The Importance of Being Ernie: (27 page)
CHAPTER 53
The Social Network
The biggest new project in my long and winding career hit the movie theaters in 2010,The Social Network,
directed by David Fincher. This is the fourth time I’ve worked with him (
Zodiac
and two commercials, Heineken and Orville Redenbacher popcorn). What a pleasure to be part of his creative world. The film was nominated for numerous awards and won Best Picture at the Golden Globes and three Academy Awards on Oscar night.
In addition to Fincher, the film was loaded with talent. Aaron Sorkin, author of
A Few Good Men
and creator of
West Wing,
wrote the script, and Jesse Eisenberg, star of
The Squid and the Whale
and
Zombieland,
and singer/actor Justin Timberlake headline the cast.
A Few Good Men
and creator of
West Wing,
wrote the script, and Jesse Eisenberg, star of
The Squid and the Whale
and
Zombieland,
and singer/actor Justin Timberlake headline the cast.
Sorkin’s screenplay is an adaptation of a book,
The Accidental Billionaires.
It’s about the genius nerds (my kind of people) at Harvard who created the Internet sensation, Facebook. It’s a fascinating look at the lives of these young and brilliant young men. They are the Thomas Edisons of our age, and very few people were aware of their story.
The Accidental Billionaires.
It’s about the genius nerds (my kind of people) at Harvard who created the Internet sensation, Facebook. It’s a fascinating look at the lives of these young and brilliant young men. They are the Thomas Edisons of our age, and very few people were aware of their story.
I play Harvard’s computer security chief, an older nerd named Cox, who has to deal with the shenanigans of the computer geeks running amok on campus.
During the shooting of the film, Fincher was his usual self: a relentless perfectionist. Example: my first scene (Cox being awakened in the middle of the night by a phone call) required at least tweny-five takes. Sometimes he’d ask me to try different line readings, sometimes the camera moved incorrectly, a few times we repeated the scene because my “wife,” in the background and asleep, didn’t look relaxed enough. Fincher has the eyes and ears of an eagle; nothing escapes his attention. I would have repeated the scene another twenty-five times if he’d asked for it because I knew in the end he’d make my work look as good as it can get. What more can you ask for?
Old nerds, young nerds, they’re everywhere you look in this film. The amazing thing is that they have become today’s rock stars, in film and in real life. Who could have guessed? I started out playing them as a boy and continue to do as a grown man, which leads me to believe that there are no endings, only new beginnings.
EPILOGUE
Back to the Autograph Show
Actually, there are endings, and thank God for that. The clock on the wall at the autograph show says it is five o’clock. It’s time for the remaining old-timers to pack up. Richard Dreyfus will head to the bank with his loot, Jay North is on his way back to his prison job, and I’m going home to be with the wife and kids.We’re up to date as far as my career goes. And I haven’t had an acting job for six months now. Uh-oh. Could I be on the downslide again? Anything is possible, as I’ve learned. You know what else I’ve learned? I can cope with the ups and the downs. I may not resurface for another twenty years ... when they finally remake
My Three Sons
and I’ll be cast as crusty old Uncle Charley.
My Three Sons
and I’ll be cast as crusty old Uncle Charley.
The acting business is a weird, wonderful world. It has taken me on a long, eventful ride. I started out strong as a youngster with
My Three Sons,
worked on stages from Broadway to Salt Lake City, went into a midlife career hibernation, battled some demons, started a family, became Mr. Mom, and began a slow, tenacious climb back into a respectable adult acting career.
My Three Sons,
worked on stages from Broadway to Salt Lake City, went into a midlife career hibernation, battled some demons, started a family, became Mr. Mom, and began a slow, tenacious climb back into a respectable adult acting career.
I can’t wait to see what’s coming next. Because I’m not going away any time soon.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to give thanks to the people who, directly or indirectly, enriched my life and helped bring this book to life:
My brother, Stanley Livingston; my editor at Kensington Books, Gary Goldstein; my agent, Al Zuckerman; Dr. Philip Hawley Jr., Robert Hummer, Paul Jackson, Chris Craven, Mitch Gelman, Hailey Livingston, Spencer Livingston, Brent Maddock, David Nelson, Sam Nelson, Penny Perry, Laray Mayfield, Michael Zanuck, Pam Sparks, Lynda McCarrell, Lorenzo Hodges, Lorra-Lee Bartlett, Dierdre Baxter, Mike Lanigan, David O’Malley, John Stephens, John Gilstrap, Nat Bernstein, Jack Lanigan, Mi-Jack, Inc., Randal Kleiser, Harry Flynn, Bill Paxton, Richard LeRoy, Perry Herwood, Maureen Herwood, Bill Livingston, Corine Livingston, Michelle Shepherd, John Shepherd, Tony Blake, Sherilyn Jackson, Scott Spiegel, and Forest Whitaker.
Getting an accidental Mohawk from Lucy. The haircut didn’t come out as planned for her…or me. (courtesy CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)
My first appearance on
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
I was deep into my acting motivation: chocolate ice cream. (courtesy Jess Morgan Company)
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
I was deep into my acting motivation: chocolate ice cream. (courtesy Jess Morgan Company)
Ozzie and I hanging out at the malt shop. Neither of us ever had jobs. (courtesy Jess Morgan Company)
Ozzie with the neighborhood kids; I am front and center. FYI…Oz always wanted to split the tab. (courtesy Jess Morgan Company)
Stan and I with my parents, and a new little brother, Bill. (author photo)
Math prodigy, prototype nerd. (author photo)
Pre-Beatles, I loved pompadours and wanted to look like Elvis. (author photo)
Post-Beatles, I opted for the bowl cut, and George Harrison became my new role model. In retrospect, I look more like Moe Howard from the Three Stooges than one of the Fab Four. (author photo)
Tramp, the
My Three Sons
dog, giving me a big, wet kiss. In reality, he is licking butter from behind my ear. It was a trick that animal trainers employed to get that “boy’s best friend” photo op. Nice for the dog, disgusting for me. (Courtesy CBS Broadscasting, Inc.)
My Three Sons
dog, giving me a big, wet kiss. In reality, he is licking butter from behind my ear. It was a trick that animal trainers employed to get that “boy’s best friend” photo op. Nice for the dog, disgusting for me. (Courtesy CBS Broadscasting, Inc.)
Stan’s thirteenth birthday on the
My Three Sons
set, with me, my mom, and Ricky Allen. (author photo)
My Three Sons
set, with me, my mom, and Ricky Allen. (author photo)
Stan about to topple my boat in our pool at home. My older brother was my best friend…and chief tormentor. (author photo)
Playing chess with Don Grady (Robbie) while MacMurray looked on. It was one of the rare times that “Dad” joined us for a little fun and games off camera. We liked and respected him, but we also knew that
My Three Sons
was pretty much “business as usual” for the veteran star. (courtesy CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)
My Three Sons
was pretty much “business as usual” for the veteran star. (courtesy CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)
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