Conversations at the crossroads; An interview with Screenwriter and TikToker, Neal Gumpel
Join us Wednesday, January 24th on Calling Old Hollywood, as my guest Screenwriter Neal Gumpel and I talk Hollywood, Films, Existentialism, and how we both wound up in a respite called Tennessee
Join us Wednesday, January 24th on Calling Old Hollywood, as my guest Screenwriter Neal Gumpel and I discuss Hollywood and the entertainment industry, Films, AI, Existentialism, and how we both wound up nursing wounds in Tennessee
For a few months in 2023, I caved and became a content creator on TikTok by way of my passion for film history. I’d drive around Los Angeles and film 15 - 30 seconds of historic Hollywood locations, edit them, and post to the platform in efforts to keep history alive. This ranged from Tina Turner’s home to Gloria Swanson, Cary Grant, Betty White, and countless classic stars. From filming locations of ‘Three’s Company’ to ‘Whatever happened to baby Jane?’, historic recording studios, graves, and landmarks. A video I published of Dean Martin’s abandoned home in Palm Springs reached over one million views in a few hours. My audience skyrocketed; this happened a few more times on the app. Strangers of all ages all over the world began writing to me, encouraging what I was contributing to social media.
Some of you are thinking, “ That’s great, Kat…but TikTok is a young person thing, it’s not my cup of tea.” Keep in mind, this is coming from someone who vehemently protested the app until last year, because I assumed the same thing. I’d written it off until I was persuaded by a friend to film historic locations.
One afternoon scrolling the app, I came across a man who reminded me of my own friends in the film industry in Los Angeles. I immediately picked up what he was putting down in his videos. His name is Neal Gumpel and he is a screenwriter, an accidental one at that — who fell into the role as a screenwriter, following a chance encounter of his script being read by Irish Filmmaker Jim Sheridan, best known for ‘My Left Foot’, ‘The Field’, and ‘The Boxer’. Neal’s story isn’t uncommon in the uncommon showbiz sense. He was discovered by a successful filmmaker in New York, asked to leave his day job on the pretense of his script being turned into a film, taken to Hollywood in the presence of entertainment greats, and just as his new dream began to take flight — it was shot down mid-air. The movie wasn’t made. What sets Neal apart is while it was a devastating blow, the experience revealed his gift for telling a story, and a greater purpose for his life. He hasn’t stopped screenwriting.
Neal was persuaded to create TikTok videos like I was, by a supportive friend and their power of persuasion, while we kicked and screamed about it. In his sixties he has established a following on the platform, giving brutally honest advice to entertainment industry hopefuls, and tutelage when it comes to screenwriting. He lends a well of insight on ‘what-not-to-do’ and ‘what-to-do’, born from his own experiences in Hollywood and the Entertainment Industry. He is a self-proclaimed ‘reverse lifecoach’, sharing personal stories in efforts to reveal understanding, and help preserve the wellbeing of the doe-eyed, tail tucked newbies with sights set on success among predators in the jungle of Tinseltown. Neal also shares engaging, fruitful and hilarious stories of his time with Actors like Joe Pesci, Farrah Fawcett and Ben Stiller, and encounters with Jack Nicholson and Scarlett Johansson. From his content he’s derived opportunities which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. It goes to show, there is something to be said for being yourself and taking a risk, even if highly reluctant. Around the mountain of hesitation — you might find a stream of abundance.
So how do you like Tennessee?
In June of 2023, I exchanged a few messages with Neal’s producer regarding him being a guest on my show, ‘Calling Old Hollywood’. The timing wasn’t in favor for either, I also had alot going on, so I let it go.
Late September 2023 my Father passed away, following a months long dormant work period for me back home in Los Angeles. With the entertainment industry on strike, watching my friends— professionals in film and tv protesting on the lines at the film lots, it affected everything and everyone. Creative types are all crazy in some capacity. Take us out of work and watch idle hands go nuts. Now imagine nearly an entire city of idle hand creatives. How did Hollywood not burn to the ground? Or did It? The final thread in my unraveling was the loss of my Father. I had no strength left to weave. A glimmer of light shined in the throes of my dark hour, an offer to spend the winter in Tennessee. Tennessee? yeah, I know. I’d been there twice before in my life, and appreciated the music history but, Tennessee? Under any other circumstance I wouldn’t have accepted, but I knew in my bones I needed to go away for awhile and heal. I took the risk and left home late October for this new place where I knew all of two people. I felt like Mark Twain on an expedition; in search of spiritual and emotional healing, redemption, and creative inspiration. I’d meet people and garner experiences to write about and share when I go back home to LA. Come what may, let’s see what happens beneath new skies for awhile.
