You Have to Love New York!

Karen Leahy — Sun, 26 May 2013 02:10:44 +0000

A hot, rainy evening in NYC. The subway platform was crowded with people trying to get home from work, which meant that the next train would be packed and steamy. When it pulled in, I was able to go with the on-rush and get inside the car. A man jumped up late to get off, and I was near enough to take the seat–a small miracle on a rush-hour train. The young man beside me said, “I saved this seat for you.” I thanked him, smiled at his young daughter on the other side of him, and leaned back gratefully. He was working on his laptop on what looked like a script. I asked about it and soon we were sharing info on being writers, he a filmmaker with several films to his credit, another due on DVD in August, I with my memoir newly out. He wrote down the name of my book and said he intended to buy it; I would buy his film in August, I promised. “And I can make your book into a film,” he said. “Won’t it be fun on the red carpet to say we met on the subway?” We both laughed.

His name is Noel Calloway. I watched the trailer of his new film, “Life, Love, Soul,” on You Tube, as well as an interview with him. The man has talent. Ok, so maybe it will be just one of the hundreds of pleasant encounters you can have with strangers in New York City. But he’s ordered my book, he tells me, and said that from the description of it, he thinks it would make a great film. But a pleasant, chance encounter with a talented young filmmaker on his way up? That’s enough of a gift. You gotta love New York.

Karen Leahy » film

You Have to Love New York!