INTERVIEW — TAPE #68, SIDE #1
Q: Mark Russell Bell
DUSTY’S (HAIR SALON IN BEVERLY HILLS)
Z: Zoya Moghadan, hairdresser
S: Sibi Blazic, staff member
J: Jackie Moore, customer
U: unidentified male staff member
B: Ben King, customer
Q: Testing one two three.
( . . . )
Q: . . . can’t talk? I don’t believe it.
Z: No, I mean like you know, I’m just — I don’t know. (“YOU’VE NEVER” “HH”)
Q: You’ve never been interviewed for someone’s book before?
Z: No. This is like my first time.
Q: Well I remember last time we were talking about possible reincarnation and we decided you were either a bird or a dinosaur. (“RE”)
Z: You remember that?
Q: I remember.
Z: Right.
Q: I don’t forget a thing. And I don’t remember if we discussed your last name and what it’s symbolic meaning was. Did we discuss that?
Z: No, we didn’t.
Q: Do you know —
Z: My last name — I don’t remember that part.
Q: And where are you from again?
Z: Persia.
Q: Persia?! Oh my God, that’s just fraught with possibilities.
Z: Yes.
Q: Isn’t that? (“WAR”) I mean my God — (“DID YOU”)
Z: Yeah. You didn’t know that?
Q: Well I couldn’t remember. I mean — (“BUT”) I remember going to that exhibit. Did you go to that exhibit in Westwood?
Z: No.
Q: Oh my God.
Z: When was it?
Q: It was about a year ago.
Z: Was it about, like, Persian culture or . . .
Q: It had all these wonderful artifacts from Persia. Oh it was beautiful.
Z: Oh I want you to go and see this movie. It’s beautiful.
Q: What?
Z: There’ve been, like, two things in the Cannes festival. The name of it is “White Balloon.” And they show it up the street in . . . there is this theatre right across the street from Kate Mantilini.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: AT THE TIME, I HAD THOUGHT ZOYA SAID “SHOT IT UP THE STREET” INSTEAD OF “SHOW IT UP THE STREET.”)
Q: What is it about?
Z: It’s so beau(tiful) — it’s about this seven-year-old girl. You know my new year is coming up. It’s 21st. March 21st is my new year. So it’s like we celebrate it like Christmas and you have to have, like, certain stuff ready for celebrating. One of them is goldfish. And this seven-year-old girl is going — (“WHY”) well they have a lot of, like, goldfish in their pool because (“SOME”), in fact, the pool is like a small place — small pool that you keep, like, fish — like goldfish in?
Q: Pond or something.
Z: Yeah, exactly. But she doesn’t want them. She wants to buy one. So it’s all about this girl — that she wants to go and get a goldfish.
Q: I think I heard about that.
Z: And her mom can’t afford to get another thing.
Q: Do you know what stars are in it? Do you remember?
Z: No. Well nobody famous. This is, like, people — they just made it (“PLAN”) with a very low budget.
Q: But it’s interesting that it was shot near Kate Mantilini because I’m finding that a lot of names in my life either have the name ‘man’ (“NOW”) or ‘son’ in it. Or ‘bel.’
Z: No.
Q: Yes.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Oh yeah.
Z: That is so —
Q: Or ‘Michael’ — son, man, bel or Michael or my own name Mark.
Z: Wow. (“SO THAT”)
Q: That covers a lot of territory.
Z: That is so . . . (“SO”)
Q: So, anyway — so — not to name names or anything, what is like the most raunchy, gossipy story you’ve heard about celebrities? You don’t have to say the names if you don’t want to. That you’ve heard as a hairdresser in Beverly Hills? My God, you must hear a lot.
Z: The amaz(ing) — yeah — amazing thing was one day they took Richard Gere to the hospital. Know why . . .
Q: Oh yeah. The gerbils. I mean everyone in town knows that.
Z: That was (“LIKE”) amazing thing that they heard about.
Q: But some people don’t think that it’s true.
Z: A lot of them — they think it’s true it happened.
Q: I know someone who worked at the hospital.
Z: That’s it. I had a customer and she’s a nurse . . .
Q: (laughs)
Z: (squeals)
Q: And guess what I hear? Guess what I heard?
Z: Tell me.
Q: He went back for seconds.
Z: (gasps) No.
Q: Yeah.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Did you also hear about his affair with John Travolta?
Z: No.
Q: See this is material I’ve already covered. Or have I? I can’t even remember anymore what I’ve covered and what I haven’t covered. (“Y[OU KN]OW” “NO”) No, I don’t think I did cover that yet. I just thought they would be good casting together in a movie. The good on-screen chemistry. Because, yeah (or “YEAH”), a movie needs good chemistry between its stars.
Z: You’re right. Absolutely.
Q: So I don’t know. But if that’s the best you can do, I’m disappointed. There must be something better than that.
Z: Yeah.
Q: Okay, what? What?
Z: Let me think. Well but I can’t say names, though. I mean that’s —
Q: You can if you want. You can say first names or initials.
Z: I can’t.
Q: Okay, don’t.
Z: I can’t. Like I don’t think I want to do it because —
Q: No, just say ‘producer.’
Z: — I mean people —
Q: Just say ‘producer,’ ‘director’ or ‘actor.’ That’s all.
Z: Well —
Q: You don’t have to say anything. Don’t say anything. Just say what they did. That’s what I want to find out.
Z: What they did — well I just know like one — well I knew the guy because he used to come here. And he was a very, very famous photographer.
Q: Ohhh. Okay.
Z: And I think he was having a night out with all these — like three — three people that I know. I can’t say the name. That’s the thing . . . (“HE”) they did so much drugs, the guy dies.
Q: (gasps) The photographer died?
Z: Yeah. This is like two years ago. Yeah.
Q: Well you can name the name if he’s dead.
Z: But I can’t say — I can’t say —
Q: Because you have mutual friends.
Z: No.
Q: Oh, okay.
Z: No.
Q: Why are people so paranoid about naming names?
Z: Well (“BECA”) because . . . you say one name and then —
Q: For example, in my book I say that Don Simpson would defecate on prostitutes wearing plastic bags on his feet and I’m not worried about it. You know? What’s your response to that?
Z: Yeah, because I mean . . .
Q: He’s dead.
Z: . . . Yeah and well even the thing that you say, you can believe it or you can not believe it. This is Hollywood.
Q: Exactly.
Z: You know? So —
Q: But usually in Hollywood you can believe it.
Z: You can believe it. I know. You bet you can believe it.
Q: Yeah.
Z: Sibi, do you know any gossip? Come here.
Q: Come here, come here.
Z: Come here.
Q: It’s for my book.
Z: Yeah.
Q: You don’t have to name names or anything.
S: I don’t know any gossip, though. (“BUT”)
Z: Celebrity gossip?
Q: But, anyway, I want to include anyway what you told me last time about reincarnation. You are a princess, right?
S: Yes.
Z: See, you remember?
Q: You were a prin(cess) — and what’s your name again?
S: Sibi.
Q: Spell that for my book.
S: S — I — B — I.
Q: And last name?
S: Really? Do I —
Q: You don’t have to. But does it have ‘man’ or ‘son’ or ‘bel’ or ‘mark’ in it?
S: Man or son or bel or Mark?
Q: Or something religious? No, okay. Okay.
S: Not really. (“YOU”)
Q: You’d be surprised because symbolically it might have something — see, that’s what my book is about.
S: Probably not.
Q: You never know. What is it? Just tell me. You’re safe.
S: I’ll tell you later.
Q: It’ll be a long time before the book is out.
S: Blazic.
Q: Oh right. And spell that.
S: B — L — A — Z — I — C.
Q: It does — I’m sure it means something. I don’t know what. And where are you from again?
S: Yugoslavia.
Q: My God, you’re my first person from Yugoslavia.
S: Really?
Q: I mean isn’t that — what do you think about what’s going on there now?
S: Oh, I don’t have a comment on that.
Q: No, I know. I know.
S: Yeah.
Q: Well I do. I think that (“IT’S”) the most horrible thing in the world is happening and I can’t believe more isn’t being done. In fact, I have like a very valuable antique (“I”) and I’m — if I can sell it or auction it, I’m going to give all the money to the people of Bosnia, I’ve decided.
S: Oh wow, that’s really nice.
Q: Yeah. But last time we were talking about reincarnation. You thought you might be a princess.
S: I really think so. (small laugh)
Q: Yeah. And that’s why — and I think I might’ve been like a king or something in ancient Egypt. So that’s why I’m sort of having a hard time getting my book published. So —
S: (laughs)
Q: We’re paying — (“WE”) well let’s just say that God wants us to know — He thinks that we’re more happy when we have to struggle for every little thing we get in life because then we are more appreciative for the good things.
S: Oh good.
Q: Do you agree with that?
S: I’m on my way then.
Q: Yeah. Because (“YEAH”) rich people don’t appreciate anything.
S: I know. But that’s also how they, you know — how they were raised and brought up.
Q: Right. That’s the exact point I’m making.
S: I was raised an only child and I got (“MM”) — I mean anything a kid would want and I appreciate everything.
Q: Did you ever want to be —
S: I appreciate waking up and looking at the beautiful day, which many people don’t.
