The Three Gates and “No-Pattern” as Pattern

In about 1968, externals for the television show “Room 222” were shot at my school, L.A. High

Part of the deal was to give screen tests to students. I was chosen from my drama class, went down to 20th Century Fox, and talked to the executives. While I was there I pitched them a story about a bullied student who starts studying karate, and becomes a bully himself. They loved it. Said they’d get back to me.

And a couple of months later, my episode was on television, the role of the kid played by Eric Laneuville who went on to a successful acting/directing career.

Coincidence? Sure, could be. And I could have reacted by storming off, raging at how unfair the world was…instead, my reaction was: “Huh. I have ideas worth stealing!” and went on to create my own career.

The world was unfair. I accepted that, and rolled with it. Why? Because anger wasn’t going to make me happier unless I could USE that emotion to drive some positive action. The only thing I could affect was my own reaction.

It MIGHT have been a coincidence. But any time I pitch an idea now, it goes through my agent or manager. Because there IS a pattern, whether any individual case can be proven or not. SOME of those cases are innocent. But they ALL claim to be.

What do you do?

Ever had a partner or friend who kept stealing? The cookies are disappearing from the jar, but every time you ask about it, there is a perfectly…