I have been a huge fan of Jonathan Jackson for a few years now (probably
more than I want to admit!), so when the opportunity arose to bid on a
phone call and donate some money to some good charities (the Interfaith
Hospitality Network (Homeless of Las Vegas) and the AIDS Service Center
of Pasadena), I jumped at the chance to speak one on one with a young
man that I have a lot of respect for.
Since I travel for my job and due to a couple of scheduling delays,
it took a few weeks to arrange the right time and date for this phone.
However, on July 6, 2000 at 7Pm, it finally happened.
I answered the phone to hear a woman's voice (I found out later that it
was Jonathan's mom) thanking me for donating the money and asking if I
was ready to talk to Jonathan (on a side note... is ANYONE really READY
to talk to Jonathan?).
To say I was a little nervous, is probably an understatement, but
Jonathan's calm and soothing voice put me at ease as I thanked him for
donating his time and he thanked me for donating to the charity.
We first talked about "True Rights" and how I went to see it in LA. I
really loved this film and probably gushed a little too much about it.
He was amazing in this film and we talked about his performance as well
as the music in the film (which he and Richard wrote and performed three of the songs).
And then I continued to "interrogate" him on all his upcoming projects -
"Smiling Suicide Club," "Skeletons in the Closet," and "Crystal Clear."
All I have to say is that JJ is really patient and composed and great
about this... he let me go on and on and gush over everything. I tried
to be very methodical about the topics I asked him, but it wasn't to
be... I was in adrenaline mode and I couldn't think straight.
I even got a chance to ask him about a few of the internet rumors that
have been going around about upcoming films, in which he joked that we
know about things before he does!
I asked him if he had the chance to work with Tony Geary again would
he... (and then I gushed about the wonderful chemistry they had, the
beautiful story line on GH, etc.) and he said if given the opportunity he
would love to direct Tony in a feature film, because someone as talented
as Tony should be in more features. Of course, I had to agree and I
thought it was so sweet to hear him talk so fondly of his ex-on-screen dad.
It was a pretty good length conversation, in retrospect there are so
many more things I would have loved to have talked to him about... but
my mind went completely blank when the phone call started, and I also
didn't want to impose too much on his time.
The phone call just left me with so much more added respect for him, his
family, and his outlook on things. It was a once in a lifetime
experience, not to have been missed. And to have supported such great
charities, also added to the amazement of the moment.