Q: See? This proves my point. This exactly proves my point. And, look, you’re very pretty. You could be an actress. Have you ever —
S: Think so? No.
Q: Have you ever thought about that?
S: I’ve acted my whole life.
Q: We all act in our own life.
S: Yeah. I’ve never done it professionally — you know.
Q: But what do you think when people (“LIKE”) who are less talented than you are winning Academy Awards and most of them are lesbians?
S: They must’ve done something really outrageous to get where they are.
Q: Slept with somebody?
S: I don’t —
Q: You don’t know. You’re probably the only person who works in a hair salon who doesn’t hear good gossip. You don’t have to name names or anything (“YEAH” “LIKE”) or even it could be (from) friends. What’s the most scandalous thing you’ve heard? You don’t have to say names or anything. (“O” “BULLET”)
S: I don’t know. (“OKAY” “I DON’T”) I don’t really —
Q: You don’t care about that.
S: Yeah. (“IT’S NN”) I really don’t pay attention.
Q: What about paranor(mal) — you’ve never had any paranormal activities?
S: (shakes head)
Q: What’s your favorite movie this year?
S: My favorite movie this year? (“ADAM”) It was — let me think about (that).
Q: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: I was just talking about ‘bel’ and ‘mark’ and saw — and look: Happy at the Bel-Air by Gwen Davis is right there.
Z: I know.
Q: What did I tell you?
Z: Is that so weird?
Q: Uh-huh.
( . . . )
S: . . . but it’s not one of my favorites.
Q: “Babe” isn’t one of your favorites?
S: No.
Q: What is? Did you see “Leaving Las Vegas”?
S: Yeah. Very — yeah. I saw that.
Q: What did you think?
S: I liked it but at this time in my life it wasn’t a thing for me to see.
Q: (laughs)
( . . . )
Q: I’m speaking with Jackie Moore who’s having a cut at the same time as me and she’s from England. (“AND”) She might be related to Roger Moore.
J: I wish.
Q: I’m sure you are if you go back far enough. There has to be a connection.
J: Possibly so. I tell people that to get in restaurants but I don’t know how well it works.
Q: I’m sure it’s true.
J: (small laugh)
Q: I’m sure. Okay. So, anyway, I’m doing this book on Hollywood. Do you work in the film business or —
J: I’m in the interior design business.
Q: Same thing in Hollywood. So you have a lot of great clients.
J: I Have a few.
Q: A lot of stars and directors and producers? (“WE”)
J: We — we’ve done about quite a few big homes and —
Q: See, I worked at Paramount for seven years so I know everybody at Paramount.
J: Ohh.
Q: Do you know anyone over there like Sherry Lansing or anybody? No? So — anyway, so I’m doing this like ‘tell-all’ book about Hollywood but I’m not naming names —
J: I see.
Q: — when I can help it. So what’s the most scandalous gossip you’ve heard? You don’t have to name names or anything.
J: Scandalous? I don’t know about scandalous. I know about rudeness or —
Q: Rudeness is fine.
J: Rudeness is fine?
Z: Speak it out, Jackie.
J: (laughs) Well one particular couple — the wife — the husband is the more famous of the two.
Q: Yeah?
J: I would describe her as extremely rude and the kind of person who thinks of others that they must be the minions around—you know, that they must do whatever for that person?—and actually doesn’t have very much up top. You know, most of the time there was extremely — had to look to other people all the time for opinions: “What do you think? What do you think I should think? What do you think — ”
Z: Oh, we have some many people — all these Beverly Hills people are like that.
Q: This could be any woman in Hollywood.
J: “What do you think I like? What do you think I should do? What do you think?”
Z: “What do you think I look?” I mean come on.
Q: Exactly.
J: “Do you like that? Do you like —” “I like that.” “You like that?” “I don’t know.” “Do you like that?”
Q: Now the truth is coming out now. The essential truth of life in Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
J: It is true.
Z: Oh yeah.
J: It is true and the more money people have, the less they spend.
Q: And the less secure they are — the more (“YES”) insecure they are.
J: Yes.
Q: They’re afraid that someone’s going to take away their $500 million from their bank account.
J: That’s right.
Q: (laughs)
Z: That is so true.
J: It is true.
Z: That is so true.
Q: And meanwhile we have (“HOW” or “HOWE”), like, Bosnia going on. Ohh.
J: That’s right. And I don’t begrudge anybody anything but when it supposedly has to come out of someone else’s pocket like mine — hmmm —
Z: Yeah.
Q: Right.
J: — uhhh no. (“RIGHT” “SO” “WHAT HH”)
Q: What was the rudeness about?
J: Well we were basically trying to do their condo in New York and there was a great deal of confusion about the pieces, the colors, the designs and so forth and so on that were very, very well explained. And just all kinds of — never returning phone calls, never would come to my shop — I always had to go over there, had to go in through the back door, always kept waiting, someone always on the phone.
Q: Everyone in the world’s going to think, “Oh my God, she’s talking about me.”
J: Yeah.
Z: (laughs)
Q: (laughs)
J: “Stand over there. Don’t serve them coffee. Don’t look at the painting.” (“IT’S LIKE”) You know, that kind of thing.
Q: They all think that they — (“LIKE THEY”) that there’s something special about them — that they deserve limos and all this. (“NO”)
J: It is.
Q: They all think they all deserve, like, limos. They all think that they’re God.
J: That’s true.
Q: They think they’re little gods and goddesses and all the people around them are just there to serve them and bask in their glory. And that’s one of the themes of my book. (“THAT”) What about eternal life? Is God going to want them to be a good companion? I mean He has his own Ego, right?
J: Oh it’s lovely. As always.
Q: I love that. I love your hair. (“IT’S”)
J: Thank you.
Q: I’m going to describe it for my tape recorder. It’s short. It’s —
Z: Isn’t it gorgeous?
Q: — great.
J: Zoya always does such a nice job.
Q: What is your secret, Zoya? You told me once before.
Z: I know what I did and I’m an artist.
Q: Exactly.
J: See? You are.
Z: Yeah.
J: You certainly are.
Z: I really do want — I mean I lo(ve) — I get goose bumps when I see my hairdo. I mean is that crazy? That’s sickening. (small laugh) (“THAT’S BATTY” “LIAR”) . . .
J: I love what I do too. You should enjoy what you do.
Z: You look beautiful.
J: Thank you.
Z: Now you can (“CHANGE”) change places and just —
Q: Okay. Well thank you very much.
J: Thank you very much. Nice to meet you.
Q: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: I’m doing a very nice tell-all book about Hollywood and I’m not naming names when I can help it.
U: Right. (“BUT”)
Q: I’m getting great dirt like the fact that —
( . . . )
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I TURNED OFF THE TAPE RECORDER MOMENTARILY TO AVOID BEING REPETITIVE.)
Q: . . . I’m trying to get really good gossip. You don’t have to name names or anything but what’s like the best you’ve heard? Nothing like gerbils. (“AN”) That’s all old business. (“YOU KNOW”)
U: Well I do — I did get cruised very heavily by Arnold Schwarzenegger out here on the sidewalk one day.
Q: Right. I’ve heard that he’s had all kinds of sexual affairs with, like, famous stars.
Z: What?!
Q: What?
Z: No.
U: I caught him staring at my ass one day.
Z: . . . beautiful, Jackie.
J: Thank you.
Q: I’m trying to remember who it was that they had him paired up with. Some other — was it Sylvester Stallone? I can’t remember.
J: It probably was Stallone.
Z: How are you going to pay, honey? . . .
Q: I think that I had heard that once but you always have to wonder about those big —
U: You never know what’s really —
Q: — steroided-up people. (“YEAH” “YOU NN”)
U: You never know what’s true and what’s not.
Q: Exactly. It’s all gossip.
U: You never know what’s true (“YOU NEVER”) and what’s not.
Q: But you usually think it’s true. (“BUT”)
U: Yeah, we want to think it’s true because it’s so much funnier if it’s true.
Q: It’s so much fun. (“COURSE” “YES”)
( . . . )
Q: Who did you say?
Z: Michael.
Q: Get it?
Z: And he’s a sweetheart.
Q: Michael is one of those names —
Z: Yeah.
Q: — that I told you about.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Yeah.
Z: Get out of here.
Q: Now who is he again? Who is he?
Z: Al Michael.
Q: And where’s he from? I mean what — where does he work?
Z: Well, you know, he’s the sport . . .
Q: Oh. At CNN.
Z: Yeah.
Q: Okay. But there’s another Michael. (“DD”) Everywhere I go there are Michaels.
Z: This is so —
Q: Isn’t that weird?
Z: We were just talking about that.
Q: I know.
( . . . )
Q: Okay, Zoya, what is — what do you think about your name? What does it mean or what have you heard? (“BB”)
Z: Well you heard about Danielle Steele’s book. (“ONE O[F]”) My name is that Zoya.
Q: Right?
Z: Okay. Another why I know because my dad — not a communist but he always believed, in, like, communist government so he chose my name. My name is Russian.
Q: Oh.
