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Dave Barry Does Marley (or should I rephrase that?)
Monday, April 21, 2008
I've always been a huge fan of Dave Barry, the wildly popular syndicated humor columnist. He was writing his column for the Miami Herald during the same time I was writing mine an hour up the coast at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. But it would be wrong of me to leave the impression that Dave and I were on anything resembling an equal plane. Dave was THE columnist in South Florida (and through syndication across the continent); the rest of us worked in his large shadow, trying desperately to capture a sliver of his effortless wit while working equally desperately to not look like copycat wannabes.
At last our paths have crossed. Dave landed a role on the set of Marley & Me as an extra in the scene capturing my fortieth surprise birthday party. In real life, Marley crashed the party by diving onto a tray of appetizers, and wolfing down mozzarella and basil on toast squares, but I have to admit the birthday cake makes for much better visuals.
At any rate, Dave Barry being Dave Barry, he wrote a very funny column about the experience. And from my few days on the set earlier this month, I'd say very accurate, too. If you think being a movie extra is glamorous, try it for a day and see how you feel by the twelfth hour and twenty-seventh take.
Dave writes, in part:
There is a definite hierarchy on a movie set. At the top are the director and the stars. Below them are the lesser actors and crew members. Below them are the support people who provide food, transportation, security, etc. Below them are the stunt birthday cakes. And at the bottom are the extras. We are there strictly as background. In fact, the crew people actually call us ''background'' when they herd us around.
''All right, background!'' they say. ``I need you all to stand over here!''
As an extra, you do a lot of standing around. First you stand around waiting for the set to be prepared. Then you stand around on the set while they rehearse the scene. Then you stand around being the background while they shoot the scene. Then you stand around waiting while they look at the scene to see if anything went wrong, which something always does. Then you stand around while they shoot the scene again. It goes on for hours and hours, the standing. But it's worth it, because the money is huge.
I am, of course, kidding. For a day's work -- and it can be a long day's work -- they pay you $100, or what one of the extras, Joyce Newman of Miami, described as ``one-third of a good pair of shoes.''
You can read the piece in full at:
http://www.miamiherald.com/283/story/500874.html
And Dave, I'll look for the back of your head on the big screen. It's going to kill!
posted by John Grogan at 7:53 PM
 
21 Comments:
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Sounds like he had a good time as an extra.
Have a great evening.
Hey John, i'm a highschool freshman and my name is Jack. You could or could consider me and aspiring writter because i've been told I have good writing abilities whenever i'm not getting introspective about life but what the heck. This has nothing to do with your previous post but hear me out. Anyway, i've lived in a family of dog lovers and owners but we never got to owning one ourselves. The reason being that my dad had a dog as a kid but his dad was the one who would go out in the rain on a tuesday afternoon to walk the dog when nobody arose to the task. I know that you had your first dog that was a total contrast to what Marley would end up being and I was curious: have you ever considered going further into your childhood days with your perfect dog and how in both cases you loved them for who they were with a book simular to Marley and Me or would that contradict the point of wrtiting the first one?
Also on a totally unrelated note, i live in the Philidelphia area and I do read the Inquirer and have seen myself writing one day in the VERY distant future. Any tips to someone curious about the journalistic, book-wrtiting world?
Dear John (haha..a "Dear John" letter....okay, not so funny, just a little corn-dog humor, sorry),
I'm wondering if you will even receive this email personally, wondering if you even read the shared stories on your website since the message boards have been closed. I hope you read all the wonderful things people have been writing. I only found your site recently and have only read and finished your book this week. The first time I saw your site there was a message board, but when I returned, it said it had been closed. :( I have contributed twice on the story page though.
Anyway, I have a lot to say (I'm Jewish, we always have lots to say!! ;) But seriously, your story and words have resonated so much with me and have reminded me of so many things, that if I go off on a tangent mentioning them all, I may sound somewhat scattered...which, I am.
