I’m Victor Greywolf: writer, low budget filmmaker and actor. One thing that I have noticed, especially with artists who have struggled with their works, is there are many myths about making it. Here’s how I’ve learned to cope with the situations, as I lived through them: Myth: If you are older than 40 and haven’t made it, you will never reach your goal Fact: This is a self-imposed limitation. You believe that filmmakers are only looking for the young (pre-teen to 25) crowd, and because you are in your 40’s, it is the end. That is nothing but a bunch of crap, and that is being polite. A lot of filmmakers cannot fill their demand for adults, especially in the older roles. Older roles are out there, and they are looking for you. You just have to know where to look. Look for roles in independent films or theater or even videos. People get things done when they get things done. You don’t know if the story is even true, depending on the source. What do you do? Learn how to question those stories. You are on your own journey. You are doing what you do. Eddie Murphy made it at 19, but Rodney Dangerfield didn’t make it until he was almost fifty. Fifty! You aren’t in competition with anyone. You will make it when you make it. Enjoy the ride and go with the flow. Myth: People say that I am a legend in my own mind, so I am not worth following. Fact: There will always be those who get you and those who won’t. Don’t let the fact that detractors are out there get you down. Sometimes, they are your biggest publicists, because they’re talking about you, right? People talk. Let...
Victor Greywolf ~ Advice for Actors...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
I’ve noticed that a lot of people often feel very frustrated with acting. It is frustrating, I have to agree, but there are things you can try that will hopefully ease the tension and at least make the circumstances more pleasant. I’ve outlined some alternative ways to practice your art and become a better actor. Produce Your Own Films Look at acting or voice-over art as an outlet or venture, because that is what it is. Try honing your craft by making home movies or videos on a webcam. At least this way, you can produce films that highlight your talent and enjoy creating them. When your films are good enough, submit them to film festivals or lesser known venues. Instead of shooting in the big cities, try smaller cities. A lot of times, there isn’t as much red tape and they are more willing to work with you. Remember, smaller venues will be easier to work with than larger ones. You’d be surprised at how many movies are made in small areas. I am currently working on an audio book for filmmakers on a budget, and I’m already halfway through it. Participate in Community or Student Films Work as a production assistant for unknown filmmakers and directors. You never know when they’ll need additional actors. This could be your chance to get into movies. Be an extra; you may be seen in the final cut. Here are some other reasons these projects could be your big break: Someone is going to get a shot at fame and leave the production. Someone will have a falling out with the director for whatever reason and leave the production. Someone will decide that acting isn’t for them and leave to pursue something else, which gives you,...
Victor Greywolf ~ Have Fun Filmmaking...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
My name is Victor Greywolf. I am a writer, low budget filmmaker and actor. I’ve produced a hit one man show that won awards in three festivals and premiered in two. I also produced a biography documentary and two more stand up shows. A lot of people get inspired by watching movies on television or the internet, but some of us decide to actually give it a shot. Sometimes, watching a movie inspires you to pursue a dream of sorts, and that is what makes us who we are, as people. I was inspired by a lot of movies and television shows, and that is what got me to start making my own. A lot of people will tell you that you can’t make a movie on your own because you don’t have a known name or you are not famous or you don’t have millions of dollars or you don’t have the right political connections. For those of us who have done it, we know those excuses are nothing but a bunch of bull crap, and that’s being polite to the naysayers. Thanks to technological advancements, books and the internet, it is easier than ever to make a low budget movie. All you really need is a script, along with actors who are willing to work, for either free or low money. Most importantly, go out and just do the job! When your film is finished, research places to submit it. Try submitting to film festivals, since they are the latest craze. Film festivals give those in the movie business a chance to see your film. Also, look into film contests. I know a lot of artists are very frustrated. Being out there is hard, especially with the fact that unless you know...
Rodney McCullum ~ Musiik Jones...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
I met Rodney McCullum (many know him as Musiik Jones) in a Google+ community for independent filmmakers. I watched a few of his video blogs and I fell in love his openness and the way he shares his research and knowledge with his fellow filmmakers. Rodney McCullum is a member of the US Army, recently promoted and prepping for Ranger school. When I asked Rodney how his filmmaking career fit in with his Army career, he smiled and told me: “It’s the other way around. Actually, I’m having the military help me out with my goal to better my career as an actor. I’m not one with a wealth of money hiding in my cellar. I’m saving money and trying to build a maturity for owning my own business. The military is the best thing for me to get that background and training.” Rodney founded a production company called Inliight Productions. “I started Inliight Productions one night around 3 am. I had an epiphany: businesses have to have a beginning. Businesses start with an idea, and I had to act on that idea. Steve Jobs started in his garage. He had to actually make that move to start a new business. That’s my motivation for starting this company.” While finishing his last year in the military, Rodney started working on the script for a short film. He is taking this time to rewrite and perfect the script. After the military, Rodney plans to move to Los Angeles, where he’ll have access to better equipment and actors and writers. The film is titled Identity Stars. “In the African American community, there’s a way that we’re expected to act within our own culture, and it damages the way we see ourselves and the way other people...
