AND…MOTHER OF THE WEEK WINS THE “AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD” Okay, so I was nominated and didn’t win “Best Actress in a Short”, but I’m fine with that because the competition was STIFF! I am honored to be included with the other ladies nominated, including the winner, who were amazing and so were their films. BUT, I did win “Breakout Performance …
So, “Mother of the Week” is the FIRST screenplay I’ve ever written and not only did it get made (many don’t unfortunately), but then it got into the FIRST film festival we entered into, and we got NOMINATED for a Best of Festival Audience Award. I remember the day I decided to write it. I just sat down and did …
MOTHER OF THE WEEK PREMIERES AT THE HOBOKEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Last year around this time, we were gearing up to start shooting MOTHER OF THE WEEK, and in about one week from NOW it will PREMIERE at the prestigious Hoboken International Film Festival!!! After writing, collaborating with the amazing co-writer, Fred Stroppel, finding a director, director of photography and …
When I was a Rockette in the 1990’s, the height requirement was 5’5 ½” to 5’ 10”. At the auditions, all of the Rockette hopefuls were measured “in stockinged feet” by the Official Measuring Stick by the door. For some reason, I don’t remember being measured. In any case, I believe I just filled out my audition form as 5’ …
Okay, so I swear way too much and even around my own kids (they know not to curse outside of the house, unlike me.) And because in reality all the mothers I hang out also drop the F Bomb (and S Word and sometimes uglier) and the other writer Fred Stroppel knows me well, the screenplay was riddled with them. …
“HEY, MA! ISN’T THAT A REAL LIVE ROCKETTE?!!!” Radio City Backstage Tour So, when I was a Rockette, they had an extra job we could do between dancing gigs. It was being the surprise (woohoo) Rockette during the backstage tour. Hilarious… Tourists would be taken through the labyrinth of backstage, costume shop, executive offices and finally through the rehearsal studios, …
We did auditions in two evenings and one Saturday afternoon because of the kids. I booked ten minute slots. I wanted to see more people, but my director, said if we called in too many actors, our brains would explode (my translation). In hindsight, I could have called in more because of so many no-show actors. But on the other …
WHAT I LEARNED AS AN ACTOR CASTING MY FILM Not only am I the writer, producer and star of MOTHER OF THE WEEK, but I’m the Casting Director. And I learned a lot as an actor doing this!! For a point of reference, here’s the breakdown of the characters: STACEY (cast: Jennifer Jiles) TIM (cast: Mark Lobene) SEEKING: KAITLIN – Female, …
A COMEDIC SHORT FILM WRITTEN BY AND STARRING ME! So, my husband’s friend, Mark Lobene, was up for a BBQ last June. “Hey, Jen, listen, if you ever want to make a film, I’d like some tape on my self and I’ll pay for it.” I’m thinking REALLY????!!! CUT TO: September, 2013. I’m working out this friend of a friend, …
My interview with good friend Jimmy Horvath, one of the fabulous dressers for The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Jim is an Emmy Award-winning choreographer and director, a former Broadway dancer, a writer and an AMAZING 3rd Level Reiki Master and Massage Therapist. When I was dancing at RadioCity, not only did I hang out and have many MANY laughs with …