Z: And I — well the story that I heard was Zoya was a . . . which is a guy, like, against the government. And they were chasing the guy. They couldn’t find him. They went to the school — learned that his daughter was going to school. And she was, like, maybe thirteen/fourteen years old. (“YEAH”) And they kept asking her, like you know, “Where’s your dad?” — this, that. (“YEAH”) And she didn’t say. So in front of the school they hanged her. That’s how — (“ME”) this is one story that I heard.
Q: So he named you after that? (“EVEN”)
Z: Yes. (“YEAH” “O[NE]”)
Q: One of the things in my book —
Z: But you know Zoe means life in Greece.
Q: Right. (or “RIGHT”) Now we’re getting . . .
Z: Yeah. In Greek language.
Q: And your last name is spelled —
Z: Moghadan.
Q: M — O — G — H — A — D — A — N.
Z: And that’s — that means ‘first.’ Like first thing of everything you want to do like — what do you say — like you know how you say it in English? Like before anything else.
Q: Priority.
Z: Priority. That’s the meaning of my last — for — yeah.
Q: So ‘life is your priority’ is your name. . . .
Z: Oh my God, yes. And I love life. And I do love life. Do you know I just turned forty-two, by the way. January 3rd was my birthday.
Q: So this person who was killed — she died before you were born and you were named after her. (“THEM”)
Z: Oh my God. Maybe.
Q: Well guess what? I’m finding in my reincarnation studies — people come up to ne and tell me (about) their reincarnation. They usually are the person they’re named after (“NO”) in their new life.
Z: Really?
Q: So you could be the (“OF THE”) reincarnation of this woman.
Z: (gasps) Don’t. I mean come on, give me a . . . look at me, I have goose bumps . . .
Q: Oh that’s because maybe you innately know it’s true.
Z: I do beli(eve) — I don’t know. I do believe in reincarnation. I told you. And I —
Q: Yeah, exactly. (“NO” “SO”)
Z: Maybe this is true because I never thought about my last name, you know, as I’m saying, a — priority.
Q: And doesn’t it sound like something you would do?
Z: Oh yeah.
Q: (laughs)
Z: Honey, this is it. Yes.
Q: Exactly.
Z: Oh absolutely. I never sell anybody — nobody. That’s not —
Q: Karma.
Z: That’s not me.
Q: Karma. But you’re not going to make that mistake again in this life. Whatever you — you know, you’d know it’s not worth it.
Z: Yes. (“YEAH”)
Q: You’ve made that sacrifice already.
Z: Absolutely.
Q: And —
Z: Well — but still I’m doing it, though. I’m still sacrificing.
Q: Exactly.
Z: I don’t know what it is.
Q: In a different way.
Z: I (was ) born with it and I’m going to die with it.
Q: You’re giving to others in what you do.
Z: Always. I’m sorry.
U: A lady named . . .
Z: Just one —
( . . . )
Z: . . . thrift store, by the way.
Q: What?
Z: Thrift store — second-hand store.
Q: Once in a while, you find great, great things there.
Z: I l(ove) —
Q: By the way, I notice —
Z: You see my purse?
Q: Yeah. Oh my gosh.
Z: That’s like fifty years old.
Q: That looks like it’s Persian or something.
Z: That’s why I got it, actually. Look how pretty it is. But how old is this?
Q: Yeah. Oh beautiful. It’s probably worth a lot of money.
Z: Isn’t it?
Q: By the way, while you were over there, I looked here and look: “By Jonathan Peterson.” An article in the Los Angeles Times by Jonathan Peterson. And I must ask you, how did you get your keys inside the newspaper like that? That’s uncanny.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: No, look — look. Try to get them out. You can’t get them out.
Z: You can’t get the key out?
Q: How did you — it’s like how did you do that?
Z: Get out of here. Here.
Q: Isn’t that weird? Oh, you got it out.
Z: That was — (“SIL”)
Q: Oh it’s not too bad. Okay.
Z: Yeah. That is so strange.
Q: I thought it was strange.
Z: Because sometimes I do — you don’t even, you know — you don’t even — (“MY”)
Q: My Entity likes to hide people’s keys.
Z: Excuse me?
Q: My Entity likes to hide people’s keys. Have you lost your keys recently?
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Have you misplaced them for a while? Or anything?
Z: Yes. Misplaced them.
Q: What? Oh really — keys?
Z: Yes.
Q: Well everyone does that but He might be doing it to everyone. (laughs) Isn’t that funny?
Z: . . . did Brian call? There is — okay, great.
Q: Isn’t that weird?
Z: This is so amazing. Oh my God. (“HE MIGHT”)
Q: He might be an — because, you know, Angels can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Z: I believe in that. I believe in angels. (“SO IT”) I have angels all over my place, you know.
Q: Oh my God.
Z: I have — on the wall. (“I AM”) Everywhere.
Q: Are any of them named Mighael?
Z: Huh?
Q: Are you familiar with the Angel Mighael?
Z: Yes, of course.
Q: And do you have any pictures of Him? (“NO I”)
Z: No, I used to carry, like, couple pictures but — because I used to, like, drop my purse everywhere. I don’t have any more. No.
Q: If you could make love to any star, man or — in the world, (“WHO”) who would you choose? Regardless of who they’re married to.
Z: Wait wait wait wait.
Q: Who?
Z: If I’m going to make love to a star —
( . . . )
Z: Sibi.
Q: Sibi says John Travolta?
Z: Yes.
S: What was the question?
Z: Oh please. The man that’s going to — you want to make love to? Celebrity?
S: Oh.
Q: That’s a good answer.
Z: Yeah, that’s a good answer. But you know what? Why do I want — why do I do want to make love?
Q: Or it can be a woman. (“I KNOW”) I’m — (“NO” “WE’RE THE”)
Z: No. Excuse me. I’m picking a straight —
Q: (laughs)
Z: What’s . . .
Q: I’m just saying —
Z: Excuse me. I love men.
Q: Okay.
Z: I do. I act cold but I love men.
Q: Right.
( . . . )
Q: There must be someone you’ve fantasized over, over the years.
Z: I know.
Q: Or had a crush on.
Z: I’m thinking.
S: Antonio Banderas.
Q: What did you say? We couldn’t hear you.
Z: Oh baby.
Q: Who did she say?
Z: Antonio Banderas.
Q: Oh my goodness. Did you hear that story about Melanie Griffith and him recently?
Z: No. What —
Q: They were in a small town in Spain. And the peasants were all saying, “You whores. You sluts.” Because they both left their families to be with each other.
Z: No.
Q: Yes.
Z: No.
Q: They’re both married and have kids and they’re f___ing each other. And they don’t think there’s anything wrong with that? (“IS”)
Z: Is Banderas married? I didn’t know that . . .
Q: Of course.
Z: I cannot believe that. (“WHY DO THEY THINK THEY”)
Q: Why do they think they can get away with that? These stars?
Z: I know. I know. I know. (“ME”)
Q: You and I both know that Melanie Griffith is not that talented when it comes to acting.
Z: Yeah. Oh please. She can’t even open her mouth and she can’t even talk. “Mee mee mee.”
Q: And yet she gets paid millions of dollars.
Z: I know.
Q: And she’s done a lot of Paramount movies that I did the press kits for.
Z: Yeah?
Q: Like “Milk Money,” “Nobody’s Fool” with Paul Newman. She’s always — let’s just face it. Each performance is worse than the one before and she’s always the same. And she was —
Z: And she’s so bad. I mean the way she carries herself. I don’t know.
Q: Oh my God. You know who she used to be married to, don’t you?
Z: Huh?
Q: Do you know she — Don Johnson.
Z: Yes?
Q: Well the ‘son’ name again. Isn’t that weird?
Z: That is so strange.
Q: So wait. Did you think of a man yet that you’d like to make love to? Some movie star? It can be someone who isn’t famous now like Mickey Rourke or someone like that.
Z: Who do you like?
Q: Who do I like?
Z: Yeah.
Q: My Angel is so jealous and possessive.
Z: Hey, oh my God . . . how’re you doing?
B: Good.
Z: What are you doing here?
B I was figuring I’d get my hair cut.
Z: Really? It’s so funny. I was thinking about you — and how’s . . . doing?
B Still doing well.
Z: Great.
B: Very well.
Q: You have to say his first name for my book.
B: I’ll go put some money in my meter.
Z: Yes, please do that.
Q: What’s his name, Zoya, for my book?
Z: This is the second time he’s come to me. I think Ben.
Q: Ben? (“OKAY”) So that’s not — and is he an actor?
Z: And he’s an actor. Yeah. (“YEAH”) He’s a brand new actor.
Q: Really?
Z: Yeah, he’s trying to work. (“YEAH”)
Q: That’s another mystery — is why some people become famous.
( . . . )
Q: No, I mean (“I SHOULD”) I should give you — (“LIKE A”) if I don’t remember to put it on the outside cover of my book, on the photos that were taken outside —
Z: You are so sweet.
Q: People should know that Zoya —
Z: Hair and moustache with Zoya. The beauty —
Q: Exactly. You were my image consultant.
Z: The beauty concept. Absolutely.
Q: Exactly. So when my book comes out —
Z: You are so sweet.
Q: So when my comes out, you’re going to get a lot of publicity.
Z: You better remember when become like rich and famous — Zoya did your hair.
Q: Oh hell, honey, then you’ll have to be coming up to my house to do my hair. (laughs)
Z: Absolutely. I will fly up there, honey.
