Author Archives: Jill Adler

Glenn Morshower Takes Salt Lake

I’m here in this room at Broadview in Salt Lake City for three hours. As the seats begin to fill in the small auditorium I’m reminded of college. Oh no, a lecture? But an evening with Glenn Morshower is anything but academic.

The title of the workshop- The Extra Mile- is about breakthrough. It as well as the speaker are organic and entirely honest. He paces right to left like a Baptist preacher calling on the heavens to heal our wounded souls. He encourages us to wear a new set of ears tonight. The 54-year-old actor who’s made a career out of playing service men is now wearing an invisible robe. He has us mesmerized. One by one we become believers.

Glenn has had no specific acting training other than life. His teachings come from paying attention in that life.

He tells us our bodies are trophies and that we need to stop dead-end pursuits and treating our bodies poorly. He raises his fists to smoking- a habit that killed his father. These are hitches in your giddyup he says. Wait a minute, did I stumble into an intervention instead of an audition workshop?

But as Glenn talks it seems strangely connected. Every aspect of our lives is connected. We can’t compartmentalize the bad things we do to ourselves and expect it not to leak into the good things we want to achieve or the people we want to relate to.

I guess if you take the idea that an audition is a meeting the same way as a date or job interview is a meeting then it would make sense to be you rather than a façade of the ‘you’ who ‘acts’ like they’re perfect then goes home and calls their dealer. Do you ‘meet’ your boyfriend’s parents or ‘audition’ for them?, Glenn uses for an example. They should be the same but often an actor treats the audition as something heightened and unnatural. If you don’t get anything else, this is one of the most brilliant nuggets gleaned from tonight, he professes.

Don’t be the actor caught auditioning. Walk in prepared to rock. You’ve already competed with 600 million others, he says; meaning 600 million sperm. We’re already winners because we were born! And so the night begins…..

That’s a Wrap!

I couldn’t tell you what happened during the last 17 hours of the 48 Hour Film Project because I wasn’t there. I thought initially that I might be but there isn’t one single ounce of me that is the least bit disappointed that we actors wrapped at 11 p.m. Saturday night. No slight on our crew. It was a team building, socially satisfying experience but to make it home for a night in my own bed, waking up without giant rings of stage makeup highlighting my eyes, well, that’s just priceless.

But I can tell about the last 14 hours of my “29-Hour” Film Project. I’m used to late nights so I didn’t look too haggard once I wiped all the black off. The crew set up for the yard sale scene across the street from Andrew’s house and routinely had to shoo away the Saturday shoppers that must regularly troll Herriman. It looked that real.

The sun slowly cast its shadows and fiery tongue. The backs of my legs never knew what hit them. I’m an idiot. We had sunscreen and everyone else seemed to be using it. I was just so caught up in the action. I care now.

Something about the price you pay for art tickled my brain but the pain kept the cliche from resonating. Now when I had to reshoot my scene from the previous night I wouldn’t have to call on past emotional pain. I got to experience real physical pain. Over and over again with EVERY SINGLE TAKE. So when (if) you watch me kneeling in jeans, that tortured sound in my voice is me feeling like someone is twisting my flesh with a hot curling iron. Yes, Folks, you heard me right. We had to reshoot because of the soft focus. The professional in me insisted I stick around to get er done even if it meant waiting six hours for nightfall. The girl in me thought, “Can’t we make what we have work?” I left it up to Andrew. I was there for him and I felt he was there for us. We weren’t slaves. We had a say. So when he made the call to go again I wanted to. Plus, I can be talked into almost anything for a Chinese dinner.

I’m guessing Liz felt the same way when Jarred – her husband and our editor – announced he “couldn’t find Scene 2”. That eventually came to mean we forgot to shoot Scene 2 and Liz, who thought she was just waiting for me for her ride home, now had one more scene to film as well. We had already said goodbye to Bryce, the Joes, Mamun, and Becky. We had no crew left besides Andrew on camera. Jarred and Daniel were downstairs editing and scoring respectively. Liz hoisted the boom and quickly got the hang of the sound equipment for my scene and I slept during hers (it was to be video only). We said our goodbyes to Andrew, Tara, Jarred and Daniel. They had one more day to make a movie. As we loaded up my car, they asked me to text to make sure I made it home safely. That was so cute. It’s like a weekend together made us family. I wish that Jim had stuck around till the end. He’s my acting coach and, to be honest, I was hoping for the opportunity to work with him as peers. I slept while he worked. He left before I woke up. He really didn’t have a reason to stick around so I can’t blame him. Plus, I know he had a hand in making sure all of the actors had a voice in the film so, Thanks, Jim!

The film has been submitted and all 30 shorts from Group A,B, & C will screen this Wednesday and Thursday at the Broadway Cinema at 7 and 9 p.m. (I prefer Brewvies but whatever). I can’t wait to see them all! The winner of the 48-Hr Film Project will be announced the following Wednesday, June 12, during the Best Of screenings. I’m sure you’re all wondering how does ours look? I don’t know. I hope it’s good. I hope it’s great. I’ll let you all judge. Time for bed.

Thanks to everyone involved with Off The Hook Productions. It was fun getting to know everyone even more. May we make many movies together in the future!

The First 12 Hours of 48

Eleven hours, three cups of coffee and four hours of sleep. After scripting our short we arranged the scenes for last night so Jim and Cami could be done. There was a moment where we wondered if those two would even be involved. I arrived on set (ie. Andrew’s house) to find the actors huddled on the street corner; pacing. What’s up? I’m not doing it. Doing what? He wants us to do a gay love scene and I’m not having a love scene with my brother. Huh? Do we need a gay lesbian theme on top of the romance genre we pulled? On Utah Pride Weekend? About a gay couple trying to be lured into heterosexuality? Let me talk to him, said Liz as she pulled up with her husband for the weekend project.

