It seemed like a lifetime ago that I was snapping photos of this aspiring R&B trio called Tigress at a tiny Las Vegas lounge while a bigger act was selling out the arena next door. You could say it was my life from long ago. I was partnered with my school friend Chris Foster and the big break for his business came from their manager. Much of the time we were laughing at these wannabe-Spice Girls but they had the last laugh. Almost overnight, they became the biggest act in the country and were handpicked by Beyonce' and Rhianna to be part of what was termed "The Triple Threat Tour" that crisscrossed the country's biggest arenas. And Chris and I were the photographers chosen to document the tour. It was the biggest payday we'd ever seen and not a day went by when I wished he could see where his protégé' was now. Since then, Tigress had quietly split up, one member went to work for "Entertainment Tonight", another went for motherhood and a third was giving acting a try. Her name was Candy Jordan and a call from her manager Amy Adamson brought back a flood of memories.
"Mister Hollywood, how ya doing darlin'?"
"Amy, I'll be damned...been a long time."
"You said it! I wasn't sure if you were still in the photo business."
"I wasn't sure of you were still in the music business."
"Ah, touché'." She said with a chuckle "How'd you like to prove you still got it?"
"I'm up for the challenge, whatcha got?"
"Candy is doing a guest shot on "Supergirl", annnnd...we could use some cool photos. Interested?"
"When do we start?"
Amy was someone with whom I had a long history, professionally, that is. She'd worked her way up the music biz ladder and got the promotion of a lifetime when their previous manager, Chuck Tyler, decided to turn over control of the group to her when he got the top job at Artists Unlimited. She'd actually turned down several offers from record companies to remain the groups' manager. And things were getting even better now that Candy had eased into a solo career and acting roles. It looked like Amy was also having the last laugh. So was I, knowing that Chuck was out of the picture. And my bosses at the Morrison Group were more than happy for the business they were likely to get out it. Production of the show was scheduled to move to Vancouver, but they planned to film Candy's episode in California. Her role on "Supergirl" would have her as an evil desert spirit named Diablo who takes over her body and escapes from a mountain prison deep beneath the earth and takes on Supergirl. Amy and I got caught up while waiting for Candy to arrive on the set. Once she arrived, she eagerly posed for pictures with the crew as she made her way with us to makeup.
"She still has her fans, huh?" I said to Amy.
"Hell, yeah!" she laughed "Once a star, always a star."
Just then, a production assistant called Amy aside, Amy nodded then pulled me over.
"They'd like to get a photo of Candy with Melissa before she gets into costume."
"Melissa?"
"Uh-huh. Supergirl herself. Let's go meet her."
"Oh, right! Yes, uh, let's go."
I might've sounded casual in my tone, but she was the one I really wanted to meet, and now I had my chance! I was suddenly thinking back to when I'd go to car shows as a kid, excited to meet some Playmate or TV starlet. And not to brag, but I'd met my share of those. As we were led over to another trailer, I was trying not to be too excited, you know, saying "Discipline, 007, discipline" to myself even as we passed by the "CATCO set" and I could see Calista Flockhart reading lines with another assistant and laughing.
"Hey, that's um..." I stammered to Amy.
"Oh, yes, she's very funny to be around. Never takes herself seriously." The assistant said casually "Sometimes her husband comes by to take her home."
"Awww, What a sweetheart." Amy replied. I had to wonder if she realized that it was Indiana Jones picking his wife up at work, like anybody else.
The assistant knocked on the door of a large trailer where I could hear music playing loudly inside. She went inside for a minute and the door opened a minute later and out stepped Supergirl herself, Melissa Benoist, in full costume. She had a broad smile and her blonde hair looked great even under the stage lights. I tried not to be star struck but it was hard to deny that she bore a striking resemblance to another old friend, Blake Lively. Blake was someone else I'd lost touch with, but in her case there were a large number of reasons why. If she suddenly turned up again, I doubt I'd have much to say to her. She'd become someone I didn't know anymore, the reason why was a story for another time.
"Hi! I'm Melissa!" she said to Candy in a perky voice "It's so cool to meet you."
"Hi, Melissa, this is my manager Amy and this is our ace photographer Jim."
"Ace photographer, huh? Hiya, Jim!" she said with a big smile.
"Yes, h-hello, it's a thrill to meet you." I said in a shaky voice "It's not often I meet someone who flies."
"Hey neither have I!" she said with that giggly laugh of hers.
"Um, let's get the photo done over here." The assistant said diplomatically.
I snapped off several candid shots of Candy and Melissa, they both looked as star-struck as I was. We made plans to get a few more once Candy was in her own costume as Diablo. Melissa and Candy looked so great together, pity that they'd be locked in "mortal combat".
An hour later, Candy arrived in her costume as Diablo. It was an electric shade of red with tiny dots around it that I learned were used by the CGI crew to insert digital effects in post-production and would only heighten the look of the costume in her battle with Supergirl.
"Uh, let's get a shot where you're facing off against each other." I suggested. Melissa giggled a little before taking up a fighting stance, Candy did the same and I luckily got off a few shots before they both cracked up laughing. I didn't mind, I had to smile myself. It was still something I had to get used to, being around different stars and taking photos. It was still a strange feeling, but at the same time I was reassured that I hadn't become jaded by what I did. I clicked off a few shots and both girls were led off to block out their scenes and meet with the people who'd handle their wire work for any flying sequences.
"So how do you like the new company?" Amy asked as we watched from afar.
"It's really different. Morrison apparently has her own style."
"I've heard the same thing."
Curiosity now got the better of me; "Um, what have you been hearing about Artists Unlimited? I saw that news flash about their restructuring." I couldn't help but ask about that since Amy still had some peripheral connections to my old employer. And getting a breaking news text about it only fueled my curiosity
"Not much" she answered casually "I would guess they're divesting themselves of what they don't need."
"What would that be, people?"
"They've got a lot of debt in other areas. They'll start there for sure before dumping people. They'd have to settle a lot of contracts and who knows how long that'll take or how much. I doubt they'll still have the same client list. I know Candy's contract is coming up for renewal. I'll know what condition they're really in by what they offer, if they even do make an offer."
"So maybe my getting canned was for the better?"
Amy looked around and took me aside.
"If you ask me, you got out of there at just the right time" she began "There's gonna be another power struggle there, for sure. And this time the New York boys will probably win."
"OK, dumb question from me, what does that mean?"
"Nothing for you, but if they get their way the company would pull up stakes and work exclusively out of New York."
"Jesus! They could do that?"
"Walter Murphy wanted to do that from what I've heard but Chuck talked him out of it."
"And then Walter died...gee, his timing was impeccable." I said with resignation.