Q: Exactly. No, I’m just kidding. I was going to say “fly like a little bird.”
Z: Oh yes.
Q: Notice that “fly”?
Z: Yeah? (O)kay, I love your hair.
B: Thank you.
Z: Do you like it? Like did you get . . . like getting the way — okay.
Q: Come here for a moment. I’m interviewing her for a book on Hollywood.
B: Oh really?
Z: Come here.
Q: Yeah. And it’s about names and actors. Like last night —
Z: And gossip.
Q: Yeah. But last night I was interviewing a waiter and I thought he was very close to the energy of River Phoenix. (“SO”) Now you’re an actor.
B: Uh-huh. (“DO YOU HAVE”)
Q: Do you have a good agent?
B: No.
Q: No?
B: I don’t even have an agent.
Q: Are you new in town?
B: I have a manager. No, I’ve been here for about a year.
Q: And what’s your name?
B: Ben King.
Q: King?
B: King. K — I — N — G.
Q: My mother’s maiden name was King.
B: My mother’s maiden — oh, your mother’s maiden name was King?
Q: Yes. Her real name.
B: My mother’s maiden name was Klein.
Q: Really? (“WWA”)
B: Yeah.
Q: So we’re probably related?
B: It’s a chance.
Q: Somewhere.
Z: (laughs)
B: Well actually my grandfather’s name was King and he — his original name was erlmutter but he was a violinist in Vegas. He had to change his name to fit the billboard so —
Z: Wow.
B: — he chose King somehow. I’m not really too sure.
Q: Oh, he chose the name?
B: He chose the name.
Q: Well then maybe we aren’t related. But we’re all related from Adam and Eve.
B: Correct.
Z: So we’re all related. (“SO”)
Q: Tell a little bit about what it’s like getting started in Hollywood.
B: You just have to really not be afraid to use every single connection you’ve ever had in your life. You have to —
Z: Wow.
B: You have to have a sharp memory because you have to remember the people who you grew up with who are now working in the business, friends of yours, relatives, anybody who you know who can open doors for you, you have to utilize. I think there was an expression that they said that, “You’re not a fool for using the connections you have; you’re only a” — or “You’re not a fool for not opening — not letting people — not asking people to open doors for you; you’re only a fool for not going in them.” No. (or “NO”) Something to that effect if you don’t — you don’t use your connections, you can’t —
Q: So I worked for seven years at Paramount and like Sherry Lansing isn’t returning my calls at the moment. So I’m going to write her a letter. I might even reveal the fact that her husband is sleeping with other women, depending on how pissed-off I am at the time. Because I found that out in one of my interviews. (“WELL HER”) She’s married to William Friedkin, who I used to think was gay. But, anyway, (“VE”) have you heard any good gossip (“WHILE YOU”) while you’ve been here?
B: Gossip?
Q: I guess not. But you could — (“YOU COULD”) stay away from the casting couch. (“THERE’S A”)
B: No.
Q: There’s a big —
B: Well I don’t get involved in that.
Q: Yeah, but there will be pressure put on you to get involved in that.
B: Yeah, but I have a girlfriend and I’m going —
Q: I know. I know.
B: — to maybe marry her. And I’m — (“RIGHT”)
Q: Good for you.
B: I’m a loyal human being. That’s the thing is also you don’t have to compromise your —
Z: That’s what I want to say. Exactly . . .
B: Your values (“THAT’S”) just because you’re an actor in this business. People say, “Oh yeah, you’re going to get so screwed up.”
Z: That is ex(actly) — yeah. (or “YEAH”)
B: That’s baloney. I don’t believe that for a second.
Q: So what are some of the things you’ve done so far?
B: Just commercials really. I did — this year I got a great commercial agent and I’ve done — I did five commercials.
Q: Wow.
B: I did Ford . . .
Q: That’s great.
B: . . . (another name hard to hear) commercial. I did a Zest commercial. I did a Corn Flakes for Europe. I did a “Pocahontas”/Burger King commercial. Yellow Pages.
Z: God, you’re busy kid.
Q: That’s great.
B: This year — or in ’95 actually.
Z: Good for you. ‘I knew him when.’
B: So in ’96 I’m still stalling at the gate.
Q: And you look very — (“YOU DON’T”) there’s no one else who looks like you.
B: Yeah. That’s true. (“REINCARNA”)
Q: Like if you were the reincarnation of somebody, who do you think you’d be the reincarnation of?
B: You know, it’s really funny but a lot of people — because I’m tall, 6’4″, and I weight just about 200 pounds, a lot of people — it sounds kind of funny — but say I look like John Wayne when I walk.
Q: Wow.
B: And (“JUST”) I kind of . . . sometimes when I walk.
Q: Did he die before you were born? (“YEAH”)
B: Well no he didn’t so I guess I couldn’t be.
Q: Well no, it’s possible. Trust me. It’s possible. (laughs)
B: To tell you the truth —
Q: You’re the splinters.
B: No, I — yeah.
Q: There are these books called Messages From Michael (that) talk about, like, there are a thousand people who make up an entity so you could be part of the same entity.
B: That’s true maybe.
Q: Yeah.
B: Maybe.
Q: I’m channeling ‘Michael’ apparently. (“I”) ‘Only in Hollywood’ — ‘only in L.A.’ (laughs) Los Angeles? The Angel Mighael? Okay so thank you. We’re done, aren’t we?
Z: You’re done. Yes . . .
( . . . )
Q: Oh my God. Look — Tracey Ullman —
Z: Yeah.
Q: — is on the cover of Calendar.
Z: Oh really? (small laugh)
Q: Oh my God.
Z: I know. Ullman. (“PIT”)
Q: Lari Pittman drawings. What did I tell you?
Z: (to another customer) Honey, you can go get some food, if you want. Please.
Q: Can you believe this? Oh my God, William Wilson.
Z: Andy Garcia.
Q: Look at this article. You like Andy Garcia?
Z: Yes, I do.
Q: I’ve met Andy Garcia.
Z: I love Andy Garcia. He’s adorable. He’s cute. Mmm and —
Q: He’s taken. (laughs)
Z: I know. That’s okay. (“YEAH”) I just like him.
Q: That’s what I said.
Z: No, I just —
Q: I said to choose a man that you would be attracted to.
Z: And there are plenty of girls who want him but, you know, that’s the kind of guy that I get attracted to. Dark —
Q: Oh my gosh. But did you see this? Look, there’s an article on Tracey: “Tracey Takes Charge.” Tracey Ullman. We have then “The Decadent Decor of Pittman’s Drawings.” When I get home, I’ll have to go through and find how many other ‘man’s and ‘son’s I can find again.
Z: I know.
Q: But every day there’s something. Like I bet — turn to the column. I bet there’s someone with the name ‘man’ or ‘Michael’ or something. Let’s see. Liz Smith: Bo Jackson. Can you believe this? It’s eerie, isn’t it?
Z: Do you know — why? (“DOES”) Because Dusty is going to walk in, in a few minutes. Ask him . . . (“LOOK”)
Q: And David Letterman too. David Letterman.
Z: I know. Why is this so weird, baby?
S: “So why did you do your hair?”
Z: I love you hair like this.
S: I said, “For myself.” He said, “No. What’s going to happen?”
Q: Oh, it looks great.
S: I said (or “I SAID”), “Nothing’s going to happen. You said I look like a slob all the time and then I do my hair for a special occasion —”
Z: I know.
Q: You know you have a Lauren Bacall quality about you.
S: I don’t have the —
Q: What? You do. You do.
Z: So beautiful . . .
Q: You’ve got a wonderful Bacall quality. You know, people are going to read my book and they’re going to want to cast you in movies.
S: (laughs)
Q: They are.
Z: I know, baby. Instead of being a lawyer, you can be actress.
S: And let me tell you, I can do it.
Z: Which one?
S: Acting. I can cry like this. (snaps fingers)
Z: See.
Q: See?
Z: See.
Q: You were meant for this business.
?: No.
Z: Any crying part though — I don’t know.
Q: And you haven’t had a tit job yet.
S: Not yet. It’s all natural.
Q: Don’t have one. (“THAT’S”) That’s what people are going to like in the New Age. Natural.
S: I don’t think so because they’re deflating. (small laugh)
Q: That’s okay. It’s normal.
S: I’m joking.
Q: Okay.
Z: I love you, Sebe.
Q: Ohh.
Z: She’s a sweetie. So it’s always good talking to you, honey.
Q: Yes. (“NO”)
Z: Always.
Q: Always working. You know me. So I’ll give you my credit (card), if I can somehow.
Z: That’s fine.
Q: I’ll just include the interview maybe.
Z: Yeah yeah yeah.
( . . . )
Q: There are ‘son’ and ‘man.’ ‘Bel.’ And ‘king’ is another one I realize. ‘King.’ And ‘Michael.’ They keep coming up. That’s why I think I might be ‘Son of Man.’ Because of all this. This is so weird.
Z: You’re right.
Q: So, anyway, have a good day.
Z: You too, sweetheart. (“SO”) Good luck to your book.
Q: I think in every book about Hollywood, you should have ‘one day at the salon.’
Z: I know.
