[IMG:L]The epicenter in the movie making industry exists–not on a sprawling movie studio lot or even in a gargantuan mahogany-paneled office–but in the 1920s-styled speakeasy in Beverly Hills known simply as The Grille.
As Peter Bart, editor of Variety, explained to me: “The Grille is the hangout–the place where you go to shake everybody’s hand; but it’s impossible to go there for lunch unless you’re with someone who has a booth.”
In order to secure a spot for myself at The Grille for lunch, I followed Bart’s advice and garnered and invitation from a regular, Bernie Brillstein, the founder of the famous management company, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, which reps such clients as Brad Pitt, Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Lorne Michaels, Courteney Cox, Orlando Bloom, Kate Beckinsale, James Belushi, Brendan Fraser, and Laura Linney.
[IMG:R]Brillstein had a semi-circular booth along the back wall. To get my invitation, I followed a very straightforward plan.
I called Bernie Brillstein, asked for his assistant, and said with all the confidence I could muster: “This is Jake Halpern and I’d like to meet Bernie for lunch at The Grille next week, okay?”
A day later, Bernie’s assistant called back and told me it was a ‘go’. “Your name didn’t ring a bell,” Bernie later admitted to me, “but I figured if you knew to meet me at The Grille, then I should probably go.”
Bernie arrived for lunch shortly past noon. He was a 76-year-old man with a large potbelly, a plume of white hair, and a pair of heavy, black-rimmed glasses that looked like vintage racing goggles.
“Hello,” he said. “Are ya hungry?”
[IMG:L]Moments later, the maître d’ was leading us through the restaurant towards Bernie’s usual booth along the back wall. As we walked, half a dozen regulars stood up and greeted us. Indeed, his was the powerhouse management company that also repped industry heavyweights like: Bill Maher, Carlos Mencia, Paul Rudd, Natalie Portman, David Spade, Rob Lowe and Andy Garcia, to name a few more.
“How you doing kid?” repeated Bernie to each of them. “How you doing?” Even those who didn’t stand to say hello took notice. “Bernie Brillstein just walked past,” one man muttered into his cell phone.
As all this was going on, Bernie chatted with me casually about the workings of the restaurant. “It can be too much of a scene in here with all these people,” complained Bernie. “When I started coming here it was just another restaurant, and now…”
Bernie paused mid sentence. “How you doing kid? How you doing?” asked Bernie as he stopped to hug one of his greeters.
“Who was that?” I asked as we moved on.
“That was my daughter,” replied Bernie. “She just came back from seeing a pilot in the Valley.”
We finally reached Bernie’s booth and we both ordered steaks. In what seemed like a nanosecond later, that same waiter returned with two steaming sirloins.
“Stop taking notes and eat your steak,” ordered Bernie.
[IMG:R]”You see, I’m really a caretaker,” he explained. “And I always have been, ever since I was a kid. My mother was a very sickly woman. She had emphysema and she spent a lot of time in bed. What happened was, my father worked, so my brother and I took turns playing guard. We became caretakers. And once you learn that you have that in you, that’s what you become in life.”
Following a brief pause, “That’s what I am–a caretaker–and nothing more.”
“I’m not being humble,” added Bernie. “It’s just a matter of knowing your place–that’s all. I wouldn’t be here at this table, and there would be not story for you to write, if it weren’t for the actors, directors, and writers that I represent. And that’s what you’ve got to remember. Just last week, I met a drama coach who told me: ‘I won an Oscar for this movie.’ She didn’t win it! Her client did. But she took full responsibility. And she was the drama coach”
I continued scratching out notes as Bernie said all this.
“Eat your steak!” said Bernie exasperatedly.
“Okay, okay,” I said, pausing for massive bite of sirloin.
“I remember when I was representing Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi in The Blues Brothers,” continued Bernie. “At the time Blues Brothers was the number one movie and the number one record album. And one day I looked in the mirror, I was 48 years old, and I was wearing a Blues Brothers’ jacket, a Blues Brothers’ scarf, Blues Brothers’ sunglasses, and a Blues Brothers’ pin, and I said to myself: You are some idiot.”
