Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Girl in the Video: “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993)

Introduction to series “The Girl in the Video 2” (including list of interviewees).

The video: “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” by Meat Loaf.

The girl-now-woman: Dana Patrick.




Of all the women in this series (including the first round), Dana is the only one who lip syncs in the video.

The person I contacted to reach Dana endearingly wrote me, “I am both Dana’s booking agent and her mom.” She was an absolute pleasure to correspond with, as was Dana.

How old were you when you appeared in the “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” video?

28.

Where were you living at the time?

Manhattan.

What music videos, shows, or movies had you appeared in prior to that?

None.


Dana with Roseann, her best friend since childhood 1991

 1992

1992

How were you cast in “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”?

I was in L.A. for a shoot. I auditioned for a Levi’s commercial and had to ad-lib. [Director] Michael Bay had looked at hundreds of girls for the part of “beauty” and called my agent to see if she had anyone that she thought he would like. They sent over the Levi’s tape and it was a done deal.

Do you remember what your reaction was when you were cast?

Um, honestly not that interested because I had no idea who Michael Bay was and music videos usually don’t pay well. I was like, “I better get a good rate or no deal.” Lord, I sound like such an ass.

Were you a Meat Loaf fan?

I actually was a Meat loaf fan. I think he is extremely talented as a songwriter/vocalist and a really stellar actor.

Where was the video filmed?

Greystone Mansion [in Beverly Hills, CA].

How long was the shoot?

Two very long days and into the night.



How did you feel making the video?

Out of my element.

What was the hardest part of the shoot?

Michael Bay’s outbursts, which he did with everyone. However, [he and I] had to come to an understanding—I don’t do well with a lot of screaming. He was actually quite sweet, just very passionate.

How was it to work with Meat Loaf? What was he like? Did he hit on you?

Meat was amazing! Very much the family man and a true gentleman. He knew I had no idea what I was doing and was extremely supportive and kind.

Any funny stories from the shoot?

I am afraid of heights, so in the couch floating scene, I had to buck up while glancing at a cue card as I was lip-syncing to the song that I did not know the words to. I was trying to be all sexy and all the while I was terrified. Thank God I am a good multitasker. The lip-syncing was okay, not sure I nailed the sexy.




Anything go wrong on the shoot?

Not really wrong, but during the bed scene where the girls were crawling up my body, one of them got a little over zealous so I kept yelling “Cut!” Ha! I didn’t know that it wasn’t my place to decide when we were to stop rolling film.

What did you think of the video?

I thought it was beautiful. I was amazed at the talent of Michael Bay to do such an elaborate video in such a short amount of time. However, I have to admit that I have seen it only a handful of times. Just too weird to see myself.



What did your parents think of it?

They were thrilled.

Another first for the series: I was able to ask this question directly to the parent of a video ingĂ©nue, Dana’s mom Marty. Her response:


I loved it! I loved the subliminals of Dana’s face, especially in the beginning. As a rather conservative mom, the only part of the video story that I found difficult to relate to was the [suggestive] part with the other two beautiful actors. When I showed the video to Dana’s very conservative grandparents, I explained that segment as kinda like Cinderella and the two stepsisters. I felt that it was all about creative license and personal interpretation and that was the best interpretation I could muster. I feel Meat Loaf was right when, in an interview, he said that it was Dana who made the video such a success since it was #1 on MTV long before the song became so popular. I loved the staging, lighting, costuming…I thought it was all beautiful and I love the song.

What did your friends think of it?

One time during show season in Milan, a group of girls broke out in [the] song when I entered the room. Friends like to tease me, but everyone seemed to genuinely like it.

Did you watch the MTV World Premiere of the video, and if so, where and how did that feel?

This is awful, but I did not. I had no idea what a big deal it was going to be. I was oblivious.

Did the video ever affect your dating life in any way (i.e. when you first told boyfriends you were the woman in it)?

No. not really. I was dating someone at the time.

Did you receive fan mail? If so, do you still have any of it?

I did, but my agency went through it. I never saw any of the letters.

Did the video generate any controversy that you know of?

Not that I know of.

What were you paid?

A good amount, more than the usual. Don’t really want to say, sorry.

Were you ever recognized in public?

Surprisingly I was, which shocked the hell out of me. Sort of became some teenage boys’ wet dream (which totally cracks me up), but what was really cool was a lot of women were fans. I felt proud of that.


1998

Did you appear in other music videos after that?

Just a follow up video by another director [“I’d Lie for You (And That’s the Truth)”], wasn’t the same.


Did you ever meet other women who were female leads in a mainstream ‘80s rock video?

Just some fellow models. [Dana is good friends with Audie Lenkov of
The Boys of Summer, and Audie mentioning that was what prompted me to find and include Dana in round 2.]

Dana and Audie mirror selfie

If you went to college, where and what did you study?

Never went to college. Actually I have never been a good student—too impatient.

What are you doing these days?

I am a photographer—self-taught, of course. Again, terrible student.



Where do you live?

Los Angeles, CA.

If you are/were married, what was your future husband’s reaction when he learned you were in this video?

I am married to an amazing man and he thought it was awesome because he thought I was actually singing! Trust me when I say he knows better now.

Kids?

No kids, just a Myma cat and a Grace dog.

What did you think when you first heard from me?

Honestly? “Ugh.” But then I read your email and saw your work and now I’m a fan.

Has anyone else ever interviewed you about this?

At the time, I was asked to do The Howard Stern Show, but that was never going to happen.

Have you appeared at any fan conventions to sign autographs? If not, would you?

No fan conventions and no, I wouldn’t be comfortable with that.

Did you stay in touch with Meat Loaf?

For a while there. He wanted me to be on his softball team but it never happened; at the time I was traveling so much.

When was the last time you were in touch?

Last time we spoke was at least 15 years ago.

How do you look back on the experience?

I look back and realize that it was an amazing and unique experience. I am grateful.



Tweet about this interview to @RealMeatLoaf @dana_patrick!

...of round 2.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The Girl in the Video: “Poundcake” (1991)

Introduction to series “The Girl in the Video 2” (including list of interviewees).

The video: “Poundcake” by Van Halen.

The girl-now-woman: Diane Manzo.





In an email, Diane wrote of her experience on the Johnny Hates Jazz video “Shattered Dreams,” directed by David Fincher, “The director went onto to big movies, I went onto dogs.”

How old were you when you appeared in the “Poundcake” video?

Around 30.

Where were you living at the time?

Los Angeles, CA.

What music videos, shows, or movies had you appeared in prior to that?