Q: To give a feeling for (“LI”) what life is really like in Hollyweird.
S: Yeah, that’s what a lot of the gossip columnists do.
( . . . )
Q: . . . can’t talk? I don’t believe it.
Z: No, I mean like you know, I’m just — I don’t know. (“YOU’VE NEVER” “HH”)
Q: You’ve never been interviewed for someone’s book before?
Z: No. This is like my first time.
Q: Well I remember last time we were talking about possible reincarnation and we decided you were either a bird or a dinosaur. (“RE”)
Z: You remember that?
Q: I remember.
Z: Right.
Q: I don’t forget a thing. And I don’t remember if we discussed your last name and what it’s symbolic meaning was. Did we discuss that?
Z: No, we didn’t.
Q: Do you know —
Z: My last name — I don’t remember that part.
Q: And where are you from again?
Z: Persia.
Q: Persia?! Oh my God, that’s just fraught with possibilities.
Z: Yes.
Q: Isn’t that? (“WAR”) I mean my God — (“DID YOU”)
Z: Yeah. You didn’t know that?
Q: Well I couldn’t remember. I mean — (“BUT”) I remember going to that exhibit. Did you go to that exhibit in Westwood?
Z: No.
Q: Oh my God.
Z: When was it?
Q: It was about a year ago.
Z: Was it about, like, Persian culture or . . .
Q: It had all these wonderful artifacts from Persia. Oh it was beautiful.
Z: Oh I want you to go and see this movie. It’s beautiful.
Q: What?
Z: There’ve been, like, two things in the Cannes festival. The name of it is “White Balloon.” And they show it up the street in . . . there is this theatre right across the street from Kate Mantilini.
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: AT THE TIME, I HAD THOUGHT ZOYA SAID “SHOT IT UP THE STREET” INSTEAD OF “SHOW IT UP THE STREET.”)
Q: What is it about?
Z: It’s so beau(tiful) — it’s about this seven-year-old girl. You know my new year is coming up. It’s 21st. March 21st is my new year. So it’s like we celebrate it like Christmas and you have to have, like, certain stuff ready for celebrating. One of them is goldfish. And this seven-year-old girl is going — (“WHY”) well they have a lot of, like, goldfish in their pool because (“SOME”), in fact, the pool is like a small place — small pool that you keep, like, fish — like goldfish in?
Q: Pond or something.
Z: Yeah, exactly. But she doesn’t want them. She wants to buy one. So it’s all about this girl — that she wants to go and get a goldfish.
Q: I think I heard about that.
Z: And her mom can’t afford to get another thing.
Q: Do you know what stars are in it? Do you remember?
Z: No. Well nobody famous. This is, like, people — they just made it (“PLAN”) with a very low budget.
Q: But it’s interesting that it was shot near Kate Mantilini because I’m finding that a lot of names in my life either have the name ‘man’ (“NOW”) or ‘son’ in it. Or ‘bel.’
Z: No.
Q: Yes.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Oh yeah.
Z: That is so —
Q: Or ‘Michael’ — son, man, bel or Michael or my own name Mark.
Z: Wow. (“SO THAT”)
Q: That covers a lot of territory.
Z: That is so . . . (“SO”)
Q: So, anyway — so — not to name names or anything, what is like the most raunchy, gossipy story you’ve heard about celebrities? You don’t have to say the names if you don’t want to. That you’ve heard as a hairdresser in Beverly Hills? My God, you must hear a lot.
Z: The amaz(ing) — yeah — amazing thing was one day they took Richard Gere to the hospital. Know why . . .
Q: Oh yeah. The gerbils. I mean everyone in town knows that.
Z: That was (“LIKE”) amazing thing that they heard about.
Q: But some people don’t think that it’s true.
Z: A lot of them — they think it’s true it happened.
Q: I know someone who worked at the hospital.
Z: That’s it. I had a customer and she’s a nurse . . .
Q: (laughs)
Z: (squeals)
Q: And guess what I hear? Guess what I heard?
Z: Tell me.
Q: He went back for seconds.
Z: (gasps) No.
Q: Yeah.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Did you also hear about his affair with John Travolta?
Z: No.
Q: See this is material I’ve already covered. Or have I? I can’t even remember anymore what I’ve covered and what I haven’t covered. (“Y[OU KN]OW” “NO”) No, I don’t think I did cover that yet. I just thought they would be good casting together in a movie. The good on-screen chemistry. Because, yeah (or “YEAH”), a movie needs good chemistry between its stars.
Z: You’re right. Absolutely.
Q: So I don’t know. But if that’s the best you can do, I’m disappointed. There must be something better than that.
Z: Yeah.
Q: Okay, what? What?
Z: Let me think. Well but I can’t say names, though. I mean that’s —
Q: You can if you want. You can say first names or initials.
Z: I can’t.
Q: Okay, don’t.
Z: I can’t. Like I don’t think I want to do it because —
Q: No, just say ‘producer.’
Z: — I mean people —
Q: Just say ‘producer,’ ‘director’ or ‘actor.’ That’s all.
Z: Well —
Q: You don’t have to say anything. Don’t say anything. Just say what they did. That’s what I want to find out.
Z: What they did — well I just know like one — well I knew the guy because he used to come here. And he was a very, very famous photographer.
Q: Ohhh. Okay.
Z: And I think he was having a night out with all these — like three — three people that I know. I can’t say the name. That’s the thing . . . (“HE”) they did so much drugs, the guy dies.
Q: (gasps) The photographer died?
Z: Yeah. This is like two years ago. Yeah.
Q: Well you can name the name if he’s dead.
Z: But I can’t say — I can’t say —
Q: Because you have mutual friends.
Z: No.
Q: Oh, okay.
Z: No.
Q: Why are people so paranoid about naming names?
Z: Well (“BECA”) because . . . you say one name and then —
Q: For example, in my book I say that Don Simpson would defecate on prostitutes wearing plastic bags on his feet and I’m not worried about it. You know? What’s your response to that?
Z: Yeah, because I mean . . .
Q: He’s dead.
Z: . . . Yeah and well even the thing that you say, you can believe it or you can not believe it. This is Hollywood.
Q: Exactly.
Z: You know? So —
Q: But usually in Hollywood you can believe it.
Z: You can believe it. I know. You bet you can believe it.
Q: Yeah.
Z: Sibi, do you know any gossip? Come here.
Q: Come here, come here.
Z: Come here.
Q: It’s for my book.
Z: Yeah.
Q: You don’t have to name names or anything.
S: I don’t know any gossip, though. (“BUT”)
Z: Celebrity gossip?
Q: But, anyway, I want to include anyway what you told me last time about reincarnation. You are a princess, right?
S: Yes.
Z: See, you remember?
Q: You were a prin(cess) — and what’s your name again?
S: Sibi.
Q: Spell that for my book.
S: S — I — B — I.
Q: And last name?
S: Really? Do I —
Q: You don’t have to. But does it have ‘man’ or ‘son’ or ‘bel’ or ‘mark’ in it?
S: Man or son or bel or Mark?
Q: Or something religious? No, okay. Okay.
S: Not really. (“YOU”)
Q: You’d be surprised because symbolically it might have something — see, that’s what my book is about.
S: Probably not.
Q: You never know. What is it? Just tell me. You’re safe.
S: I’ll tell you later.
Q: It’ll be a long time before the book is out.
S: Blazic.
Q: Oh right. And spell that.
S: B — L — A — Z — I — C.
Q: It does — I’m sure it means something. I don’t know what. And where are you from again?
S: Yugoslavia.
Q: My God, you’re my first person from Yugoslavia.
S: Really?
Q: I mean isn’t that — what do you think about what’s going on there now?
S: Oh, I don’t have a comment on that.
Q: No, I know. I know.
S: Yeah.
Q: Well I do. I think that (“IT’S”) the most horrible thing in the world is happening and I can’t believe more isn’t being done. In fact, I have like a very valuable antique (“I”) and I’m — if I can sell it or auction it, I’m going to give all the money to the people of Bosnia, I’ve decided.
S: Oh wow, that’s really nice.
Q: Yeah. But last time we were talking about reincarnation. You thought you might be a princess.
S: I really think so. (small laugh)
Q: Yeah. And that’s why — and I think I might’ve been like a king or something in ancient Egypt. So that’s why I’m sort of having a hard time getting my book published. So —
S: (laughs)
Q: We’re paying — (“WE”) well let’s just say that God wants us to know — He thinks that we’re more happy when we have to struggle for every little thing we get in life because then we are more appreciative for the good things.
S: Oh good.
Q: Do you agree with that?
S: I’m on my way then.
Q: Yeah. Because (“YEAH”) rich people don’t appreciate anything.
S: I know. But that’s also how they, you know — how they were raised and brought up.
Q: Right. That’s the exact point I’m making.
S: I was raised an only child and I got (“MM”) — I mean anything a kid would want and I appreciate everything.
Q: Did you ever want to be —
S: I appreciate waking up and looking at the beautiful day, which many people don’t.
Q: See? This proves my point. This exactly proves my point. And, look, you’re very pretty. You could be an actress. Have you ever —
S: Think so? No.
Q: Have you ever thought about that?
S: I’ve acted my whole life.
Q: We all act in our own life.
