Face Value

I wrote this yesterday. It's not a "take", I just was suddenly struck by all the meaning of "Face value" in the film business and it just poured out of me.

Though it's a bit crass to explain and justify your own writing, because I'm pleased with how this turned out, I want to say that it deliberately starts quite simply, quite prosaically, and then as it goes on the idea was for the rhymes to mount up, for the pace to escalate, to feel like they are trapping you and hurrying you.

Anyway, it is what is, it's not deep or all that clever ...

FACE VALUE

I can’t place value

On the face that god gave you,

It would grace New York and LA,

Let me tell you.

Let my people call you,

I can’t wait till they see you.

They’ll adore you, for sure, I

Can take you and make you a star,

If you let me,

If you take me

At face value.

At dinner, I’m Baloo,

You’ve nothing to fear, then

I turn into Shere Khan

As soon as the door’s shut.

It’s not in the contract

But you must have known that

The door to the lift was

A Faustian pact.

This exchange won’t kill you,

Your pride may be hurt but

The world is yours, in lieu.

I’ll open it wide if

You’ll just let me buy you …

Whatever I want to …

I’ll pay … so don’t cry.

I know how to sell you

 (you won’t tell now, will you? …

The rumour mill shuts down

As soon as I tell it).

Don’t push, you don’t get it,

I don’t ask, I do get –

I got here on merit,

The bold did inherit.

No one wants to hear it …

From you.

Smile now and bear it -

Your face is your passport,

The truth is this business

Can be a bit dirty

If you look past face value

Once you hit thirty

We’ll need to revalue

What that face can make you

And make you a new one.

Do you think that Grace Kelly

Got anywhere fast

Without kissing some ass

I laugh when they vouchsafe

That casting couch rape

Is a thing of the past.

This is the business.

It. Still. Is. Just. This.

It’s best you face facts, now

You’re getting great value

For time spent,

Now I’m meant to feel

Like the user?

You’re using me

That’s what people will see

If you dare breathe a word

Of this

To anyone, ever.