So let me try to organize:
1) My dad passed away four months prior to yours. I wish he was alive to read your book b/c he would have loved it! I miss my dad. A lot. He had the worst chocolate lab named Snickers and he'd totally relate to everything Marley. Snickers failed several obedient schools. ate a pizza pie and steak right off the kitchen counter, chewed and swallowed a light bulb from the garbage without one iota of pain or injury! He ate my dad's suede couch (cost several thousand's of dollars) and chewed my underwire bra. He was a mental case no doubt! BUT, Snicks was loyal, loving and an awesome companion. My dad was sick for 8 years and had many hospital stays throughout those years. Snickers would become depressed when my Dad got sick and when my father returned home, Snickers would be by his side always. Sometimes at the foot of the bed and most times in the bed with my dad. Snicks didn't care that my dad didn't look so good anymore, that he had gone from a 6'2," 200lb. man, to a shrinking skeletal of a being. Now that is blind, devoted love. More than most humans can take credit for! I used to get mad and did not understand why my dad and his wife kept a dog, or at least didn't try harder to better the dog, who literally cost them thousands of dollars. I grew up with a dog for 17 years, and though I loved her dearly and wept at her passing, I obviously didn't "get it" back then. Four years ago I became a dog sitter and my whole understanding and love of dogs completely changed. When I started this small business I pretty much did it on a whim, not knowing much and just needed some money, and needed to be home as much as possible, so this "gig" seemed like a good idea. Well, I cannot describe the education and surprise I got after watching so many different dogs over the years. What therapy and medication failed to do for so many years, these dogs did in seconds, and for free, actually I was getting paid by their owners to reap all these benefits. Needless to say I am a die-hard dog lover now and cannot imagine life without dogs. They have given me joy, laughter, happiness and comfort. I don't want to sound like the nutty dog woman, but I swear it is true. I feel the understanding and compassion from dogs that I personally never got from a human being and it has certainly kept me alive.
Sorry I went on so long above, but I feel like I can write forever. The point is that I suffer depression and life has never been easy, smooth nor happy for me. It is quite sad. Feeling suicidal for the majority of my life on a daily basis, is a pretty serious and tragic thing. I've had a lot of loss and tragedy in the last 4 years, and sometimes, it is the dogs who are in my life that keep me keeping on for just another day. While reading your book recently, you, your story and your words, kept me company. I'm pretty isolated and have become moreso over the years (if you met me in person you'd never know though. I look, act and speak normally. I actually have a good sense of humor, though it is often dormant due to depression). So, before I forget, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, for keeping me company, making me laugh and cry, and feeling like a part of your family while reading your book. It made the days bearable and passed time, when usually I drink to pass time, which obviously isn't a good vice. But, the loneliness and emotional pain are so unbelievably unbearable, that anesthetizing myself with alcohol has been my only remedy; sad, but true. I am by far not an avid reader (I joke usually and say that the last book I read was by Dr. Seuss...though it's almost not a joke), but thankfully I was able to read your book, cover to cover this past week. It was a great escape for me and therapeutic, even though I held off for months finishing the last few chapters because I'm too sensitive and didn't want to read what I knew was coming. I am glad, still, that I completed your book.
I could go on forever writing right now, as my thoughts, feelings and words have been stifled for so long, that I feel a flood coming on. Kind of like writer's block that has finally been released. I actually started writing a book, but got to overwhelmed and it was too emotional that I could no longer write. It is frustrating and I envy those who cannot only write, but who can complete a book.
I'm sorry if this email has burdened you or got you down (if in fact you are even receiving and reading it). Obviously your Marley book has touched me so deeply, that it has opened what has been stuck inside me for so long. I appreciate that aspect of it and again thank you. I'd love it if you could come to NY some time and do a book signing, or better yet, an event of some sort, like a Q & A session. I know people who run various types of events and have had authors and other public people for their gathering. I could arrange it too, if I knew you'd be game for it.