Tons of stuff. I worked in New York, San Francisco, London, Milan, and finally Paris. I then came back and stayed put, working a lot. I had already done theatre and taken many acting classes and was also working as an actor. I did lots of TV, small but featured speaking parts. Some movies including South Central, The Mambo Kings, Death Wish II. So many commercials and music videos working as a principal performer, it’s hard to remember. Some of the other music videos that I remember:


  • Herb Alpert (I was told this was the first video with an actor [me] in it and an actual storyline. They said it was like a mini movie.)
  • “Shattered Dreams” by Johnny Hates Jazz, directed by David Fincher. I was living in New York at the time, and my L.A. agent, Top Models, called me and said I needed to be on a plane that night, that Fincher personally wanted me. It was a very dark video; David pushed me very hard, but I felt up for it.
  • I also did a Babyface video, shot at the Ambassador Hotel.
  • Let’s see, Simply Red, Jefferson Starship, Aaron Neville, Glenn Frey. I know there are many more—oh, I forgot: Rod Stewart, too.

Another time I flew back to New York for a magazine shoot and as soon as I arrived, my L.A. agent said I was picked to be in a Mick Jagger video! For the audition I had to act out a scene on tape. Mick had final choice, so I was beyond flattered, but unfortunately couldn’t do it—I had to stay in New York to work the job. I was crushed.



How were you cast in “Poundcake”?

“Poundcake” was a regular casting call. It was packed with scantily clad women. I was told to dress looking shy and innocent. Was I in the right place? I remember picking a little printed sundress and flats. The director and casting director were in the room. The director gave me some thoughts and I went to work. I decided to put a light-hearted spin on it a few times, and they laughed; it was a funny bit I did (when on set, he wanted me to recreate it). And that was it, about 10 minutes or less. Just a few months ago, I was at a commercial casting, and the same casting director from “Poundcake,” Talley Casparis, was casting. She said I was the only actor the whole band agreed on and I was Eddie’s first choice. I never knew this before, so it was a fun little update for me.



Do you remember what your reaction was when you were cast?

Of course I was excited. (One usually is when booking a job!)



Were you a Van Halen fan?

Oh yeah, I was crazy for some of their songs.

Where was the video filmed?

I think it was filmed near USC, maybe the L.A. Coliseum…that rings a bell.

How long was the shoot?

Approximately 23 hours. (Yes, I said 23!)

How did you feel making the video?

Exhausted, but excited at the same time.



What was the hardest part of the shoot?

I had to convey a lot of emotions and be focused. The hardest part was they saved the last few hours of the shoot to shoot my scenes. We shot as the sun was rising. I didn’t think I was going to perform well, but I was running on adrenaline.

How was it to work with Van Halen? What were they like? Did any of them hit on you?

Sadly all my scenes were shot separately. No way was the band going to hang around till 5 in the morning!

Any funny stories from the shoot?

My choice to add a little comedy in the scenes elicited laughs, which was nice to hear. I remember one of the models lost her purse and was frantic, but I think someone hid it. Everyone was exhausted after waiting around for about 10 hours before any of us got filmed. There were a lot of grumpy models.

Anything go wrong on the shoot?

Not that I can remember.

What did you think of the video?

It was a funny premise, and it was rewarding to always get to act in a music video, not just prance around in tight clothes and stilettos. I thought it was a great video, and I believe it actually won an MTV award, something like “Best Chick Video” or some such.




What did your parents think of it?

They were always proud of me. I think they were relieved I was cast as “the nice girl”!

What did your friends think of it?

Jealous. No, just kidding! They always want to know if anything juicy happened on set.

Did you watch the MTV World Premiere of the video, and if so, where and how did that feel?

I wasn’t able to.

Did the video ever affect your dating life in any way (i.e. when you first told boyfriends you were the woman in it)?

No, I was already with my boyfriend for many, many years; he was used to me working all hours and doing all kinds of work. We have now been married for a few decades. So he must have trusted me!

Did you receive fan mail? If so, do you still have any of it?

I did. It usually went to my agent, or SAG. I’m not sure I’ve kept any. I have a garage full of boxes with stuff—the books, appointment books, portfolios, etc. If I have some, it would take me a year to find them.

Did the video generate any controversy that you know of?

No. I think people realized it was all in good fun.

What were you paid?

I don’t remember, but it was about double or more than the other girls, and that was because I told my agent to demand overtime after around 12 hours. That was kind of unusual as most shoots were a flat fee no matter the hours involved. In the past I [had] experienced long hours and, frankly, at that point in my career, I thought I could ask. So I think I might have made around $1,500-2,000.

Were you ever recognized in public?

Yes! I was taken aback. It usually happened on other sets I was working on, or even just on the street. People would sometimes just stare as if they recognized me, but from where?  Once I was shooting a European commercial and a background actor, around 16, wanted to talk about “Poundcake” and asked me for my autograph! That was sweet.

Did you appear in other music videos after that? If so, which was your favorite and why?

That was my swan song as far as music videos. Twenty-three hours on a set…well, it was time to move on.



Did you ever meet other women who were female leads in a mainstream ‘80s rock video?

I was very friendly with Susan McNabb; she was in a Billy Joel video. I knew Signy Coleman, who did the Huey Lewis videos. We all knew each other and a lot of us were with the same agency.

If you went to college, where and what did you study?

I planned to go to UMKC, which was in my hometown of Kansas City, MO. I [had given] myself six months to make it in L.A. I started working and never went to college. I consider myself going to the University of Life. I did graduate high school!

What are you doing these days?

Still going on castings. Still working occasionally. I live with my long-time husband and three enormous dogs. I am a senior member of a well-known non-profit that rescues and places German Shepherds and German Shepherd mixes. I’m one of the people who go to the high kill shelters, conduct temperament tests of the dogs, and pick dogs for the rescue. It’s truly a passion.



Where do you live?

Los Angeles.

What was your future husband’s reaction when he learned you were in this video?

He was proud! He helped me remember some of the videos [to list for you].

Kids?

Three fur babies! Six, eight, and 12 years old.

What did you think when you first heard from me?

I was shocked because the day before I heard from you, I was thinking about all the music videos I did from that era. It was a special time; I was at the birth of MTV, in a way. In fact, LOL, I was driving on Sunset Boulevard the same year MTV was born, and one of the founders of MTV hit on me and gave me his card! I never called him…

Has anyone else ever interviewed you about this?

No, I don’t think so.

Have you appeared at any fan conventions to sign autographs? If not, would you?

No, but sure, if it was local, or somewhat local.

Did you stay in touch with anyone in Van Halen?

No. I wished I could have met the band.

How do you look back on the experience?

Very fondly.

Anything you’d like to add?

It was a really heady time, lots of action workwise, and it may sound silly, but it was an honor to have been chosen by the bands. I was very lucky.



Tweet about this interview to @VanHalen @sammyhagar @eddievanhalen!

Next: Meat Loaf, “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” (1993).

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The Girl in the Video: “Cradle of Love” (1990)

Introduction to series “The Girl in the Video 2” (including list of interviewees).

The video: “Cradle of Love” by Billy Idol.

The girl-now-woman: Betsy Lynn George.





How old were you when you appeared in the “Cradle of Love” video?

I was 18 years old. I was also asked to prove so, shortly after the video was aired. Propaganda Films contacted me wanting a copy of my driver’s license. They said that a concerned mother’s group wanted to know if I was of age to do such a video.

