So, it appears I am in a play. Neil Simon’s “I Ought to be in Pictures” to be exact, and opening night is Friday November 13th. Friday November 13th, appears to be next week and as I type this, I am coming to the distinct discovery that that is in fact, Friday the thirteenth. When did I find out that I was in this play? Why, yesterday in fact. And what part do I play? Oh, well, pretty much the lead. So what will I be doing from now until next Friday the thirteenth you ask? Well, learning lines, rehearsing and dry heaving of course!

Seriously though, Stellar Productions (Aurora dinner theatre @ Howard Johnson Aurora) had a last-minute drop-out and David the producer asked if I was willing to fill in at short notice. I am, and I will.

I humbly ask for you to wish me luck, and any other sort of good vibe, ask the universe, prayer or other method of spiritual assistance that you may be able to spare!

My two feet are officially in the fire. Here goes!

I got home today from the four-day shoot in Shanty Bay, ON for Ryerson Film project BLOOD BOARS. Wow, what a memorable time! We started out with night shoots in the woods off of a rural road on the Northern shore of Lake Simcoe. The temperature dipped to -5′C with the windchill on Thursday night. There were so many deeply dark images and fantastic looking shots. I was able to watch some of the rough footage last night at the Producer’s home in South Barrie where the majority of the crew and cast were staying during the shoot. We finished up today with some short special effects shots including one of me hanging from a tree. All in a days work?

I had the pleasure of working with fellow actors Peter Valdron, Dave Vaughan and Troy Feldman: three fantastically warm and entertaining men who I recommend taking on any cold and scary trip into the woods at night. And the crew headed by Producer Jessica Tooms and director Justin Oakey could not have had a better mix of professionalism and good humor. They really know how to make you forget that you’re working.

I’m really looking forward to seeing the final product in the Spring at the Ryerson University Film Festival (RUFF 2010). Check back for updates on screening info when it becomes available as well as more pictures from the shoot. Thanks to everyone involved in this production for including me in this project. And thanks for contributing to what will no doubt be a fantastically haunting and visually stunning film: I now have one more reason to fear the dark!

I have had a number of auditions over the past week, and I am happy to say that I now have a few more projects on the go!

First,
I auditioned last Friday for an industrial video for Minute Rice with director David Hopkinson of Giantkiller Creative. I was lucky enough to shoot yesterday with David and his crew in Cambridge. The project was a short video illustrating how Minute Rice fits perfectly into the day of a busy, young, urban professional. I played a woman going about her fast-paced life who enjoys the convenience of Minute Rice. I had a great time working with Dave, the other cast and his great crew. They really made the day fly by! Giantkiller Creative has teamed with Aholattafun Creative Solutions and Blue Lizard Productions to form UberRiff Films. UberRiff has produced a number of really interesting film projects, and I would love to be involved in their upcoming projects. Check out some of their past work at http://www.uberriff.com/

Second,
I have been cast in the Ryerson Thesis project BLOOD BOARS directed by Justin Oakey and Produced by Jessica Toombs.

Here is a project description from their Production Blog:

“Blood Boars centers on a modest turn-of-the-century farming village as a small search party heads into the forest in hopes of finding two missing children. Once becoming stranded, implicit human brutality tears through the illusion of community and destroys the group one by one. A quaint folkloric tale meets transcendental horror.”

I play a woman who’s daughter has been taken and I join the search party in the woods in hopes of finding her alive. We shoot October 15th to 19th in Barrie with production to finish in spring 2010. The production blog is at http://bloodboars.blogspot.com/ and you can see updates on the progress of the film, as well as creative influences and examples of past work.

Third,
I have been studying for five weeks now with acting coach and director Lewis Baumander and I feel so much more creatively and emotionally ready and open then I have in a long time. His classes are really helping me work through my roadblocks when it comes to auditioning and I have already signed up for the next session.

All and all, I feel like I’m more ready to work in this field then I have in a long time. So, I’m gonna keep that ball rolling!

POINT OF VIEWING opened last night to a full house! The audience was so receptive, and they were great laughers! Thanks so much to Mike S., Les, Reggie and gang, Andrew B. and friend and of course Jonny for making it out during what turned out to be a tornado in other parts of the GTA!

Everyone was in top form, on their A-game, and it certainly showed in the audience’s reactions to the jokes, and some of the more dramatic scenes.

