Remembering A Maverick

A Tribute To Robert Evans (1930-2019) By Tongal Co-Founder James DeJulio

Within a month of moving from New York to Los Angeles, I found myself holding a copy of The Kid Stays in the Picture on audio cassette. It's an autobiography and too-crazy-to-be-true Hollywood story of producer, studio head, maverick and (as Evans phrases it) "one time half-assed actor," Robert Evans.

In those days, the passing along of this out-of-print gem was the pre-hipster-saturation-of-Hollywood signal that you were in the group of initiates and wannabe-mavericks looking to shake up the system (again) the way Evans himself did — by slamming the door on "old Hollywood" and ushering in the most important decade in American cinema.

Evans' remarkable run as head of Paramount, then producer, catalyzed the cinematic renaissance of the 1970s, as he greenlit masterpiece after masterpiece and gave young directors (with names like Coppola and Ashby) a shot when no other studio would. And an astounding five films he produced — Rosemary's Baby, The Godfather, Chinatown, The Conversation and Harold and Maude — have been inducted into the Library of Congress.

Evans' spectacular rise-and-fall, and rise-and-fall, and fall-and-rise story (told in his sublime baritone) moved through the speakers in my Nissan and planted itself directly in my DNA. This is what I had been looking for. This was the inspiration I tried so hard, but failed, to find in four wasted years of college. I had to meet this guy. Was he for real? You bet your ass he was. So, when I somehow found a way to convince Evans to hire me, the whole thing felt like one out of body experience after another. This was the guy on the tape. I couldn't believe it. Still can't. But it happened. I have the stories to tell.

Looking back, I am filled with so much gratitude to have apprenticed under a legend.  He graciously took me under his wing and introduced me to every bold face name in town. I worked like crazy and did every job you can, and can't, imagine. Suddenly, I was "The Kid," and he actually called me that! What a fuckin' thrill! Over the course of those four years, I learned first hand that "the only way you can make a deal is to be prepared to blow it." Learned that "there are three sides to every story — yours, mine and the truth." Learned that "fashion is temporary, style lasts forever." Learned that you "gotta own the material." And, most importantly, learned that "it's not about the business, it's about staying in the picture." If you haven’t read the book, listened to the tape, or watched the 2002 documentary adaptation, I won't spoil it. But know that these lessons (and one hell of a great story) are there waiting for you too.

You never forget your first real break, and Robert Evans gave me mine. He inspired me to give a lot of breaks to a lot of people. Because he also taught me that "the real star is the material." Bob and his attitude and philosophy are just as responsible for Tongal and our community as anyone. Thanks, Bob.