Where were you living at the time?

I was living in West Hollywood.

The night before our first rehearsal, I went on a double date with my girlfriend. She set me up with a well-known actor. The four of us came back to my apartment. My date came out of my bathroom and made a comment that I had a metal tube of what he thought was a birth control—it was really just hand lotion. He announced to my friend, loud enough [for me] to hear, that I must be “ready for him.” I promptly asked him to leave. He asked why. I told him that I had a rehearsal for a music video in the morning. He rolled his eyes, said something along the lines of “oh wow,” and slithered out the door.


Later that year at the [1990] MTV Video Music Awards, he announced “Cradle of Love” as the Best Video from a Film. My friend who set me up with him left a message on my answering machine, crying with laughter, that he had to announce my win.

What music videos, shows, or movies had you appeared in prior to that?

For one year, I did modeling near my hometown in Pittsburgh, PA for Calgon Bath Product, Gimbels, and Kaufmann’s department stores. When I first got to L.A., I did two Japanese buyouts, [one] for Konica Camera (billboard) and another I don’t recall. I was offered a six-month contract to model in Japan through Askew Modeling Company. I turned it down and stayed in L.A. to pursue being an actor. 


I was on Days of Our Lives and featured as a 1920s ballroom dancer in the TV movie Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders. I played a young bride in a music video. I do not recall the name. It was a soulful boy band. I got my SAG card as a guest star on Baywatch, shortly before the Billy Idol video.

How were you cast
in “Cradle of Love”?

It was a large casting [call] at Propaganda Films. Casting directors Elisabeth Kovacs and Elaine Guy had me in on a commercial casting and told me to come to this large casting. Lee Daniels, my manager, told me that it was a cattle call. And it was. I went to the call with no makeup, a vintage dress from the ‘60s, and a trench coat, I think. The casting directors quickly pulled me aside and said to put on some red lipstick and really “play the role.” They believed in me so much. Elisabeth said that the director David Fincher did not like me for the role, initially. Nonetheless, I got a callback and got the role.

Do you remember what your reaction was when you were cast?

It was an exciting moment. I was really going out of my comfort zone and stretching my limbs as an actor. At the same time, I was very excited because I was going to be able to incorporate my love of gymnastics and skills into the video. I was also about to be the star of the video and was eager to do well. It was emotional because I felt like I was getting a chance to perform gymnastics again in some way. At 13, I had broken my neck doing competitive gymnastics. The accident ended my career as a gymnast.

Were you a Billy Idol fan?

I liked his music.

Where was the video filmed?

In a loft in downtown Los Angeles.

How long was the shoot?

Two or three days.

How did you feel making the video?

I knew that we were making something special. There was that sense on set.

What was the hardest part of the shoot?

Crawling on the floor and kissing Josh. I cried after the shot, actually. No regrets, no trauma. I was a small-town, mostly-good girl suddenly doing a music video with a sexually-fueled demand to its creation. I began to realize my power as a woman and it was a little scary. Even then I had the sense to be careful and not abuse it.



How was it to work with Billy Idol? What was he like? Did he hit on you?

You are funny. I did not actually work with him. He came to set one day with a full-leg cast. He [had] had a motorcycle accident.

Billy and I [did go] to dinner once. We got along well, but it was not exactly a match. I rarely wore makeup and did not dress sexy in real life. I was wearing shoes that he did not like, I was later told. We went to his house and sat by the pool. We kissed, but it was not going anywhere. I asked to be driven home. His driver and right-hand man told me when we got in the car that he “could not believe” I didn’t stay, that “all the woman stay.”

I really was still a girl in some ways. I got that Billy was very respectful of that.

Any funny stories from the shoot?

I can laugh about it now, but at the time I felt like retreating to the mountains. In the scene where I had to crawl and kiss Josh, Fincher was not happy with my crawling performance. He whispered something shocking to me. I did the scene several takes until he was happy. It was sexy and felt very primal and I could feel the heaviness of the silence and dropped jaws on the set. I went behind a tarp and cried for a minute or two until I could regain my composure.


Josh was comforting at the time. When I have run into him since, he teases me about it. We had a really good time as actors, making this video. We both went somewhere we had never gone before. “Cradle of Love” is both sexy and funny and really well made.

Anything go wrong on the shoot?

Nothing.

What did you think of the video?

I think that it is a work of art. There is so much talent and creativity to it. Details are everything, I think. And it has it. The makeup artist said that she was pulling red lips and minimal makeup from WWII. She spoke of batwing eye makeup so deeply rooted in Egyptian hierarchy and throughout Old Hollywood. She wanted a film noir and certain bombshell actresses influenced the Devon character. I learned so much from this makeup artist.

The costumer chose hieroglyphic, chandelier-type earrings. We shopped and shopped until we found and crafted the perfect outfit. So much thought was put into what my character would wear. The red Asian jacket reflected the downtown/near-Chinatown garb of a loft-dweller. David Fincher added his say to the wardrobe and demanded a bust-enhancing bra and high-heeled boots. He very well may not have liked my clunky boy shoes. ;)

Gregory Poe, the choreographer, is true genius. He not only comes up with unique ideas but he also was great with allowing improve—[allowing] what came naturally from me to be a major part of the performance. Fincher wanted that, too. For there to be an unscripted flow to the dancing, as if I thought no one was watching. Everyone on the crew from the cinematographer to the lighting guys and gaffers were so meticulous to make everything just right. I think that we all did just so.

I knew my life would never be the same, in a positive way. I knew that I could command an audience and was excited to do more.



What did your parents think of it?

They like it.

What did your friends think of it?

Proud.

Did you watch the MTV World Premiere of the video, and if so, where and how did that feel?

Yes, I remember watching it. I was proud and only a little worried what my mom would think of the sexy parts.

Did the video ever affect your dating life in any way (i.e. when you first told boyfriends you were the woman in it)?

I did not tell anyone (other than my family) that I was in it. Nearly everyone who knew me had seen it. I was very recognizable to those who would meet me. It was a time for me that changed everything of how I saw people socially. Some people began kissing up to me. Certain people came out of the woodwork; that made me cringe. I became quite introverted toward those who treated me as if I was the character. For the most part, another level of respect came in for me that I knew I deserved. I did not date much. Over the next seven years, I had a series of three semi-long-term boyfriends.

Did you receive fan mail? If so, do you still have any of it?

I received a letter from a war vet amputee wanting as many headshots as I could send for him and his buddies. I likely have it somewhere in my attic.

Did the video generate any controversy that you know of?

Yes, like I said a women’s group targeted Propaganda Films because they thought that I was underage.

What were you paid?

I want to say close to a thousand dollars a day for three days.

Were you ever recognized in public?

I was recognized daily. I am still recognized often.

Did you appear in other music videos after that?

I was in the James Foley-directed music video “King of Dreams” for Deep Purple. Shortly after I worked with Foley again on one of the last episodes of Twin Peaks.

