Still Photography by Hutch Muselessmine

Actors, Olivia Applegate, Chase Joliet, and Matt Roszak (last) on the set of Visible Noise.

Olivia Applegate and Chase Joliet on set of Visible Noise

Beautiful people - Olivia Applegate and Chase Joliet - making us look cool on set.


screen grab courtesy of our awesome DP, Greg Risley

Breath, Eat, Sleep, Work, Wait

OK... so I'm not a good 'waiter.' :)

A lot of this business is work, work, work, *breathe* then work, work, work *eat,* then work, work, work, *sleep*. Downtime is supposed to be fun, when you catch up on things around the house, and let loose, right? I'd be lying if I said it totally wasn't. I love having time to watch movies with friends, catch up on their lives, and talk to people that don't know what a gaffer is (I'm the smart one!). It's refreshing.

But it doesn't take long before my legs compound nervous energy, and I'm ready to rock the breathe, eat, sleep out again. There's something deeply twisted about it all, really. :)

I mean, it's not like we don't have 50 million things we're currently working on... no really, I'm sure it's close...

But right now, we're waiting on paperwork, which will finalize our new executive producer on board LIS, woo hoo! Also waiting on a 'letter of intent' back from an actor. Also waiting on a secretary to get back from vacation so that we can move forward with approaching a heavy duty producer with a reputable production co., who may be interested in our project on some level.

Wish there was something more sexy or mysterious about this process, but it is what it is. Just a big ole spoon full of wait in your coffee. And if you put sugar in it... forget about it. You'll be a terrible waiter.

So, I'm trying to fill my mind and time with things both fun and productive. Making a new short that involves friends, just for fun. Working on a lot of side projects, which actually do bring in some $ occasionally, and watching a lot of movies with my hubby and friends! After all, it'd be a tragedy to make movies but never have the luxury of enjoying them.

So take time, and enjoy the wait!

Seeking actors/actresses for your indie film?

Before you approach your dream actor:

Unless you're a household name, it's going to be challenging to convince a respectable actor that you can direct them in a feature film. So do something first - act in a short film, PA, take film/acting classes, write something wonderful, or make short films... create anything to show that you're serious.

Different ways to attach talent:

1) Direct connection - if you have a direct hookup to an actor of your choice, you can simply send off the great script you've put your heart and soul into, and hope they respond with enthusiasm! If they do, you can ask him/her to be verbally attached with no legal work at all (and before you have $). But you'll want a 'letter of intent' eventually, and that usually requires a legal attorney (even if it's just to write it up).

2) Letter of intent route - used to legally legitimise the actor's intent to be attached. This can be sent directly to the actor, or to the agent/agency, depending upon the actor's preference/situation. If you go the agency route, it will most likely cost money (i.e. casting director/producer(s) and/or legal attorney to help make deal with agent/agency - see 3).

3) Want verbally attached talent to be legally attached? Have casting director and/or legal attorney (route) communicate with the actor's agent, and work as a conduit between the actor and producer to make the deal.

And, remember - it doesn't matter if the actor is your friend or they are really, really interested... without a contractual agreement, nothing is concrete. Agents/agencies/managers can be great assets to the actor, but they are not looking out just for the actor - they want to make money, too. And no matter how nice they are, they do not work for You. :)

4) Already know the fab actor that's going to be in your film? - If you already have an established relationship with the actor that already wants to be in your film, they will most likely refer you to other actors/connections they have... other people they want to work with.

In my first short comedy, DropIt!, most of my ensemble cast was simply found from/through hiring a few solid actors. Thanks, Heath!

5) This is an extension of no. 4. - If you have an actor on board that has connections to a big agency, he/she may be willing/able to get you some (seasoned) names of possible leads who may be right for the part, and without you having to do no. 6 or 7.

6) If you have no connections, and a little money - You can ask your casting director and/or legal attorney to communicate with the agency in an attempt to reach out to the actor of your preferred choice... but if you don't have money to make an offer, you're probably wasting your time.

7) Have developmental funds to play with? - You can use some of this $ to hire an agency directly to aid you in attaching talent from their pool of resources. Realistically, it could cost your production thousands of dollars, and there's a possibility you may still walk away with no real results. But then again, if they do help you cast a recognizable face, I suppose it could be worth it...

8) Reach out approach - If you've been in this biz a while, chances are you know people who know people... there is no shame in asking friends with possible connections/fellow filmmakers if they have any actor recommendations. In most cases, they'll be happy to! I know I would jump at an opportunity to connect some of my very talented friends up with other promising projects. So, reach out, and don't be shy!

I urge you to not settle on talent no matter what. Have a standard, and don't compromise because of a bad day/mo./yr! IF you have good material, people will know it, and the talent will come.

Do yourself a favor, and don't stress or force this creative process. If anxiety's part of the equation, perhaps this is not the right person/deal/moment.

And as producer, Mynette Louie says, Don't Stop Believin'.

Happy Casting! Jentri

Staying Inspired and Loving The Run

We started the day with a roar. Leaped into a legal meeting with our fabulous entertainment lawyer, Deena, then discussed LIS' cameo role contest details with one of our sponsors, Beaux (GM) at Tan It All, followed by a general LIS production meeting with Lorie about ways we can increase our show's chances at success. There are so many ways to get to get to an end. But that's our job - to make the best possible decision with the information and resources we have at the time.

