Yesterday I kidnapped my lead actress, Lizet Benrey, and we headed down (or is it up?) to Los Angeles to meet with our other lead actor, Jose Yenque, and our costume designer, Anthony Sartino. I have to say, I came home exhausted, got my 8 hours of sleep, and I still feel like I'm walking on a cloud. What a fantastic trip we had!

First off, we had a rehearsal with Jose. He and Lizet play the magician and magician's assistant (also husband and wife). Jose has had a wealth of film experience (we'll be posting his impressive bio very soon), and Lizet's training has been extensive. I have to say, it gave me goosebumps to watch them become their characters. I know I've said that before, but this was without props, without scripts, without costumes, without anything. They just started with a few lines from the script, then went off into improvisations that made me believe I was watching a magic couple having a conversation, laughing, arguing, cajoling, and all the other things that happen when couples talk. We also snapped a few pictures of them together, and I have to say, if I didn't know better, I would think they were a young couple in love. Now that's acting!

After the rehearsal, Anthony Sartino (our GENIUS costume designer, whose bio is also coming soon) met up with us to show us some costumes he'd found at the most amazing place I've ever seen. Now, I'm a girl, and I love clothes, and this place was like nothing I'd ever even imagined. Rows and rows of clothes, shoes, hats, jewelry, and what not, up stairs, around corners, in every color and size and style you could imagine. Seriously, if you don't have a sherpa to guide you through the place, you should bring some breadcrumbs and leave a trail. It is literally a labyrinth of clothing.

Anyway, Anthony pulled out several pieces, and to be honest, any of them would have been perfect for my movie. We picked some spectacular pieces, and I can't wait to see them on my actors. These are the kind of costumes that really bring a film to life. Then he took us to his closet of pieces he had designed or collected himself, and I swear it was like a magic closet that didn't contain a single ugly piece of clothing. I wish I had a closet like that. Seriously. He pulled out a beautiful leather coat, a velvet tie, another tie I don't even know how to describe, a pair of pants, another pair of pants, another coat, another coat, and I thought I was going to faint. By the time he was finished, I was threatening to steal it and never come back! He also brought out scarves and swatches of fabric, twisted them around his torso and made them look like a million bucks. Then he would casually say, "Add some bracelets and something around the ankle, maybe a brooch, and there you go." It was like magic.

My takeaway from the day: I wish I could take Anthony everywhere with me so I'll always look fabulous.

But instead, he's making my film look fabulous. I'll take that, too. Thanks, Anthony!

Shooting a film is like building a spider web. It seems so simple: just spin out a single strand, and the next thing you know, there’s this really cool thing in front of you that you just can’t help but watch. But really, there’s a whole design behind it and some planning. Where are you going to put it? Do you hide it in the corner or put it out in the open where it’s more likely to have something run into it? Do you take the risk that it will all come down at once, or hope to catch a big one? Plus you have to rebuild it any time something crashes into it, hoping it’s going to be just as pristine and beautiful as before. In short: it takes some management.

So lately, in addition to starting our fundraising campaign, casting, and getting all of our paperwork in order, I’ve done some research as well. This particular research trip involved visiting Los Angeles; the Skirball Community Center. They have an exhibit up about Houdini, so I couldn’t resist. It was really worth the trip. They had a 1920s day, encouraging people to dress up and come down to have a picnic and see the exhibit, so we did.

Honestly, the exhibit is pretty cool. But don’t take my word for it. There are some reviews out there that say the same thing. Unfortunately, they don’t allow photos in the exhibit, but there was a wealth of paraphernalia about magic: posters, costumes, props, automatons, and so on. Totally worth the trip.

We followed that up with drinks at Hotel Figueroa, which is also a place I’d recommend. Beautiful, downtown, and historic. Once you add a cocktail, it’s a perfect summer afternoon.

Lastly, we headed down to a theater with a really long name that starts with a V for some experimental short films presented by Film Forum. The theater was also dating from back in the day, which is cool. It could use some love on the inside, but alas, funding for such projects is scarce and competition is fierce (kind of like film funding!).

Anyway, that’s the lesson for the day. Research can be fun, kids.

So last week I ventured to the north to visit the LA Film Festival, and to check out the Fashion District. The visit, albeit short, consisted of a lot of walking, Stella Artois, and checking out the downtown sights. I've always had a love of architecture (it was my first major in college), and LA has tons of great examples. Many of the buildings conjure up images of old hollywood, when everything was new and shiny and film noir hadn't been invented yet. When screwball comedies were all the rage and movies cost a nickel.

So, as I wandered through the streets, I found myself stumbling upon several buildings that were erected for the sole purpose of entertaining. Maybe they showed movies (or still do), comedy shows, magic shows, or theater, but they were there to lure people in with twinkling neon lights and exotic decor. Anyway, as I walked through town, I snapped some pictures of the ones I saw, and imagined what they looked like when they were all lit up.

Although I have to say, transforming The State into a church is brilliant. Seriously.

After my jaunt through yesteryear, I trekked on over to the Fashion District, which is an amazing wonderland of possibilities that  is both inspiring and intimidating. Within a two block radius (and I'm sure there's more if you go further), you can find any fabric, any trimming, any rhinestone your little heart could ever desire. It's like a trip to Willy Wonka for people who sew. Or even own a glue gun. 

I was actually looking for some specific things (some of which I forgot to get, because I was so distracted by all the STUFF), one of which was some fake fur for a coat I'm planning to make (another art project, I'll tell you about it another time). Anyway, I found a tiny store that primarily sells fake fur. As in, there is barely enough room to even walk through the store because there are giant rolls of fur everywhere. Anyway, I got what I was looking for, but while I was there, I couldn't help but feel like I was about to be eaten by an army of Sesame Street monsters. Even if I had been, it would have been worth it.