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Emerging Brazilian Filmmaker Paulo Blassioli was in town for 3 months, studying at UCLA, New York Film Academy and at Steinlein Productions and shooting spec spots for his reel. He recently worked with Roman during a film production class to shoot ‘Passion’, a spec for PS3’s 2009 FIFA Videogame.
Steinlein Productions executive produced and the spot was shot for $50 in only 5 hours, edited overnight and the result – I think – is pretty cool. Way to go Paulo, show it off! You may recognize two shootwithroman.com clients, Mason Brenner and Michael Herrera!
After I had the privilege to interview acting coach Fran Montano, the artistic director of NOHO’s Actors Workout Studio, Fran asked me to take some headshots of him for an upcoming theatre production he will perform in New York. So, I headed out to Fran’s house and we talked casually while shooting and I think the results are cool. Fran is a youthful spirit and a man of great wisdom and I really enjoyed his trust and his willingness to be authentic in front of the camera. Thanks, Fran.
Watch Fran’s interview below…
For more info on Fran Montano and the Actors Workout Studio, check out www.actorsworkout.com or call Fran to audit a class!
Agent & Bicoastal Agency Owner, Greta Hanley, talks about the importance of great headshots, the necessity of an authentic relationship between agent & client and much more in this fun interview I was able to do with her yesterday.
Greta is not only a great friend, but someone who truly respects the craft of acting as well as her [carefully selected] clients.
She believes in quality vs. quantity, focus vs. laziness and in confidence vs. cockiness!
Here’s what Greta shared with me:
I had the rare privilege to shoot Pro Surfer Twins in downtown L.A.!
What a blast we had. Fraternal twins Brett & Cole Robbins are as cool as they come. These guys are 17 and they’re up to big things. Brett recently ranked #8 in the ASP Longboard Division, highlights and achievements also include 2007 ASP US Open Quarterfinals, 2007 ASP East Coast Surfing Championships Quarterfinals, 2006-07 WSA 17 & Under West Coast Champion. In addition you’ll be able to see Brett on the front cover of Longboard Magazine issue 98.
Brett’s brother Cole ranked #2 in the US ASP Longboard Division, highlights and achievements also include 2007 ASP US Open 3rd place Longboard, 2007 ASP East Coast surfing championships semi-finals, 2006-07 NSSA H.S. Longboard Champion, 2006-07 NSSA Gold Coast Division Longboard Champion and currently ranked #1 in the Southwest Open Longboard 2008 Season.
Not only are Brett and Cole Robbins great surfers, they also posses 4.75 GPA in school (even with honors courses)! Both are involved in the community with participation in the MSA Classic (Malibu Surfing Assoc.) – Fundraiser to benefit the Surferider Foundation and Heal The Bay. In addition both brothers are camp counselors and surf coaches at A-Frame Surf Shop Summer Surf Camp in Santa Barbra.
With all that’s noted above these brothers are destined for greatness and not only that but they both are great role models for the next generation of surfers to come. You will see these two all over the Longboard events this year tearing up the competition! Congratulations to Brett and Cole Robbins!
Acting and Modeling is next and I am proud to say that I shot the boys’ first headshots and where they go from here is in the stars! Thanks for being without water and school for a day, guys!
Visit Brett & Cole Robbins’ sponsor Ocen Current at www.oceancurrent.com
As if being directed to kiss a girl 12 years older than him while in sixth grade wasn’t enough, child actor Michael Jolly returned to shoot with director Roman Wyden. This time for his new headshots.
“And man, did we have a blast! Not only did we get some great shots, but we ran into a mutual role model… Sponge Bob. Naturally, we had to take a shot of Mikey and Bob. Now, you think that part was fun… well, Mikey’s mother Nectar happened to plan to surprise Mikey by giving him his first cell phone that day. Right in front of me. So, if you’re wondering why it was easy to get a great smile out of Mikey, there’s your answer. I always say, it’s either a great connection between myself and the client… or it’s a cool gift they get right before we shoot. Thanks, Nectar.
Mikey, you rock! It was fun working with you and I know there are some really cool roles around the corner for you. Keep it up.”
