Saturday, March 7, 2009

Back from L.A.

I just returned from Los Angeles, where I was promoting the film "The Beggar's Story."

My involvement in The Beggar's Story, a short story based upon the Czech folk tale and directed by Czech director, Lucie Groene, originated from a single phone call from Kurt Mayry of the Motion Picture Institute of Michigan.

And thus, excited about working in Europe on a transatlantic production, I pulled up my arm sleeves and dug in, helping Lucie out in any way I could: I translated her script from German to English, assisted with coaching the Czech actors (who did not read or speak English) with their English dialogue and accents, took on the role of the mean neighbor (who has no name) and acted in the film, helped out with the shop set decoration and assisted on location in the country-side outskirts of Prague.

Talking about jumping into cold water -- I had no idea that I'd be the only English-speaking person on set, other than Lucie, and learned a LOT about the Czech way of artistic life (beer for lunch -- not with lunch, FOR LUNCH!!!)

Really, now that I think of it, I could make a great short film about my experience on set as the only American.

All that being said, if you're looking to see a well-crafted old Czech folk tale that's great for the whole family, I highly recommend it: www.beggarsstory.com.

This little short film with a big heart had its West Coast premiere at the International Family Film Festival and was screened in the Pickford (named after Mary Pickford) theater within Raleigh Studios.

Raleigh Studios is the current home of the Thursday night series "Private Practice" on ABC -- which I follow -- and I couldn't help but crane my neck into its lot to check out its set. Raleigh Studios is also the studio behind the new studios opening up in Detroit, Michigan: Motown Pictures.

There were many great student-made short films at the fest and I was delighted to meet the other film makers. I was also delighted that my friend Adrianna Shaw, the actress, producer and distributor (www.womensfilmnet.com), who is busy getting ready to launch her major film site for, about, and by women in film, was able to make it.

We had a brilliant lunch together, complete with my very own birthday-candle-on-a-cake, at the popular Mels Drive-in Diner -- and I received a free, birthday t-shirt (I'll post a picture on the next blog).

Look to spring
I'm finishing pre-production for a short film that will begin shooting in mid-April -- a period-piece and thriller, set in the 1800s. I'll be launching the film's official story and web-site very soon.

And then there's the PERSONAE ENSEMBLE -- the theater actors' ensemble which originated in Ann Arbor, born from a class at Jeff Daniel's Equity Theatre, The Purple Rose. I've never felt closer to directing and acting than I did when I was working with local talent in an ensemble format toward the common goal of grassroots theater with a social cause.

So keep your eyes open and get ready for new life -- we are all able to change and make the most of this life and this world for the positive, with the natural talents we possess.