Private Screening

This morning I attended a private screening for the upcoming film Broken Hill. The screening was for the press but a few others were invited. I felt privileged to be there. 

The movie comes from Audience Alliance--the first audience-driven motion picture studio--and I was pleased with the results. I became a member of Audience Alliance a few years ago when they first started; and I hoped they would produce quality film. This one did not disappoint. 

It was predictable in parts, but still contained enough surprises to keep my interest. The music was great (gave me goosebumps!), and the story uplifting. 

Trailer: Broken Hill (2009)

Extra! Extra!

Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to be an "extra" (or, as they called us..."Background Talent") in the movie My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (2010) with Alyssa Milano, Christopher Gorham, and Beau Bridges. It was an interesting experience.

I was part of a wedding scene, seated in the chapel. I doubt anyone will see me in the movie since I am on the back row and there are crew members lounging around behind me. There is a scene outside the chapel where I may or may not survive the cutting room floor. Hahaha.  

I'll tell ya this much: I learned that the true blue "extras" will elbow people in the ribs and gouge out eyes (practically) in the fight for on-camera time. Sheesh! Good thing I wasn't clamoring to be "seen" in the scene, or I might have lost a limb! It wasn't bad when we were seated in the chapel...since we were each told exactly where to sit. But when the wedding guests had to "pour" out of the chapel doors....well, let's just say it was not pretty behind those doors before the call to "action!" I will never be able to view such scenes in a movie again without picturing the blood bath behind the doors!

[Update: At the time of this writing, the film was still in production, but I returned to add a link to the film on IMDb, released in 2010. And I did survive the cutting room floor in one of the scenes. I'm one of the wedding guests waving to the newlyweds as they drive away.]

First Draft!

I finished Spring Semester 2009. YAY! 

I also finished the first draft of my screenplay--big sigh of relief. What a milestone. Now I need to do the re-write. I'm excited to redo certain scenes and give them far more punch...yet, at the same time it feels like a huge mountain looming over me. With my first draft complete, my professor recommended I read the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, especially the chapter called "Sh**** First Drafts" -- Okay, I bleeped out part of it. She uses a word similar to "poopy." Here's a quote from that chapter...

She says that many people think great writers sit down and crank out wonderful drafts from the get-go. "But this is just the fantasy of the uninitiated. I know some very great writers ... and not one of them sits down routinely feeling wildly enthusiastic and confident. Not one of them writes elegant first drafts. All right, one of them does, but we do not like her very much. We do not think that she has a rich inner life or that God likes her or can even stand her." (hahaha)

So here's a toast to my First Draft, and now I must press onward to a good second draft and a terrific third draft, right?

Upcoming Premiere!

One of the films I mentioned in my previous post will be premiering at the Foursite Film Festival (Ogden, UT) on March 4. I'm very excited. The title was changed though, it is now called Father Forgive Me. Kurt and I get to attend a reception before the premiere. I will have to miss my screenwriting class that night, but I got permission from the professor.

It's a heady experience to see my name in the credits of a film. This will be my second time seeing my name on the screen. Weird, but very cool! When the director of Misa sent me a copy of the DVD, Kurt and I paused the film at the credits and stared at my name for the longest time. No wonder actors get such big fat egos!