Lastly, though I'm a 41 yo Jewish woman from NY, I felt like I related to you and your background. One of the very few people in my life, who is the most genuine, wonderful person in the world, is an Irish woman. I joke and call her my "Irish Jew." She, who is 100% Irish, from her name, to her looks to her background, is more like a Jew than any Jewish person I've ever known. AND, she doesn't drink!! WTF!? ;) Me, the Jew, has drunk more than any pub could ever dream of selling! But, this woman has the soul of a Saint, a heart that is pure and a mind that is bright and humorous. Those are the commonalities that we really share. She is also an animal lover and I told her to read your book.
I'd be thrilled if you wrote back to me-- you can't even imagine. I have only reached out to two other authors in my lifetime, and one was by snail-mail who wrote me back, and the other via email, who I had an email dialogue with for a bit of time. It would be awesome if the third time was not only a charm, but if it wasn't a strike out! :)
Again, apologies for the verbose email, but thanks for helping me in so many ways!
I just finished the part where you had your neighbours cat... I once had a golden retriever and when ever I went to the stable to ride my horse she would delight in eating the horse dung. I still remember the first time I brought her home and my husband bent over letting her kiss his face. When I told him what she had been eating at the stable I though he was going to peel the skin off his face.
Olá!
Meu nome é Renata, sou brasileira. Ontem terminei de ler teu livro e adorei, a cada página "devorada", fiquei cada vez mais apaixonada por cachorros. Também já tive o "meu Marley", e as marcas perduram até hoje.
Foi um excelente livro, há muito que não ficava tão encantada. Parabéns!!
Eu sei que o post era para outra coisa..hehehe, mas eu tinha que falar isso.
Um grande abraço
What a great time! Thanks for the DB link, too.
www.twobarkingdogs.wordpress.com
Mr. Grogan:
I just finished "Marley & Me" and laughed so much I cried. My unfortunate husband (now fortunate since he's reading your book) had to listen to me laugh uproariously while reading yours and your family's experiences. You've got guts, man, and you write really well. I can't imagine the movie will be better than the book and I hope you make tons and tons of money on both book and movie-more than Donald Trump has.
Thank you for an unsoppy, relatively unsentimental, and joyous story of a dog and your family's life. I appreciated the opportunity to laugh so hard. I notice, however, that you apparently didn't adopt "Lucky", the dog you mentioned at the end. I wonder why....
Best regards
Hi John!
My name is Giovana, I'm 18 and I'm from Brazil. I have a poodle that's 11, her name is Maggie. Well, I'm a dog lover just as you are! I've just finished reading your book. I've read lots of good books recently, but, honestly, I have to say that "Marley and Me" is by far the most beaultifull book ever! I just loved! At firsth, I laughed a lot with the stories about Marley, all the funny things he did (that reminded me of Maggie!) and I was very happy! Not only happy for Marley, but happy for you, Jenny and the Kids; It felt like I knew all of you! Anyway... when he started getting old I was starting to get concerned about him... and when he started getting sick I was crying and hoping he would get better. So, you made me feel like I knew him! It was like Marley was my dog, because I laughed and cryed with him and for him and it's wonderfull the way you could touch me and so many people with your storie! And for that I adimire you.
Oh! And funny thing, now when Maggie is doing something wrong I call her "Marley" lol (with all the respect, of course)
I've noticed that there are lots of comments here... and that you are only one person to read all this! But you say that you like it and it's important to you and I belive you. :) So here's one more comment of one more fan.
Hoping to see the movie now! Can't wait!
Thank you for your book and for reminding me that I must enjoy every second with my very best friend, since ever and for ever.
Best wishes,
Giovana
i just want to say that your book is fabulous beautiful , i was very touch on reading it , and remember me my dog who leave me at last september
congratulation and i wait for the film with impatience
Hi, John!
My name is Tia and I have not yet read Marley and Me but I fully intend to soon - I promise! I found out about the book initially because there was a very large display in the book store at the University Center at CMU last winter/spring. I graduated in December of 2006 and couldn't find a job in Michigan (surprise, surprise) and randomly got a job in Philadelphia so I moved here last April. Then I saw Marley and Me again in the Inquirer and read your bio and found out that you, too, had attended CMU and gone to Philadelphia afterward! Even though I haven't read your book and felt a connection to you that way, as so many have, I felt happy inside to know that someone so successful and talented had been in the same place as me before. As soon as I have some spare time, I will definitely be reading your book (I was actually reminded to look you up after seeing your book on "Samantha Who?" this past Monday) sometime very soon - hopefully before the movie comes out! It's great to know that CMU, of which I am so proud, has an alum who has done so much and touched so many people.