S: Yeah. I’ve never done it professionally — you know.
Q: But what do you think when people (“LIKE”) who are less talented than you are winning Academy Awards and most of them are lesbians?
S: They must’ve done something really outrageous to get where they are.
Q: Slept with somebody?
S: I don’t —
Q: You don’t know. You’re probably the only person who works in a hair salon who doesn’t hear good gossip. You don’t have to name names or anything (“YEAH” “LIKE”) or even it could be (from) friends. What’s the most scandalous thing you’ve heard? You don’t have to say names or anything. (“O” “BULLET”)
S: I don’t know. (“OKAY” “I DON’T”) I don’t really —
Q: You don’t care about that.
S: Yeah. (“IT’S NN”) I really don’t pay attention.
Q: What about paranor(mal) — you’ve never had any paranormal activities?
S: (shakes head)
Q: What’s your favorite movie this year?
S: My favorite movie this year? (“ADAM”) It was — let me think about (that).
Q: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: I was just talking about ‘bel’ and ‘mark’ and saw — and look: Happy at the Bel-Air by Gwen Davis is right there.
Z: I know.
Q: What did I tell you?
Z: Is that so weird?
Q: Uh-huh.
( . . . )
S: . . . but it’s not one of my favorites.
Q: “Babe” isn’t one of your favorites?
S: No.
Q: What is? Did you see “Leaving Las Vegas”?
S: Yeah. Very — yeah. I saw that.
Q: What did you think?
S: I liked it but at this time in my life it wasn’t a thing for me to see.
Q: (laughs)
( . . . )
Q: I’m speaking with Jackie Moore who’s having a cut at the same time as me and she’s from England. (“AND”) She might be related to Roger Moore.
J: I wish.
Q: I’m sure you are if you go back far enough. There has to be a connection.
J: Possibly so. I tell people that to get in restaurants but I don’t know how well it works.
Q: I’m sure it’s true.
J: (small laugh)
Q: I’m sure. Okay. So, anyway, I’m doing this book on Hollywood. Do you work in the film business or —
J: I’m in the interior design business.
Q: Same thing in Hollywood. So you have a lot of great clients.
J: I Have a few.
Q: A lot of stars and directors and producers? (“WE”)
J: We — we’ve done about quite a few big homes and —
Q: See, I worked at Paramount for seven years so I know everybody at Paramount.
J: Ohh.
Q: Do you know anyone over there like Sherry Lansing or anybody? No? So — anyway, so I’m doing this like ‘tell-all’ book about Hollywood but I’m not naming names —
J: I see.
Q: — when I can help it. So what’s the most scandalous gossip you’ve heard? You don’t have to name names or anything.
J: Scandalous? I don’t know about scandalous. I know about rudeness or —
Q: Rudeness is fine.
J: Rudeness is fine?
Z: Speak it out, Jackie.
J: (laughs) Well one particular couple — the wife — the husband is the more famous of the two.
Q: Yeah?
J: I would describe her as extremely rude and the kind of person who thinks of others that they must be the minions around—you know, that they must do whatever for that person?—and actually doesn’t have very much up top. You know, most of the time there was extremely — had to look to other people all the time for opinions: “What do you think? What do you think I should think? What do you think — ”
Z: Oh, we have some many people — all these Beverly Hills people are like that.
Q: This could be any woman in Hollywood.
J: “What do you think I like? What do you think I should do? What do you think?”
Z: “What do you think I look?” I mean come on.
Q: Exactly.
J: “Do you like that? Do you like —” “I like that.” “You like that?” “I don’t know.” “Do you like that?”
Q: Now the truth is coming out now. The essential truth of life in Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
J: It is true.
Z: Oh yeah.
J: It is true and the more money people have, the less they spend.
Q: And the less secure they are — the more (“YES”) insecure they are.
J: Yes.
Q: They’re afraid that someone’s going to take away their $500 million from their bank account.
J: That’s right.
Q: (laughs)
Z: That is so true.
J: It is true.
Z: That is so true.
Q: And meanwhile we have (“HOW” or “HOWE”), like, Bosnia going on. Ohh.
J: That’s right. And I don’t begrudge anybody anything but when it supposedly has to come out of someone else’s pocket like mine — hmmm —
Z: Yeah.
Q: Right.
J: — uhhh no. (“RIGHT” “SO” “WHAT HH”)
Q: What was the rudeness about?
J: Well we were basically trying to do their condo in New York and there was a great deal of confusion about the pieces, the colors, the designs and so forth and so on that were very, very well explained. And just all kinds of — never returning phone calls, never would come to my shop — I always had to go over there, had to go in through the back door, always kept waiting, someone always on the phone.
Q: Everyone in the world’s going to think, “Oh my God, she’s talking about me.”
J: Yeah.
Z: (laughs)
Q: (laughs)
J: “Stand over there. Don’t serve them coffee. Don’t look at the painting.” (“IT’S LIKE”) You know, that kind of thing.
Q: They all think that they — (“LIKE THEY”) that there’s something special about them — that they deserve limos and all this. (“NO”)
J: It is.
Q: They all think they all deserve, like, limos. They all think that they’re God.
J: That’s true.
Q: They think they’re little gods and goddesses and all the people around them are just there to serve them and bask in their glory. And that’s one of the themes of my book. (“THAT”) What about eternal life? Is God going to want them to be a good companion? I mean He has his own Ego, right?
J: Oh it’s lovely. As always.
Q: I love that. I love your hair. (“IT’S”)
J: Thank you.
Q: I’m going to describe it for my tape recorder. It’s short. It’s —
Z: Isn’t it gorgeous?
Q: — great.
J: Zoya always does such a nice job.
Q: What is your secret, Zoya? You told me once before.
Z: I know what I did and I’m an artist.
Q: Exactly.
J: See? You are.
Z: Yeah.
J: You certainly are.
Z: I really do want — I mean I lo(ve) — I get goose bumps when I see my hairdo. I mean is that crazy? That’s sickening. (small laugh) (“THAT’S BATTY” “LIAR”) . . .
J: I love what I do too. You should enjoy what you do.
Z: You look beautiful.
J: Thank you.
Z: Now you can (“CHANGE”) change places and just —
Q: Okay. Well thank you very much.
J: Thank you very much. Nice to meet you.
Q: Okay.
( . . . )
Q: I’m doing a very nice tell-all book about Hollywood and I’m not naming names when I can help it.
U: Right. (“BUT”)
Q: I’m getting great dirt like the fact that —
( . . . )
(TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: I TURNED OFF THE TAPE RECORDER MOMENTARILY TO AVOID BEING REPETITIVE.)
Q: . . . I’m trying to get really good gossip. You don’t have to name names or anything but what’s like the best you’ve heard? Nothing like gerbils. (“AN”) That’s all old business. (“YOU KNOW”)
U: Well I do — I did get cruised very heavily by Arnold Schwarzenegger out here on the sidewalk one day.
Q: Right. I’ve heard that he’s had all kinds of sexual affairs with, like, famous stars.
Z: What?!
Q: What?
Z: No.
U: I caught him staring at my ass one day.
Z: . . . beautiful, Jackie.
J: Thank you.
Q: I’m trying to remember who it was that they had him paired up with. Some other — was it Sylvester Stallone? I can’t remember.
J: It probably was Stallone.
Z: How are you going to pay, honey? . . .
Q: I think that I had heard that once but you always have to wonder about those big —
U: You never know what’s really —
Q: — steroided-up people. (“YEAH” “YOU NN”)
U: You never know what’s true and what’s not.
Q: Exactly. It’s all gossip.
U: You never know what’s true (“YOU NEVER”) and what’s not.
Q: But you usually think it’s true. (“BUT”)
U: Yeah, we want to think it’s true because it’s so much funnier if it’s true.
Q: It’s so much fun. (“COURSE” “YES”)
( . . . )
Q: Who did you say?
Z: Michael.
Q: Get it?
Z: And he’s a sweetheart.
Q: Michael is one of those names —
Z: Yeah.
Q: — that I told you about.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Yeah.
Z: Get out of here.
Q: Now who is he again? Who is he?
Z: Al Michael.
Q: And where’s he from? I mean what — where does he work?
Z: Well, you know, he’s the sport . . .
Q: Oh. At CNN.
Z: Yeah.
Q: Okay. But there’s another Michael. (“DD”) Everywhere I go there are Michaels.
Z: This is so —
Q: Isn’t that weird?
Z: We were just talking about that.
Q: I know.
( . . . )
Q: Okay, Zoya, what is — what do you think about your name? What does it mean or what have you heard? (“BB”)
Z: Well you heard about Danielle Steele’s book. (“ONE O[F]”) My name is that Zoya.
Q: Right?
Z: Okay. Another why I know because my dad — not a communist but he always believed, in, like, communist government so he chose my name. My name is Russian.
Q: Oh.
Z: And I — well the story that I heard was Zoya was a . . . which is a guy, like, against the government. And they were chasing the guy. They couldn’t find him. They went to the school — learned that his daughter was going to school. And she was, like, maybe thirteen/fourteen years old. (“YEAH”) And they kept asking her, like you know, “Where’s your dad?” — this, that. (“YEAH”) And she didn’t say. So in front of the school they hanged her. That’s how — (“ME”) this is one story that I heard.
