I was recently in New York City and had a chance to check out the Museum of Television and Radio located on 52nd and 5th Avenue. What an experience! I went to the museum's library and had the chance to select classic OLTL episodes that I could view in a private screening room complete with my own head sets and the ability to fast forward or rewind scenes. There were quite a few to select, but I opted to watch the episode following Marty's rape in 1994 and then the classic trial scene I've already mentioned in a previous column during which Nora delivers a closing argument that results in a mistrial. These scenes were amazing! Watching Nora have a casual dinner with her daughter Rachel, who believed boyfriend Kevin Buchanan slept with Marty Saybrooke at the frat party, showed the tender maternal side of Nora that we don't see much anymore. Her relationship with her daughter was the cornerstone of her character and it helped separate her hard legal side with her softer nurturing one. Since Rachel's removal from the canvas, we have only seen limited scenes between Nora and Matthew, but none of them rival what I was reminded of recently in these scenes. Maybe it was the gift of Michael Malone's dialogue writing.
At any rate, I hope to see many of you at Hillary's first fan club luncheon in New York City on May 6 from 1:30-5pm! Information about the gathering is on her official website, and I'd be happy to send you in the direction of that information if you shoot me an email. I look forward to meeting any faithful readers who may also show up for the event. If you haven't sent in your check and request, do it today! It should be a great time!
-Nora to Bo
Greetings, everyone! I must begin by thanking Angela and Jenn for granting me this opportunity. I am truly humbled to be part of this newsletter and share in our ongoing campaign in support of HBS. Next, I must thank Hillary for continually inspiring me every single day. I have interacted with most of you on HBS’s fan boards and through the weekly entries of “Nora’s Blog.” I have watched OLTL for nearly three decades, yet never felt a connection with any actor as I do with Hillary. Though I could never return all the joy and wisdom she has imparted upon my life, my mission is to give something back to her through our combined efforts. This is our column, where no idea is too silly to be considered and no thought too outlandish to be entertained. I challenge you to embark on this journey with me, and participate in taking our support of HBS to the next level. Please interact with me and share your thoughts for reshaping and revitalizing our campaign efforts. It’s time to pull out all the stops, because this year is a turning point for all HBS fans. That said, allow me the honor of kicking-off this column by discussing three fundamental components of our campaign.
First, we must effectively communicate how Hillary impacts our lives through her portrayal of Nora. This is crucial, because in doing so we are personalizing our agenda and subsequently communicating that Hillary is irreplaceable. Convey to TPTB how Hillary’s portrayal of Nora captivates and touches you in a very personal way. Each of us takes away something unique and special from every performance. TPTB need to hear what that “something” is, from your individual perspective. For instance, Hillary has taught me invaluable lessons over the years. She is one of the most intelligent, vibrant and beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Hillary has inspired me to define and nurture those same qualities in myself and in others. She also projects a very strong image for women through Nora. I have borrowed from her strength time and again, and learned that it is something I can always count on. Hillary illustrates, in a time where materialism and vanity reign supreme, how inner peace and self-confidence must be earned and not bought. She encourages me to embrace both my accomplishments and my shortcomings, instead of buying into a false sense of security. Finally, as I approach this fourth decade of life, Hillary has inspired me to face what lies ahead with open-mindedness, humility and grace. I have learned these lessons from Hillary, and use this knowledge to power each and every effort in support of her.
Second, we need to continuously demonstrate how Nora is a viable character and vital to OLTL’s canvas. Writers see things through a “big picture” lens. Therefore, it is imperative to illustrate how Hillary has become the nucleus of OLTL and how Nora’s character stands at the center of the canvas. Nora is unique because she has a relationship with every major character. Each familiar face – past, present, or unseen – has somehow interacted with Nora at one point or another. In order to best demonstrate Nora’s viability, ask yourselves the following questions: Who is Nora? Is she someone we know very well – a friend, a mentor, a mother, a sister? Or maybe someone who is slightly elusive, perhaps even a bit mysterious? There are layers to Nora, so brilliantly created and executed by Hillary. You always get the feeling that while Nora is “accessible”, meaning you can reach out and touch her, there is so much more going on beneath the surface. When writing TPTB, we must emphasize these layers and dimensions to the character. Weave as many characters and storyline ideas as possible in order to make your case. Nora is viable both because of her rich history and because she connects everyone in Llanview. We need to illustrate in different ways, and through our unique perspectives, how to connect the past to the future and do so from this “big picture” field of vision.
Third, we must remain united in our efforts. I firmly believe that the reason we exerted such influence and achieved great success last year is because the fan bases united. The Nora Fans United Message Board was crucial to keeping ideas and discourse flowing through all that evolved. We should vow to maintain and strengthen our relationships. I have several ideas for doing so, and I am very anxious for your input. One of the first ideas I am considering is a weekly online chat to encourage dialogue between the fan bases. This would provide an intense forum of discussion about Nora’s story, and enable us to put our heads together and discuss new campaign ideas as her story evolves. There is so much creativity and ingenuity among us, and sometimes you need to step outside of your immediate online fan community to brainstorm and be further inspired. The Internet remains one of our greatest tools for staying connected. Since our goal is to keep Hillary front and center on OLTL, and to lobby for great story for Nora, we must coordinate our outreach efforts and maintain open lines of communication. The whole “strength in numbers” mantra that we were taught as kids applies more than ever right now.
