Times editorial writer Carla Hall in the Zocalo green room

Zocalo Public Square likes to tape its featured speakers answering a few personal questions in the green room before events. Carla Hall, one of the editorial writers for the Los Angeles Times, talks about her best friend, her dancing style, her last voicemail, and the time she spent the night with a newborn elephant. Also this:

What was the most important year of your life?

A. The year I moved out here to work on a TV show as a script consultant. It was a complete flop and got canceled after four episodes, but that changed my life because I stayed in L.A., and I love L.A.

Hall's show was the short-lived 1990 drama Capital News, created by Christian Williams and David Milch and starring Lloyd Bridges, Michael Woods and Helen Slater. Chelsea Field also got into all 13 episodes as "Cassy Swan."

Zocalo photo: Aaron Salcido