Thanks :) Tia
P.S. I know you did a lot between Mt. Pleasant and Philly but did you experience at least a little bit of the crazy amounts of culture shock that I did?
hello john, my name is tracy i read your book marley: the dog like no other. it was awsome i loved it! im so glad mt mom bought it for me. the funny thing is that i had taken my math taks test that i needed in order to pass to my next grade. i read the entire thing in 2 hours. the next thing i know im crying in front of eveyone! and my friends were like wats wrong with u and i said marley died and they all laugh at me! and im like wat! im emotional lol! that book is the best ever i can't wait to tell you about my cat tonito and my dog black in a little while!
I would like to get this book in Spanish as a gift for my students and one for my boyfriend as well. Can you please tell me where I can purchase a copy of the Spanish version of Marley and Me? Marley, a Dog Like No Other would be nice to have in Spanish as well. You can email me at mhja16@hotmail.com
Hey John,
I normally don't post stuff like this in a blog, so hopefully you will see this. I am Officer Mark Kearney, the Crime Prevention Officer of the Waynesboro Police Department in Waynesboro, Virginia, and the President of the Book 'Em Foundation. I am writing to invite you to the 5th Annual Book 'Em literacy event which takes place on Saturday, October 18, 2008. Our website is www.bookemfoundation.org. I’ll try to explain a bit about our event and programs in this note.
We started and held our first ever Book 'Em in October 2004.
We are the first book event ever of our kind, to my knowledge, to be held and hosted by a police department. And, if I'm correct, we are also the first book event that has a goal of spreading around the world. This is due to our cause.
Our cause is to highlight the connection between illiteracy/poor reading skills and crime rates. Besides our annual Book 'Em event, which we are working to spread to select locations around the world, I have started about half a dozen literacy programs that I'm working to spread to every law enforcement agency in the world. The proceeds raised from this event are returned to various literacy programs which help to reduce crime and hopefully improve society as a whole. The Fairfax Virginia Police Department recently adopted our "BE a Reader, Cops in School Reading Program". That’s a program we started 3 school years ago where police officers go into elementary school classes to read to children. During the year, we’ll read to many classes from Pre-K to 5th grade in all 4 local elementary schools here in Waynesboro.
I have another program where a publishing company donates books to me. I in turn go into all the English classes for the local 8th graders, 9th graders and 10th graders and give monthly talks and at each talk, I give each student a free book. Over the past several years I’ve passed out over 13,000 books to these students, as well as students in other schools, prisoners at 4 prisons, and many individuals.
I’ve gone into 4 prisons/jails so far to talk to prisoners on how they can help themselves through reading and education. I also donate books to the prison libraries.
I have other programs I’m working on as well that target “at-risk” teens.
Nothing happens overnight, so I figure I'll keep working on the expansion of Book ‘Em and my literacy programs the rest of my life if I can. I am working on spreading Book ‘Em and have spread the event to the states of New Hampshire and South Carolina. South Carolina is holding their first event on May 24, 2008 if you are interested in going there. New Hampshire will host their 3rd Book ‘Em on October 4, 2008.
We'd love to have you attend Book 'Em here in Waynesboro in October of 2008, or any of the other two Book ‘Em events, if your schedule permits. I hope you will consider attending because you can help us to make an even bigger difference in positively shaping the future of our country. Our goal is to improve society through the promotion of literacy. Please let me know if you have any questions at all about our event or our literacy programs.
Take care,
Mark
Officer Mark Kearney
Crime Prevention Officer
Waynesboro Police Department
President, Book 'Em Foundation
(540) 942-6683
www.bookemfoundation.org
kearneymp@ci.waynesboro.va.us
Hi John (first I'm sorry to this letter because I don't write english so much, I'm lerning yet!)