Did you ever meet other women who were female leads in a mainstream ‘80s rock video?

I may have, but if so it was brief and I don’t recall.

If you went to college, where and what did you study?

I am an avid reader and have been since 18. I have informally studied philosophy, Buddhism, herbology, and holistic medicine. In my thirties, I went to college for the first time. I studied journalism part-time at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After 9/11, I decided that journalism was not a good fit for me, at that time. I went back to college part-time in 2005, majoring in psychology. The decision was partially based on my son being diagnosed with autism. I wanted to understand his condition more and gain every tool I could to help him. I continued studying psychology through 2008 at Mount Diablo College near San Francisco, mostly during the morning while my children were in school.

What are you doing these days?

I spend most of my time raising my children. Also, one year ago, I began my own at-home business. I deal in antiques, art, and vintage clothing. Quality antiquities have been a lifelong love. I sell worldwide.


Betsy modeling an item from her Etsy shop

For the past five years, I have been living in my hometown, Kittanning, PA. I also volunteer as a yoga instructor at the local YMCA. I have a large garden, I grow many herbs and much food for me and my family. I spend much time in the forest and mountains. I go to cities mostly to enjoy the arts.

2/10/15 update: I am General Manager of Friendship Inn and Estates, a 28-room inn, residential and commercial properties, that my grandparents built in the early ‘60s.


2015

If you are/were married, what was your future husband’s reaction when he learned you were in this video?

I have been married twice and divorced twice. Upon learning, my first husband’s eyes were like a deer caught in headlights and he gushed about it, frequently. He was funny about it and is genuinely proud of my accomplishments. My second husband both pretended that he did not know when we met and pretended to not care when we were married.

How old are your children?

13, 10, and 2.

What do they think of the video?

My 13-year-old daughter likes it and sometimes teases me. We talk much about preforming. She is a talented flutist and very bright.

What did you think when you first heard from me?

I had a fine feeling—it made sense. I had a good experience with Rob Tannenbaum. I felt comfortable interviewing with him. He represented me with accuracy and is respectful and funny. He is smart in a unique and somewhat dark, yet inoffensive, way. I like working with intelligent, creative people who interpret things with accuracy in a caring way. I saw your photo and like what you write. When I first heard from you, your voice sounded caring and passionate. I saw that in your photo and what I read from you as well.

Has anyone else ever interviewed you about this?

In 2002, I did [one of the two “Video Vixens” episodes of a VH1 show called Where Are They Now?].

Have you appeared at any fan conventions to sign autographs? If not, would you?

I have not appeared at fan conventions and would likely not.

Did you stay in touch with anyone else from the video?

No. But [bumping into] some of them through the years has been pleasant.

When was the last time you were in touch?

I saw Josh in 1997 at the Beverly Hills Post Office.

How do you look back on the experience?

Positive.



Tweet about this interview to @BillyIdol!

Next: Poundcake, “Van Halen” (1991).

Monday, July 28, 2014

The Girl in the Video: “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (1989)

Introduction to series “The Girl in the Video 2” (including list of interviewees).
 
The video: “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel.

The girls-now-women:


  • Melody Knighton
  • Marlee Matlin
  • Lupe McDonald
  • Susan McNabb
  • Barbara Paolella
  • Frankie Thorn

 Melody

 Marlee

 Lupe

 Susan

 Barbara

Frankie


How old were you when you appeared in the “We Didn’t Start the Fire” video? 

Melody: 35.
Lupe: I was 23. Fresh out of college and excited to be doing a music video, which was a fairly new thing in the music world.
Frankie: I believe I was about 24. Yes, that was me popping pills and playing the violin!
Marlee: I was 24 when Billy asked me to appear in “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
Susan: I believe I was 28, but I don’t recall the shoot date. I might have been 29.
Barbara: 22. I was the future girl, all punked out in the kitchen. :)


Melody 1986

 Lupe 1980s

Frankie and Antonio SabĂ to, Jr. 1989

Susan 1980s

Where were you living at the time?

Melody: Hollywood, CA.
Lupe: Santa Monica, CA.
Frankie: Hollywood, CA.
Marlee: Los Angeles, CA.
Susan: West Hollywood, CA. When I was 24, I’d moved to L.A. from North Carolina to model.
Barbara: Malibu Canyon, CA.

What music videos, shows, or movies had you appeared in prior to that? 


Melody: This was my first on-camera appearance. I had worked on several as a makeup artist. 
Lupe: I had mainly done quite a few commercials, including McDonald’s, Miller Lite, Pepsi, Honeywell, etc. I had also done some theater in L.A. and at the New Mexico Repertory Theater Co.
Frankie: I had done a couple of films in Europe, a shampoo commercial in London, and a couple of other music videos over there.
Susan: I’d appeared in many commercials and music videos. (I’ve listed the videos in a later response.) I also did print and runway. I made most of my living modeling, but had also done quite a bit of extra work in film and TV to make ends meet, and I’d become Elvira’s stand-in and photo double by that time. I’d been working in L.A. for four or five years when I booked “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
Barbara: This was the first thing I was cast in through an agency. I had done some modeling but nothing serious.


 Susan

Frankie

How were you cast in “We Didn’t Start the Fire”?

Melody: The call was for people who looked like celebs from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. My agent sent me the audition. It was my first attempt to look like Lucille Ball. I had not even studied her yet.
Lupe: I was cast, I believe, by a casting agent named Paul Ventura. [MTN: True! In fact, Paul was invaluable in helping me find Lupe, a process that took about a month but seemed like much longer at the time.]
Frankie: I went on the audition with hundreds of other people. Who knows why, but they chose me for the role. The whole casting process is still a mystery to me. I actually love auditioning. I go in and dance for myself!
Marlee: I got a call from my agent and publicist at the time that Billy thought it might be fun for me to appear in his new video.
Susan: I don’t remember the actual audition. I went out on a lot of music video auditions and many of them blur together with memories of standing on my mark and dancing in a bathing suit, trying to look sexy. I remember wondering if the casting directors ever showed the audition tapes at their parties so people could laugh at us. I often felt ridiculous.
Barbara: The call was for Marilyn Monroe types so I dressed like a 1950s Marilyn Monroe. I ran from another callback; I walked in and I thought I am at the wrong call. There are tall models who look nothing like what the casting agent said they were looking for. I figured I was not getting this.

Do you remember what your reaction was when you were cast?


Melody: I was thrilled to get a part, try out this character, and meet Billy Joel.
Lupe: I think at that point, being a struggling artist, I was ecstatic to be cast in anything. But this being a paying gig and being such a cool job, I was quite thrilled, to say the least.
Frankie: I was, as usual, surprised. Getting booked for any job in Hollywood is close to a miracle. There are so many beautiful and talented people here! And it was also my first acting gig in Hollywood. So I was especially delighted!
Marlee: I was over the moon. Me? In a Billy Joel video? I had never heard the song before, but didn’t care. I said “I’m in!”
Susan: I was always very happy to hear I had a booking, and this was no exception.
Barbara: This was my first job so I was really excited!

