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!

Are We There Yet? (or why I need to learn to enjoy the journey)

There are days I get so frustrated with Hollywood that I want to leave.  Pack my Ikea furniture, Forever 21 wardrobe, and boxes of unused headshots into my 10-year-old Civic and drive the 3,000 miles back to my parent’s house, which always has plenty of food in the cupboard.

I know if I did go home and got a regular job in Atlanta - did some community theater on the side - my life would be so much easier.  But, easier does not mean better and the harder it is to reach something the sweeter it will be when you do.  So, I convince myself to stay in LA and fight for the hard dream.

The problem with choosing acting as a profession is that there is no given way to success.  If you’ve lived in LA for more than a year then you probably know a few people that have reached enough success that they were able to quit their day job.  (Ah, that would be a dream!)  Maybe they’ve had a few nationals or even got a series regular role.  But, the longer you live here the more you realize that this success happens to the most random people and that some of the best actors you know can’t even get an agent.

It’s an ugly truth about Hollywood, but some of the best actors in the world are stuck doing 99-seat theater in North Hollywood and they never manage to move beyond it.  This is because acting is not just about talent and hard work, there is a modicum of timing and luck that goes alongside with success.  Being in the right place at the right time can be the difference being someone “making it” and someone not.

What is your definition of success in your career?  And the really tough question is: what if you don’t reach that level of success?

Find the things you enjoy in the journey that leads to your success and it will be easier to stick it out.   

BESIDES THE OTHER WAY TO FIND SUCCESS IS TO SIMPLY OUTLAST YOUR COMPETITION.