Check out Mikey’s killer performance in ‘Asparagus’ on www.asparagusmovie.com
Acting Coach Bjorn Johnson sat down with me recently and let me get into his creative mind so I could find out what he thinks on Acting. Bjorn is not only a working actor, but also an acting coach who teaches in his studio and does private coaching. You might recognize him from a national commercial or a play around town… the man is busy, but he took 20 minutes out of his day to chat with me. Check out what Bjorn had to say:
Bjorn, thanks a bunch for doing the interview with me. We need more creative geniuses like yourself who are open to share their experiences and their wisdom with the stars of tomorrow!
For more info on Bjorn Johnson and his studio, check out www.bjornjohnson.net
This is a message from the ‘Dignity Protection Agency’ (DPA) to all actors and actresses:
RUN if you ever get approached to audition for this Director:
Jack Heart, originally from Lancaster, CA is a no-good filmmaker of the sleaziest kind. He will promise you the lead role in his latest movie, if you audition for him… for money! That’s right. Jack Heart charges actors money to audition. As we all know from our mother SAG, that is illegal. And not only that, he also has a way of manipulating actors to do more than just audition… and that’s just straight-up wrong.
So, if you have any information on the whereabouts of Jack Heart and his latest scams, please contact us directly at hollywoodfraud@dpa.gov
Just remember what Martha Graham wrote to Agnes De Mille:
“There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique and if you block it, it will never exist thorugh any medium and will be lost… the world will not have it.
It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable, nor how it compares with other expressions… it is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open!”
- Martha Graham in a letter to Agnes De Mille
More than just an Actor!
Actor/Writer Mike boss launches the development phase for his boxing screenplay ‘Mr. TNT’. Armed with an award-winning screenplay, a businessplan, multiple letters-of-interest and an escrow account, this unstoppable renaissance man punches through…
More info on the project at www.mistertntmovie.com
During a warm summer evening, I found myself sitting in a theatre in the NOHO arts district. I was there for a scene night during which Meisner trained actors captivated the audience with their so-called ‘real’ acting.
But it wasn’t until about the forth or fifth scene that I got really sucked in. In this scene two siblings were discussing their childhood and the way their parents’ upbringing had affected their lives. Which one of the parents was to be blamed for their children’s weaknesses? Was it the mother who was the lover or the father who was the fighter? As my mind literally sat back, an inner philosophical play unfolded right in front of my third eye. On an invisible stage, my mind in the likes of a public speaker, started this beautiful dialogue, while in the meantime the scene was still going on in the background.
An acting scene had suddenly turned into a revelation. A revelation that was to change the way I looked at the world. As my mind’s public speaker started his talk, my mind got really quiet and all sounds inside the theatre faded out. All movement became still. I had a strong sense of wanting more and more. I’d like to share some thoughts that raced through my mind at light speed in that moment:
Could it be that women are the better choice as the leaders of our world? Wouldn’t they be too weak? Too sensitive? Too idealistic? Too emotional? Too nice?
No!
Not if we want a world of peace. A place of emotionally beautiful sensitivity. A world in which ‘weakness’ is celebrated as an opportunity for growth.
I was sold. It all sounded great. Beautiful and peaceful. Yet there was one major question still floating in my mind:
Why did so many children raised by single mothers turn out ’sour’? Was it the missing father figure that needed to be there?
Yes and No.
Yes, children need fathers, since fathers will prepare their children for the ‘harsh reality’ of our male-dominated world; a world driven by ego, power and survival. A world that constantly invites fear into our thoughts; creating a little voice inside our heads that’s dominated by male energy.
The mothers on the other hand are the teachers of sensitivity and love. A feeling based world.
When a child raised only by a mother goes out into the male-dominated world, it doesn’t take long until the child becomes frustrated, constantly having to face man and his harsh idea of success…
In hinsight, I get that the dialogue I was hearing had to do with male vs. female energy. Both men and women consist of both male and female energy. It is the ratio which makes a human being ‘female’ or ‘male’. And my believe has become such that I feel strongly that our planets female energy level has to be raised, one person at a time. That is of course only if we truly want peace. We say we do, but we still feed and buy into the male energy dominated world of advertising. But hey, maybe one day we will be forced to listen to the great women amongst us. The queens of the world. A world that thrives on love, compassion, acceptance and most of all forgiveness!
I’m in. Are you?
by Roman Wyden
Photo: Roman Wyden – Models: Michael F. & Robin C.
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