Scott McMahon ~ Film Trooper...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Featured filmmaker and actor Scott McMahon and I met on a Google+ filmmaker community. We’d happily exchanged comments and shared posts for several months. Then one day, Scott shared a post about filming in the extreme cold conditions on Mt Hood and I realized that Scott lives in Portland, Oregon, same as me. It’s always fun to take a social media relationship into real life. We have a lot in common; we’re both trying to help artists become better business people. I appeared on his FilmTrooper.com podcast series: http://filmtrooper.com/026-cynthia-kahn-amused-now-dot-com/ Now, he’s a featured artist on Amused Now. Before moving to Portland, Scott McMahon lived in Los Angeles. He went to film school, made several films, and was hired by Sony PlayStation to make cinematic movies for their platform. After he left Sony PlayStation, Scott tried to produce an independent comedy, but the economy had tanked. Fortunately, Scott discovered “there could be a way to make films anywhere and sell them online using online business and marketing techniques.” For the past few years, Scott’s been trying to figure out how to do just that. Unfortunately, after working at Sony PlayStation, Scott had a big budget mindset. He’d write a scene and realize, “This is too expensive. I just wrote a scene that’s going to cost a half million dollars. It was a big challenge creatively to try and go smaller.” Scott McMahon recently released a feature film called The Cube. He created the film on a $500 budget without a professional crew. The Cube is a spiritual story about a couple who finds a red cube on their doorstep and throws it away. The idea came on the night of his wife’s birthday. Scott decided to forget about all the stress at work and just...
Alyssa Jacobsen ~ Rising Star
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Alyssa Jacobsen is a rising star. When she smiled at me during our interview, I couldn’t help but smile too. Alyssa plays the cheerleader in the recently released movie Rise of the Fellowship, which also stars Justin Moe, Jayme Bell, Cole Matson and Emma Earnest. Rise of the Fellowship tells the tale of a team of gaming geeks who go on a quest to win the Lord of the Rings gaming championship in Orlando, Florida. Alyssa describes it as “a zero to hero movie.” I watched the sneak preview and I think the movie is adorable. Alyssa always had a passion for acting. She grew up in Northern Virginia, where started acting in high school and continued acting throughout college. While in college, Alyssa attended an intensive summer program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She describes her time at the academy as “one of my favorite parts of my acting career. I learned so much. It was an amazing experience. I got to spend time with people from all over the world.” Plus, it was the first time Alyssa flew on a plane by herself. “That was pretty cool too.” Alyssa auditioned for Rise of the Fellowship before she moved to Los Angeles. Then she found out she got the part of cheerleader, so she had to fly back for filming. After filming, Alyssa returned to Los Angeles and has been acting there ever since. Alyssa credits her drama teacher in high school with inspiring her and pushing her in the right direction. “He told me to go for it. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if I would have taking acting as seriously. I had great teachers in college as well.” When Alyssa performed in plays, she met other young actors who also encouraged and supported her. When I asked Alyssa what her perfect acting role would be, she smiled broadly and responded with “anything Rachel McAdams would do. I love anything that she does! Any romantic comedy, probably something cutsie and girly.” Alyssa uses social media to connect with fans and promote her work. “I use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and I do have a website. It’s just AlyssaJacobsen.com.” She tries to update her websites as often as possible. She mostly uses Facebook to post pictures, articles and events “to brag about.” What’s up next for Alyssa Jacobsen? She’s going to begin filming a short film. She consistently auditions for new roles, and she looks forward to receiving positive responses. For other young actors just starting out, Alyssa recommends, “Keep learning. Take classes. You meet a lot of people who teach you things along the way. There’s always something to learn in the industry. It always changes. Keep training, practicing and auditioning.” Keep pursuing your dream, Alyssa. I’m glad that I could help. Watch the YouTube video interview: http://youtu.be/LLHyVCaK5lc Rise of the Fellowship trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y4kZdTbasg Amused Now Featured Artist Series Alyssa Jacobsen AlyssaJacobsen.com @AlyssaJacobsen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyssa.jacobsen1 Cynthia Kahn, Founder of Amused Now @Amused_Now Facebook Google+ YouTube...
