agreed and Gail quickly called

Kim.“Sure, you can talk to the press. Your name is already rolling

around on the gossip Web sites, mainly because they don’t know

anything about you. If you’re not sure who you’re dealing with,

just refer them to Ryan Productions’ main phone number. The

first thing to know is the magic phrase ‘off the record.’ Anytime

a reporter or blogger tries to draw you into chitchat, you should

say something like, ‘We’re going off the record, right?’ There

are some slimes who’ll chat away then ask you something really

personal and you think you’re off the record and next thing you

know your brand of tampon is the news. And some who won’t

care if you do say it’s off the record. Seriously, avoid the gossip

bloggers who don’t represent print media. They’re not all evil,

but enough are that it’s hard to trust any of them. And it’s totally

true that there’s print media that’s full of hip, thin people who

think anyone not them is fair game for humiliation on anything

they can think of.”

Gail sat down on the dressing room chair, feeling a little

overwhelmed. “Do I have to talk to them?”

“Of course not. But anyone from Variety you probably should.

I know the name, he is who he says he is. Keep your answers short.

Don’t volunteer information, but be friendly and firm. Anything

you want can be deemed off-limits—that is totally up to you.

Doesn’t mean they’ll stop asking, but just keep saying whatever

subject they’re prying into is off-limits.”

“Okay. It’s not like I want to run around doing interviews. I

don’t even know how this guy got my number.”

“They’re masters at that sort of thing. Last magic phrase,

and it’s a good one. Let’s say someone asks you about a co-star’s

drinking problem. Maybe he’s got one, maybe he doesn’t. Avoid

a yes or no answer. Just parrot back, ‘What are you talking

about?’”

Gail echoed, “What are you talking about?”

“It’s a lousy sound bite,” Kim said. “Any off-the-wall or rude

question it’s the perfect response. So tell me about Hyde Butler’s

womanizing.”

Gail hesitated, then said firmly, “What are you talking

about?”

“I’ve heard Jennifer Lamont is into naked body painting.

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