Above everything, I've been surrounding myself with beings who continuously uplift me... funny kids, sweet animals, bright friends, and hungry voices of inspiration. If there's a person, or place that doesn't invoke the best possible emotion from me, I pretend it doesn't exist. The idea is to Be peaceful, productive, and focused. Every day counts.

Today, my Lost In Sunshine producer, Lorie and I had an intimate discussion about our direction. We made sure, once again, that we're on the same page with our expectations. I encourage you all to make sure you share the same vision for your project with your producer. I'm overjoyed at the bond we've formed over the last two years. Sometimes, it blows my mind that I have someone on board the LIS train that loves this story as much as I do. It's like our child. I imagine that's what parents occasionally look at each other and think - WOW. :)

Not to mention the bad ass crew members still on board. THANK YOU, guys!! I'm so grateful for you. And I'm sincerely loving this magical marathon.

I'm pretty excited about a wonderful actor that we have a meeting with next week, too. He is quite amazing... the moments I've watched him in movies have immensely impressed me. He's a true artist.

So much is happening, and lots of questions are unanswered at the moment, so I apologise for being a bit vague in these many departments. But thank you for taking your precious time and joining me on my journey. There's so much to look forward to. And I look forward to sharing it with you.... more... soon. Make sure you're subscribed to our LIS network (next newsletter - June 6th) and you won't miss a thing. xo
Jentri

Love the run.

Yep, I'm looking at the glass half full, and here's why.

If you've read our LIS blog today, you know that we've pushed our filming of Lost In Sunshine to the fall because we're still securing funding. As heartbreaking as it is for those of us who have worked our asses off to make this a Spring shoot, I'm looking at the glass half full, and here's why.

1) Some key locations that were not solidified sooner, will have plenty of time to be (more) secured, and therefor we'll be able to storyboard them properly.

2) The script was actually written for a fall shoot (over the holiday season) so this will be a more organic fit.

3) As many of you know, distribution models change, and the old one has died. Our business plan was written over a year ago, and although it's still current with the new world mindset, it needs to be re-evaluated/updated to more accurately demonstrate our current POA.

4) We have a chance to reconsider our budget entirely. Should we go ultra low or the 2 million route, and what does that mean as a whole?

5) Some actors that I adore and wanted to consider, before (mis)learning of SAG rules and being fogged by US/foreign sales stuff, may now be able to work with us if we go ultra low (still TBD).

6) If you read Iskra's earlier entry on my blog, you know that equipment we couldn't consider in the Spring, may be a luxury we have to contemplate in the fall.

7) It gives us a chance to build/strengthen relationships with our LIS audience, expand our show, and experiment more with the 5 more months we now have to grow before production officially starts. While there are no guarantees, it certain feels like an advantage to have more true fans before we shoot.

8) Potential investors that have the script, but haven't had time to formally respond to us, now have ample time to figure out how/if they'd like to contribute to the process.

9) Our marketing/distribution team of experts will be attending more festivals this year... which means more opportunities for us to be connected with the right people who might want to aid us in our efforts - again, before we even shoot.

10) As a director, I now have the opportunity to work on more creative projects (i.e., with Paranormal Productions) before directing LIS. That (experience!) is never a bad thing!!

I'm sure I could think of more things, but these are enough to convince me, yet again, that nothing is random. Everything in life has a purpose, and will happen no sooner/later than it's supposed to. I look forward to further understanding the blessings of this hiccup next year.

Thank you, my loving crew members, who've stuck by our side, worked tirelessly to keep up the momentum of our project, and continue to serve as valuable team players on this magnificent journey. We know it's a labor of love, and one day, we hope to make you PROUD!

With love, and appreciation,

Jentri

Casting lead actors :)

This week, our Lost In Sunshine producer, Lorie Marsh, posted a GREAT BLOG about our production status and money, honey. I've been learning so much lately from Lorie, and just being a part of this whole process. Producers = major respect in my world. It's a no-joke kinda job. :)

(this blog has moved -- read the rest here!)

SAG - in Jentri's layman's terms

Apparently, from what I've been told by my credible production sources, we will not be able to have non-SAG actors on our film. Because this subject matter is simply confusing and can be complicated and frustrating for us all, especially actors I presume, I decided to tell you what I know. Now, if you have new information that I don't, please share....

(this blog has moved -- read the rest here!)

Lost In Sunshine September Updates

Pleased to say that we're ON OUR WAY!!

The location scouting has begun with Laura. Here's an image of one of our cafes we plan to shoot in. The large rustic image is of a cotton gin, and the others are simply buildings occupying the town to give you a sense of its character. The town's people were so gracious, inviting, and excited. It was refreshing to see their glowing faces when we said we were "filming a movie" there. That has, lucky for me, and surprisingly, never been done before in this tiny little Texas town....

(this blog has moved -- read the rest here!)

In Search of a Line Producer, Part II

After reviewing tons of resumes/cover letters/bios online, I narrowed it down to a few experienced applicants. There were a lot of impressive people flooding the city, let me tell you. It was h-a-r-d! But I came across an applicant, Michelle M. that stood out. She was around my age (30-ish) and had written, directed and produced a feature called, Douglas (click on link above to watch trailer)....

(this blog has moved -- read the rest here!)