Charlene Amoia ~ All About Wendy
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Charlene Amoia is best know for her role as Wendy the Waitress on the hit TV series How I Met Your Mother. Fortunately for Amused Now, Charlene graciously agreed to a written interview, to reminisce with us about the show and to talk about what’s next in her rising career. We’re excited to share that interview with you! Cynthia: You’ve been cast in the upcoming Marc Morgenstern thriller Vitals with Christopher Showerman. The plot sounds quite creepy. Your husband wakes up in a hotel room missing a kidney and you are in line to be next. Frightening! Tell us more about the plot. When do you start filming and does the film have an expected release date? Charlene: It’s a terrifically-written, completely frightening and very original genre film and I’m very excited to be part of it! We’ll be filming throughout December. Can’t say too much about plot yet, but if you like thrillers, you won’t want to miss this one! Cynthia: You’re best known for your role as Wendy the Waitress in the hit comedy series How I Met Your Mother. That show must be a blast to work on! When you started playing the role of a waitress, did you think “this could be my big break?” Tell us about working on that series and how your role changed as it grew in popularity. Charlene: Oh, you never think “this will be my big break.” Originally, it was only supposed to be a one-off , but I was just lucky enough to be upped to a recurring player. We got to see quite a bit of Wendy over the years. It was such a special show to work on too, just a very collaborative and supportive environment. I love it that I’m still recognized as Wendy the Waitress. Cynthia: How long have you been acting? Where did you get your start? Give a little about your back story. Charlene: I grew up in Buffalo, New York, but my family left there when I was 15 to move to Las Vegas. I did some modelling and that ultimately lead to acting. I got my start doing commercials and independent films before landing guest spots on various TV shows. Cynthia: You’ve starred in several feature films and television series. Given all of your accomplishments, tell us about your most memorable filmmaking experience. Charlene: “Glee” was probably my most memorable filming experience. The episode I shot casted a group of kids that came over right from the hospital. They were cancer patients and the show was doing an episode around them. It was probably the most special and amazing experience working with those kids that day. Cynthia: I watched your short film She. I absolutely love it! So touching and real. You acted in the lead role and helped produce the film. How did you get involved with the project? Where did you find the darling rescue dog Bunny? The film has no dialog, which makes it quite interesting. Did you sing the vocals? If not, who did? I could not find who sang the soundtrack in the credits. Charlene: Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. My partner, Nick, directed the film – which is how I came to be in it – and Bunny didn’t have to audition for her part either, since she’s my dog. I’m really proud of “She,” and I’m really happy that people are discovering it online. The vocals are sung by a lovely artist named Jolie Holland. Cynthia: We started the Amused Now blog as a place for artists to help other artists by sharing information and supporting each other. We’re also building a platform where independent artists can post their music, films and e-books for sale and profit from their creativity. Since Amused Now is about artists helping artists, what advice do you have for actors and filmmakers who are just starting out? Charlene: Just believe in yourself, but don’t take things too seriously – just...
Jim Piddock ~ Family Tree...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Jim Piddock is executive producer, writer and star of HBO’s hit comedy series “Family Tree.” The first season is available on DVD and digital starting October 29. To celebrate, Jim agreed to a written interview with Amused Now about his stage work, films and television series projects. We’re thrilled to share that interview with you. Cynthia : You created the show with Christopher Guest. When did the two of you decide to work together and create the show? What was your inspiration for the series? Jim: We had lunch a couple of years ago and, because Christopher was doing some delving into his own family tree at the time, we talked about the idea of writing something about a young, rootless, somewhat impressionable man trying to find his bearings through investigating his genealogy. The inspiration was simply that we could see the comic possibilities of the subject matter and that it also contained the more universal and serious themes of questioning who we are, where we fit in the world, and what our place in the chain of history is. All fundamental questions that every human being thinks about at some point or other. Cynthia: You began your career as a stage actor. Tell us about that experience. Jim: I started in regional theatre in England, then did a 1-man show in the U.S. that got some attention and awards. Soon after that, George C. Scott cast me in a production of “Present Laughter” that he was directing and starring in, and I went on from there to do several other Broadway shows, including the first US production of “Noises Off.” Cynthia: You continue to act on Broadway and in LA. What is it about a live audience that keeps calling you? Jim: Actually, I’ve only returned to the stage twice in the...
