waiting...and not waiting...and still waiting...

to update last wednesday's post on one of the least interesting parts of being a freelancer: i continue to wait.

yesterday, after not hearing a single word more from anyone than i had on wednesday, i did my second round of calls and emails to all the publicists, handlers and assorted PR reps. i managed to get two on the phone, in person. one, for whom i'd left a very detailed message a week prior, sounded surprised, and said, "oh, i don't think i got your previous message..."

nice try, lady. it was your personal voicemail, and you're not that big a wig that you'd have someone else clear your messages.

so, i repeated all the info from my previous message. she seemed optimistic and enthusiastic about the project, and promised to get back to me with an answer. not surprisingly, she hasn't called back.

the second person i managed to get in person -- who'd told me last week that her boss would call me back himself later the same day -- didn't seem eager to chat. "oh, i guess he hasn't called you yet, has he?"

nope.

she took down my information again and "yeah, yeah, yeah"'d me as i attempted to explain we need an answer, yea or nay, before the end of the week. thankfully, she actually called back later yesterday afternoon. not thankfully, it was to tell me her boss "has too much going on right now to participate in your story." i'm not sure what he thought i needed; i had explained that all i was after was a 10-minute phone interview. oh well.

speaking of people who declined: there will not be a jill hennessy interview. after a wild goose chase of a hunt for up-to-date contact info, and me calling no fewer than SIX different offices in search of her publicist, she also said, "no thanks."

so, replacements were drafted yesterday and, yes, i began the process again with two new famous canadians. i have a sinking feeling that, of the original people on the list, i may only land three and have to go to second- and third-tier talent to fill in the blanks.

and, further to my people-who-call-you-without-warning-and-want-to-be-interviewed-immediately scenario, i had just such a call from a famous skater this morning. i had no idea he was going to call, as we hadn't scheduled anything yet. i'm delighted to say that he was friendly, relaxed and totally accommodating when i said, "um, would it be possible for you to call back in, like, five minutes so i can get my stuff ready?" no problem! he called back, we chatted, he told stories and famous canadian #1 was done and done.

at least i'll have something to transcribe while i wait for the rest...