SO ALIVE

In 1996 Keir Bloomfield got his first sole screen credit as a writer. Granted, it was on a low-budget, a very low-budget, movie that the producers guaranteed would be seen on oil platforms and tuna boats the world over. But it was a credit and it was his. Toni Todd, the film legend, had nothing to do with it; contrary to the advice of her facialist, she crinkled her nose at the whole project as if it had an offensive odor. Keir’s illustrious agent at CAA secured the deal and took a whopping $2,500 fee for his troubles. However, the agent declined his celebratory invitation to drink martinis at Musso’s, and instead he walked into the restaurant on his own and requested a seat at the bar.

The bar that night was packed, and so was every table. One booth in the corner, in particular, was loaded with…