In January 1939, with a 6-week contract in hand, Sue took off for Hollywood California. Sue brought a diary with her in order to chronicle every sight, sound and emotion she experienced in Hollywood.   

     Prior to her arrival at the studio, Sue made a diary entry expressing her doubts on the completion of her project with the time constraints she was given. Upon arrival, she transformed into full battle mode to convince David Selznick about what he must do to keep the film true to the South of the 1860s.                                

     Her six-week contract called for her to advise on “all things Southern.” But the contract expanded to six months, and “all things Southern” included not just accents and manners, but agriculture, what food would be on the table at the Twelve Oaks barbecue, how did Mammy tie her head rag, and even picking out a baby to play Bonnie Blue—She wouldn’t guarantee the baby would cry with a Southern accent, however.

     Sue herself recorded her stay in Hollywood with her diary and her camera, and both diary and her pictures are included in her biography.