FlickGym.com

New Video I edited online... "American Indian Actors" for Screen Actors Guild #sag #native

Very proud of this one.  We premiered at The Museum of Tolerance earlier this year in Los Angeles.

"American Indian Actors"

Directed by the incredible Sterlin Harjo for the Screen Actors Guild.  This short video interviews some incredibly talented Native Actors and discusses the craft.

Featuring:

• LaVonne Rae Andrews
• Irene Bedard
• Tokala Clifford
• Robert Owens Greygrass
• Kimberly Norris Guerrero
• Zahn McClarnon
• Tamara Podemski
• Atticus Todd
• Gregory Zaragoza
• Rayanna Zaragoza

Ever wanted to learn more about Seinfeld's Winona?  Or Disney's Pocahontas?  Check out this video to find out some things you never knew.

It's currently being used by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction to educate the state's teachers and improve the way American history is being taught in the classroom.  SAG is working with the Casting Society of America in the US, Canada and Europe (300+ people!) to bring awareness to casting issues highlighted in the film.  The documentary also screened at a film festival in Alaska, a Native Studies class at Pitzer College and will screen at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in June.

There's a nice article about it here...

Produced by Karin Williams, Executive Producers Elena Finney and Brian Wescott, Cinematography Ernesto Lomeli, Stills Photography Anthony Thosh Collins, Editor (Yours Truly) David Michael Maurer, Music by Ryan Beveridge, Line Producer Julianna Brannum, Production Designer Niko Villaivongs

 

BTW, for those interested in the technical stuff...

It was shot on the Red Camera system.  Edited on Avid Media Composer 5.0 using a AMA Red Workflow and transcoded to DNxHD 220x on a laptop system.

Then and Now: Steve Urkel

Loved this...

"Family Matters" was one of my guilty pleasures as a kid.  In the vid, Jaleel White talks about playing Steve Urkel 12 years ago, being a national phenom, and not having issues like a lot of child stars.

But the best is the stuff we didn't know.  Enjoy...

Who's the Most Underrated Actor?

(In response to the formspring.me/flickgym question widget)

Who's the Most Underrated Actor?  ...Kevin Cooney.

Who is Kevin Cooney?  I guarantee you've seen him before.  He's popped up on "Boston Legal", "Cold Case", "Medium", "Nip/Tuck", "Mad Men", and more in the television world.

In features, Kevin appeared in "Charlie Wilson's War", "Seven Pounds", "Austin Powers in Goldmember", "American Pie 2", "Clear and Present Danger", and so many more.

Still can't picture him?  Check out his imdb and you'll instantly know this Doctor, Lawyer, Congressman, General, Principal, Journalist, Archbishop, Pilot, and CIA Councilman.

I was so fortunate to meet Kevin when I was just a fourth grade kid in Orange County and he spoke with our class about his great job.  He inspired me to get into entertainment with his subtle performances and clearly professional attitude.  At the time, Kevin had recently played a supporting role in the Academy Award Winning Film "The Trip To Bountiful".  It's a fantastic film if you haven't seen it.

So who's the most underrated actor?  Kevin Cooney.  A man who everyone knows, and so few of us appreciate how wonderfully he supports the story without upstaging.  A brilliant actor, with 106 imdb acting credits, I think it's time we take some notice.

Great questions about acting on my formspring site. Something I'm really passionate about. Please check it out and ask questions...

Great questions about acting on my formspring site. Something I'm really passionate about. Please check it out and ask questions if you'd like... http://www.formspring.me/flickgym

"Q: I get it, everyone in LA wants to be an actor, and everyone thinks they're really good. I am an actor, and I am really good, but I can't seem to get any parts. Any ideas?"

"A: This is a tough one and I’m going to be very frank because it does no good to answer this question with kid gloves on. I want you to know before I start sharing the tough stuff that I care very deeply about actors and their work. As an editor, I see the process all of the time, I feel it, I’m powerless to help make adjustments as the footage is already shot, but I know how to help you when I see it, I’m always dialed in with you on the screen; As a former actor and someone who studied the craft to learn more, I know quite a bit about the process and try to make all of the actors I work with look their best on camera. I know some of what I’m about to share might be tough to hear for some, but I’m sharing it to help because I want you to be the best you can be if this is what you’re called to do."

Read more at: http://www.formspring.me/flickgym

Writing Tip: Calling Behavior

For several years I worked with an exceptional acting coach in Los Angeles, Andrew Benne (website here) who teaches a Meisner based acting technique.  Andrew coaches consistently working actors and as a filmmaker, I wanted to dial myself in to the rhythms and voice of an actor.  The result has been nothing but helpful in my editing career, directing craft, and storytelling ability.  If you are a filmmaker, I highly recommend working with a coach like Andrew.  It will help you see great performances in your actors and give you skills to help guide those performance when an actor is struggling with moment to moment work.  Also for editors in non-fiction, this is very helpful in building dramatic scenes.

One of the basics of Andrew's technique that can be extremely helpful to a screenwriter, is "calling behavior".  When you're working on dialogue, a great way to stimulate conflict is to write dialogue that calls the behavior of another character.  An extremely simple example: Say two people are sitting across from each other at a dinner table, the mood is sour...

CHARLES
Stop it.

MELANIE
Leave me alone.

CHARLES
You're making that face again.

MELANIE
It's just how I look.

CHARLES
Well I hate it when you do that.  It's like you're hiding something.

MELANIE
Quit judging.  You're the one that called me.

Charles is calling the behavior of Melanie by accusing her of making a sour face.  He's calling her behavior.  She's calling his behavior and acknowledging his action by directing him to stop accusing her.  He gets more specific and she's put on the defence.  He offers point of view "I hate it when you do that" and calls her behavior again this time accusing her of hiding something.  She calls his behavior "quit judging" and gives us some more exposition.

It's a very simple scene but has a ton of conflict.  Every time a character calls behavior, the conflict escalates.  It's an effective technique if you need to punch up a scene.  If you saw the movie I edited "Splinter"  the word "firecracker" comes up between the characters Dennis and Polly.  Dennis is calling his impression of the behavior of Polly.  It instantly escalates the argument.

It's important to note that it doesn't have to be a serious scene either, you can call behavior in comedy or sad scenes.  Friends can be sarcastic, worried, empathetic, or any number of emotional states and still call behavior.  Give it a try on your next script.

For more information on Andrew Benne visit http://www.andrewbenne.com/