THE LAST WORD
Specs on the Big Screen
By Amy MacMillan

Barry Franzblau doesn't understand the meaning of "no." Following years of success with his Couture Optique, an established high-end optical boutique in Palm Beach, Fla., he opened Celebrity Eyeworks, a company that provides Hollywood actors with eyewear for their movies and television shows. Next, he wanted to expand on Celebrity Eyeworks by opening a retail studio store at Walt Disney World Resorts. "Although Disney appreciated the value of my concept, there were no plans for an independent retailer to land on its property," he remembers. Franzblau, however, refused to give up, and a year later, Disney accepted his plan. Today, Celebrity Eyeworks Studio is the only independent optical retailer at Walt Disney World Resorts. Designed like a working movie set, Celebrity Eyeworks Studio features eyewear that's been worn in films and television. Franzblau grew up in Florida, and was introduced to the eyecare business via his father, Stephen Franzblau, O.D. He started working for his father's practice during high school, and by the time he graduated, it was only natural for him to enter opticianry school. Franzblau is now the owner of three successful, yet distinct businesses, and has another project in the works. "Let's just say that there are very interesting things in the works for the future of Celebrity Eyeworks Studio," is all he'll say.

What's the latest movie you've supplied eyewear to? We're now doing a big project called, "On Any Given Sunday," with Al Pacino and Cameron Diaz. 

Have you met loads of celebrities? I haven't met lots of them, because I operate out of both Los Angeles and Palm Beach. I've had my run-ins with celebrities, but it's not as many as some people might believe.

How involved are the actors in choosing their own eyewear for their roles? It really depends on the character they are portraying. If it's not an intense situation with specific needs and they just need some sunglasses for external shots, and the actor has a preference for something he already wears, he can just wear those. But, there are instances where the director tells him what he needs to have. It's really hit or miss, if the actor or the director has the final word. And, the costume designer also puts his or her two cents in.

What would surprise people the most about the film industry? Glamorous, it's not. In most cases on a set, you'd never be able to decipher the people catering the food from the director . Many times, I've stood next to a guy dressed in rags, but everyone's calling him 'Sir,' and I'd wonder, 'Who is this guy?' It would be the director, and everyone caters to the director.

Why did you open up the Celebrity Eyeworks Studio? It is a vehicle to visually promote the eyewear that's being seen on the big screen. We're trying to expand it further, because it's in its infancy stages.

Do you feel at home at Disney? It's a great company to be with. There are a lot of operational issues that become time consuming, because we have a lot of reporting to do to them. We also have an image that we have to maintain with our employees, because they need to abide by the Disney guidelines. We've never had any problems, though.

If you hadn't become an optician and businessman, what would you have done? I never thought about it. Now, these last couple of years, after being involved in the entertainment industry--I think it's the only other industry that I'd fall into.

Who's been the most fun to work with in Hollywood? All of the ones that I met have been pretty carefree. Sandra Bullock on the set of "Speed" was very nice. But, the one I seemed to have the most fun with was Ted Danson . We went to his house to do a fitting for "Getting Even with Dad." I had some eyewear selections that had already been chosen by him, and I was just there to take the measurements, because I think we were doing progressive lenses. I had him sit in a chair, because he's so tall. I put the glasses on him, and I could tell he was a little confused . He was looking around, and checking the vision in one eye, and then the other, and he says, 'Is this my prescription? Because I can't see.' I figured I'd goof with him a bit, and I said, 'Yeah. Why? You can't see?' And then he realized I was toying with him, so he starts pretending that he's blind--feeling his hands around in the air--and then grabs me right in the crotch. Everyone laughed.

If your kindergarten teacher were still out there, what would she say about you? Gosh, I couldn't even think of my kindergarten teacher's name. I can't even remember that far back. If anyone had anything to say, my one trait that's stayed with me, is that I've been very ambitious and I tended not to listen when people told me 'no.' I still did things anyway. I think I've carried the same philosophy in my business. 'No' is not an answer that I understand. 'No' only means negotiations are open. EB