Monday, June 29, 2009

SCRIPT IS POSTED

The most recently updated version of the script is now posted!

Our casting notices are out and we're receiving lots of submissions. Right now we're trying to find a suitable stage to hold the auditions. Auditions will be held in Petaluma, CA, and will be these two days:

AUG 29
SEPT 12

Thursday, June 11, 2009

CASTING... the big puzzle piece

We've officially finished the details for the casting notice. I'll be spending the next 10 days getting it out and filing forms for SAG. After that I'll have to spend the following two weeks looking at pictures and video clips.

Casting can be a tricky dog. Sometimes you have a great actor, but they just don't fit the part. Or you have the perfect look, but he doesn't have the gravitas you need. I have casting heartburn sometimes when I watch movies (which I do A LOT). What the heck was Samuel L. Jackson doing in the Star Wars films anyway? Hello? He couldn't event say the dialogue right...

Some interesting movies have been ruined by poor casting, like Eyes Wide Shut. Or even mediocre movies made pathetically weak, like The Da Vinci Code. I loved Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, in Forrest Gump, and especially in Splash. But isn't it weird when actors "mature" how they take themselves so seriously and forget to explore? Think Harrison Ford. If he plays one more presidential-like hero I think I'll hurl. And I would have loved to have seen Sam Elliott in that last Harry Potter flick. Don't say you can't picture it!

Okay, enough about casting. You get my drift, so let's get crackin'. Check out our Facebook link or the details below.
ROLES:

LEAD ROLES
Helen- Age 30, female (Bride from the title)
Tall, reedy, classic-looking, a little nervous (5’6” – 5’9”)

Joan- Age 55+, female (Mother of the Bride)
Upper middle-class, reserved,
opinionated but kind demeanor, must resemble Helen

Katie- Age 30, female (Maid of Honor)
Dark hair, street-wise, voluptuous, likes to drink a bit, PR gal

Mary Jones- Age 19, female (Bride #2)
Pale skin, black hair, goth-looking pregnant teen

Gil Jones- Age 45-50, male
Widowed father, slightly gray, post-hippie dad, resigned to fate but warm & protective of Mary

Bridal Assistant- Age 35, female
Discreet, thoughtful. Insightful re. customer needs

ConcepciĆ³n Salinas- 55+, female (Carmen's mother)
Modern Hispanic mother, tolerant, sports-loving, wise and patient

SECONDARY ROLES
Carmen Salinas- 21, female (Bride #3)
Hispanic or mixed ethnicity, fairly pretty, wants traditional wedding

Lucinda- 20, female (Carmen's cousin)
Hispanic or mixed ethnicity

Carlos Salinas (Carmen's father) - 55+, male
Hispanic or mixed ethnicity, traditional, boisterous

Hostess-28-38, female
Friendly friendly

DATES:

CAST Table Read - Sept 26-27
CAST Rehearsal - Oct 3-4
Set-up & Blocking - Oct 11
Shoot - Oct 12-15 (Santa Rosa, CA)
* Possibly one extra pick-up day for two characters

SUBMISSION INFO:


Send resume, headshot & DVD/links to: 1759 Stone Creek Drive, Petaluma, CA 94954
Or email to: museworks [at] hotmail [dot] com

SNAIL MAIL PREFERRED

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Site Plans... planning the shots

So today I stopped by and went through the contract with the bridal shop owner. She was happy with it and wanted to make a few online edits -- but made only one real request: If we get into a film festival or get nominated for any awards, she wants two tickets. Funny that. Then she started sharing stories about Hollywood parties and Tom Cruise, who she met once, and who she said only came up to her chest with his "hooked nose." She was, in no uncertain terms, extremely disappointed. Then I popped into the shop and chatted with Jill and Erin, who agreed to order dress sizes that we needed, and maybe even have a designer make a blue dress for the final scene.

Next I headed to the Management Office, got the shop plans, and got a green light to move forward with everything. Melissa, the friendly management gal, only handed me one sheet of paper about insurance requirements. And then she offered to let us use an open shop (if one was un-leased) for the crew to gather and for us to leave our equipment. How amazing is that??

I feel so blessed that we have such a great, supportive team! We are so incredibly lucky to have stumbled into this. I'm still crossing my fingers, though. We have a long way to go. Casting is the biggest hurdle, and doing a real shot plan, now that we have the site plan. This is the part where I really get to spread my wings -- that's where I get to plot out my vision of the film.

Until next time.
~ Maria