Many people are under the impression that in Hollywood actors are the sole individuals with inflated egos and an overblown sense of self-importance!
However, in the underbelly of Tinsel Town, there are a handful of scurrilous individuals who take the cake in that regard.
Staffers in publicity departments - and press agents who represent major stars in Hollywood - are at the top of list!
Take Margot Gerber, for instance.
Ms. Gerber is employed in the publicity department at the Hollywood Office of the American Cinematheque.
Recently, Ms. Gerber e-mailed me a press release on the upcoming Samuel L. Jackson event slated for December 1st at the Beverly Hilton - at which point - I promptly penned a beautiful post to enlighten industry folks about the upcoming event.
However, when it came to acquiring a press pass for the event, I encountered a nightmare due to Ms. Gerber's incompetence, bizarre game-playing, and general lack of professionalism.
Normally, a publicity department invites the press to submit their credentials for approval to attend a specific event.
Usually, the process is prompt and conducted with a minimum amount of fuss.
But, from the get-go, it was obvious I was dealing with a loser with no legitimate background in the industry, who was under the mistaken impression that she was some kind of High-Priestess of Hollywood entitled to doll out insults, mistreat members of the press, and so forth and so on.
My suspicions were verified when I searched "Margo Gerber" on the Internet and managed to secure a handful of the most God-awful press releases she prepared (for so-called clients) which smacked of having been crafted by a ten-year old with no experience in the biz whatsoever.
In her initial press release for the Jackson affair, snobby Gerby came across as crass, abusive, and demonstrated a lack of good manners.
Her lack of respect for others was distinctly obvious, too.
In her instructions to the media, for example, she put specific words in CAPS - as if to SHOUT at the recipients - of her e-mails.
In addition, Ms. Gerber treated industry-members like they were misbehaved children - and she the strict parent on-the-ready to spank 'em - if called for.
For example, she threatened that if the rules laid down in the release weren't strictly adhered to, no credentials would be forthcoming.
And, in another segment of her misguided missive, she snidely remarked that a press pass would not necessarily guarantee entrance to the event.
"Don't contact us," she snarled. "We won't call you back." (!)
Yeah, all the top media dogs in the local arena are supposed to twiddle their thumbs, until this nasty little Princess with the foul aura gets off her high horse?
There were other glaring irregularities, too.
Ms. Gerber requested that the media "fax" requests for press passes.
Generally, though, Film Festivals and the coordinators for special screening events, conduct their press bookings via e-mail.
Consequently, many reporters don't have their own personal fax machines.
Are media types supposed to go to Kinkos, pay for a fax, then hunker down for days until she gets off her butt and responds back?
Ms. Gerber expects that, yes.
When a number of individuals I am associated with received a notice back "denying" their request for a pass, Ms. Gerber actually had the audacity to instruct them to continue to cover American Cinematheque events in the future.
Was she daft?
I, for one, will never give her, the Aero, or American Cinematheque any press coverage in the future.
Maybe, a jab or two, for the insult!
When I advised Ms. Gerber in an e-mail that I found her notions ludicrous under the circumstances, she responded with an implied threat.
"Are you sure you want to make an enemy of me?"
At this juncture, it was obvious that Ms. Gerber was in dire need of therapy, fast!
After all, any sane person - who wasn't on a power trip - would have attempted to sort out the problem professionally.
Ms. Gerber, on the other hand, inferred by her inappropriate comments, that she was an individual I would not be wise to cross!
There's nothing worse than a lady (I use the term very loosely) who thinks she has a pair of balls, eh?
In a couple of follow-up e-mails - which were desperate and out-of-line - it became obvious to me that Ms. Gerber was suffering from a mental disorder of some kind.
Ms. Gerber, get psychiatric help.
Notwithstanding, you're also a detriment to the Aero Theatre and the formerly prestigious American Cinematheque!
When I finally noted I was going forward with my story, she sent a nasty e-mail informing me she was pulling me off her e-mail lists.
Of course, her action was an attempt to slap me in the face.
But, since she was already noticed previously there would not be any coverage in the future for Aero and American Cinematheque events, why the heck do I care if I am on their e-mail lists?
Duh!
Ms. Gerber is too stupid to figure that one out.
Bill Cosby once said:"A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones who need the advice."
