A few weeks back I found myself at Pebble Beach for the Concours D'Elegance to mingle with wealthy car enthusiasts. This event is all about cars and their stories. Each vehicle on display had a story, some start with the idea of what it will become and others are shaped purely by history. Some cars were built for kings and queens, celebrities, and others survived world wars. To truly appreciate these cars you need to have an understanding of where they came from and what they've been through - these stories is where you find what makes them special beyond being well-formed pieces of metal.
Among those in attendance were the governor of California himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was crowded by men in black sunglasses and ear buds as he made his way to an elderly couple and their car.
Of course, I was brushed aside, told to move along because, "The governor is coming." I understood and in my excitement didn't care at all to be pushed aside for The Terminator, Conan himself. If it had been a normal government official I would not have bothered to hang around for a photograph and I wouldn't remember it beyond the next beer, but Arnold - that is going to be remembered. Forever.
It makes you wonder, or at least me, about the nature of actors and the characters they play. Did Arnold make the Terminator what he was? Would it have been as successful without Arnold's presence? What about Conan the Barbarian or Predator? My honest guess is that no, without Arnold's charisma and charm, those films would not be remembered how they are today. Not too sure how that reflects on California politics, but hopefully some of his counterparts felt the same way and made his job a bit, at least a little, easier.
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