Were you a Billy Joel fan? 


Frankie: I knew who he was! I liked his music!
Marlee: I had met him several times before and expressed my admiration for him and his music (was a fan ever since I was 8) and in 1988 we got to work together on Sesame Street.
Susan: Absolutely! Who isn’t? He’s an icon.
Barbara: I liked Billy Joel.

Where was the video filmed?


Melody: Hollywood. Raleigh Studios?
Lupe: The video was filmed at some big sound stage in L.A. somewhere.
Frankie: Oh jeez…it was some studio in the Hollywood area, but I’m not sure which one.
Marlee: I don’t recall where the video was filmed but I want to say Hollywood.
Susan: I don’t remember the location, but we were on a sound stage somewhere in L.A.
Barbara: It was so long ago I remember only that it was shot in a big studio somewhere.


 Who is Meg James? See below...

courtesy of Sterling Storm

How long was the shoot?

Melody: I think they shot for several days but I was there for one.
Lupe: The shoot for me was one day.
Frankie: I shot my part for two days.
Marlee: The video shoot took most of a day. That’s because I had hair/makeup and two costume changes—prom girl and hippie.
Susan: I only worked on it one day. I don’t know how many days they shot.
Barbara: The shoot was one day, I think.

How did you feel making the video?


Melody: I felt like a star. Lots of attention and loved the costumes.
Frankie: I felt soooo happy! I loved making this music video! It was a period piece. I was playing Marlee Matlin’s mother. [My character] started out as a young mom in the ‘60s, then they aged me with makeup and shot into the future. It was fascinating! I got a glimpse of what I’ll look like as an old lady! LOL!
Marlee: It was fantastic having an opportunity watching how videos are made. I know it sounds ironic coming from a deaf person, but it was really fun being part of a music video. I’ve always thought they play like little movies, so why shouldn’t I be in one? Thanks to Billy, I got the chance.
Susan: I loved the job! I was pleasantly surprised when I was put in the red dress. It was “pretty” and not the usual slutty garb required for most music videos.

Decorating a Christmas tree was also a wholesome task to perform on camera, which I liked. It was nice to just act like a normal person and not have to try to look sexy. Meryl Streep once said her hardest role was in The French Lieutenant’s Woman because she had to look beautiful. (Yes, I just compared myself to Meryl Streep—hey, stop laughing!)

I’d been told to bring some wardrobe of my own, which was common. Music videos generally had very low budgets, and we often wore our own clothes. I brought a selection of hats, and they chose to put me in one of them for my second change—a black felt hat with an attached black scarf that wrapped around my neck.
Barbara: I was so excited to shoot it until they started fitting me for this wardrobe, putting me in this ridiculous outfit; I became so bummed about it and never really told anyone about the video.



Lupe behind-the-scenes

What was the hardest part of the shoot?

Melody: Trying to toss a weighted veil. I kept conking Billy in the head, neck, arm, chest. If you asked the actor who had to carry me across the threshold for numerous takes, I am sure he would say his aching back.
Frankie: There really was nothing hard that I can remember. I guess having to hear bits of the song seven zillion times, really loudly…that was a bit much…but obviously necessary!
Marlee: The hardest part was lighting up a fake marijuana cigarette. I was so apprehensive because at the time I had been sober for two years. But then, it wasn’t hard because it wasn’t that long. It was fun and scary at the same time.
Susan: I don’t remember anything being hard about it. It was a great gig.

How was it to work with Billy Joel? What was he like?


Melody: He was very warm and friendly. Kind of a quiet guy. Didn’t feel the need to be the center of attention. He seemed content to sit back and observe until he was needed. He was very tolerant of my lousy throw. He chatted with us between takes.
Lupe: I never did get to work directly, as in exchanging any lines, with Billy Joel. Once we had figured out the scene we were shooting, they would bring him in and plunk him down in his chair, in the middle of our kitchen, so he could observe our chaos and the filming would begin.
Frankie: Great! He was a quiet gentleman to me!
Marlee: Billy, as always, was a gentleman with a little undercurrent of mischief/subversiveness. He plays by the rules but he plays his way because he can—he’s Billy Joel! He was very patient explaining how the music would play and [how] we would act out various scenarios.
Susan: I’m certain we met but to be honest, I don’t remember talking to him—which sounds crazy, I know, because he’s Billy Frikkin’ Joel. It would have been customary to be introduced to him, and the fact that I don’t remember our conversations means that he was probably a perfectly lovely person, because if he wasn’t—that I would have remembered.
Barbara: I don’t feel I really shot the video with Billy Joel; he basically stayed by himself. No one really interacted with him that much. At the time Christie Brinkley was a bigger name so everyone asked me if she was on set and she was not.

Any funny stories from the shoot?


Melody: Well, I couldn’t resist milking it when I was wearing the pregnant suit. I waddled around and struggled to sit down. The crew was falling all over themselves to assist me. Like they hadn’t just seen me an hour before not pregnant. Cracked me up.
Lupe: I remember Marlee Matlin quite vividly. She was quite the hot actress at the time, having just won an Academy Award. I remember she came with a large entourage, and they would all be hanging out and seeming to be having a grand ole time while we were working. I was a bit awestruck being so close to her and Billy Joel at the same time.
Frankie: When I met Marlee Matlin, she was so vibrant! Such a free-spirited being! Wow! I was playing her mom; we are the same age, but I was acting. They aged me up pretty good at the end there! It was super exciting to be on the set, trusting and creating the director’s vision, making it come to life. Best job on the planet!
Marlee: It was fun trying to watch them figure out how I would take off my bra and burn it. I think we had a tough time trying to get the bra to ignite and they doused it in something after I took it off.
Susan: When we started to set up the coffin shot, the director wanted to get a shot of the coffin lid opening from a closed position. The actor spoke up and said he couldn’t be in the coffin with the lid closed, so the shot was changed—cheated a little to start from a halfway-open position. It’s not funny-ha-ha, but it’s kind of funny-odd. I couldn’t imagine speaking up and saying no to anything I was told to do by a director. But I could also see why it would be hard to be shut inside a coffin.
Barbara: I have no funny stories about the shoot; like I said, they pretty much made me look ridiculous and cut out most of what we shot.


Marlee

Anything go wrong on the shoot? 

Melody: Nothing went wrong while I was shooting.
Frankie: Don’t recall any major blunders of any kind.
Marlee: Nothing really went wrong except it was a challenge to take off my bra and burn it as I explained.
Susan: We couldn’t start the coffin lid-opening shot from a closed position.

What did you think of the video?


