Lena Dunham | Instagram

So this happened.

One of our first stops on the Sundance Film Festival train was the Filmmaker Lodge for a Cinema Cafe event: Norman Lear + Lena Dunham in a conversation moderated by Logan Hill of The New York Times. I figured this chat was going to pull a huge draw, so I made V arrive two hours early with me, both of us prepared to be standing outside, waiting, until the doors opened. I was getting into this talk no matter what.

See, despite a lack of familiarity with her work (I haven’t read her memoir, or seen an episode of Girls in its entirety, or even followed her Twitter account), I know a lot about Lena Dunham. And it’s the kind of stuff that makes you wonder if you’ve accomplished anything in your own career. By the age of 23, HBO gave her a blind deal to create/write/direct/star in her own series, and at 29, she’s got Golden Globes, Emmys, book deals, Vogue covers, New Yorker pieces, and myriad other accomplishments/accolades under her belt. Oh, and she’s politically savvy as hell, informed, engaged in relevant/meaningful issues… and, apparently, fun/sweet and the real-deal according to my friends in ‘the industry.’ [Me about six months ago to a Hollywood friend: “Is Lena Dunham really all that fabulous?” My friend: “Yes, she really *is* all that fabulous.”]

So, when someone like that — someone I admire — is publicly excited to spend some time with someone else? And that someone else is Norman Lear, another person I admire for similar reasons (brilliant, politically active, writes like a frikkin’ rock star, has ascended to a level of success few achieve and doing so while remaining authentic, provocative, and insightful), I’ve GOT to see these two together.

Such were my reasons for doing everything in my power to see Norman + Lena. And everything about the morning was more than I could have hoped. To put it compactly and simply: nearly every sentence out of either one’s mouth was enlightening, a stand-alone piece of wisdom or insight that made me think & feel. And these were just off-hand, non-scripted interactions. There was no agenda; there was no overly intentional project-pushing (although both are attending Sundance with films). These seemed to be two people that enjoyed hearing what the other had to say, and with remarkable respect. The way these two greats regarded one another — two industry leaders on opposite ends of the age spectrum but still fighting the same battles and pushing the same envelopes — was touching and inspiring to me. That incredibly bright people are out there (and have been out there), creating profound work, thinking profound thoughts, profoundly influencing others… it makes me feel hopeful at a time when I often feel awash in misplaced idolatry, conspicuous consumption, and mass manipulation by various personalities/industries. That there are leaders out there in a field that I greatly cherish (writing) prioritizing ‘the important things’ (true connection, conversation, understanding, compassion) makes me feel less misunderstood and afraid.

The dialogue that morning at Cinema Cafe was somehow altogether significant, intimate, and casual, and I simply loved it. I’d caught a moment between Norman & Lena with my 85mm that made me happy (he’d said something like, “can I just say how much I love this woman?’ and kissed her, and the graciousness and humility despite his own wildly accomplished life was so human and honest — it was wonderful), so I posted the photo on my Instagram feed (I joined Instagram last week) and then, as it goes with Sundance, hopped off to cover a red carpet at the Egyptian.

I was blown away when I next checked my phone a few hours later and saw that Lena had used my photo for her own post about her time with Norman, complete with a shout-out to me! I don’t really like social media but, for the first time, I understood just how positive it can be in communicating and sharing. I mean, I felt like a million bucks, for sure, but I also got to share a moment in time that I consider important (seeing Norman & Lena speak) directly with the people that moved me — and they heard me. To me, that’s… astounding. And, to a small degree, a testament to what their dialogue was about: connecting, sharing, influencing. With her share of my photo, I felt like I was a part of the dialogue (not at their level, of course, but at least I was included). That acknowledgment means everything to me.

Thank you, Lena & Norman, not only for the photo but also for how mindfully, generously, originally, credibly, and relatably you share your genius.