An actress, director, producer and writer, Heidi Philipsen welcomes you to her Blog web site. Learn about her latest endeavors, and garner a glimpse into her accomplishments and experiences - both professional and personal.
One of my favorite things to do is ask questions. Now, I don’t know if I became a journalist for a time because I love to ask questions, or if journalism fostered my curiosity for people, things and events.
In any event, I find that both propel both a sense of livelihood in my community and the thrill of keeping my finger on the pulse of the times.
I joined Open Stage Media’s production of “IMPACT” at Proctor’s TV because I couldn’t wait to begin asking questions of local “do-ers” in the arts around upstate, New York.
Jeff Burns, a local filmmaker and originator of the new dynamic web series “Super Knocked Up” -- about a female super-villain who is knocked up by a womanizing superhero – recently joined me on Impact to tell me about the origins of the idea, the journey in making a web-series, as well as the trials and tribulations of being an upstate indie filmmaker.
What if a female super villain was knocked up by a hero?
Such is the terrific and insanely humorous premise behind upstate filmmaker, Jeff Burns, latest work – all plotted out terrifically in a web series, bound to keep you glued to the computer for months to come.
I invited Jeff to the Impact studio, recently, to pick his brain a bit about this creative genius.
I'll post that interview soon -- in the meantime, enjoy the mini interview below!
In addition, for a bit of fun, I’ve included an extra interview below:
1.)If you could be reincarnated, what would you come back as?
Spider-Man! Then I could be a superhero. And I'd have Spidey-Sense to warn me of danger :)
2.)Where would you most like to live, if not upstate?
Hmm, tough choice. Maybe LA since everything movie-related takes place there. And I've been twice and really dig it there. Also, London, which I loved. Then I could go to The Globe whenever I wanted and see the most amazing performance of Shakespeare all the time.
3.)What are your greatest strengths?
Myperseverance. Something I think you have to have as a filmmaker. I'll always find a way to move forward and complete my project. Also, I think I'm really good at organizing things and being a leader. Assembling amazing teams of actors and crew. All things a director needs.
4.)What are your most embarrassing faults?
I still lack confidence sometimes. I'm a lot more confident, particularly in my filmmaking skills, now than when I started. But that's something I'm still working on. Also, I have a thing for girls who dress up in superhero costumes. But c'mon, who doesn't?
5.)What is your favorite genre of filmmaking?
Sci-fi and Fantasy! Without a doubt. Although I'm also an action junkie. But I absolutely love sci-fi and fantasy films. Star Wars, The Terminator, Back to the Future, all that stuff is so awesome!
If you have any questions for Jeff, feel free to send them my way and I’ll include his answers in an upcoming Blog!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The life of an actor, whether it be that of the theater stage or film set, can be both an exciting, but also a lonely life – punctuated, of course, by moments of sheer panic and self-loathing when trying to make a decent wage following what is one’s dream.
Actually, it often reminds me of the time when I was a competitive swimmer.You train numerous hours, both alone, and in a group, only to wait countless hours for your big moment when you get on a platform and spring into action for what, in the end, is really only a couple of minutes, seconds even. Months of work all summed up in one exhilaratingly spectacular, or disappointingly dull, moment in time.
Still, when that moment is truly seized – there are very few things in life that bring such intense emotion, human connection and physical accomplishment.It feels like life, truly lived… every moment of those accumulated seconds toward intellectual and creative expression.
Even now, as I write this, I sit in my picture car in Manhattan at 9 p.m. on a Friday night, miles away from my family, on the set of Spider Man, working as a Screen Actors Guild background actor, trying to earn extra money to make ends meet in between bigger acting and production gigs.It is a small part of the big plan of working my way slowly up the ladder.
Do I have moments of intense self-doubt as to what I’m doing in this industry and is it a waste of time and passion?Absolutely.
And yet, as with the film Her Telling Heart, the short, Gothic thriller adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Tell-tale Heart,” which I wrote, produced through my company, Personae Entertainment, directed and acted in, I do see progress toward realizing my career goals and personal/professional passion.
Above all, I see myself as blessed that I am in touch with my dreams and, moreover, able to pursue them.This is something that I often think, in these times, we take for granted.In reality, it is a luxury.
So, you see, sitting on the set of Spider Man for a wrinkle in time to pay the bills is really not so bad.I am a small part of a bigger picture on this one. – And, during waiting times like right now, I am able to do one of my favorite things in the world: write.
A couple of weeks ago, I had the enjoyable experience of catching up with Capital District local, Shawn Schaffer, to discuss many of his most recent artistic and professional accomplishments.
Shawn Schaffer is a gifted cinematographer and editor in his own right, a natural talent, who learned everything he knows in the artistic and technical dimensions of his industry by doing on set and reading on his own, rather than film school.
He’s built up a variety of different experiences working on everything from shorts, to indie features, to web series, and, most recently, a feature film with real star talent (Bruce Dern and Kristanna Loken) and helmer power (Farhad Mann) – “Love Orchard” – set in the Kinderhook area of Columbia county, upstate New York.
I should add, here, that I, too, worked on that film – as Production Coordinator.But during that time, we rarely, if ever, had enough time to sit down and talk on set and, thus, it was truly fun sitting down in front of the camera to officially discuss all we had both learned.
If you like, you can click here to watch that interview.
