Minor and major frustrations

Now it's a week since the last audition and I knew by Monday morning that I hadn't gotten the gig. Then, on Wednesday, over lunch with a fellow actress, I found out the "husband" cast for the role was quite young, so that pretty much nailed the coffin for me. I still don't understand why they asked to see actresses in the 40-60 age range for that commercial.

An email came to all of us who participated in a recent shoot (that Alameda warehouse day), apologizing for the fact that checks have not been received by anyone on the project yet, not even the casting agent/handler over a month later. This, dear friends, is why I am glad to have so many other skills. No way can one support oneself as an actor and live in the sometimes lovely Bay Area, unless one is already a name.

Today, at a party, I read a short piece I wrote during the filming of the unfinished short, Cahiers du Cinema. Let me know if you'd like to read it and I can send it to you offline.

Looking forward to my S.F. shoot this week. I will need most of the day prior to prepare, as my character will be a real and complex character I have to get into, then I am to spend a long, long day in the role.

Keeping the faith

Cheered me up this morning to read the blog Comment sent by director Diana Jonestun, to my last post about what ever happened to the short film, "Cahiers du Cinema." She says she is abroad now and there have been several impediments to completing the project, but she still wants to make sure I get my reel and thanks me for my patience.

Just think, in a few years, I can have a retrospective of my early work....

Diana Jonestun with actor Dick Martin and crew on the set of "Cahiers du Cinema."

Photo by Lisa Carlson.

An update on the short film, "Cahiers du Cinema"

That's me, as Eline Michel, playing dead in a pool of blood, shivering under a blanket as the fog rolled in.

The only update I have for this film, "Cahiers du Cinema," directed by Diana Jonestun, which I shot about a year and a half ago one cold evening in Berkeley in this fab old mansion, is that you can now view the trailer on Exposure Room. Alas, I am not in the trailer, but my name does appear in the credits, and that's nice. The hottie in the trailer is the director. Click title above to see the trailer if you missed it last year. Another actor in the film and I have followed up countless times to find out what the plan for finishing and release is, but, like cinema ... we are, ow do u zay, still in ze dark.

So What's the Scoop on Cahiers du Cinema?

Director Diana Jonestun just wrote to me that she at least hopes to get all of us actors our pieces of cinema for our reels soon.

Patience is a virtue, right? For more about Cahiers du Cinema, read my production blogs from May, June, and August 2009 at http://characteractress.blogspot.com/search?q=cahiers+du+cinema.

Tonight's French Surprise

Go to YouTube for the latest release of the trailer for "Cahiers du Cinema." Click title above to link in.

Four Hours in 2075

My long-awaited opportunity to appear in a feature film...four hours of my life devoted to portraying the character Trainer Terry in Brant Smith's (aka DJ Bad Vegan's) film "In-World War" concluded at 8 pm last night on a high note. Concluded for me, that is. He has been shooting for over three weeks and has months to go yet, and lots more locations worldwide to cover. And, after I left last night, they still had a few hours more to shoot yesterday's scenes. Twelve- to fourteen-hour days for Brant...

Even though I hadn't really planned on spending a dime on wardrobe, at the last minute, a few hours before I even knew my call time (due to a minor cyber contretemps) I was at Dress Barn in Oakland taking advantage of their 40% sale on pants suits, and honoring Wardrobe's request that TT wear a gray or beige pants suit. I have not owned a stylish pants ensemble like this since 1998, so this was an unexpected coup, to find one that fit...(maybe this will help with the next day job interview?), then I spent an hour hemming up the pants and trying it on with a variety of blouses. Got it down. What I would hope to wear and did: Gray suit, gray silk blouse, an Indian coral and lapis necklace tucked under the buttoned all the way collar. Looking semi militaristic, yet individual. Dangling painted earrings, purple and gray and silver. Then I got my nails done, and ran home just in time to wash my face and do my make-up and hair, jump into the Miata and zoom to the downtown location. I knew parking would be a bitch, now that the underfunded City of Oakland's meters run til 8 PM and cost $2 an hour, so I drove into this lot at 16th and San Pablo. Hadn't really realized that it would be a long schlep to the location, and arduous while carrying all my back-up wardrobe, makeup, mirror, hair dryer, camera, etc...Reminded by experiences like this one that my musculature is really good after three years of constant swimming. TT is in shape.