Aaron Thomas ~ Dumar The Movie
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Aaron Thomas and I connected on Twitter. After I watched previews of his upcoming 2-part thriller feature film Dumar, I just had to interview him for the Amused Now Featured Artist Series. Dumar is the story of a hedge fund manager who was framed for fraud by his employer. Aaron wrote the film script. Originally a horror film that “just didn’t work,” he updated the script to focus on finance. Dumar Volume 2 releases in December, which starts at midpoint in Dumar’s story. Aaron decided to release the second half first, because he “wanted to do something different. I wanted the audience to be quite confused when they started watching it. Since it’s such a massive story that I want to tell, because it’s character driven, it felt more organic to start midway through.” Aaron Thomas’ Fruit District Group has several films and collaborate projects in progress. When I asked Aaron about his selection criteria for choosing projects, Aaron explained that he looks for character-driven stories. It’s essential that he finds “characters who have a lot to tell, characters who are in some way victims.” One of Aaron’s upcoming movies in pre-production is This Paper World, adapted from a book by the highly acclaimed author Jeff Lane. The story is about an 18-year-old college student named Jim Hunt who confronts his destiny. They recently launched an app to build buzz for the movie. Aaron Thomas explained that the app started as a trailer for the film. Aaron felt that he could get more from the trailer, so he partnered with a tech company to create the app. Jeff Lane is an online, new age author, with podcasts, novels, novellas and short stories. “Jeff’s had over 400,000 audio downloads, so it just made sense to continue his journey with his online brand and build his online audience.” Aaron takes advantage of the web and social media to promote his projects. He has a website for The Fruit District Group, a website for Dumar and multiple Twitter accounts. “The foundation of Dumar has been built online in terms of cast, in terms of location and just generally meeting people.” A lot of their soundtrack came from SoundCloud. “We want to continue this trend. That way, our fan base is able to see what we’re doing.” Even though Dumar will have limited release in the UK, most of the film’s audience will be online, because they have built an international audience. Aaron has an interesting approach to funding his projects. “At first, getting funding was a horrendous riot. It changed for me when I decided to fund my own film. I worked really hard. I did anything from cleaning warehouses to office jobs.” Aaron knew that he wanted to work with certain companies, so he reached out to them and made product placement deals, where he agreed to show their products in the film. Many companies want to associate themselves with the independent film business and it’s a growing market, “so it made sense to reach out to people on the same page as ourselves, it made sense to use brands that coincide with the project.” “Most of all, it’s just believing in the project itself, believing in the cast and the crew. Know that even at times when we were not able to have the budget that we want, we’ve got to work with what we’ve got. Stay focused. Have faith. Have faith in what you’re doing; have faith in your team. Work hard.” Aaron does plan to charge for viewing the film to recoup his investment. Production of Dumar Volume 1 depends on the success of Dumar Volume 2. The companies that Aaron has placement deals with will help with film promotion. This is organic growth in “an industry that says you’re nobody, even though you know that you’re somebody. It’s difficult, because people tend to listen to the industry a lot, but...
Ruby Modine ~ Dream Big
posted by Cynthia Kahn
If I had to choose one word to describe Ruby Modine that word would be adorable. She’s animated, energetic and passionate about art. During our interview, we discovered that our creative processes often start with painting. I’d love to spend the day painting with her! Ruby Modine recently released two songs, Tell Me a Story and Radio, with demos available on SoundCloud. Ruby’s sound is very original. She credits her influences to Amy Winehouse, Joan Jett and Taylor Momsen from the group The Pretty Reckless. She has yet to record a song in her genre, which is hard rock and metal. Her next song with her newly formed band Your Wyldest Dream will be much harder and louder, so she’s really excited. Ruby’s musical career began with story writing in elementary school. She’s visual, so her process starts with writing what she visualizes down on paper. Ruby also paints and draws what she sees in her mind. She writes stories too. All her creative outlets combine into inspirations for her songs. “It’s a long process, but I really do like it, because it really makes me think, it really makes me get all of the emotions that I’m thinking about out on paper.” Acting is Ruby’s first passion and it’s exciting to see her acting career really taking off. She’s currently working on four projects: Memoria, Violence and Women, Julia and a film in pre-production called The Bagman. She begins filming Memoria in October. The film is based on James Franco’s book Palo Alto and will be directed by Nina Ljeti. This will be her second film by James Franco. It’s a cool coming-of-age story about teenagers roaming around California, skateboarding, partying and falling in love. Ruby describes Violence and Women as incredible. It’s a dark comedy feature film directed