Thanks so much to Morgan and Andrea from Rogers Cable 10 Mississauga/Brampton for the interviews and show coverage. To watch interviews with myself, writer Todd McGinnis, director Tony Junor as well as some footage of the first act, tune into Mississauga/Brampton Rogers Cable 10 tonight at 6pm, 6:30pm or 10pm. Make a comment on this page if you catch it, and let me know how it looks, I don’t get that channel!

Thanks again everyone. There are still three more shows and a few tickets left. Check the calendar section for online ticket info.

See you at the show!!!

Next Thursdsay, opening night, Rogers Cable 10 reporter Morgan Bargent will be on location at our show to tape interviews with director Tony Junor, writer Todd McGinnis and myself before the show. They will also take some footage of the show for broadcast during FIRST LOCAL news airing Friday August 21st, 6pm, 6:30pm and 10pm on Rogers Cable 10 for Mississauga and Brampton!

What a great way to get the community of Mississauga and Brampton involved in their arts scene!

Thanks so much Morgan, we all look forward to seeing you on opening night!

Point of Viewing opens in less then two weeks. I can’t believe time has gone by so fast! I can’t wait to get into the theatre the week of the 17th, it will be so much different once we have a stage and set to work with. Everyone’s characters are really starting to gell, and the fights on stage are really starting to sizzle! I’m putting together my costumes this afternoon but I have to be careful not to choose anything that I don’t mind getting dirty…Yes…thats right, dirty. And a warning to the audience, you may not want to sit in the first row stage right. For those of you who aren’t theatre types, thats actor’s right, audience’s left.

If anyone still needs tickets, the box office info is in the calendar section of the home page. Erindale is a small theatre, and seats are filling up fast so don’t delay!

T-minus 13 days!!!

I am excited to announce the full cast list for Calliope Sound’s August run of “Point of Viewing” by Todd McGinnis!

Julie Berdusco as RAQUEL VOULET: “On camera Raquel is cool and sexy, the embodiment of the smart, well-coifed career-woman in control of her own destiny. Off the air, she is flighty to the point of seeming dim-witted.”

Victoria Murdoch as SINCERITY WEEKS: “Sincerity is a hard-as-nails, self-absorbed, career-obsessed woman, the complete opposite of her on-screen role as Point of View’s sensitive, openly emotional conscience.”

David O’Hearn as DR. D: “Doctor Darren Cooper is open, honest, straight-forward. A genuinely nice man, and a psychologist who, in spite of its limitations, tries to use the medium of television to help guide people to important and useful truths.”

Nancy Reed as TABITHA SMILEY: “Smiley is the show’s bright and cheerful up-for-anything girl-on-location but there is a tragic side to her no one else has seen.”

Martin Van Helden as BRAD: “Point of View’s Floor Director, Brad is normally easy-going, a calming influence in the hectic world of studio production. Today will push him to the limit.”

Rehearsals are really starting to cook! I can’t wait to get on stage! If you would like tickets, all the info is in the calendar section. To check out our Facebook event, and RSVP search “Point of Viewing” and add your name to the list. Hope to see you there!

I began to rehearse with Calliope Sound Productions on Sunday night for the show “Point of Viewing”. I am working with Director Tony Junor, the founder of the company, and the ladies from the cast, Nancy who plays “Tabitha Smiley” and Julie who plays “Raquel Voulet”. I play “Sincerity Weeks”. We are officially looking for a few good men! The cast still needs a man to play Tech-guy “Brad” and the TV personality “Dr. Cooper”. If anyone is interested in playing these rolls, get in contact with Tony ASAP at news@calliopesoundproductions.com. Also check out the Facebook group, just search for Colliope Sound Productions.

The Show runs August 20th to 22nd at the University of Toronto at Mississauga Studio Theatre.

Can’t wait!

I am now working on two Humber Collage Film productions. The first is called “Selling It” where I play “Jane” who’s likes include the colour pink and dislikes include mean people. And in “Smackthat.org” I play Janie who’s likes include Aristotle, and dislikes include misogyny.

We shot one of the two dates for “Selling It” last Wednesday, and will finish shooting on this coming Tuesday. The shoot for “Smackthat.org” will be tomorrow and Monday.

I’m super excited to be working on these projects. The scripts are very well done, quite witty and funny, and the crew have been fantastic! I can’t wait to see what they do with it!

I have been cast in a Humber College Film! We are rehearsing Monday night and shooting Wednesday at the Lakeshore Campus, then the following Tuesday in the Cabbagetown neighborhood. I’m really looking forward to it, my character is “Jane” and she’s, well, she’s special.

More info to come!