I'm brazilian, and I'm hear just say you how much I loved you book and I cryed too.
I have a "Marley" in my house, her name is Hannah and my love to her is like your love to Marley.
Is strange but I miss Marley!!
hahahaha...it's serius!
Kisses and "all for good" to you!
PS:Oh, I'm waiting to the movie!!
Hi John,
I gave your book to a friend for her birthday last year but I only just got around finally to reading it.
I just wanted to say how brilliant and fantastic your book is. This morning on the train I was up to the part where Marley got sick for the last time. But then it was extrememely emberrassing as I started whimpering like an idiot, and I think the person next to me thought I was weird. I had to put it down and save the ending for when I'm not on public transport.
It's such a lovely book. The way you describe Marley as well as your family is so adorable and lovely. Your observations of Marley are just too hilarious. So many times I cried from laughter at some of the things which I could see him doing. Towards the end, I got very sad becuase the same thing happened to our dog Jack, and mum and dad were just as devoted as you guys, making large and intricate ramps around the house to facilitate his old-man movement. His poor hips gave out too and he started not being able to make it outside. Jack passed away several years ago now and yet mum cannot fathom getting another dog. "No way! He can never be replaced!"
Anyway, I guess the only thing I wanted to say is thank you for taking the time to write the book, it was just one of those books that I know I'll remember for a long time. Even though I suppose I should give it back to my friend, it was a gift after all.
I hope you make it to Sydney at some point. And I suppose I will see the movie, even though movies of books are never as good the actual book and never as personal.
Oh one last thing, I thought it was so funny how obsessed Marley was over taps. Our cats, Polly and Leroy are also obsessed with taps, or any kind of water. Poly cries with bloodcurdling sadness if you don't turn the tap on for her after you washed your hands - she needs to play with the water for at least a minute before she's happy. And Leroy insists on "helping" me with the washing up... ie, slapping the water and trying to eat it. As well as the suds. I think I might have a strange breed of dog-cat. But I love them.
Ok, that's all. Good night. Or good morning.
obrigada!muito obrigada,por amar tanto o marley como eu amo o meu dog.seu livro foi e sempre sera um presente para mim.beijos
obrigada!mas,obrigada mesmo John,por ter nos dado este eterno presente q foi o seu livro.minha filha e eu amamos os caes e assim como rimos muito,choramos muito tbem,obrigada a voce e a sua familia por amarem e cuidarem do Marley.beijos e q Deus os abencoem infinitamente.
Edilene e Laura Miyagawa
dave barry is hilarious!
i used to love those scavenger hunts he used to do in miami when he wrote for the herald's tropic.
i can relate to his extra story...as i was one in a part...and so are my dogs!
can't hardly wait to see the movie end of year!
HI JOHN,MY NAME IS ELAINE FROM SÃO PAULO-BRAZIL.I WIN THE BOOK OF MARLEY IN MOTHER'S DAY IN LAST WEEK.A WONDERFUL SURPRISE .I LOVE DOGS AND IDENTIFY THIS HISTORY WITH MY WHITE GIANT BOXER BRUCE (55KG). HE'S DEAD IN MARCH WITH 12YEARS.THANKS TO PRESENT,I HOPE A FILM IN CINEMA! CONGRATULATIONS...ELAINE. PARABÉNS E OBRIGADA POR MOMENTOS MÁGICOS DE FELICIDADE!!!!(thank you for magic moments happiness. PS.SORRY MY ENGLISH.
Hi John,
I had the pleasure of finding "Bad Dogs Have More Fun" at Barnes & Noble recently. I loved the stories and am now starting "Marley & Me". I hope you will have a book signing soon in the Princeton, NJ area.
~Lisa B, "Mom" to Mickee Pup in Heaven and Liberty (aka Fluff for brains)on earth.
Hey John! Quite a powerful story you had with this Marley and Me thing. I didn't see a dry eye in the theater I saw it in. Just wanted to write to say congratulations.