This being only my third film where memorization has been needed (first, "After School Special," then "Cahiers du Cinema"), I was really glad to have had the extra time to know my part and character (there was about a week's delay in shoot schedule). And, I really know my part. I've allowed TT to inhabit me. Everything you've ever read when actors are interviewed, about how they become the character...it's all true. Even for this minor character, this short role.

Had anyone told me three months ago that I would be able to re-state my lines for pick-up sequences for a feature film involving a roomful of about 30 people who would depend on my delivery and timing to act their own parts and choreography, under hot lights, with me wearing a suit and a silk blouse and standing in front of all of them...I would not have believed you. It's as though I have undergone a mind make-over since deciding I really love acting. The other part that astounds me, is that I do not really get nervous. My adrenaline gets going, but it's a slow build, and I am more wired when it's over than before or during. Fascinating transformation going on.

We shot in a classroom in an office building. The set got quite hot and the AC could mainly be felt in the next room behind a glass window, where extras relaxed and snacked awaiting future scenes. On set, we had people playing students in a classroom, a couple of guys in black playing Security, the lead characters, Mo and Junior and Mary, and a bit of pyrotechnics involving a red light and a smoke machine.

Sara Siddiqui and I played trainers together in the front of the room. She's the character, Mo. Mo's another important part of the plot and has many scenes. She's young and beautiful, and subtle. We had a really unusual and difficult moment of improv to do...thrown our way by Brant at the last minute...we were to spend about three minutes doing an awkward bit of silence, just standing in front of our students, while there are incongruous "noises off." You'll have to see the movie just for this. I don't want to give it away.

I found Brant to be a very careful, thoughtful, and kind director. The cameraman and his assistant, the rest of the crew, the set photographer, all seemed to be totally in sync with Brant, working with quiet efficiency. He's the kind of guy who will walk across the room to his actress and, if he has a note, will give it to her, quietly, and directly. He looks one straight in the eye - even if it's just to say, "Hello, Lisa." He's a perfectionist, not flamboyant, just quiet and earnest.

My co-actor from "Cahiers du Cinema," the studly Brian Levy, plays the character Junior in "IWW" and he sat in my classroom, front row. I could have sworn he was trying to get me to crack up. Didn't work. Great to appear with Brian again. He mentioned that "CDC" has a little trailer running on YouTube now. Check it out. Maybe I'll get to see the film by late September?

I also ran into Nancy Lemmel who would eventually get a short speaking role after I left. She patiently sat in the green room, reading for a few hours.

Go to Brant's blog at Studio Lo Mismo (see link on left side column of my blog) for a few early photos - uncompressed screen grabs from his fabulous RED ONE camera - from the production.

Production Shots from Cahiers du Cinema - It's Only a Movie, My Dears

From top to bottom: an entry hall at the mansion; Justin, the pianist and original music composer; Diana Jonestun, the film's director with Dick Martin, who plays the eccentric Martin Michel; the boom operator; Mike the sound engineer in front of the mansion; the living room set; and the death on a balcony of Martin's younger sister, Eline.

La Fin

"Cahiers du Cinema" is a wrap. My scenes went pretty well. My dialogue as Eline Michel, the French sister of the mad filmmaker, Martin Michel, with my partner as Thomas Ritter, who's on the investigative trail of my brother's life and passions, was eased by a few rehearsals and repeats. Getting the rhythm and lines down with another actor after rehearsing alone can be a bit tricky. I didn't use the phone memorization technique this time, and I probably should have, or borrowed a friend as stand-in. Anyway, Brian made it really easy to get it right. We even had a moment to goof on our lines in Western cowboy style while Diana, the director, stepped out of the room. If you can play your character as a completely different person, then you know you know your lines.

