Above the Line: My Wild Oats Adventure
Shirley MacLaine (Atria Books)
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Shirley MacLaine is a creative force. Not only has the 81-year-old Oscar-winning actress appeared in more than 50 films, she’s the author of many best-selling books.
In Above the Line: My Wild Oats, she chronicles the ups and downs of the production of her upcoming film Wild Oats. As a veteran actress, MacLaine knew the project felt insecure from the start.
The cast changed at the drop of a hat, and the financial backing was less than clear. But no one worried about money – they just wanted to make a movie.
These uncertainty raised red flags for MacLaine’s agent and friends, yet there was something about the project that intrigued her. The film was scheduled to shoot at a location that interested her – Canary Islands. So she flew there against all odds, a decision she would not regret.
While the production puttered along due to financial constraints and unpredictable shooting schedules, MacLaine used the time to absorb all information she could about the lost continent of Atlantis. It is believed that the Canary Islands are the remnants of Atlantis, and MacLaine finds herself constantly comparing what happens on the film’s set with the lost island’s fate.
Always seeking to grow and learn, she examines the concept of being aware of where you have been and where you are going – ask questions, embrace the laws of cause and effect, let your imagination roam free.
You never know where it’s going to take you.
• Above the Line: My Wild Oats Adventure is now available from Amazon
* Lincee Ray / Associated Press