Ten minutes later. We’re not doing that but we all need to get in there and help brainstorm. Pet rocks, parties, killings in the basement were bandied around. We had to have a briefcase, the line- “as per his instructions”- and a character named Tom Percival who’s an historian included in the script. Thirty minutes and we had our new outline that everyone agreed could work and we left Andrew to type. The weekend was saved.

We sat around the front living room, texting, Facebooking, chatting; even working on scenes for our acting class. Andrew climbed up the steps with the first draft. Read and edit, he said as he handed us each a copy. He ran downstairs with the notes for tweaking. It was 9 p.m. We began shooting the first of our night scenes at 11 p.m. Those ones involved Jim and Cami. When they were shot, those lucky two would be done completely. I crawled into the upstairs bedroom for zzz’s as I wouldn’t be needed for a couple of hours. I heard the muffled voices below and thought I’d never fall asleep but then, dead silence. Everyone had gone outside for the shoot and I passed out.

It was 3 a.m. when they woke me for hair and makeup. My scene was simple- walk in the house, talk to the prop, distraught, and leave. The trouble came in the form of incessant auto traffic from the busy street outside. Even at 4 a.m. we had to work between the roar of motorcycles, trucks and motorhomes. Six takes later we had my scene in the can and Andrew called for a break until daylight. That meant two more hours to sleep. I had just opened my sleeping bag on the floor of Andrew’s daughter’s room when Joe knocked and asked to share the room. He took the twin bed and passed out before I had my pillow fluffed. It seemed minutes before there was another knock but it was 8:45 a.m. and time to set up the yard sale scene. After those, I’d be released! The final day (Sunday) was set aside for post production.

Our crew was a bit groggy; the morning spread barely took the edge off. While Tara did Liz’ hair, I snuck down to Jared for a peek at the dailies. The first thing I noticed was the too-soft focus on my scene- on every take. Uh Oh. Soon enough Andrew and Jared were discussing the situation. Looks like I’ll be waiting around for nightfall to reshoot the scene.

The Night Before 48 Hours

I tried to sleep. I know that I needed to and wanted to but sleep wouldn’t come last night. And then when it did it was scary. I kept dreaming that I was deep in the middle of the 48 Hour Project and as we watched the dailies played back I looked on worried. What the hell were we watching? None of it made sense. The acting was decent but it was all shot under some foggy blue filter (noirish?) and the story was so out there that there was no story. I’d watch scene after scene wondering how this would be any kind of film let alone one that had a chance at winning. I desperately wanted to say something but I was afraid to step on toes. Maybe the director had a vision I wasn’t seeing. How do I communicate that what was being shot was garbage? I tossed and turned and jolted upright; slumped back against my pillow. It wasn’t real. At least not yet. Soon we would make something real; something that told a provocative story. Hell, something that told a story!

It’s a troubled night you have when you know you should sleep because it’s your only chance before the weekend. Starting now I’m up for the next 48 hours straight. I’ve had a nap today and now we await the genre selection……

Camping Made Cozy

Featured photo courtesy El Capitan Canyon

2013 camping has made a detour from the “ultralight” trend of the last decade and I couldn’t be happier. I felt like I was the sloth because I preferred a queen-sized air mattress in my tent over a 6″ wide pad that barely went to my butt. I get that, in the past, we camped out of necessity. Back in the day, to get to remote regions where few if any hotels exist, you camped; and you wanted to carry the lightest gear possible for your trek. Today, however, it’s all about camping for camping’s sake. Now there’s even “glamping”- glamorous camping offered at places like El Capitan Canyon Resort in Santa Barbara, Calif. and Dunton Hot Springs near Telluride, Colo., where you can get exclusive chefs, linens, showers and WiFi in your tent.

But even if you’re doing it out of the back of your car instead of staying in a five-star tent, this lack of outdoor roughness trend won’t be dying off anytime soon. Campers want more creature comforts than ever before. We want to make ourselves that home away from home. Cots, tables, air mattresses, chairs are all getting plushier- and a little heavier – this summer but that doesn’t seem to be an issue for consumers.

“They want it all- lightweight, packable, durable, and comfortable,” said Eureka’s Mark Hrubant. “They want those nice features to enhance their outdoor experience.” And that experience isn’t necessarily hiking, mountain biking, mountaineering or climbing. It’s just as often plain “camping”. So it’s okay if gear weighs a little more and costs a little more. “Our customers are willing to spend if it means they’re getting more,” said Greg Henry from Crazy Creek. “Customers want versatile features that add value. And they want gear that lasts.” The Crazy Creek AirChair (MSRP $124.50) is a ground chair that’s also a self-inflating, full-length air mattress.

Crazy Creek has also seen a growth in those wanting to get off the ground and is cultivating designs to meet that demand; like their new folding table. Eureka, too, is making tables that fold flat and that come with netting on the sides and underneath for extra storage.

Kelty/Wenzel has folding chairs with built-in trays so the potato salad doesn’t wind up in your lap. Add in DishTV’s new remote satellite system and you may never want go home.

Puff Puff and Away

It’s not just air; it’s not just foam. It’s an air/foam mattress that’s getting the buzz for 2013. Both Therm-a-Rest and Eureka are rolling out these plush options for your overnight ground stays. The Eureka Dualis ST (MSRP $89-119) is a patented air mattress that combines a self-inflating pad and an air tube mattress.

The pad provides the warmth and cush while the air tubes offer the conformability. Therm-a-rest’s NeoAir Dream (MSRP $199-219) has a contour-hugging, open-cell foam topper, covered with a plushy, machine-washable, micro fleece shell all covering a custom air mattress which some say is more cozy than a hotel bed.

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