Melody: I thought it was very innovative for its time. I think it opened the door for more stylized videos.
Lupe: I really love the video. The idea of going through all the decades and seeing a slice from these people’s lives and realizing that we are all basically repeating the cycle over and over is rather fun and creative. And the way it is edited together keeps it moving so nicely.
Frankie: I wasn’t really sure what the whole kit and caboodle was going to turn out like in the end. There were all these time-period sets; conceptually I had no idea how they were going to put it all together. I was just into being my mother character!
Marlee: I thought the video was great. Very visual. Each word/lyric was accompanied by an image that reflected the time. Chris Blum, the director, did a great job.
Susan: I loved it! It was thought-provoking and interesting—not a typical video at the time. It told the story of the evolution of the American family and a warning about our future while showcasing some shocking historical images—really, pretty ambitious for a music video.


 
Marlee

 Lupe

 Barbara

Frankie

What did your parents think of it?

Melody: They always think it is fun to see me on camera. My dad was just thankful I wasn’t playing a prostitute this time.
Lupe: It was really just a job to them. I doubt either of them had ever seen a music video, then or even now.
Frankie: Oh my mom is always proud as punch! She gets to point to the TV and tell the world, “There’s my beautiful talented daughter on the telly!”
Marlee: My parents loved the video. They knew how much of a fan of Billy’s I was and were thrilled I got to work with him again, [this time] on one of his videos.
Susan: I don’t remember discussing it with my parents. They weren’t really MTV types. But they were always proud when I booked a job.

What did your friends think of it?


Melody: Most of my L.A. friends were in the biz so they were pretty jaded. However, over the years, my friends from Georgia and other parts of the country told me how cool they thought it was to have someone they knew appear in a video.
Lupe: My friends thought I was pretty cool being a part of something so popular and so on the cutting edge of music then.
Frankie: My hardcore Billy Joel fan friends kind of freaked out! Knowing I was on a set with him for two days was a bit surreal for them!
Marlee: My friends were blown away by the video because they didn’t recognize me at first as the prom queen and then as the hippie burning her bra. It was hilarious!
Susan: I don’t remember specifically discussing the video, but my friends were always very supportive when I was in a video. My friends back home in North Carolina were more impressed than my L.A. friends. My L.A. friends were mostly in the business as well, and had their own accomplishments that often made mine seem insignificant. But then, friends who weren’t in the business thought what I did for a living was pretty cool. It’s all relative.

Did you watch the MTV World Premiere of the video, and if so, where and how did that feel? 


Melody: I didn’t even know they had a premiere. Unfortunately, once the production company gets you on film or video, they don’t want to know you. It is extremely difficult to even get a copy of your work unless you know someone.
Frankie: I did! I think I was in Minnesota visiting my parents at the time and we all watched the big premiere on MTV. It was amazing! It was much more multi-layered and historical than I imagined it would be. Everybody thought it was pretty cool.
Susan: No, but I watched MTV and VH1 a lot—always looking for myself and my friends in videos. Plus I was a fan like anyone else and had my favorite videos to watch for. We left it on all the time, like a radio. It was a big part of the culture at the time.

Did the video ever affect your dating life in any way (i.e. when you first told boyfriends you were the woman in it)?


Melody: What dating life? Just kidding. My husband was a friend at the time and he thought it was fun.
Lupe: Well, it’s a funny thing…around the same time, I was doing a play in Santa Fe called When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder, by Mark Medoff. The leading man was played by Christopher McDonald. Little did I know at this point that he was the man I would end up marrying. Anyway, he had seen that video right before I showed up in NM and was rather impressed that I was the girl in it, and now here I was playing his girl. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I did indeed end up “his girl” in real life. Interesting to think that a part in a video could have shaped my life so dramatically!
Susan: At the time I was dating Jerry Seinfeld, and that was the year he launched his TV show, so my appearance in a music video paled in comparison. I’m sure he was happy for me, but did it affect our relationship? No. Like I said, it’s all relative.

I don’t remember it being significant with later boyfriends, either. But was I thrilled to have booked it and proud to be in it? You can bet your booty.



Did you receive fan mail? If so, do you still have any of it?

Melody: I have received a few fan letters through the years but not for this video. How would they know? We don’t get credits. I was not even recognizable as myself.
Marlee: I don’t have any mail that I’ve saved from fans about the video. But I get tweets! People love the fact that they’ve picked me out of the video. “Was that you? Awesome!”
Susan: Ha! No. You’re the first person to ever contact me about it.

Marlee, did you get any flak for doing a music video after winning an Academy Award? 


Marlee: I got no flak for doing this video after my Oscar. A lot of people thought I’d never work again just because I was deaf. I’m sure their jaws were on the ground when I proved them wrong by bending their expectations and doing a music video. But that’s me. Never happy with being “silent.”

Did the video generate any controversy that you know of?


Melody: The director had me tone down the Lucyisms to avoid any copyright issues.
Marlee: I don’t recall any controversy regarding the video.
Susan: None that I know of, but I do have a friend who says it gave her nightmares. (I hope she wasn’t referring to my Christmas tree decorating skills.)


Melody as Lucy 2008

What were you paid?

Melody: $200 or $300. SAG and AFTRA were giving music videos an exemption at that time. Nobody really thought they were going to be a big thing. Boy, if I had gotten residuals for all the times that video has aired through the years!
Frankie: I think I got a couple grand to do that part.
Marlee: I don’t recall being paid for the video. It might have been scale. I would’ve done it for free—it was Billy Joel!
Susan: $200. It was the first (and only) music video for which I signed a SAG contract. For some reason, most of them were non-union. They didn’t pay well but were considered prestigious to book, and could lead to booking much more lucrative commercials. It was like doing editorial print—being on the editorial pages of a magazine paid $150 for the day but was artistically more interesting than the commercial ads it could lead to that paid $1,500. My highest-paying music video paid $500 for the day, but the commercials videos could lead to paid thousands. I also considered the cool factor to be worth a lot. Being in them was cool.

Were you ever recognized in public?


Melody: When I am not in Lucy costume, hair, and makeup, no one recognizes me. However, when I am appearing as Lucy, I sometimes get asked if I am the one in the video.
Frankie: You know, I think after a while of doing lots of different TV roles, commercials, videos, films, and stuff, you seep into people’s brains subliminally. I’ve played so many different characters with lotsa makeup, no makeup, etc. A lot of people say I look familiar to them, but they are not sure why. It’s so sweet, really! I adore people! I am very touched if someone comes up to me and says they enjoy my work.
Marlee: People have recognized that it’s me in the video playing the prom queen and the hippie. It usually comes in the form of a Facebook posting or tweet. I think it was just a few weeks ago that people [last] recognized it was me.
Susan: I was rarely recognized in public. L.A. is crawling with people like me—working models and actors who aren’t famous. We’re rarely noticed, especially when we’re with famous comedians. I did have a woman approach me one night and say she enjoyed my work in a fashion show. I was having dinner with Jerry [Seinfeld] and Dennis Miller, and she didn’t say anything about them. But that happened once in eight years.