GROWING UP TOGETHER
One thing that I’ve come to really cherish about being in the film industry with time is watching my colleagues and peers grow with and around me.We might not always ascend the proverbial career ladder at the same time – or even upwards, for that matter – but eventually, when sticking with it over a course of time, we inevitably end up with some real stories to exchange and tell.
BRUCE DERN & THE 16TH MILE
I think my best story about the Love Orchard film would have to do with some great advice that honored and esteemed actor Bruce Dern gave me:
“Kid, the film industry is like a marathon – you don’t really hit your stride until you reach the 16th mile.Get ready, because I think you’re about to hit your 16th mile soon.”
Bruce, I’ll hold you to that insight.Thanks for the lovely moment and memory.
I'm pressed to catch up on the events this last month. "Impact" with Open Stage Media and Proctors came my way as an unexpected and delightful opportunity from Proctor's Producer Richa Bhat Khandelwal and Proctor's C.E.O. Philip Morris, who is the Impact on the Arts Co-Host.
Philip and I have a friendly competition going on to see who can bring on the most exciting, current and inspiring Guest-from-the-Arts -- not that any artist isn't exciting and current, but rather that it's a joy finding those individuals who have yet to be "discovered" by other media formats.
Thus, my first Guest on Impact was, for me, a no-brainer. In upstate, New York, you can't be in the indie film and professional theater scene for long without hearing the name "Kevin Craig West." Indeed, when I first moved "up" here from Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 2007, I kept hearing about Kevin and, quite frankly, it annoyed me.
Could this guy really be all that everyone keeps on saying he is? How in the world is he able to keep up with everything he does in the industry and still sleep? Well, as it turns out, Kevin is also very good at slowly converting his skeptics. Most often, he'll turn to you, unexpectedly, and offer you a chance to participate in the industry he so loves.
That is how I was given the opportunity to grow as the Programming Chair for Upstate Independents. The former Programming Chair had resigned and Kevin asked me, "How would you like to step in as an interim Programming Chair?" And that was the opportunity for me to stretch out in the indie film scene of upstate, New York.
Lately, I call it the six degrees of Kevin. No one is perfect, but Kevin has done a lot for people and the good karma always comes back in one way or another. In fact, I'd wager that my current role as a host on "IMPACT" has to do with him in one way or another. Not that Kevin is perfect... nor that he is responsible for creating all the opportunities upstate...but his imperfections stand out as unique personality traits that he definitely knows how to creatively exploit as an actor in his best work and he's wise enough to know that positive energy sends vibes that eventually touch us all and return.
Negative vibes, on the other hand, cause a vacuum, a virtual black hole for creativity, in other words.
Quite scientific, if you think about it. Albert Einstein would be proud. Watch my interview with Kevin and you'll see how that all comes together and adds up.
I've returned to an old love and pastime of mine: interviewing personalities and creative makers in the community around me -- this time on the show "Impact."
My first interview was two weeks ago, in late October, with actor, producer, multi-talented and committed to his art, Kevin Craig West. If you like, you can check it out on my Facebook page.
Wow - amazing - all the catching up I need to do with social media now that I'm putting myself out there in the spotlight, again. I'll definitely be keeping you up to date on all I'm learning as I go along -- and I definitely welcome your input. I've got a lot to learn -- no man, or woman, is an island. Not that I've been out on an island all this time.
Let's just say that I've been in the dark woods of a deep forest and am slowly coming out to see the forest from the trees.
And now I'm all about what this great big world -- and the community around me -- has to offer. "Think Global, Act Local," as they say.
Stay tuned... I'll be taking you along on my journey.
I have two artistic identities -- one, as Heidi Philipsen, actor and writer; the other, as Eli Meissner (short for Elizabeth), as director and producer.
Why? You ask.
Well, we all have two sides, the one in control who calls the shots and the vulnerable one who learns to take them and process them creatively.
This last year has taken me on a journey in film making that connects both of those personas and leads them down one road. Funny, my last film, A FORK IN THE ROAD, was about choices between two paths in life. This next one, HER TELLING HEART, is about reconciling those choices in one's heart.
But it's not easy reconciling a life's journey in one's heart, especially if that journey had traumatic moments which have never been let out to see the light of day... consciously, that is. And this film, a short, narrative adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Telltale Heart," has taken me into my own 'heart of darkness' parallel to the challenges one has in making a film.
When I was five, I was made to be a victim, over and over again. The trouble with being victimized when you are that young is that all it does is set you up for a life of victimization and abuse -- a finely lined walk between the roles of victim and abuser -- unless you get serious help.
I never told anyone about it and held it in for years -- held it in so tightly that my life depended on it. Faith, work, sports and understanding angels disguised as "mortal" friends made it all bearable. And yet, in retrospect, I would guess that many people close to me saw it, suspected it. Still, I was so sure I could fool everyone into thinking I was fine and my world was perfect.
Our society walks a fine line between dictating perfection and individualism any way. Always trying to be perfect and fit in perfectly... even when you don't want to and you shouldn't. Let's face it: perfection is an obsessive illusion.
And so, as it often goes with one's psyche, all of the hurt and pain and trauma had to be let out some way, some time; for me, that all came out in the creation of HER TELLING HEART. It's one thing if you just write a piece and be done with it. It's another, altogether, if you see it through from start to finish on screen.
