Some Words from Jon Favreau on Filmmaking

I've had a pretty exciting week.  My film, All You Need, was accepted to the Oscar qualifying, LA Shorts Fest, which is going on right now at the Laemmle NoHo 7.  Opening night they gave the Maverick Award to Jon Favreau and he spoke about being an independent filmmaker (and also how he became the director of a little movie called "Iron Man.")

Jon (I've decided I can call him Jon because if he ever met me I am sure we would be besties) has a really inspirational story for any indy filmmaker out there.  He came to LA to be an actor after working on "Rudy," but wasn't getting the opportunities that he wanted so he decided to write his own film.

LESSON #1
That is where "Swingers" came from - the desperation of an out-of-work actor.  He scraped together film scraps and made this movie with his friends.

How many times have I talked about making stuff happen for yourself?  You can't sit around whining that you never get any auditions and think that somehow a job is going to magically fall into your lap.  Do what you can to make the stories you want to act in.  PRODUCE YOUR OWN STUFF!

LESSON #2
When "Swingers" became a hit, Jon thought that his acting career was going to take off - but it didn't.   Instead he started getting meetings to be a writer and a director.

Sometimes life will take you in the direction you are supposed to go, even if it's not the direction you originally planned on going.  I think Jon is really happy with his life as a writer/director.  Yes, he wanted to be an actor, but in doing "Swingers" he found his true calling.  Plus, he gets to act sometimes too.  (I kinda love his character in "Iron Man.")

LESSON #3
When Jon was looking at ways to market "Cowboys and Aliens" he decided to create viral videos.  Instead of doing these himself or through Universal, he decided to ask Freddie Wong because Jon's son would watch Freddie's videos on YouTube and they impressed Jon.  Freddie created this short film: Cowboys & FreddieW featuring Jon Favreau and he got to shoot on the Universal backlot.

You never know who sees what you create.  It is important to maintain an online presence and to create the best things you can.  Jon said, "Everyone gets a shot."  You just have to be prepared when it comes.  Keep working on your craft, so that when your shot comes you are at your absolute best and you don't blow it.

If you want to see my film, All You Need, screen tomorrow night at the Laemmle NoHo 7, you can purchase tickets here: Laemmle Ticketing.

Learning to Accept Compliments

I am terrible at accepting compliments.  Mostly because I am never that happy with my work.  I tend to see all the flaws and no matter how perfect I want it to be, it's not.  Of course, I understand you can't expect perfection, but I hold myself to pretty high standards.

This weekend I had three short films that I wrote and produced in the Playhouse West Film Festival.   I had a hard time even standing in the theater while they showed.  Two were comedies and it's very nerve wracking waiting to hear if people laugh at the right times.  The third film is a drama called, All You Need.  I had no idea how people would respond and you can't take the temperature of the audience by seeing if they are laughing at the right times.  I kept walking in and out of the theater, biting my nails while it was showing.

Afterwards, I had so many people come up to me and say nice things about the movie.  It was wonderful, but of course I have no idea how to respond.  I wish I knew how to be one of those salesman type filmmakers that could have turned all those into great networking moments.  I should have come out with a stack of business cards and new contacts.  Instead I usually just stammered out an incoherent "thank you" and walked away.

At the end of the weekend, I was awarded the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay.  This was beyond unexpected.  I help run the festival, so I was busy backstage moving chairs when they announced my name.  I don't even remember what I said in the speech, although I'm sure I didn't say everything I wanted to say and probably looked like a bumbling idiot.

Here I am accepting my award.  Did I ever mention that I'm short?

So, since my speech was terrible.  Here is what I wished I said:

This award means so much to me.  I never considered myself a screenwriter.  I've been in LA for 7 years working as an actor, but never as much as I like.  I began writing because I wanted more opportunities to act.  I write the movies I want to see and the roles I want to play.  There are a few people who were a huge part of making "All You Need" happen.  First, Tony Savant and his writing class.  I started this script in his class and his guidance really helped craft many moments of this script.  My parents who are so supportive and really pushed me to make this film from the first time I sent them a draft of the script.  Of course, Ricardo who not only brought so much of my script to life as the director, but also helped me early on making it the best script we could create with all of his notes and edits.   Plus he has put up with me and all my craziness for 6 years, so he gets point for that too.  Lastly, my amazing cast and crew.  Sarah and Gabe worked so hard on each of their roles, going above and beyond rehearsing and getting to know Amaris.  They each brought so much more to the roles than what was on the page.  The Ultreras family for letting me use their home for 3 days and especially, Noemi, for letting me borrow her daughter.  Everyone else who came out to hold a boom, work as an extra, or slate for nothing more than free food and my gratitude: Kim, Marilyn, Alicia, Lacy, Karen, Kinga, Jacqueline, Elizabeth, Valerie, Shannon, Elena, Lance, Juan, Jessica, Brian, Kevin, Jenny, and if I'm forgetting anyone I am so sorry but seriously, I love each and every one of you so much.  

Thank you to everyone who came up and said nice things to me over the weekend.  It really meant the world to me.

Trailer for ALL YOU NEED

Last fall I wrote and produced a short called All You Need.  Here is the trailer:

ALL YOU NEED
Directed by Ricardo Ultreras
Written by Michelle Coyle
Starring
Michelle Coyle
Sarah Elizabeth Johnston
William Gabriel Grier
Amaris Ultreras