I'm still getting used to the cutaways where you have to redo sequences for the camera angles and close-ups from wherever the director asks. Anyway, after our takes, Brian patted me on the back and told me I did well. Very kind of him. But that was early in the evening! My original call was at 3 PM but we didn't shoot my scene til after 6 PM, and then we actors had to wait for a series of other sequences – including the movie music, played by a talented young composer named Justin, to be shot, at the spooky grand piano in the mansion living room.

By the time I played Eline - dead on the balcony - it was midnight and the Berkeley hills fog was rolling in. The crew was very kind and the prop master made sure I had a blanket over me and a pillow under my head between takes. Still, I was freezing and shivering. I said, "rigor mortis is setting in," at one point. That blood smells like chocolate, which almost makes it tolerable. And here I had imagined that this would be shot on a brilliant, sunny day...

This is the most interesting shoot I have been involved in as an actress so far. It had drama, mystery, talent, innovation, suspense…and, of course, the most superb and original set imaginable for a low-budget short. Oh, and the treat of the evening was a brief visit by the producing team's new investor, who seems to be a cool, hands-off kind of guy.

There was also a change in the script. Rather than a scream into the wind from a balcony that I had rehearsed, I was asked to improvise a bit of business with a computer and a frightening scene with the multi-talented Dick Martin who plays my brother. We will have to see the movie to find out what it was that so frightened Eline that night…

So Ready

In preparation for my role as Eline in "Cahiers du Cinema" to be shot tomorrow I got my hair colored and cut - very short, very French, with that continental henna'd look. Got my nails done. I bought one elegant linen blouse at a thrift shop for $26 and went on the quick water, herbal tea, and cabbage soup diet to fit into my elegant black dress that hasn't had a reason to leave of the closet in over a year. I'll take along a few wardrobe selections... Cool clunky jewelry borrowed from Mum... A faux Chanel purse at the ready...several pairs of shoes to match outfits... Yes, I do know my lines and am also glad my intense scenes are short and succinct and I'll be working with a real pro, Brian Levy.

Do you have any idea how exciting this is?

Rehearsing a Film Noir

Rehearsal for "Cahiers du Cinema" went really well. Two and a half hours in the living room and the library at the mansion. The director is detailed and precise about every moment of her actors' work - all the business must be exact. After all, the genre is film noir. The mansion gives one a lot to work with. My scene colleague has also been cast in "In-World War." He's a delight to work with. He raves about the sci-fi script.

Came home realizing I have a very short time to memorize my cinema multi-tasking before Sunday's shoot. My hair is in a frizzzzzzzz....ze mansion is rawther humid and that proves it. I have a call in to my hairdresser for emergency work, pre-shoot.

Meanwhile, I need to decide on the wardrobe. The black dress, stockings and T-strap heels, to look like that chic French lady we all know? The flowing tunic and slacks? The simple blouse and standard black pants I am famous for?

I have no idea what I'll be paid, nor when. But I did secure this verbal contract: for my death scene, I will wear a blouse provided by the production, as it will be soaked in....

The Director

Diana Jonestun is the director of "Cahiers du Cinema." She is very young. "La Nature Trompeuse du Cinema" is a short of hers viewable on YouTube. Click title above for the link. The actor in that film was the assistant helping out the producer at the casting session in Walnut Creek the other day.

I was once 23, living in Paris, working at the Cinémathèque Française for Henri Langois and his wife Mary Meerson, and also an aspiring director. Somehow, I got off track. I hope DJ gets her Big Chance.

The Call

The producer of "Cahiers du Cinema" just called. I've been cast as Eline, the sister of the mad filmmaker. Script to come today. Rehearsals begin next weekend.

Cahiers du Cinema

Got a call tonight to audition for the role of a sister to this mad filmmaker. The short film, working title, "Cahiers du Cinema," (tr: "Cinema Notebooks") will be shot at a mansion in Berkeley. Audition requires me to do a monologue, read sides, and just maybe, have zat French ax-ohn.

I told the casting folks I worked with Henri Langlois at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris. Can't hurt.

"Eline is Martin’s sister. Their relationship was greatly damaged when he became completely obsessed with his work. She was locked up in a sanitarium after being accused of murders that occurred in the mansion. Now she works at keeping people away from Martin’s mansion for reasons unknown to the public."

Zee pulse quickens.....