Female-led Films
My feature script Trap Doors has been named a semi-finalist in the CineStory Retreat and Fellowship Contest. I get to go to California for a few days of one-on-one mentoring with industry professionals. Doors are opening for me! (pun intended)
https://cinestory.org/2019-feature-contest-semifinalists/
My plan is for Trap Doors to be my feature directorial debut. Stay tuned for more information about this project after IRA: Cashing In wraps in early September.
The BTS photos are up on the Suspended page in the menu. Huge thank you to Brandy Fabian, makeup artist. Here’s the one shot I took of Brandy in action.
We wrapped principal photography on Suspended this past Sunday. It was both thrilling and exhausting. While filming at the school on Saturday, the AC wasn’t working properly and the principals, 16 extras, and the hardy crew were cooking for hours on end. From that low, came the high of doing my first car scene, which was fraught with the usual difficulty, and then the most emotional scenes of the movie, probably inappropriately saved for last (due to location reasons, not my innate insanity).
Everyone did a fabulous job. I couldn’t have done it without a single one of them. My producer Leslie Ben Hamilton, who was always ready to jump in and tackle any task, my DP, Robert Matthews Wynne, who contributed many great ideas and herculean efforts in tiny spaces, my script supervisor Susan Henson, who saved me more than once, and my amazing actors, who surprised me every scene with their wonderful ideas, ability to turn on a dime, and sheer tenacity in the face of AC issues and overtime.
I was far too busy concentrating on the tasks at hand to take many BTS photos. My fabulous makeup artist, Brandy Fabian, took hundreds, but I don’t yet have access to them. So stay tuned for more!
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I wanted to do one day of shooting while school was in session to get B roll. We also shot two of the scenes that didn’t contain dialogue with a few of the principal actors. It was a fabulous day, and the DP, Robert Wynne, brought so much to the table. Doing a happy dance.
Okay, folks. Getting a film together is hard. But, some days are easier than others, and some days are a real pleasure. Today is one such day. I just received the preliminary animation of my production company logo. Virginia Rowland, animator extraordinaire, is doing the work on it. The wine bottle is still in process, but this just rocks so hard that I had to share it.
Casting is complete, locations are secured, and the crew is coalescing for my short film. I’m enormously pleased at the calibre of talent slated for it.
The children:
Stacey: Jessica Brynn Cohen. Jessica is a versatile performer with experience in film, TV, theater, and musical theater. She has recently appeared in Ruthless, Kindertransport, Food Dudes, In Hot Water, and the PBS special Cinema: Andrea Bocelli.
Ava: Teagan Jai Boyd. Teagan has been in numerous films, plays, TV shows, and web series, including Promise Me, The Little Prince, Little Superheroes, and Schooled 1 & 2.
Janelle: Ava Dallesandro. Ava has had regular roles on a New Sky Kids’ YouTube show and appeared in commercials.
David: Besher Garcia. Besher is a sought-after actor and tap dancer who recently appeared as the Genie in Aladdin Jr.
The adults:
Mom: Kelly Dealyn. Kelly has had numerous leading roles in film and on TV, including most recently: Iron Orchard, Ivory Seed, Fetish, and Switch.
Mr. Gonzales: Ryan Paul. Ryan appeared recently in Murder Made Me Famous: Bin Laden and had the lead in Ahmed the Philosopher: “The Event,” as well as numerous appearances in theater, commercials, and industrials.
Dr. Mercer: Nichole Abshire. Nichole has appeared in several films, including The Lost Husband, and the Standoff at Sparrow Creek, as well as taking roles in theater, TV, and commercials.
We just wrapped principal photography on Call Waiting! I feel so blessed to have worked with this caliber of talent in front of and behind the camera. The entire cast and crew were amazingly gifted and great people. Thank you!!!
I couldn’t imagine better collaborators. Dino Maglaris, director, and Marcus Taplin, cinematographer.
This is my blog, where you’ll find announcements and updates. Stay tuned.