Posts Tagged ‘Hollywood’

What happens when a 93-year-old Spanish Revival/Art Deco movie palace with one of the largest screens in L.A. goes up for sale? Well, following the trend of Tarantino’s purchase of the Vista Theater, and Netflix/American Cinematheque’s purchase of Egyptian Theater, a who’s who list of three-dozen Directors are joining together to preserve The Village Theater.

An Iconic Save

Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, Lulu Wang, Bradley Cooper, JJ Abrams, Damien Chazelle, Chris Columbus, Todd Phillips, Guillermo Del Toro, Alexander Gonzalez Inarritu and Alfonso Cuaron are just some of the Directors, lead by Jason Reitman (Juno, Up in the Air) who plan to preserve and restore the 1930’s landmark, scene of decades of iconic films and memorable movie premiers. Some of the Village Theater’s visionaries like Jason Lin, Gina Prince-Blythewood, Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, Brad Silberling and Alexander Payne are returning to their UCLA roots in this joint venture that’s university-adjacent in the Westwood Village.

The Directors plan to showcase a mixture of first-run films and repertory programming that they will select. Goals include showcasing their personal collections of props, wardrobe items and film prints, along with plans for a restaurant, bar and gallery — all while the 1300-people theatre stays open.

I’m very excited to support this endeavor. My mom grew up going to the Village Theater. I loved her stories of glamorous Hollywood. I wouldn’t mind a dose of  glam right now.

We can all use a dose of sparkle…

Promising Young Woman is a rollercoaster ride disguised as a thriller-dark comedy-revenge flick? As someone who used to be a Promising Young Woman I related, though Cassie’s situation is wayyyy different from mine — with a different ending, hopefully;)  But, we were both on the road to success before WHAM! Something happened to change everything.

Enough on my situation — let’s get to why this film affected me so profoundly. Like life, it never goes the way you expect it to. Like an old Hitchcock film, it keeps you on the tip of your toes from the beginning to the end. And like any really good film, it makes you think about it for a long time after.

It’s not what you think —

I thought I’d be watching a woman’s revenge vigilante pic, but it’s not exactly that. You’re never quite sure what Cassie (played by the mega-talented Carey Mulligan) is up to — maybe it’s because she’s not sure how far she’ll go herself. Read the rest of this entry »

I love films. Love being in them, working on them, watching them and hearing about them in Q&As. I try to see EVERYTHING.

Summer is usually a challenge because I’m not into blockbusters. But this summer’s smaller films have touched me deeply… and have left me thinking about them long after I’ve left the theatre. Yeah, I still like seeing films on the big screen. I prefer watching movies with big audiences. Laughter’s contagious and more intense in a crowd, like the higher connection you feel when you’re at sitting in an outdoor amphitheater listening to a concert under the stars where the music’s really loud. It takes you to another place…

These three films took me to another place…

CIVIL RIGHTS infused with humor

BlackkKlansman –

Spike Lee couldn’t have picked a more important time to release this sly and chilling black-and-white expose.

With our country divided in such an ugly way right now, I wish everyone could see this film, In this true story, John David Washington (Denzel’s son) plays passionate undercover cop, Ron Stallworth who infiltrates the KKK on the phone, then drags an unlikely partner played by Adam Driver, into a courageous and crazy caper fooling members of the Klan and leader David Duke deliciously. Spike Lee’s film about racism, rebellion and working within the system forces us to face the realities of our past, present and future. Horrific scenes from Charlottesville remind us Ron Stallworth’s fight is far from over. BlackkKlansman is an important film to see. Really important.

Blindspotting —

Daveed Digs and Rafael Casal opening weekend in L.A.

Two life-long friends, convicted felon Collin (Daveed Diggs) and troublemaker Miles (Rafael Casal), try to get through the last three days of Collin’s year-long probation, when Collin witnesses a white cop shoot an innocent black man in cold blood and then ends up with a gun while he can’t stop thinking about what he has seen. Stars and Writers, Diggs and Casal, explore new and old worlds, racial biases, and the push-pull of an intense and complicated friendship set in the gentrification of modern day Oakland.  Loyalty and self-preservation clash in frightening situations with sweet moments. Blindspotting is unlike any film I’ve seen before. Worth seeing.  

COMEDY infused with anxiety

Eighth Grade –

Elsie Fisher and Bo Burnham in a Q&A at the Landmark in West L.A.

OMG! If I hadn’t already gotten through that grade in school, this film would’ve scared the s—t out of me! I’m sure I would’ve begged to be home schooled, ahaha!

Awkward with a capital “A,” Bo Burnham’s sensitive portrait of a shy middle schooler is stressful yet refreshing, lonely yet universal and depressing yet hopeful.  It’s like a real life horror movie that we can laugh at because we’ve been through it and survived. Eighth Grade is really good and btw, Elsie Fisher is the real deal, breaking out in more ways than one, ahaha.

I love living in L.A. I love seeing Independent Films on opening weekend with Q&As by Directors or Writers or Actors. These usually happen at The Landmark, Arclight or Sundance Cinemas on Sunset. And they’re easy to get into if you buy your tickets online in advance.

Just saw two good films, DEAN and BAND AID, each with Q&A’s led by a lead Actor who’s also the Director and the Writer of his/her film.

Demetri Martin (DEAN) and Zoe Lister-Jones (BAND AID) are the Triple Threats possessing talent that crosses over into just about everywhere. These Hollywood Hybrids have stick-to-itiveness, charisma and the courage to turn their dreams into financed films, Festival Darlings and films that open with Q&As in major cities.

Like me and most Actors (except for maybe Actors like Jennifer Lawrence and Dwayne Johnson) Martin and Lister-Jones became frustrated with a system in which Actors are at the mercy of someone else’s vision and conflicting priorities. Unlike me, they’ve got the balls to go all the way.