Q: So he named you after that? (“EVEN”)
Z: Yes. (“YEAH” “O[NE]”)
Q: One of the things in my book —
Z: But you know Zoe means life in Greece.
Q: Right. (or “RIGHT”) Now we’re getting . . .
Z: Yeah. In Greek language.
Q: And your last name is spelled —
Z: Moghadan.
Q: M — O — G — H — A — D — A — N.
Z: And that’s — that means ‘first.’ Like first thing of everything you want to do like — what do you say — like you know how you say it in English? Like before anything else.
Q: Priority.
Z: Priority. That’s the meaning of my last — for — yeah.
Q: So ‘life is your priority’ is your name. . . .
Z: Oh my God, yes. And I love life. And I do love life. Do you know I just turned forty-two, by the way. January 3rd was my birthday.
Q: So this person who was killed — she died before you were born and you were named after her. (“THEM”)
Z: Oh my God. Maybe.
Q: Well guess what? I’m finding in my reincarnation studies — people come up to ne and tell me (about) their reincarnation. They usually are the person they’re named after (“NO”) in their new life.
Z: Really?
Q: So you could be the (“OF THE”) reincarnation of this woman.
Z: (gasps) Don’t. I mean come on, give me a . . . look at me, I have goose bumps . . .
Q: Oh that’s because maybe you innately know it’s true.
Z: I do beli(eve) — I don’t know. I do believe in reincarnation. I told you. And I —
Q: Yeah, exactly. (“NO” “SO”)
Z: Maybe this is true because I never thought about my last name, you know, as I’m saying, a — priority.
Q: And doesn’t it sound like something you would do?
Z: Oh yeah.
Q: (laughs)
Z: Honey, this is it. Yes.
Q: Exactly.
Z: Oh absolutely. I never sell anybody — nobody. That’s not —
Q: Karma.
Z: That’s not me.
Q: Karma. But you’re not going to make that mistake again in this life. Whatever you — you know, you’d know it’s not worth it.
Z: Yes. (“YEAH”)
Q: You’ve made that sacrifice already.
Z: Absolutely.
Q: And —
Z: Well — but still I’m doing it, though. I’m still sacrificing.
Q: Exactly.
Z: I don’t know what it is.
Q: In a different way.
Z: I (was ) born with it and I’m going to die with it.
Q: You’re giving to others in what you do.
Z: Always. I’m sorry.
U: A lady named . . .
Z: Just one —
( . . . )
Z: . . . thrift store, by the way.
Q: What?
Z: Thrift store — second-hand store.
Q: Once in a while, you find great, great things there.
Z: I l(ove) —
Q: By the way, I notice —
Z: You see my purse?
Q: Yeah. Oh my gosh.
Z: That’s like fifty years old.
Q: That looks like it’s Persian or something.
Z: That’s why I got it, actually. Look how pretty it is. But how old is this?
Q: Yeah. Oh beautiful. It’s probably worth a lot of money.
Z: Isn’t it?
Q: By the way, while you were over there, I looked here and look: “By Jonathan Peterson.” An article in the Los Angeles Times by Jonathan Peterson. And I must ask you, how did you get your keys inside the newspaper like that? That’s uncanny.
Z: Oh my God.
Q: No, look — look. Try to get them out. You can’t get them out.
Z: You can’t get the key out?
Q: How did you — it’s like how did you do that?
Z: Get out of here. Here.
Q: Isn’t that weird? Oh, you got it out.
Z: That was — (“SIL”)
Q: Oh it’s not too bad. Okay.
Z: Yeah. That is so strange.
Q: I thought it was strange.
Z: Because sometimes I do — you don’t even, you know — you don’t even — (“MY”)
Q: My Entity likes to hide people’s keys.
Z: Excuse me?
Q: My Entity likes to hide people’s keys. Have you lost your keys recently?
Z: Oh my God.
Q: Have you misplaced them for a while? Or anything?
Z: Yes. Misplaced them.
Q: What? Oh really — keys?
Z: Yes.
Q: Well everyone does that but He might be doing it to everyone. (laughs) Isn’t that funny?
Z: . . . did Brian call? There is — okay, great.
Q: Isn’t that weird?
Z: This is so amazing. Oh my God. (“HE MIGHT”)
Q: He might be an — because, you know, Angels can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Z: I believe in that. I believe in angels. (“SO IT”) I have angels all over my place, you know.
Q: Oh my God.
Z: I have — on the wall. (“I AM”) Everywhere.
Q: Are any of them named Mighael?
Z: Huh?
Q: Are you familiar with the Angel Mighael?
Z: Yes, of course.
Q: And do you have any pictures of Him? (“NO I”)
Z: No, I used to carry, like, couple pictures but — because I used to, like, drop my purse everywhere. I don’t have any more. No.
Q: If you could make love to any star, man or — in the world, (“WHO”) who would you choose? Regardless of who they’re married to.
Z: Wait wait wait wait.
Q: Who?
Z: If I’m going to make love to a star —
( . . . )
Z: Sibi.
Q: Sibi says John Travolta?
Z: Yes.
S: What was the question?
Z: Oh please. The man that’s going to — you want to make love to? Celebrity?
S: Oh.
Q: That’s a good answer.
Z: Yeah, that’s a good answer. But you know what? Why do I want — why do I do want to make love?
Q: Or it can be a woman. (“I KNOW”) I’m — (“NO” “WE’RE THE”)
Z: No. Excuse me. I’m picking a straight —
Q: (laughs)
Z: What’s . . .
Q: I’m just saying —
Z: Excuse me. I love men.
Q: Okay.
Z: I do. I act cold but I love men.
Q: Right.
( . . . )
Q: There must be someone you’ve fantasized over, over the years.
Z: I know.
Q: Or had a crush on.
Z: I’m thinking.
S: Antonio Banderas.
Q: What did you say? We couldn’t hear you.
Z: Oh baby.
Q: Who did she say?
Z: Antonio Banderas.
Q: Oh my goodness. Did you hear that story about Melanie Griffith and him recently?
Z: No. What —
Q: They were in a small town in Spain. And the peasants were all saying, “You whores. You sluts.” Because they both left their families to be with each other.
Z: No.
Q: Yes.
Z: No.
Q: They’re both married and have kids and they’re f___ing each other. And they don’t think there’s anything wrong with that? (“IS”)
Z: Is Banderas married? I didn’t know that . . .
Q: Of course.
Z: I cannot believe that. (“WHY DO THEY THINK THEY”)
Q: Why do they think they can get away with that? These stars?
Z: I know. I know. I know. (“ME”)
Q: You and I both know that Melanie Griffith is not that talented when it comes to acting.
Z: Yeah. Oh please. She can’t even open her mouth and she can’t even talk. “Mee mee mee.”
Q: And yet she gets paid millions of dollars.
Z: I know.
Q: And she’s done a lot of Paramount movies that I did the press kits for.
Z: Yeah?
Q: Like “Milk Money,” “Nobody’s Fool” with Paul Newman. She’s always — let’s just face it. Each performance is worse than the one before and she’s always the same. And she was —
Z: And she’s so bad. I mean the way she carries herself. I don’t know.
Q: Oh my God. You know who she used to be married to, don’t you?
Z: Huh?
Q: Do you know she — Don Johnson.
Z: Yes?
Q: Well the ‘son’ name again. Isn’t that weird?
Z: That is so strange.
Q: So wait. Did you think of a man yet that you’d like to make love to? Some movie star? It can be someone who isn’t famous now like Mickey Rourke or someone like that.
Z: Who do you like?
Q: Who do I like?
Z: Yeah.
Q: My Angel is so jealous and possessive.
Z: Hey, oh my God . . . how’re you doing?
B: Good.
Z: What are you doing here?
B I was figuring I’d get my hair cut.
Z: Really? It’s so funny. I was thinking about you — and how’s . . . doing?
B Still doing well.
Z: Great.
B: Very well.
Q: You have to say his first name for my book.
B: I’ll go put some money in my meter.
Z: Yes, please do that.
Q: What’s his name, Zoya, for my book?
Z: This is the second time he’s come to me. I think Ben.
Q: Ben? (“OKAY”) So that’s not — and is he an actor?
Z: And he’s an actor. Yeah. (“YEAH”) He’s a brand new actor.
Q: Really?
Z: Yeah, he’s trying to work. (“YEAH”)
Q: That’s another mystery — is why some people become famous.
( . . . )
Q: No, I mean (“I SHOULD”) I should give you — (“LIKE A”) if I don’t remember to put it on the outside cover of my book, on the photos that were taken outside —
Z: You are so sweet.
Q: People should know that Zoya —
Z: Hair and moustache with Zoya. The beauty —
Q: Exactly. You were my image consultant.
Z: The beauty concept. Absolutely.
Q: Exactly. So when my book comes out —
Z: You are so sweet.
Q: So when my comes out, you’re going to get a lot of publicity.
Z: You better remember when become like rich and famous — Zoya did your hair.
Q: Oh hell, honey, then you’ll have to be coming up to my house to do my hair. (laughs)
Z: Absolutely. I will fly up there, honey.
Q: Exactly. No, I’m just kidding. I was going to say “fly like a little bird.”
