September 22, 2005

Dear Mr. Woods,

Lila French here (the OTHER actor who went to MIT :)). It was so great to meet you
after the Pretty Persuasion premier. It took some effort to get there to shake your
hand, but it was well worth it! I had actually just contacted your talent agent the
day before to make sure I had the correct address to mail you a letter, and then
when I saw you on the red carpet while I was working out at 24 Hour Fitness, I
thought, serendipity, I have to go down there.

So yeah, like I told you, I'm trying to act out here in L.A. I moved here about a
year ago.. after graduating from MIT, working in San Francisco during the whole dot
com thing, and training as a pole vaulter in Arkansas. Yeah, I'm a little schizo, SO
WHAT! The important thing is that I'm acting now, and I LOVE IT! It has changed my
life so much for the better. I'm no longer scared to live life and be myself, and
I'm much happier and more positive. And it's something I can see myself doing for
the rest of my life (which is WAY more than I can say for software engineering).

I actually take classes at the Beverly Hills Playhouse with your good buddy Mr. Allen
Williams. At least HE says he's your good buddy, he does lie a lot. He also likes
to do this imitation of a tiger at the zoo, which is pretty damn funny. I love Allen,
and he's taught me everything I know about acting thus far and a ton about the way
I want to live my life.

But enough about Allen, let's talk about YOU, Mr. James Woods. You know, after I
shook your hand, I bragged to everyone I know that I met you. Then, when I saw Pretty
Persuasion, one of my friends said, "Hey, I know him!" when she saw the student who
said "It's Dave!!!" But then when you came on screen, I totally one-upped her by
saying I knew you! Ha! Take that, Mary Kay.

Anyway, you were HI-larious in Pretty Persuasion! Great job! I imagine the director
gave you pretty much free reign to do whatever you wanted, and let me say
kudos for bringing down the house. Really, it was awesome. I liked it when you gave
your daughter the pills at the end, and I liked that you wiped your leg with a
tissue in the scene after the phone sex scene. I was absolutely disgusted but admired
the acting choice nonetheless. :)

Another (probably unsung) performance of yours that I ABSOLUTELY LOVED was
your cameo on The Simpsons. Seriously, I laugh out loud just remembering it. "Hey ey
ey ey.. Don't jerk me around." The delivery of that whole performance was just great.

So, I said I was going to send you a letter and here it is! I hope you enjoyed it!
I'm so glad I got to meet you and shake your hand. It really did make my day
(actually, longer). If you ever have a free moment, I'd be very happy to take you to
lunch or coffee. We can talk about movies, acting, and resonant frequencies and their
effects on bridge building. It'll be great. I could even invite Mr. Allen Williams!
In any case, I hope we cross paths again some time in the future!

Sincerely,
Lila French