by Jennifer Jonassen
Sometimes one of the best gigs in Hollywood can be working on a
student film. If you are just getting started acting this is a great
way to hone your skills while building your resume and reel. If you are
a seasoned professional this is a chance to give back and to perhaps
have a little more creative freedom than usual. Also, I have found
student directors to be remarkably open minded and very receptive to
non-traditional casting possibilities. Not to mention you may be
working with tomorrow's Steven Spielberg...
This
past December I had a particularly wonderful experience in a student
film. I was cast in a most exciting project for the L.A. Film School.
The assignment they had was to recreate a classic episode of
The Twilight Zone. The episode was:
A Piano In the House
and it was one of the projects that is blessed from the get go and
where everything seems to fall into harmonious place. All of the actors
were perfect for their roles and incredibly Earl Hamner Jr.
himself (the original writer of this episode) made a cameo as Rod
Serling!
Alongside professional director Mick Garris (of Stephen King fame) and
Ed Dilks
(Assistant Director) the students worked the camera and crew positions.
The idea was to get the camera into their hands so they could get
comfortable shooting. Additionally, everything is run keeping as close
to professional protocol as possible so the students get a chance to
experience what it is like to work in that environment as well. The
school put together an impressive cast list including: Steven
Weber, Neil Dickson, Jenna Shaw, Mauricio Zatarain, Angus Scrimm,
Steve Davies & Harold Cannon.
The part I was playing was originated by Muriel Landers in 1961. If
you read my column regularly you know that I can be pretty picky about
what roles I accept particularly when it relates to weight issues. I
don't usually accept roles that are weight related but I was so
powerfully drawn to this script that I decided to go for it. My
character Marge's self-deprecating sense of humor was painful to
inhabit at times but this beautifully balances out with a delicate and
ethereal monologue where she talks about being a snowflake while
dancing ballet. The speech is as poetic as any Tennessee Williams
play and was pure delight to get to say out loud.
I
had some major acting breakthroughs on this shoot, which I attribute in
large part to the energy from everyone on the set. The mood on the set
was so supportive and creative it really allowed me to get to levels I
have never been before as an actress. Without having seen the final
product I can confidently say that it was definitely my best acting
work to date. Someone on the set said: " but no one will see it."
And I thought to myself "I will." Sometimes I find the best
projects can come without a paycheck but they often feed your artistic
soul. All in all a perfect way to end 2008!
Image: Me with Earl Hamner Jr.
Photo by Cecilie Mindegaard