Two months into Tennessee on a quiet evening, I scrolled TikTok to pass the time. It’d been months since I’d opened the app. Neal popped up in the feed and was in the midst of a livestream. He was speaking to his audience in real-time, about Tennessee. I scratched my head, then sent a message inquiring about what I thought I heard.
We discovered ourselves in a quirky and synchronistic situation, nearly comical. We learned life dealt us identical cards thirty years apart in age, and we played them the same way down to the state we sought to heal in. Neal had recently buried his Mother, then moved to Tennessee with his wife [Former Actress and Model] Helen, on the heels of a myriad of things in his life weighing so hard they nearly broke him. They knew no one in the state, and decided on a whim to take the risk. Why does this sound so familiar?
A meeting and recognition of souls on the frontlines who’ve been worse for the wear, and with Tennessee — a character unto itself. With southern skies for shelter, a respite and a refuge, welcome to the proverbial hospital, my friend. A place to get better and gather thoughts, mend broken hearts, bandage wounds, admire the rivers and study new culture. A place to disrobe internally worn armor, allow what is to be, rest among the trees and think of what comes next in life and purpose. A quality most creatives are stitched with that I cherish, is the ability to see things differently in artful and poetic ways. Naturally, I love people who don’t squint at my own outside the box preference on existence and way of living. I’d never subject myself to the company or energy of anyone, who isn’t stirred by the beauty of a sunset, or who deemed themselves fit to judge others in the midst of their own critical self-analysis. For me, It’s always been the ones who are a little too much, who aren’t afraid to speak their minds and be disliked for it, whose idiosyncrasies I find to be the best traits of their character, and whose refusal for typical and societal constructs, lend way to the best stories, adventure and wisdom. These are my kind of people, so of course I joined the Hollywood circus. Is there any other place for me? No, there isn’t. I’ve looked.
There is also something to be said about the serendipitous converging of two similar yet distinctly different paths and people — winding up at the same crossroads of healing, willing to connect about it. What is it saying? As we compare and contrast notes from moments thus far on the battlefield or, showbiz in other words, and like aliens in this new place called Tennessee, converse on discoveries of new lifestyles, societal differences and temperaments, goals, culture shock and scenery — what is to be said for this is we as humans are all doing our best — and it’s okay to go away to catch your breath. You’re still okay, even when you’re not and you are not alone. Would we be human if we never experienced pivotal moments of utter heartbreak, and devastation which forced us to grow and evolve? If we never fell apart and fell back together stronger? Transformation and evolution knows no age, only opportunity. Sometimes you have no choice but to do that, and yes that too, is part of your purpose. There are moments that must happen however tedious and difficult, which lead to the moments that will change your life and aid to understanding - why you had to re-learn how to crawl, before you could walk again. Why you had to sit the next plays out and heal before you got back in the game. What is important is when you are on your path, even in darkness and pieces — if you can muster the courage to light a candle and brave ahead step by step, your people will find you and vice versa. You must remain consciously receptive and aware to these kinds of things.
Those meant to be in your life, couldn’t miss it if they tried. They’ll arrive in all shapes and forms, sometimes their roles will change, sometimes they’ll appear for a moment, then re-appear later in a more impactful way, when timing nods its head. You can’t predict it, you just flow with life and let things happen as they do, because that’s how they’re supposed to. People can ride into your world wounded or winning, you never know. However it happens, trust that members of your ‘tribe’ will find you and you will know them when you meet them. No question. Keep your eyes open.
The importance of remaining open to the world and unknown, the power of friendship and the willingness to explore new territory is understated in today’s world. We don’t know all we’ll ever know, and I always tell people if you think you’ll reach an age where you’ve seen it all or know it all, you may as well be a zombie walking. Dead is the man who declares his genius. We can learn something, every day and should strive to. Be it the importance of timing, the magic in the energy of patience and healing, or the chance meeting of a friend whom you can connect with as you recognize life has created space for conversations at the crossroads.
This and more with my guest Neal Gumpel, on Calling Old Hollywood January 24th. Follow on social media, and listen to prior episodes here : https://linktr.ee/katclassic