Z: Oh yes.
Q: Notice that “fly”?
Z: Yeah? (O)kay, I love your hair.
B: Thank you.
Z: Do you like it? Like did you get . . . like getting the way — okay.
Q: Come here for a moment. I’m interviewing her for a book on Hollywood.
B: Oh really?
Z: Come here.
Q: Yeah. And it’s about names and actors. Like last night —
Z: And gossip.
Q: Yeah. But last night I was interviewing a waiter and I thought he was very close to the energy of River Phoenix. (“SO”) Now you’re an actor.
B: Uh-huh. (“DO YOU HAVE”)
Q: Do you have a good agent?
B: No.
Q: No?
B: I don’t even have an agent.
Q: Are you new in town?
B: I have a manager. No, I’ve been here for about a year.
Q: And what’s your name?
B: Ben King.
Q: King?
B: King. K — I — N — G.
Q: My mother’s maiden name was King.
B: My mother’s maiden — oh, your mother’s maiden name was King?
Q: Yes. Her real name.
B: My mother’s maiden name was Klein.
Q: Really? (“WWA”)
B: Yeah.
Q: So we’re probably related?
B: It’s a chance.
Q: Somewhere.
Z: (laughs)
B: Well actually my grandfather’s name was King and he — his original name was erlmutter but he was a violinist in Vegas. He had to change his name to fit the billboard so —
Z: Wow.
B: — he chose King somehow. I’m not really too sure.
Q: Oh, he chose the name?
B: He chose the name.
Q: Well then maybe we aren’t related. But we’re all related from Adam and Eve.
B: Correct.
Z: So we’re all related. (“SO”)
Q: Tell a little bit about what it’s like getting started in Hollywood.
B: You just have to really not be afraid to use every single connection you’ve ever had in your life. You have to —
Z: Wow.
B: You have to have a sharp memory because you have to remember the people who you grew up with who are now working in the business, friends of yours, relatives, anybody who you know who can open doors for you, you have to utilize. I think there was an expression that they said that, “You’re not a fool for using the connections you have; you’re only a” — or “You’re not a fool for not opening — not letting people — not asking people to open doors for you; you’re only a fool for not going in them.” No. (or “NO”) Something to that effect if you don’t — you don’t use your connections, you can’t —
Q: So I worked for seven years at Paramount and like Sherry Lansing isn’t returning my calls at the moment. So I’m going to write her a letter. I might even reveal the fact that her husband is sleeping with other women, depending on how pissed-off I am at the time. Because I found that out in one of my interviews. (“WELL HER”) She’s married to William Friedkin, who I used to think was gay. But, anyway, (“VE”) have you heard any good gossip (“WHILE YOU”) while you’ve been here?
B: Gossip?
Q: I guess not. But you could — (“YOU COULD”) stay away from the casting couch. (“THERE’S A”)
B: No.
Q: There’s a big —
B: Well I don’t get involved in that.
Q: Yeah, but there will be pressure put on you to get involved in that.
B: Yeah, but I have a girlfriend and I’m going —
Q: I know. I know.
B: — to maybe marry her. And I’m — (“RIGHT”)
Q: Good for you.
B: I’m a loyal human being. That’s the thing is also you don’t have to compromise your —
Z: That’s what I want to say. Exactly . . .
B: Your values (“THAT’S”) just because you’re an actor in this business. People say, “Oh yeah, you’re going to get so screwed up.”
Z: That is ex(actly) — yeah. (or “YEAH”)
B: That’s baloney. I don’t believe that for a second.
Q: So what are some of the things you’ve done so far?
B: Just commercials really. I did — this year I got a great commercial agent and I’ve done — I did five commercials.
Q: Wow.
B: I did Ford . . .
Q: That’s great.
B: . . . (another name hard to hear) commercial. I did a Zest commercial. I did a Corn Flakes for Europe. I did a “Pocahontas”/Burger King commercial. Yellow Pages.
Z: God, you’re busy kid.
Q: That’s great.
B: This year — or in ’95 actually.
Z: Good for you. ‘I knew him when.’
B: So in ’96 I’m still stalling at the gate.
Q: And you look very — (“YOU DON’T”) there’s no one else who looks like you.
B: Yeah. That’s true. (“REINCARNA”)
Q: Like if you were the reincarnation of somebody, who do you think you’d be the reincarnation of?
B: You know, it’s really funny but a lot of people — because I’m tall, 6’4″, and I weight just about 200 pounds, a lot of people — it sounds kind of funny — but say I look like John Wayne when I walk.
Q: Wow.
B: And (“JUST”) I kind of . . . sometimes when I walk.
Q: Did he die before you were born? (“YEAH”)
B: Well no he didn’t so I guess I couldn’t be.
Q: Well no, it’s possible. Trust me. It’s possible. (laughs)
B: To tell you the truth —
Q: You’re the splinters.
B: No, I — yeah.
Q: There are these books called Messages From Michael (that) talk about, like, there are a thousand people who make up an entity so you could be part of the same entity.
B: That’s true maybe.
Q: Yeah.
B: Maybe.
Q: I’m channeling ‘Michael’ apparently. (“I”) ‘Only in Hollywood’ — ‘only in L.A.’ (laughs) Los Angeles? The Angel Mighael? Okay so thank you. We’re done, aren’t we?
Z: You’re done. Yes . . .
( . . . )
Q: Oh my God. Look — Tracey Ullman —
Z: Yeah.
Q: — is on the cover of Calendar.
Z: Oh really? (small laugh)
Q: Oh my God.
Z: I know. Ullman. (“PIT”)
Q: Lari Pittman drawings. What did I tell you?
Z: (to another customer) Honey, you can go get some food, if you want. Please.
Q: Can you believe this? Oh my God, William Wilson.
Z: Andy Garcia.
Q: Look at this article. You like Andy Garcia?
Z: Yes, I do.
Q: I’ve met Andy Garcia.
Z: I love Andy Garcia. He’s adorable. He’s cute. Mmm and —
Q: He’s taken. (laughs)
Z: I know. That’s okay. (“YEAH”) I just like him.
Q: That’s what I said.
Z: No, I just —
Q: I said to choose a man that you would be attracted to.
Z: And there are plenty of girls who want him but, you know, that’s the kind of guy that I get attracted to. Dark —
Q: Oh my gosh. But did you see this? Look, there’s an article on Tracey: “Tracey Takes Charge.” Tracey Ullman. We have then “The Decadent Decor of Pittman’s Drawings.” When I get home, I’ll have to go through and find how many other ‘man’s and ‘son’s I can find again.
Z: I know.
Q: But every day there’s something. Like I bet — turn to the column. I bet there’s someone with the name ‘man’ or ‘Michael’ or something. Let’s see. Liz Smith: Bo Jackson. Can you believe this? It’s eerie, isn’t it?
Z: Do you know — why? (“DOES”) Because Dusty is going to walk in, in a few minutes. Ask him . . . (“LOOK”)
Q: And David Letterman too. David Letterman.
Z: I know. Why is this so weird, baby?
S: “So why did you do your hair?”
Z: I love you hair like this.
S: I said, “For myself.” He said, “No. What’s going to happen?”
Q: Oh, it looks great.
S: I said (or “I SAID”), “Nothing’s going to happen. You said I look like a slob all the time and then I do my hair for a special occasion —”
Z: I know.
Q: You know you have a Lauren Bacall quality about you.
S: I don’t have the —
Q: What? You do. You do.
Z: So beautiful . . .
Q: You’ve got a wonderful Bacall quality. You know, people are going to read my book and they’re going to want to cast you in movies.
S: (laughs)
Q: They are.
Z: I know, baby. Instead of being a lawyer, you can be actress.
S: And let me tell you, I can do it.
Z: Which one?
S: Acting. I can cry like this. (snaps fingers)
Z: See.
Q: See?
Z: See.
Q: You were meant for this business.
?: No.
Z: Any crying part though — I don’t know.
Q: And you haven’t had a tit job yet.
S: Not yet. It’s all natural.
Q: Don’t have one. (“THAT’S”) That’s what people are going to like in the New Age. Natural.
S: I don’t think so because they’re deflating. (small laugh)
Q: That’s okay. It’s normal.
S: I’m joking.
Q: Okay.
Z: I love you, Sebe.
Q: Ohh.
Z: She’s a sweetie. So it’s always good talking to you, honey.
Q: Yes. (“NO”)
Z: Always.
Q: Always working. You know me. So I’ll give you my credit (card), if I can somehow.
Z: That’s fine.
Q: I’ll just include the interview maybe.
Z: Yeah yeah yeah.
( . . . )
Q: There are ‘son’ and ‘man.’ ‘Bel.’ And ‘king’ is another one I realize. ‘King.’ And ‘Michael.’ They keep coming up. That’s why I think I might be ‘Son of Man.’ Because of all this. This is so weird.
Z: You’re right.
Q: So, anyway, have a good day.
Z: You too, sweetheart. (“SO”) Good luck to your book.
Q: I think in every book about Hollywood, you should have ‘one day at the salon.’
Z: I know.
Q: To give a feeling for (“LI”) what life is really like in Hollyweird.
S: Yeah, that’s what a lot of the gossip columnists do.
.gif)