[IMG:R]When lunch was over, Bernie generously paid the bill and then slowly rose to his feet. As we made our processional back through the restaurant, he said his perfunctory goodbyes, and along the way he continued to chat amiably. “Being a good manager is like being a good husband or wife,” explained Bernie. “You have to know the person’s whole life.”
Once we reached the door I asked Bernie if he ever felt that he got back any of the care that he gave.
Bernie paused for a long moment to think about this.
“Yes,” he replied finally “Sometimes you get it back in love, but always you get it back in money.”
This was adapted from the new book, Fame Junkies. Read the hot, page-turning exposé that everyone in Hollywood is talking about! Purchase a copy of FAME JUNKIES for a discounted price on Buy.com right now.
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[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 1: Meet America’s Youngest Fame Junkies
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[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 2: Beneath the Red Carpet
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[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 3: The Grooming of Baby Idols
American Idol’s controversial, Sanjaya-focused season is quickly building toward its climatic finale; however, for all those dazed contestants who have been brusquely eliminated–yet emotionally crippled by razor-tongued Simon–there is still hope. Look no farther than the International Model and Talent Agency (IMTA), which hosts two annual talent conventions, one of which is quickly approaching this summer.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 4: The Secret Lives of Stylists
Marcel Winter* has made a life for himself by dressing other people–mainly powerhouse celebrities. Their distinguished ranks include the likes of Halle Berry, Jim Carrey, John Travolta, and Nicole Kidman to name just a few. Over the years, Winter has also developed a successful second career as an analyst of celebrity fashion for several television networks, on which he identifies, candidly, the “best” and “worst” dressed attendees at the big events like the Oscars.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 5: The Devil’s Helper
Anyone wondering just how aggressive paparazzi photographers are these days should look no further than Britney Spears’ Malibu home. Earlier this week, two photographers–who were staking out Britney’s house–got into a heated scuffle as they vied to snap a shot of the recently-rehabbed star. In truth, the paparazzi have good reason to be so aggressive; an exclusive photo of Britney can earn upwards of $250,000 these days…
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 6: Celebrity Stalkers, a Special Breed
In case you haven’t heard, just a few days ago, the actor Hugh Grant was arrested for allegedly throwing a container of baked beans at a photographer. No doubt, Grant is pursued around the clock by paparazzi and stalkers from all walks of life. Yet, before he tossed the beans, he should have really considered paying a visit to the offices at the L.A.P.D.’s “Threat Management Unit”–informally known as, “The Celebrity Anti-Stalking Unit.”
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 7: The Monkey Business of Celebrity
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[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 8: Designing Tabloid Addiction
Do you know, by chance, exactly how many days, hours, and seconds remain before our favorite, lawbreaking heiress–Paris Hilton–heads off to the slammer? That’s a tough one. Can you, instead, perhaps explain why it is that Jessica Simpson keeps getting blonder in recent weeks? Not certain. Take a closer look at the glossy, weekly publication US Weekly magazine.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 9: Retiring with the Stars
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[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 10: Star Maps, Your Guide to Celeb Mansions
When it comes to knowing exactly where celebrities live, there is no greater expert than Bill Gordon. His book, The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book, has sold over 40,000 copies and is considered to be the definitive celebrity atlas. … Among other things, Gordon offers his readers information on when a given house was built, who its various owners have been, and how much it sold for most recently.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 11: Having Your Own Celeb BFF
She just brightens your day with her smile. Do you ever have the uncanny feeling that Tom Hanks or Julia Roberts is an actual friend of yours? This is no coincidence. For years, Hollywood producers have looked for actors that have “best friend” appeal to star in their movies.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 13: Lunch with the Ultimate Celeb Caretaker
Virtually every person with a TV–or even half an inkling of interest in pop culture–has an opinion on the type of help troubled starlets such as Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton need. Some suggest psychoanalysts, others say drug rehab specialists, and a few suggest life coaches or meditation gurus.
