However, please note that the film will still screen and several of the other directors of Futurestates short films will be present. For more information, visit the SXSW website.
]]>Two of my favorite people, "Robot Stories" and "Mister Green" producer Karin Chien and "Robot Stories" star Tamlyn Tomita, will be part of a workshop entitled "Up Close and Personal with the Asian American Film Industry" at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Karin and Tamlyn are both incredibly sharp, funny, and totally committed to great independent filmmaking. Sounds like a great program -- highly recommended! Here's more from the SFIAAFF:
Karin Chien, producer of THE EXPLODING GIRL and SANTA MESA, received the Piaget Producers Award at this year's Film Independent Spirit Award!! Here's your chance to come hear her advice on how you could become an award-winning producer/ director of your own! Check out our workshop at SFIAFF this Saturday 1-3pm Get your tickets now, more info below.]]> This workshop presents a rare opportunity to interface directly with leading Asian American filmmakers and industry professionals. Led by producer Karin Chien (THE MOTEL, UNDOING, ROBOT STORIES) and featuring acclaimed editor and documentary filmmaker Ruby Yang (BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT), and celebrated actress Tamlyn Tomita (THE JOY LUCK CLUB) this intimate session will create an interactive mentoring environment where the focus will be on guiding participants through individual and project specific challenges. Mentors will reveal how they started out in the business and talk honestly about the daily realities of working in the industry. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions about their own projects, whether they are related to financing, distribution, production, or even problems in the edit. Both narrative and documentary projects will be discussed. Filmmakers, professionals of all levels and the general public are welcome to attend and participate in this insider’s view of how independent films are made. This workshop is part of a new mentoring initiative designed to grow the Asian American industry from within and is funded in part by the Academy Foundation. Filmmakers interested in having their projects workshopped and discussed at this session should send:Up Close And Personal with the Asian American Film Industry
Special Live Events (90 mins)
SAT 03/13 1:00pm,
VIZ Cinema, $8
1. One-sentence bi of themselves
2. One-paragraph description of their project
3. Up to three questions related to their project
4. Email and phone contact information
to: mentorworkshop@asianamericanmedia.org.
http://filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org/tixSYS/2010/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=1112
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On Wednesday, March 17, the Jim Hanley's Universe graphic novel discussion group "Speak On It" event will focus on "Planet Hulk" -- and "Planet Hulk" writer Greg Pak will attend in person!
The event runs from 7 to 9 pm and takes place at Jim Hanley's Universe, 4 W. 33rd St. in New York City.
Click on the image on the right for a JHU coupon worth 20 percent off of "Planet Hulk."
]]>"Mister Green" is now screening online at Futurestates.tv and will have its film festival debut next week at South By Southwest and the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.
]]>"Mister Green," a short film directed by Greg Pak, produced by Karin Chien, and starring Tim Kang and Betty Gilpin, debuts online today at Futurestates.tv along with ten other science fiction stories in the ITVS Futurestates initiative.
You can view the film above or visit www.futurestates.tv to stream the larger version -- and to post your comments about the film and view the behind-the-scenes documentary by Eitan Abramowitz.
For more about "Mister Green," visit the blog and follow the film at twitter.com/mistergreenfilm
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War Rocket Ajax, aka The Greatest Comic Book and Pop Culture Podcast in the World, features "Incredible Hercules" co-writers Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente!
Click here to listen to Pak and Van Lente talk and talk and talk with Sims and Euge!
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A FilmHelp interview by Greg Pak
As we draw nearer to the premiere of my latest short film "Mister Green" at South By Southwest and the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, I'll be interviewing a few of the key players for FilmHelp.com. First on the spot is the brilliant Betty Gilpin, who plays Dr. Gloria Holtzer, a scientist with special plans for a jaded government undersecretary for global warming (Tim Kang). Betty was born and raised in New York City and graduated with a theatre degree from Fordham College at Lincoln Center in 2008.
Greg Pak: You came into the audition and just nailed every little nuance in the script. Tell us a bit about the audition process. How did you prepare? And what makes for a good audition process from your point of view?
Betty Gilpin: I had never auditioned for a short before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I guess something as simple as just knowing the lines really well helps me. An acting teacher of mine taught me a trick -- when you're memorizing lines to be careful to recite them monotonously, so you're not married to a specific way to play the line. Then you won't feel thrown if the director wants to change it up, and the lines will feel more natural. A bad habit of mine is to over-plan what I'm going to do in a scene, so that trick helps me. Is that what you mean by good audition process? Or do you mean the actual audition? A good audition to me is when everyone in the room -- actor, director, casting director, etc. -- are all in a good mood and an open, creative place. That's when everyone does their best work.
]]> GP: How would you describe your character, Gloria Holtzer? What was the most fun part of playing her? The most challenging?BG: I was very excited to play Gloria -- she's someone who is obviously incredibly passionate in a world where apathy is the norm. She's fearless and ready to take on the suits, which I think is everyone's fantasy a little bit. Even suits. And I love that she's a bit of a nerd. A plant nerd. The most fun was playing (or trying to play) her sincerity and open-heartedness. The most challenging... well, I thought the most challenging would be looking like a person named Gloria Soto-Flores. Luckily you did a little name change there.
Betty Gilpin stays cool on the set of "Mister Green." Photo by Michelle Marrion. |
GP: I have my ways.
Looking at your credits, I'm guessing you've been involved with theater productions with tons of rehearsal and television projects with very little. Of course, due to our crazy schedule, we had almost no rehearsal time for "Mister Green." What kind of adjustments do you have to do as an actor under those kinds of circumstances?
BG: The little amount of TV and film I've done has had no rehearsal whatsoever... so this was actually pretty normal. It was definitely a shock when I started working -- I was used to doing plays where you'd spend months rehearsing. Film and TV -- it's sort of here's the script, memorize it, aaand GO. You just kind of have to accept that in that moment, you don't really have time to be nervous or mess up. You've got an entire crew who are doing their specific jobs, so you have to do yours. You begin to feel like a flesh puppet sometimes. :) But it's all worth it!
GP: One of my tricks is to treat the auditions like rehearsals and actually work on the scenes with the actors rather than just have them read and go.
What's the best advice you've ever been given regarding pursing a career in acting?
BG: "Actors have three curses- death, taxes, and five years in LA." I also like my dad's advice- "no one can be you better." Awwwww.
GP: What's the one thing you wish every director knew about actors?
BG: But Greg, you know all. Hm. I guess that we do our best work when we feel collaborated with and comfortable...and when we wait less than twenty minutes for an audition. And when there's snacks. What a terrible answer.
GP: Dude, snacks are key.
Dream role?
BG: It's weird but ever since I was little I wanted to play a female Nicely Nicely in "Guys and Dolls." I mean, a tailored purple tux and you get to sing "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat"?? Oh, I would also magically have a gospel singer's voice. Also that boring old Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet." I think there's a thousand ways to play her and it would be fun to find out which worked for me. I'm thinking helium addict.
GP: Besides "Mister Green," where can folks see you next?
BG: Wow, I have nothing to plug here really. Every blue moon you can see me playing drug addicts or lesbians on TV... I have yet to do something my father can watch comfortably. Oh, except "Mister Green"! Thank god.
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