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

Concepción 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

Touring the East Bay

Round 2 of site location scouting took Maria and Sam to the deep ends of the East Bay... Livermore, San Ramon and Pleasanton. This took a fair amount of driving and some good navigation skills, as well as a warm appreciation for the outlying East East Bay suburbs.

After compiling a rough list within a 20 mile radius, we narrowed it down to those stores that weren't couture and were closed at least two days a week (since we'll be forced to close them down for about four days). Not much left after that, cowboy, but we charged on.

Our first stop in Livermore was at Michelle's. After a wrong turn off the freeway we ended up at a stark mini mall. From the outside I wasn't impressed but the second we walked in we both were hit with a warm and friendly buzz. Sam ran out to get her camera and Maria met Diem, the friendly owner who had had the store for just a year. We loved the wood, the layout was wide, and there were wall-to-wall white dresses alongside a whole wall of mannequins. It was authentically usable, and even had a front area with a large planter where we could place a patio set. Diem was excited about us using the store, and Sam was worried that people couldn't get out to The East Bay. Maria was just happy that someone was glad to have her film there. That alone could seal the deal in the end.

From there we stopped in San Ramon at the dusty "bridal shop" in the other mini mall. After a brief look in the window, neither of us needed to go in. It was small, narrow, with racks on top of racks, and weird crooked things hanging on the walls. The shop did have its benefits, however. Although Maria was craving fries, there was a friendly little Mexican place just two doors down. So we shared a burrito and were suddenly rejuvenated. Maybe it was the big WHITE ARROW pointing to the Bridal Shop that brought us down a bit, but we were ready to hit stop #3.

As we drove through the cute little town of Pleasanton Maria could totally envision shooting the drive down the main street. When we pulled into the parking lot there was excitement at seeing a full patio set right out in front... just like in the script! We had a brief downer moment realizing that the store was closed. (It was the burrito! It made us 10 minutes too late!) But then we saw someone walking in. So we entered, and it was stuffed full of beautiful dresses. Three separate assistants were helping people, and more people were coming in... and this was 15 minutes after closing time. We loved the layout and the dressing room area with the podiums (and of course the well-placed patio set), but realized very quickly that the room would take a full makeover. Plus the wall of mannequins was directly in front of a wall of windows. No bueno, said Sammy. Mike (our DP) will have a heart attack. Then it was the owner, Jamie. She barely had time to breathe and take the business card. And even though Maria called and talked to her about it, Jamie was busy and overwhelmed and needed time to digest the idea of a "film production in the bridal shop." Only by the grace of God would it work with them. But ahhhh.... Maria really liked it.

And onward we go.

Launching the Bridal Movie

After sitting in a dusty box for four years, I pulled out the short script to the Bridal film and decided that we needed to make it. I called my co-writer (Mick Erausquin) and my filmmaking posse (Sam Murphy and my favorite cameraman Mike Epple), all of whom said they were excited and happy to be on board. Now begins the work.

We had our first meeting last week, going over the script and making some scheduling plans. We have 7 months to gather a crew, a talented cast, equipment, and about $20,000 to complete the four-day shoot. I am, needless to say, both scared and excited. Step one: find the location, after which dates and people should fall into place.

So, to you, faithful reader, film supporter and friend, this blog is being launched to record our progress, track our decisions, and most importantly to encourage people to donate so that we can make this film a reality.

The story was inspired by several trips to bridal stores, which I faithfully visited with a very old friend who had asked me to be her maid of honor. Having never been married (thus truly a "maid"), I had never really visited bridal shops nor searched for bridal clothing. Each trip got weirder and weirder, as I witnessed brides in the throes of excitement, nervousness, apprehension, confusion, and more. And every single one of them was accompanied by a friend, a family member, a parent, or all of the above. It was a unique combination of neurotic happiness and family dysfunction. The perfect setting for a little movie.

As this blog progresses, we'll talk more in detail about the story and the production, and post photos and progress videos, so you can travel the road with us.

Thank you for being there -- and as a donor, we'll see you at the screening.