When I met the country singer Nancy Griffith backstage after her concert and I gushed at how much I loved her, she just pointed and said, “Oh my god, you’re the woman in the Steve Wariner video!” That was the only time I think anyone recognized me from a music video. I was pretty thrilled.

At an audition once, the director said, “I just saw you recently. In…um…” I asked, “A music video? Commercial? Fashion show?” He replied, “No, in El Pollo Loco.” Yes, I was embarrassed, but I did book the job, and he had lunch catered by El Pollo Loco because he knew I liked it, so there’s that.

Oh, wait—there was one other time. Kathy Foy and I were stopped on the street in San Francisco by an exuberant fan who swore he knew us from our videos. It’s more likely he only knew Kathy whose Bowie video was out at the time, but it’s also possible he just liked two young women in tight dresses and heels (on our way to auditions) and figured raving about their music videos was a good opening line (it wasn’t). Kathy and I always joked that we were so famous we couldn’t even walk down the street, but only in San Francisco, and only on that one street.

Did you appear in other music videos after that?


Melody: Nope. As my grandmother would say, “They want too much sugar for a dime.”
Frankie: I did! Off the top of my head:

“Who Is It”—Michael Jackson
“Love Is a Wonderful Thing”—Michael Bolton
“Runaround”—Van Halen
“Restless Heart”—Peter Cetera


Among others! [MTN: Also a 1990 episode of The Flash.]
Marlee: I did a video with Garth Brooks called “We Shall be Free” in 1992 (and a follow-up in 2009). I also did a video called “Let’s Mambo” with rapper Sean Forbes in 2012.
Susan: Yes. I’d never thought to list my music videos until this interview. I came up with ten videos I did over the years, but I might have missed one or two. My very first job in L.A. (in 1984) was a music video for a Saturday morning cartoon called Kidd Video that featured music videos.

I think I have these in chronological order. There are several for which I have versions I haven’t found online. When I say I have them, I mean they’re on a videotape somewhere in a box in my basement. That tape is very important to me, which is why I put it somewhere so special that now I can’t find it.

“TLC”—Kidd Video
“Turn Me Up”—Kidd Video
I can’t recall the song!—Kenny G
“The Weekend”—Steve Wariner
“When the World Cried”—Ya Ya
“I Don’t Want to Be a Hero”—Johnny Hates Jazz
“I Wanna Be Loved”—House of Lords
“Cool Runnin’”—Boz Scaggs
“We Didn’t Start the Fire”—Billy Joel
“UHF”—
Weird Al” Yankovic (the Robert Palmer spoof portion, with Kathy Foy)
Barbara: I went on to do other small things—a Bud Light commercial, a Japanese Lucky Strike ad, some small parts on soaps. I moved to New York shortly after.


Frankie in Love Is a Wonderful Thing

 Frankie in Restless Heart


Frankie in Bad Lieutenant

Did you ever meet other women who were female leads in a mainstream ‘80s rock video? 

Melody: I’ve met some dancers who were in multiple videos.
Frankie: Christie Brinkley! She is sweet and super gorgeous in person!
Marlee: The one who comes to mine is Lesley Ann Warren who was in “Janie’s Got a Gun.” That’s a great video.
Susan: I knew a lot of them, and am still in touch with quite a few. When I booked a “Weird Al” Yankovic video, three of my close friends booked it as well—my bestie Kathy Foy, Dana Williams, and Linda Ashton. That was a really fun shoot because we were all together. I also shot House of Lords with a couple of friends including Kathy [again], who saved me from having to shoot topless by refusing to open my bra. What are friends for?

If you went to college, where and what did you study?


Melody: At both Kennesaw College [now Kennesaw State University] and Georgia State College, I studied journalism.
Lupe: I went to college at Cal Arts (California Institute of the Arts) in Valencia, CA and graduated with a BFA in theater.
Frankie: I studied theater at the Juilliard School in NYC and at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. I’ve continued my acting studies with some brilliant teachers here in LA. I’m slowly studying for my certification in recycling and resource management and a degree in botany at Santa Monica College. I’m a lifelong learner! I take classes and workshops all the time!
Susan: I have a BA in English Literature from the University of Tennessee.
Barbara: I went to F.I.T. and studied fabric development and marketing. I came back to L.A. and did some costume design/wardrobe supervising. I loved that work but again the lifestyle of the movie business can eat you up.

What are you doing these days?


Melody: I make a living as a celebrity impersonator. I have several shows where I perform as Lucy; I later added Dolly Parton and occasionally Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich to my repertoire. [My stage shows include] “The Tribute to Lucy Show,” “The Lucy and Ricky Tribute Show,” and “The Dolly and Kenny Tribute Show”; I perform all over the world. A few years ago I was selected to appear as Lucy in a national ad campaign for Armstrong Laminate flooring called “It Only Looks Like the Real Thing.” I [also] occasionally still work as a makeup artist.

Melody as Lucy then

 Melody as Lucy now

Melody as Dolly

Lupe: Still happily married to my leading man, and raising four children.
Frankie: I’m a green mom raising my two beautiful children! I have a green company that’s going to save the world with biodynamic organic farming, biodiesel fuels made from our trash, aromatherapeutic organic essential oil housekeeping and products, biodynamic and organic face care, body care, makeup, etc. Going for the zero waste, happy healthy Earth magnum opus! X:-)) And I’m developing a TV show for myself. I’m itching to get back in the saddle again! Never a dull moment!

In 2012, I played a survivor of breast cancer in a music video called “You Survived the Cancer.”




Anna Kay is an up-and-coming musical artist. She’s a teenage girl who wrote this song about her real mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. The producer of this track knows me personally and asked me if I would like to play the part of Anna’s mom in the music video.

Playing a woman diagnosed with breast cancer struck a chord with me. So many friends, relatives have been subject to this devastating disease. Taking the cinematic journey through the diagnosis, chemo, healing process, and ultimately becoming a survivor of breast cancer, I felt honored to play such a role. I think it turned out beautifully!
Marlee: I’m still producing, still acting in TV and in film. Currently I am starring on ABC Family’s Switched at Birth.
Susan: After a very long career, I retired from working in front of the camera in 2011 and am now a writer.

I just signed my first publishing contract for a vampire romance (using a pen name), and am shopping two books under my real name—a Bridget Jones-type novel about a model in the ‘80s who dates comedians called It Seemed Funny at the Time and a collection of funny nonfiction essays about my life in L.A. called The Opposite of Famous. I also have a screenplay in pre-production that I wrote with Larry Donahue called Dreamland Motel.

I didn’t start writing until fairly late in life, and I absolutely love it. Can it replace the rush of strutting down a runway or seeing yourself on MTV? Actually it comes pretty close, and you don’t need to wear pumps while you do it. I can also walk down that street in San Francisco now without being accosted. Middle-aged writers don’t generate quite the same kind of attention as music video models, which is just fine with me.
Barbara: That life is so far away from what I do now. I work in a hospital as a microbiology tech.


 Melody

 Marlee

 Lupe


Susan

Frankie

Where do you live?

