 Behind-the-scenes on the short film, "Art" (Hanging Charlie Productions) For the past year and a half, I've been self-producing works for myself and also producing some projects for others. Web series, shorts, music videos -- even a commercial. It's been so cool to develop something from just an idea into a fully-realized film ready to share with the world. And the best part of it all is that, through this work, I've learned so many valuable lessons about collaboration and filmmaking, which in turn I believe has made me a better actress. Here are some of my favorites: 1.) Be a Teammate.There are so many hardworking crew members on set, doing grunt work, focused technical work, creative work -- and all are important and deserve respect. Love them. Treat them well. Offer assistance, kind encouragement, praise, laughs. It'll make the shoot so much more fun and easy, and you'll most likely make some awesome new friends. 2.) Be on Point.Know your lines, and be as prepared and ready as possible. So many factors go into a great shot -- lighting, camera stability, angles, focus, sound -- so have the goal of always giving a fantastic take! Don't be the one to mess up the shot when everything else is perfect. 3.) Be Consistent.Make it easy for the editors in post-production to craft their cuts. Keep continuity of movement, speak clearly, etc. This will also make them more prone to keep your takes, and less likely to dump you on the cutting room floor! 4.) Be Cool.If stuff happens, stuff happens. Be flexible, open, and laid-back for any snafus or delays on set. It happens. Don't be a diva. Go with the flow. That said... 5.) Be Communicative.I haven't yet met a filmmaker who didn't want to make sure that his/her actors were comfortable. So speak up. Be honest about your dietary restrictions, let them know if you feel unsafe (Safety First!), and ask any questions about things you're unsure about. Stay in the loop and be on-board. To Sum Up...Work in the spirit of collaboration and show your best self in every way. Through this, you'll have amazing experiences on set and establish professional relationships for years to come.
Happy Filmmaking! --Kimberly
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Confession: I love, love, love short films. I especially love watching blocks of them screen in a row. Whenever I have to choose a screening block to attend at a film festival, I ALWAYS choose shorts. Seeing multiple stories, different visions, all together -- it’s my jam. It’s literally seeing a clump of movies quickly in a small amount of time. 6 features? Half a day at least. 6 shorts? Less than an hour! This fast-paced NYC woman laps that up. :)
So, you can imagine my excitement upon discovering the monthly IndieWorks screenings hosted by Congested Cat at The People’s Lounge & Bar in the Lower East Side. I went to check them out last month, and boy I’m hooked! Absolutely fantastic films, well-chosen by staff, with interesting Q&A’s of the filmmakers. The venue is laid-back, a bar setting, so it's perfect for mingling before, after, and during the intermission – but when the music fades and the two screens start the selections, the attendees are hushed and respectfully enjoy the show. Plus they give out two awards each night – an Audience Choice award and a staff-rated “Best of Fest” award called the Silver Whiskers. Seed&Spark is an official sponsor and provides perks for each winner. Definitely worth it to submit if you’re a filmmaker. I’m definitely going back for their November screening next week on Wednesday the 19th. Want to join? Visit here for more info: http://www.congestedcat.com/indieworks/ See ya there! --Kimberly |
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