Produce (Short) Movies

A Message from Leslie

creatives, friends, filmmakers, and those that aspire to be any of these things…

But my focus has shifted a bit.

Specifically, this goes who those who want to have fun with this medium of filmmaking, especially those who are beginners. The moving image is such a fantastic way to capture material that ranges from your kid’s first steps to a local political debate to the short sketch comedy short that you just wrote.

This was the original “front page” of this blog. I changed it because it was mostly about me, but I figured I would post it here in case you wanted to read it.

Additionally. I do still hope that actors use this information. I think it would be MOST useful to them, because it relates to their career and is one of the easiest ways of grabbing the reigns of one’s career.

You dream of being more active in practice your craft, whether in a very casual manner (for youtube, vlogging or social networking sites) or as your chosen career as a professional actor in feature films and television.

Or maybe you already have a great career but you want more creative control.

Ask yourself this: Are your activities actually contributing your film career?

Some might say that the best way to be a professional actor is to start by doing what everyone else is doing. Mailing headshots and postcards to casting directors. Going to casting director workshops. Driving all over town going to get to each and every audition. Doing extra work.

I disagree with doing what everyone else is doing. If everyone else were succeeding, then that would be the way to go, but why follow people that do this for YEARS and get no where?

And it’s not even fun or empowering. How much fun is it to drive 30 miles to an audition and GET THE ROLL in the movie, only to find out that the roll that you got was for Waiter #3, who has the one and only line, “Would you like the check?”

All that energy, time and money you put forth for what? That?

Seriously!

The best way to put you out there is to learn how to craft your own projects and material.

You need to learn to produce to put yourself out there in a way that will get you jobs in the future and make you appealing to entertainment industry people that will help you. THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

This site has been built to help you do that.

My Story

My name is Leslie and I struggled with being an actor for many years. All I wanted to do was act. I wanted to get paid for it, AND it was also really important for me to express myself in a theatrical, fulfilling manner. I loved my craft and I wanted to do it all the time!

At that time, the only way I could see myself making my art is if SOMEONE ELSE cast me in a movie, commercial or play, and the only way I felt I was going to get into that movie, commercial or play was through auditioning.

This left me feeling really unempowered and not in control of my career.

And then, once I got into a movie, often it would be such a small roll or a lousy roll that it didn’t fulfill me creatively. That would be fine, if I were being paid, but most of these were low-budget indie movies. Nor did the roll I received highlight my abilities in a way that would get me more of the jobs that I wanted to do.

It was very frustrating and I was ready to quit.

“So what is the Solution to Achieving a Successful Acting Career?“

Just before I was ready to throw in the towel, I was encouraged by some of my friends to direct and produce a short film. THEY DARED ME TO DO IT! It was scary and I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew had great people around me to guide me and give me advice.

I ended up directing, producing and starring in my first project, and though that first project is no Citizen Kane, it turned out to be quite a success, both personal and professional.

It got my project and me to several film festivals. It upgraded me from actor to actor/director/producer. It taught me a lot about what goes on behind the camera, and that, in turn, taught me a lot about acting because I was able to observe what I needed from the other actors. This knowledge has also helped me serve future producers that hire me to act and produce because I remember what I needed and felt was important when was producing.

Another important discovery I made was that when it came to film, my true passion was for directing, not acting (though I still love to act, it’s just not my focus anymore.) I never would have known if I hadn’t tried it!

And most importantly, I got to do my craft. I got to do a meaty, fulfilling, meaningful, interesting lead roll in my own short film.

It was great!

And then I simply repeated the process of producing short movies over and over again until I got really good at it.

Because learning how to produce has had such a positive impact on my acting career (and now my directing career), I feel compelled to share what I learned on this site with other actors (and writers and directors and youtubers anyone else who wants to make short movies.)

I WANT TO EMPOWER ACTORS AND OTHER ARTISTS!

That is why I created this site.

For instance, pardon my language, but quite frankly, actors are the ones that get shit on the most in the entertainment industry. Not only do you have to look great all the time, but you have to put yourself out there twice as hard because the competition is so high (though it’s not nearly as high if YOU know how to make your own stuff and are willing to do it.)

I’m also going to let you in on a little secret. Actors (except for A and B listers) are considered disposable in this industry because everyone else in the industry feel that most actors handle their career like a hobby and not like a business. The general consensus is that if you DON’T build business connections with actors it’s ok because they’re never going to go anywhere legitimate with their career anyway.

Also, acting is so much about looks (young and beautiful looks). When an actor is attempting to break into the industry, there is a time limit to how long that actor has to figure out how to do it. After years of making mistakes and finally figuring things out, the actor is told that his shelf life is up.

Additionally, everyone else in the industry can get each other jobs, but actors really can’t get anyone jobs unless they are really hooked up with people who do the hiring (that’s producers, NOT casting directors) or knowledgeable about what goes on behind the camera.

I’m sorry to tell you all this, and maybe you feel differently and that’s probably a good thing because once I came to these realizations, it really bummed me out.

But it also pushed me to find out how I could continue to be valuable to the industry after my 20s and how I could become INVAUABLE to as many people in the industry so that a long and healthy career was a greater probability.

The answer, I discovered, to a long and fruitful career, was KNOWLEDGE. And the key knowledge for an actor is Producing. (The other keys are marketing, sales and business, but we’ll get into that later.)

Producing will be the first step in getting you to act more. And act in better, bigger rolls. And elevate your career faster. And making better connections. And becoming more professional.

Every time I see an actor buying headshots, paying for a photographer, pursuing an agent, taking acting classes (for knowledge, not for pleasure or socializing), or paying for casting director audition events, I want to tell them to STOP WASTING THEIR MONEY…

…because if they took all that money and put it towards a short film, they would be connecting with the right people, improving their skills as an actor, creating an excellent marketing piece and having fun at the same time.

And if your project wins awards that will hasten your progress even further.

I have created this site because I feel for actors and I want to help by giving information that I wish was available to me when I was acting.

(By the way, I act and perform more now than I ever did when I truly considered myself an actor).

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