This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed Human.

Here's what sometimes happens in Hollywood.

It's a cautionary tale that we've all heard in a million books and movies and pop songs.

A young, sometimes talented actor or filmmaker goes out to L.A. to pursue their dream.

Get seduced by the flash and glamour of the industry before they've done the hard work of mastering their craft.

And what does it always lead to? They get chewed up and spit out.

There's a reason the cliche exists.

Roll Doll is 26. He has one published story to his name. One. He's never read a screenplay before, let alone written one. But the most successful producer in Hollywood history, more than him in a sec, has just flown D.C. all the way from D.C. to Beverly Hills, where he throws a lavish welcome party in Doll's honor. The guest list is like the front row at the Oscars. Giant movie stars, beautiful actresses, all looking ridiculous because they're dressed

up as tiny green creatures. Why you ask? Because those are the main characters in Dahl's short

story, The Gremlins. Imagine the head trip for Dahl seeing all this, just strolling through

the party, champagne in hand, looking at his boyhood heroes and his greatest fantasies,

in these ridiculous costumes based on creatures he thought up sitting in his underpants in his tiny walk-up apartment in D.C.

He doesn't know whether to laugh hysterically or cry at the absurd sight.

A powerful producer throws his beefy arm around doll's shoulders.

The producer ushers doll through the party and guides him over to a little man who's currently delating a whole circle of giggling women by the bar.

The producer wants to introduce Stahl.

The little man turns around, sees that the producer is giving him the eye,

looks doll up and down, then winks at him,

followed by an exaggerated theatrical

bow, as if welcoming the young writer into a secret society. Like everybody else, the little

man is dressed up as a green monster, but despite the costume, doll recognizes him. Of course he does.

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