Adios 2012 - Hello 2013

I've been a little busy living life and this blog tends to pay for it.

I am still in preproduction for Ghooooul!   I need to shoot it in January because I want to submit to the Viscera Film Festival and the deadline is February 28. My bosses were extremely generous and gave me the gift of cash for Christmas which will all go towards making the film. 

Speaking of deadlines, I have a big one coming up January 7th, 2013. At the end of 2010, I was planning on applying to AFI's Women Director's Workshop. I chickened out and didn't bother applying in 2011 or 2012. Over the last two years I've seen some of the films that have come out of the program and I am proud to have enough confidence to say I can do that.  

I would LOVE to participate in the program. I didn't go to film school and this would be an opportunity to immerse myself in a classroom environment and develop my script.  After three weeks in the program, you go into pre-production and then shoot your film in an environment that mimics a studio production.  All your locations are permitted. You get at least one if not two and in some cases four producers!  Every position will have at least one crew member.  This will be challenging for me because I've only worked with small crews where each person does at least three jobs and by the time the film is done I've done at least ten.

It's pretty stiff competition, they only select 8 women per year.  I am an optimist and if I don't get in,  my goal is to shoot the film and apply next year. Like the Aaliyah song says "If at first you don't succeed, dust your self off and try again".

I just completed week two of improv 101 at Upright Citizens Brigade. Yes, ME! Improv has been at the bottom of the bucket list because I didn't think I'd ever have the guts to do it.  Many of my talented actor friends (my sister included) are petrified of it.  I have a yearly goal to do at least one thing that will get me a step closer to fearless. In November I was still looking to get my fearless on and improv won. Everyone was surprised that I would try something so "not Lucy" because I'm too much of a control freak and improv is so improvised!

From the moment I signed up for the class I decided to surrender to the yes and not be afraid to make a fool of myself. Lucky for me, most of my classmates are not actors and the few actors in the workshop are good actors. Everyone is open and generous. Thank god we don't have any hijackers. I will write more about this, I go back to class on January 3rd.

As the year comes to an end, I sit in my living room in my cat pajamas. I needed a break from writing my script so I decided to write this entry.  Matt was nice enough to walk over to Cheese Cake Factory and pick up dinner. He's in the bedroom playing with the Guitarsmith I got him last Christmas. In a bit we will eat dinner and ring in the new year watching In the Mood for Love or The Twilight Zone marathon.  I'm grateful for all the great things 2012 brought me and I'm looking forward to all the changes 2013 will bring my way.

xoxo, 

Lucy

ps

I'm not a cat person but I love PJ Salvage pajamas and in my defense they were on sale for $20 and I could have sworn they were tigers. 

PS - I Can't Afford Your Fee Either - Response to Michele Serros

I do believe that the excerpt I read came from Latina Magazine, the magazine was fairly new at the time so they probably had no $ to pay your fee.

Wow, I forgot that our relationship started with me wanting to option Role Model Rule #3. As the myspace letter stated, I wanted to submit to AFI's Directing Workshop for Women (DWW). One of the requirements was a 5 page script. I like that story a lot, it's one of my favorites and it seemed appropriate for the entry. However, I chickened out and did not bother to apply.

On 11/18/2007, we wrapped production on two of the stories for Love 10 to 1. Read my other blog if you want to find out more http://indiefilmlove10to1.blogspot.com/ I made the decision not to apply to the DWW because I did not feel ready. I started taking directing and acting classes focusing on working with actors. I had taken enough technical classes through the Extension program at UCLA. I needed to work on finding my voice as a filmmaker. We filmed Love Song in June of 2008.

On a technical level, the Love Song shoot went smoother than the previous two. I faced personal challenges while making that film and there are many things I wish I could do over but once you say CUT, you rarely get to go back. I was going through a divorce, the company I had worked for since arriving in LA was closing and my mother was sick. Making that film is what kept me sane. I cashed out my 401K to get the film made. I know Suze Orman would not approve but when the economy went kaput in September 2008 I would have lost 85% of that money, at least I have a film to show for it. I used the rest of the money to spend my unemployed summer in NY.

Last week I downloaded the application to apply to AFI's DWW. As you were typing your response to my first blog, I was probably downloading the application. I feel ready for that challenge. Yes, I am aware of the fierce competition but I have nothing to lose, well, ok, it costs $100 to apply but that's chump change in the piggy bank of following my bliss.

I have a strong connection to The Big Deal. When I first read it, it reminded me of the experience of bringing the tattooed, long haired, half Jewish boyfriend who sang in a metal band to meet my Dominican, Catholic parents. Through the years the story has taken a different meaning, especially after my mother got sick. What I love about The Big Deal is that the subtext is so strong. I'm not sure how you felt about it as you were writing it but to me it's all about the absence of the mother and that's where I'm drawing a lot from. After my divorce, I wondered if I would get married again. I also wondered if my mother would be around to meet my future husband or if one of my Tias would be filling in for her.

I'm making your story as personal to me as possible in the hope of making a great film. I hate it when bad movies happen to great books. I want you and your fans to like it, or better yet, love it. Yes, that's a lot of pressure but I'm up to the challenge.

PS

I can't afford your fee either

My mom and my husband Matt at our wedding. I am greatful that both my mom and my favorite tia were there. Check out Michele in the background.

Lucy