I kept saying that I'd never live in L.A., and I didn't think I

Opening Scene

The room is softly illuminated by the warm glow of a table lamp, casting long shadows as the evening draws in. Outside, the city is quiet, with only a few distant sounds breaking the calm. Jack sits at the table, lost in thought, while Jeeny stands near the window, looking out at the view below. The mood is relaxed, yet there’s a sense of reflection in the air, as though a conversation about change, location, and the way fame shapes our choices is about to unfold.

Host: After a few moments of silence, Jeeny turns from the window, her voice thoughtful but steady, breaking the silence.

Jeeny: “I came across a quote by John Cusack that really made me think. He said, ‘I kept saying that I'd never live in L.A., and I didn't think I would. But that's where the work is, and I ended up making a lot of friends there, and my old friends moved out to Los Angeles too. And also, I think when you're famous, it's hard to live in a small town.’ It made me reflect on how life and location can change, especially when fame and opportunity lead you in unexpected directions. What do you think? How much do you think fame influences the places we choose to live?”

Jack: “I think Cusack’s quote highlights something pretty real. A lot of people say they’d never live in a particular place, but life has a funny way of pulling us in different directions. When you’re in a career like his, especially in Hollywood, the work is often centered in places like Los Angeles. Fame and opportunity aren’t always tied to where you want to live personally, but rather to where things are happening professionally. And for someone with global recognition, a small town may just not feel like a realistic place to settle.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s like the idea of compromise. Cusack’s quote shows how personal beliefs and preferences often collide with the realities of career and public life. Fame changes things, and the way you can live — where you can go without being noticed or feeling the weight of your public persona — gets complicated. Small towns, in that sense, might be too limiting or difficult, especially when your life is as public as his. It’s not just about the work; it’s also about social dynamics, like friendships and connections that are centered in places like L.A.”

Jack: “Right. There’s also something about the community in a city like Los Angeles. L.A. is full of creative people, and as someone in the industry, you naturally end up surrounded by other like-minded individuals. It’s not just about proximity to work, but about finding a network of people who understand what you’re going through. When you’re famous, you’re often drawn to environments where you can blend in, to a degree, with others who have similar experiences. It’s hard to find that in a small town.”

Host: The conversation deepens, and Jeeny moves closer, sitting across from Jack. Her voice steady as she continues.

Jeeny: “And it’s also about the idea of freedom. I think when you’re famous, the ability to just live your life in a small, tight-knit community becomes a lot harder. Everyone knows your name, everyone has expectations of you, and that’s not something you can easily escape in a small town. Los Angeles, on the other hand, offers a level of anonymity, even if it’s not complete. The bigger the city, the more space there is to move through without constantly being under the microscope. And I think that’s something people don’t always realize when they think about fame — it can be incredibly isolating in a small town.”

Jack: “Exactly. There’s a kind of freedom in a larger city, even if you’re famous. L.A. is such a sprawling place, and while everyone may know who you are, there’s room to navigate without everyone feeling like they have access to your personal life. It allows for privacy in a way a small town can’t. The balance between living your life and maintaining your sense of self is easier to manage in a place like L.A., where people are used to seeing famous faces all the time.”

Jeeny: “It’s interesting because it seems like a conflict between the personal and the professional. On one hand, Cusack is saying he never thought he’d move to L.A. But on the other hand, he recognizes that his work — and, by extension, his social circle — was pulling him toward it. As much as you might want to live in a quieter place, fame has its own set of rules. You’re drawn to where your work thrives, where your connections are, and where you can still find some kind of balance between your private self and the public persona.”

Jack: “Right. It’s a reminder that our choices aren’t always as free as we think. We might have personal preferences, but the world we live in — especially when we’re in a position of fame — often pulls us in certain directions. And that can mean stepping into a place you didn’t think you’d be, but recognizing that it offers the opportunity for both growth and connection. It’s not about giving up on your values; it’s about navigating the complexities of those values within the context of your life.”

Host: The room quiets for a moment as Jack and Jeeny reflect on the deeper meaning behind John Cusack’s words. Outside, the world continues, but inside, there’s a quiet understanding about how fame, career, and location intersect in ways that aren’t always in line with personal desires.

Jeeny: “So, maybe the lesson here is that life doesn’t always go according to our plans or ideals. When you’re faced with opportunities and realities, especially as a famous person, the choices we make about where we live and how we live are often influenced by circumstances outside of our control. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have the agency to find meaning and community where we are.”

Jack: “Exactly. Our location or career might lead us down paths we didn’t expect, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still make it work for us. It’s about recognizing the opportunities in the environment you’re in and finding a way to build connections and balance, no matter where you are.”

Host: As the evening continues, the conversation wraps up with a quiet understanding. Fame, opportunity, and location are powerful forces that shape the paths we take in life. Sometimes, those paths lead us to places we never imagined, but it’s how we adapt to those environments and find connection that truly defines our experience.