Demetri Martin is the heart and soul of DEAN

Martin is more than a Triple Threat, he’s a Quadruple! Yes, besides being the Director, Writer + Talent, he’s also the Illustrator of charming sketches that share the screen with live action and offer insight into the mind and mood of the main character, “Dean.” Martin’s very personal film is about loss, love and coming-of-age. He’s surrounded himself with a talented cast, including Gillian Jacobs, Reid Scott, Kevin Klein and Mary Steenburgen and has allowed them the freedom to do what they do best. The film’s got cool music and cool images. Martin tells his heartfelt story in a very funny and relatable way.

Speaking of relatable, that’s how I’d describe Demetri Martin. He’s hilarious, but never in that typically Stand-up Comic “ON” sorta way. His talent and humor sneak up on you. I loved hearing his stories about his trip to the East Coast to pitch Kevin Kline and how that meal changed everything — or how Martin struggled to stay in character on set when the next day’s location had just fallen through completely.

Zoe Lister-Jones’s BAND AID is about love, pain and rock ‘n roll therapy

BAND AID’S premise spoke to me immediately when I saw the trailer: “Young Couple (Zoe Lister-Jones and fabulous Adam Pally from The Mindy Project) starts a band and turn raw-and-real fights into songs to save a marriage.”

Lister-Jones is the Director, Writer, Female Lead and the actual, songwriter,  so she too is a Quadruple Threat. Kudos to Lister-Jones for hiring an all-female crew and for surrounding herself with smart Actors who are known for comedy, but can expose dramatic truths. Lister-Jones is one of the best parts of LIFE IN PIECES, but you can really see her incredible range and willingness to show vulnerability in BAND AID. Adam Pally’s really impressive in the way he does double-duty with his voice saying one thing, while delivering an even more powerful message with his eyes — particularly in the last Act. Read the rest of this entry »

… when the contract EXPIRES!

Will Writers Strike?

I hope they won’t. Not after the long-term effects of the last strike. But I totally get why the WGA must fight for important deal points, just as SAG/AFTRA does to protect Actors. As the industry shifts from lengthy network series to condensed shows on premium channels (like HBO, Showtime) and streaming services (like Netflix, Hulu) traditional season orders get replaced with smaller episodes.  An insanely competitive field gets even more insane as the rules and opportunities change. Pay cuts result. Health plans become unhealthy (aka nearly bankrupt.) Writers and their families get SCARED.

Fears Rise from PRIMETIME TO DAYTIME

They’re down to the wire. It’s hard to know which way things’ll go. The effect of any strike always casts a wide net: Producers, Directors, Actors and everyone on set from the DP to the grip loses work. Everyone who supplies that set loses business.  Opportunities shrink. Bank accounts dwindle. Still bills must be paid. Businesses must go on.

As an Actor I hope-hope-hope there won’t be a work shutdown, along with its inevitable domino effect. The last time there was a writer’s strike, reality shows started multiplying obnoxiously. The work that was around wasn’t polished and it showed. Even with the best of intentions, side-effects of a strike can be painful to many. Read the rest of this entry »

but, Jon — that was then, what about now?

I don’t even recognize myself. My brain has been invaded by CNN and I’m feeling a little insane. Gotta get out of L.A. and away from the NEWS. It’s on in the background at all times — day and night. It’s like I live at an old person’s place! But it’s my place. OMG!

The news is EVERYWHERE —

It’s on at the hospital… and it’s on at my dentist’s office… and where I take my care to be serviced… and in my car.  Oh. Okay, yeah, I can’t help myself. I feel like I’ll miss something — like the world coming to an end or the impeachment announcement. I really do need to experience the impeachment announcement IRT.  And I’m not the only one I know who’s suddenly obsessed with politics. EVERYONE I know is obsessed. OBSESSED! When it’s between Scandal and a real-life scandal, we now watch Rachel Maddow. It’s riveting TV. RI.VET.ING.

CDs can’t read your mind, or can they?

Meanwhile back to my So-Called Life —

I’ve been going through the motions with auditions where they’re uninterested in me and I’m uninterested in them. With Casting Directors you can easily tell. It’s all in their body language.  Like it’s probably in mine. I know, I know. But…  I’d be psyched for challenging projects…exciting projects… projects that would make me feel proud to be an Actor. But those are few and far between. At least for me… these days.

Nothing WOWs me lately. Dr. Crush called me twice and texted me three times last week, and I didn’t feel nervous at all. No butterflies. I feel like I’m living in a fog… Read the rest of this entry »

An alarming article, “Actors: ‘It’s So Easy to Exploit Them’ in the April 8^th Hollywood Reporter sheds light on a disturbing and accepted new practice in our morally ambiguous industry. Actors are now paying thousands of dollars for the privilege of auditioning in front of casting directors — aka “taking workshops” — with ‘students’ “landing jobs everywhere from ABC to Hulu.”

According to the HR,

“More than two dozen companies offer more than 450 sessions of these “workshops” in a month’s span during pilot season – that many in the industry presume the practice is entirely aboveboard.”

Is The Casting System Ethically Sinking ?!

It’s not above board. In California exchanging money for the prospect of employment is I L L E G A L !

The Krekorian Talent Scam Prevention Act outlaws workshops and casting directors from charging or attempting to charge an artist for an audition or employment opportunity.

Why is Everyone Looking The Other Way?

Why isn’t anything being done? Why are SAG-AFTRA and the Casting Society of America powerless? Why are cost-conscious networks and studios cutting their casting allowances and allowing this illegal practice to flourish? Read the rest of this entry »