Tag: film

The Big Pivot Makes the Rounds

My first short film had a good amount of beginner’s luck. It was adapted from a Second City sketch titled “Forum (a.k.a. Careers)” from “Take Me Out to the Balkans” by Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, Steve Carell, David Razowsky, Ruth Rudnick, Fran Adams, and Amy Sedaris. It was my first big assignment at Second City Film School.

My wonderful actors, Lisa Barnes, Jeanne Lauren Smith, Heather Carlson, and Jimmy Pope, did their performances remotely. In fact, most of this was recorded over Zoom. I think it is a good time capsule of where we were as we broke out of our isolation as the Covid-19 pandemic receded.

Last Rites

Back in March, I was asked by the writer and director Yohana Desta to play a role in her touching and funny short film “Last Rites.” She rented a very nice brownstone up by Strivers’ Row for the shoot. There was a Covid officer during the shoot. I spent most of my time in bed while wearing a pajama top and shorts to stay cool. The crew was very kind, full of humor, and efficient. Ronald Emile was also generous and supportive as a scene partner. What you always hope to experience.

It was a little surreal to die over and over again during this time. It was also strange to stop takes of our shoot because the TV series “FBI” was shooting an action sequence in the street below the windows behind me. They say dying is easy but comedy is hard. I guess this was somewhere in between.