by Chad Ostrom that begins shooting in New York in March 2014. It’s grim, gory and amazing. I’m intrigued. The Bagman is an animated film Directed by Christopher Stoudt. They’ve created a Ruby cartoon character, which is “really, really rad.” Julia is a short film directed by her father, Matthew Modine, another Amused Now featured artist, and Leon Vitale. When I asked Ruby what it’s like to work for a parent, she told me, “Honestly, it’s amazing!” She describes it like this, “you have a relationship with your parents, but when you break that boundary and go into work mode, that’s no longer present. You’re listening more for the advice that they’re giving you. My father has always been a very big mentor for me.” They advise each other and have cultivated a fabulous give-and-take working relationship. Although Ruby has a social media presence, she says that “I’m not really into social networking,” mainly because she had some prior bad experiences with Facebook. She has a lot of fun on Twitter as @rubymodine, meeting new people (like me) and promoting music and bands that she loves. Ruby has a website that she keeps up-to-date. Plus, she recently opened an Instagram account, launched between our video interview and posting of this article. Ruby is also in the process of creating a new Facebook page and giving that another try. Ruby enjoys talking to everybody. “A lot of people say you’re supposed to use social networking to talk to specific people, but I think you should talk to everybody. That’s why I like promoting myself.” Ruby’s advice to young artists: hard work. “There are days that you cry because the dream that you want is taking so long, but it really does come from hard work. You have to wake up every day and have a new goal. Seriously, you get what you put in. My advice is to have a dream and work towards it and never give up. Stay as positive as you can.” It’s been fabulous getting to know you Ruby. To watch the complete video interview on the Amused Now YouTube...
Tara Dublin Rocks
posted by Cynthia Kahn
The social media world is a wild and crazy place. I wrote a blog post about Matthew Modine and met Tara Dublin, actress and radio personality, here in my home town of Portland, Oregon. Tara stars in the hit web series The ScreenPrinters, available on YouTube and Funny or Die. The series has over 1000 subscribers, 7000 viewers and 29 episodes to date. Everyone is so excited about how well the show has been received, considering it only went live about 3 months ago. The team shot 6 more episodes and has one more scheduled shoot date. Then, the series’ future is uncertain, but Tara hopes to do more. Tara became involved with the project when Mercedes Rose, the series’ producer, was looking for just the right person to play the shop owner. Mercedes wanted the shop owner to be a woman who’s sarcastic and funny, so she asked Tara to audition. Tara got together with the other cast members (Brian Sutherland, Katie Michels and Hannah Barefoot) and “it was magical.” The team markets the series through social media, mainly Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Tumblr, because the show is on the web. Support from stars like Matthew Modine and fan word-of-mouth play a big part. However, as Tara explains, “if anyone from Entertainment Tonight wants to come and film us while we’re shooting the show, I wouldn’t say no.” Matthew Modine gave the team permission to use the show to market a tee with his face on it, and a portion of the proceeds benefit Oregon Children’s Theater. We, at Amused Now, think it’s so cool that The ScreenPrinters is helping young artists! Ryan Cole, from Cole, Inc., pulled Mathew Modine’s avatar off Twitter and created the shirt. Tara was a little nervous that he would say “No,” but he...
Matthew Modine ~ Actor, Filmmaker, Commie?...
posted by Cynthia Kahn
Everyone who knows me has heard me say, “Twitter has changed my life.” Well, my life expanded again this week. I cannot tell you how exciting it’s been since @Amused_Now met @MatthewModine. We discovered that both of us are working to create opportunities, so everyone can make a living pursuing what they love. Amused Now works through its blog and upcoming e-commerce site; Matthew Modine works through his short films, available now as a collection on iTunes. Matthew graciously agreed to a written interview with Amused Now about his films. We’re thrilled to share that interview with you: Cynthia: Matthew, you’ve starred in so many motion pictures, what prompted you into making your own short films? Matthew: Actors are storytellers. We do our best to embody the characters we play, bring them to life and tell their stories. For some actors, there comes a time when playing a role isn’t completely satisfying and they want to become orchestrators of the stories they tell. There are great examples of actors who have worked in front and behind the camera, from Charlie Chaplin to Woody Allen to Clint Eastwood to Ron Howard. Making short films is an exercise I do to try and master cinematic storytelling. Cynthia: How long have you been interested in filmmaking? Matthew: More than twenty years. I have also directed theatrical productions. Cynthia: Who are your influencers? Matthew: I’ve learned from all of the directors I have worked with. I’ve learned valuable lessons not only from the best of them, but also the least. It’s important to learn why something doesn’t work as much as why something works effectively. Every director wants to create something amazing and memorable. Something lasting. It’s rare when they do. And that is why we celebrate great...