What I Learned in a Year

It's officially been a year since I started writing this blog.  The reason I began was to share some of my experience and pitfalls with my actor friends out there.  I explained Why You Should Listen to Me, which is pretty much that you probably shouldn't since anyone who claims to know anything in Hollywood is probably wrong.

I have to say I've learned a lot just from writing this blog.  Reminded me that I need to enjoy the journey, not to worry about my competition, and how to face rejection.  I got to share with you guys my success at making a movie in 72 hours, what inspired me at the Playhouse West Film Festival, and how I survived the Los Angeles Actorfest. 

Of course, I'm always learning more and am often reminded that I don't know everything.  Just this last week, I had one of those auditions that was not perfect and I forgot some of my own advice, by not owning my audition and losing my confidence.  But with every failure comes a chance to do it better the next time.  You know, what doesn't kill you ...


As the last blog in February it's time to see how my Career goals are going:

Goal: Attend class unless working an acting gig or sick
Actual: I didn't miss a single class this month :)

Goal: Work on scenes from plays I can put up.
Actual: Working on "Vanities" with a couple ladies from my class.

Goal: Read two plays a month.
Actual: I read "To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday" and "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress"

Goal: Find and attend a good on-camera class to supplement my acting classes.
Actual: Finishing up that commercial class with Chris Game.  I am thinking about starting to get a group of actors together to work on camera once a week.

Goal: Complete editing on both my films before the PWFF early bird deadline.
Actual: Not looking so good, but they will be finished!!!

Goal: Write and produce two more shorts this year.
Actual: Let's finish these other two first.

Goal: Continue to help at the agency once a week.
Actual: I've gone to the agency once a week and have been working on a Pilot Season project to help them be super organized.

Goal: Find three casting offices that I can help out at as a reader.
Actual: This month I continued helping out at the TV office and got to help them on their new Pilot.

Goal: Blog every Monday.
Actual: Blogged every week.  Plus you can check out my other blog: Being Crafty and Cultured in Los Angeles. 

What you can do in a Weekend

As you know from my last blog, What I Learned at the 72 Hour Film Festival, I made a movie last weekend for the Playhouse West 72 Hour Film Festival.  Over this past weekend, they screened all the films.

Our film, Grow A Pair, may not have won any awards, but I am extremely proud of what we made and I got lots of wonderful comments from the people who saw the films.  Plus, I am pretty sure we would have won Best Black Eye Created by a Non-Makeup Artist and Best Use of a Muddy Waters Song had those been a categories.

Today I wanted to share with you all the final product, so that you can see that it truly is possible to create a quality short film that tells a complete story in less than 72 hours.  Here it is:

Congratulations to everyone who made participated in this festival.  It's a cliche', but everyone who made a film is truly a winner.

One last thing, I want to give credit to the fabulous cast and crew of "Grow A Pair":
Directed by Marilyn Porayko
Written by Michelle Coyle, Christina Maria Davis, Somya von Eames
Cinematography by Nick Weidner
Edited by Brian Finifter
Cast:
Alex Aquino
Michelle Coyle
Christina Maria Davis
Nat Dixon
Somya von Eames
AJ Eloy
Jamie Israel
Jermaine Johnson
Elyte Salna

Thanks, y'all!!!

What I learned during the 72 Hour Film Festival.

This weekend I worked with a group to put together a movie for the Playhouse West 72 Hour Film Festival.  We were given a synopsis on Friday and had the weekend to write, direct, and edit the movie.  Here is what we made: Grow a Pair.

Here are some of the lessons I learned:

1. You can make a film for less than $100.
2. Don't Piss Off Your Editor: Make sure you always, always, always slate and that you can see the whole slate in the shot.
3. Even if you think you will never in a million years use the sound from a shot, just go ahead and record sound anyways.
4. Syncing sound sucks.  If you have $150 to spare get PluralEyes.  Trust me.
5. If you can use the ambient light, do it.  You can't imagine how much time you save not setting up lights.
6. High heel platform shoes and wood floors make for major sound issues.
7. Zyrtec is a necessity if you have cats on set.  Allergies can sneak up on cast members.
8. Office roller chairs make terrible dollies.
9. If your movie needs to have a maximum running time of 5 minutes 10 seconds, better to err on the side of a shorter than 5 page script.
10. Generally, a crew of five is all you need unless you are filming a car chase or building implosion.  More people than that can get in the way.
11. Don't be too precious with your script.  Film is a collaboration and be open to everyone, you never know where great ideas will come from.
12. The next time you think you don't have the time to make a film, remember you just did one in a weekend.

I am so very proud of the little film we put together.  A shout out to everyone who came out to play with us this weekend.  Great job, everyone!