Melody: I live in the Atlanta, GA metro area.
Lupe: I split my time between Lake Arrowhead and the City of Orange, CA.
Frankie: Santa Monica, CA.
Susan: After 27 years in L.A., I moved with my husband and our five rescued dogs to a tiny and adorable town in the mountains of North Carolina known for being a writers’ and artists’ haven. It’s a dreamy life.
Barbara: Las Vegas, NV.

If you are/were married, what was your future husband’s reaction when he learned you were in this video?


Melody: My [future] husband knew me when I was in the video. He was then and is now very proud of me.
Frankie: No husband! Still looking! LOL!
Marlee: I wasn’t married at the time and hadn’t met my future husband [yet].
Susan: When I was in my mid-forties, I married a man I’d known in high school but hadn’t seen since. He thought it was very cool that I’d shot the video when I told him about it. He remembered watching it and liking the video, being a big fan of Billy Joel’s. He said he watched MTV for hours at a time, just like everyone else, and of course, didn’t realize I was the woman in the red dress, much less that he’d marry me one day.
Barbara: My husband worked on some things as a kid in the ‘80s and so he was not impressed.

Kids? 


Melody: No, only the four-legged, barking variety.
Lupe: I have four children: 12, 17, 20, and 22. They are constantly amazed that I had a life and did things before they were around. “You can juggle?”, etc. Perhaps I haven’t really mentioned much about what exactly I used to do, so when they stumbled across the fact that I was in a music video they were pretty much blown away! I think one of their friends from high school was the one who discovered this. They were very excited to share the news with me. I think it upped my level of coolness in their eyes. Still trying to hold on to a few of the mysteries of my previous life…wouldn’t want to use up my hipness all at once.
Frankie: I have a beautiful four-year-old daughter and a brilliant and handsome 13-year-old son.
Marlee: My children are 17, 13, 11, and 9.
Susan: I don’t have any kids.
Barbara: I have two children, 3 and 6.

What do they think of the video? 


Frankie: I just showed it to them and they thought momma was being funny!
Marlee: I don’t know if they’ve seen it. But now that you mention it, I’m going to show it to them!
Barbara: They have seen my videos and some of the films I worked on; kids don’t care.

What did you think when you first heard from me?


Melody: You ended up in my spam folder. I deleted your email before reading it all the way through because it looked like you were trying to sell me something. I would not have read it at all if the subject had not mentioned “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” My agent forwarded [your follow-up message] to me and so I took a closer look.
Lupe: It was sort of a funny story getting tracked down by you. My husband came home from New York where he had been shooting a movie and said that a casting director had left him a message and was trying to track me down. When I had done the Billy Joel video, I was using a stage name of Meg James. God only knows how I got talked into that. I guess being young and naive had something to do with it.

Anyway, apparently I was very hard to find since I no longer use that name and am not acting at the moment. But somehow through much perseverance on your part and the casting agent, Paul Ventura, someone put two and two together and figured out Meg James and Lupe Gidley were one and the same. And “isn’t she the one married to that actor Chris McDonald” and voila…you found me. I must admit I was quite flattered that someone had expended so much energy on my behalf!
Frankie: I thought it was rather nice!
Marlee: I was happy to answer your questions. No one has asked me to answer questions in depth about this video.
Susan: I was curious so I looked you up, and was very happy to see that people are interested in the music videos of the ‘80s. I’m very proud to have been a part of an emerging new art form. My part was tiny, but I was there and I loved it.
Barbara: It was nice to have someone get a hold of me and make me remember those days. Wish I had more of a story to tell but it was such a small part and was totally cut out of the video.

Has anyone else ever interviewed you about this? 


Melody: I have been interviewed many times for various publications. I almost always mentioned the video as propelling me into my current career.
Frankie: No interviews for publication about this project, no.
Marlee: I’ve not been interviewed about this video for any other publication.
Susan: No. As you can imagine, most people in the media have been more interested in the fact that I once dated someone famous. I don’t mind talking about Jerry—he’s a very interesting guy—but it’s so nice to be asked about my accomplishments, so thank you!


Susan, Jerry, and Susans brother 1986

Have you appeared at any fan conventions to sign autographs? If not, would you?

Melody: No and yes.
Frankie: Fan convention? Autographs? I honestly don’t think anybody is really gonna want my autograph! But if they asked, I would humbly give it to them!
Susan: Are there conventions for music videos? I’d be happy to sign!

Did you stay in touch with Billy Joel or anyone else from the video?


Melody: No, I don’t know him or them personally.
Frankie: Nope. It’s just a cool memory, and on celluloid forever!
Marlee: Billy allowed me to use lyrics from “My Life” for the opening of my autobiography and we worked together doing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2007. I don’t hang out with him socially since he lives in New York and I live in California but whenever he comes to town for a concert, I’m there!
Susan: Marlee Matlin called shortly after we shot the video (through an interpreter because she’s hearing impaired), and we stayed in touch for a bit. I was impressed at how friendly it was of her to call me. She was a very big deal, having won an Oscar for Children of a Lesser God, and yet went out of her way to find my number and contact me to say how nice it was to have worked with me. I was impressed. Marlee and I only stayed in touch briefly after the shoot.

I don’t know the names of the other actors on the video, but I remembered seeing the little girl in our scene in several things afterwards and was pleased to see how well her career was going. I looked her up on IMDb today (having remembered a film she was in), and her name is Noley Thornton. She was adorable, of course, and quite an exceptional actor.

Marlee, when was the last time you were in touch with Billy? 


Marlee: In 2010 when I published my autobiography and asked for permission to use some of his lyrics for the opening of my book.

How do you look back on the experience?


Melody: It was great. It set me on the path to a really fabulous career as an impersonator and tribute artist. I doubt I would have pursued it otherwise. I think [the video] is still relevant because of the brilliance of Billy Joel and the time travel aspect.
Frankie: It was a joy to work on! Thank you for digging up that old memory! I [just] had a peek at the music video on YouTube with the kids. Fun times! Thank you for caring!
Marlee: It was fantastic to have been part of a number one video! It’s there forever and I’m very proud of it.
Susan: I feel so lucky to have had such an interesting life as a young woman, and even luckier to have mementos like this amazing video. Now, I write about my former life. It seemed normal to me at the time, but now I see how unusual it was both to have had a career in an exciting business and to have known so many interesting people in my personal life.

Anything you’d like to add? 


Melody: Music videos are a great way for aspiring actors to get some on-camera and set experience. Once in a great while, an appearance will be noticed by the right people and lead to other things. Courteney Cox comes to mind. Even if you are not pursuing a performing career, everyone ought to be an extra at least once in [his/her] life.
Susan: Thank you for your interest in this video, and in the whole ‘80s music video world. I’m proud to have been even a small part of it.

Tweet about this interview to @billyjoel @MarleeMatlin @scmcnabb @Zencasagreen!


Next: Billy Idol, “Cradle of Love” (1990).