Years ago, at the Four Seasons Hotel Restaurant in Beverly Hills, I was preparing to interview Morgan Freeman for a Sherwood Oaks Film School class on screenwriting. There were about fifteen of us in our group, when Gary Shusett, head of the Film School, spots Al Pacino sitting at the restaurant bar.
This was awards season, so it wasn’t that surprising to see big stars in the restaurant, but this was frickin’ Al Pacino!!!
Gary was usually the one who approached all the celebrities. But this time, he asked if anyone in our group wanted to invite Mr. Pacino to address our class. One confident student said, “Yeah, I’ll do it.” She strolled over to “The Godfather” and started chatting with him. After a minute, he followed her over to our table. Mr. Pacino couldn’t stay long, as he was waiting for someone.
But Al Pacino graciously chatted with us for several minutes, shook each of our hands, and gave us words of encouragement before joining his colleague at the bar.
Okay, Al Pacino is just a human being, like everyone else, I get that. He puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. I had certainly met my share of Hollywood celebrities by this point. (I was going to be interviewing Morgan Freeman in a few minutes for this very class.) But there was something truly special about shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with one of the finest actors in the entire history of Hollywood.
It must be difficult to go through life as an icon, recognized wherever you go in public. This makes many celebrities extremely uncomfortable, and they constantly travel with security so they can have distance from their fans. But Mr. Pacino seemed very self-assured and relaxed in such a public place, there by himself.
Beyond that, Mr. Pacino sincerely seemed to enjoy offering encouragement to aspiring writers, directors, and actors. I have noticed this frequently among Hollywood’s elite talent. They remember how difficult it was for them in the beginning of their careers. So, when possible, they take the opportunity to mentor and “pay it forward” as others have done for them.
It was truly an honor to meet this film legend. Mr. Pacino proves the point that even a brief encounter can make a lasting impression.
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