I must pause and reflect whether all that transpired last year did not happen for a reason. For instance, if the fear of losing Hillary was never an issue, and if we did not unite in our efforts, so many of our relationships wouldn’t exist. As I have befriended some incredibly wonderful people over the past year, and taken a more active role in HBS’s campaign, I cannot help but contemplate whether this was fate intervening. I wonder if this was the only way to thrust Hillary front and center on OLTL, back where she belongs. I question if perhaps, as much as we are the most devoted and loyal of fans, it was our turn to step up to the plate for HBS and give back some of what she has given to us. By no means do any of us ever take Hillary for granted, but it’s easy to become complacent when someone graces your screen day in and day out for thirteen years. One year from now, it is my greatest wish that Hillary can look back on the decision to extend her contract and relish how everything worked out the way she hoped it might. I plan to fight with every emotion, idea and resource to make this a reality. Inform TPTB that we refuse to accept any substitutes for the woman we’ve come to love and admire so deeply. Until next month, stay strong, smile for Nora and please e-mail me anytime with questions, comments or ideas.
Denise
-edited by OHBSFC
This week’s guest is Hillary B. Smith, returning to One Life to Live next week as Nora.
Carolyn: Nora’s finally coming out of her endless coma?
Hillary: She is. She opens her eyes and blinks a response. Then she twitches in front of Matthew. So, there’s stuff happening, but I have no idea whether she’ll get well.
Carolyn: OLTL wouldn’t have re-signed you if they were going to make you lie in bed.
Hillary: One never knows, Carolyn. But I think they are planning to get me up.
Carolyn: Did you watch the show when you weren’t on?
Hillary: No. To be perfectly honest, it was painful because nobody ever spoke about Nora. Nobody went to see her. So I thought, “You know what? I can’t watch this.” It was a little sad. So, I stopped watching and actually, I’m glad I did. I mean, I love to tune in and see what my friends are doing, but now it’s really good that I didn’t because Nora is going to have to catch up on everything.
Carolyn: You won’t know what went on, and neither will your character.
Hillary: There you go. I was Method acting.
Carolyn: Is there a handsome doctor in her future to help her?
Hillary: So far, just Spencer. He’s everywhere.
Carolyn: They’re not going to call in a twitching specialist?
Hillary: I have no idea. I’m hoping I’ll have psychological problems and they’ll have to bring Scott Bryce [John’s doctor] into my bedroom. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Carolyn: remind readers why that’s funny.
Hillary: Because Scott Bryce played my brother Craig for 6 ½ years on As the World Turns. I played Margo. He was also my roommate when I was [commuting to] California doing Something Wilder. He was a guest star and played my old high school flame. It was hysterical – we were supposed to have this mad, passionate kiss, this complete soap moment, and we banged noses. It was the most awkward thing!
Carolyn: Do you think you’ll remember how to memorize lines?
Hillary: That’s a good question. That’s a muscle and I think it’s atrophied. I’m looking forward to what Dena [Higley, head writer] is going to write. We’ve got a year to find our way with this character – either put her back in the mainstream and build a story, or at least get her some place where the fans aren’t going to be upset [if I leave]. Nora just kind of did a disappearing act. It was upsetting to me. Use it to push Paige and Bo together. Make some resolution about Bo’s feelings about Nora. Have her wake up and say, “I’ve always loved you,” and then die. Something that would further Bo and Matthew along.
Carolyn: So, after a year you have an option to leave?
Hillary: Yes. This was not ABC short-changing me. There were no negotiations. It was a “No, thank you” on my part and that would be the end of it – I think there was some confusion on that. Suddenly the end was there and Brian [Frons, president, ABC Daytime] asked to speak with me. He said maybe we need a little more time. I thought about it and I offered to extend for a year. I wasn’t interested in doing more than a year as it was going. I don’t want to be a prop, I want to work. If there is no room on the canvas for me, then I will move on. That’s the way of soaps. I want the fans to know that, because there were some people upset that ABC only gave me a year, but this was my offer to them. They graciously accepted it, and we’re both really happy with the arrangement. At the end of the year they might turn around and say, “This is not working,” or I might say, “It’s not working for me.” There are no hard feelings.
Carolyn: And I heard you have a small bone to pick with me?
Hillary: This is going back many years from when I was in the train wreck and you wrote about my French manicure. I laughed because I don’t have a manicure. That was nice of you to say, but those are my fingers.
Carolyn: Okay, I won’t write about your French manicure while you are in your coma. Anything else you want to yell at me about?
Hillary: No. But if you ever want to yell at me, just call me up.
Carolyn: Good to know!
