(BLOOPER: Can anyone guess what my brother is saying? LOL)
I mean, why not part a part of a short film?
My brother, Leo, has been into the film industry for as long as I can remember. One time, when Leo and I were both younger, Leo tried to do a short film with our friends. Of course, he tried casting me, but it didn’t work out because I would laugh every time he tried filming my scene! Since then, I continuously thought that acting was n’t part of my list of talents— and to be honest, I’m still unsure about it (I can potentially answer this question after the short film comes out).
It was not too long ago where I got the sudden urge to express myself artistically again. For example, I picked up drawing again (check my ART post) and I began to train in different dance styles: AfroDance & House. Despite my first failed attempt at acting with my brother years ago, I thought it would be a good idea to retry and really commit.
My urge to act was sparked after watching my brother and my nephews, Randy and YanCarlos, act in Leo's newest short film titled Manhunt - it was featured in a New Jersey Latino Film Festival. I don’t want to give away the premise of the film because it will ruin the mystery behind it, and I would rather you see it for yourself! But I was very impressed by it. The film seem fun to me and after giving it much thought, I decided to let my brother know I wanted to be casted on his next project. Coincidently, he was working on a project when I told him and he casted me for the role of Luis in his La Familia short film.
Luis is a 22-year-old Dominican kid who is secretly in love with this best friend, Vanessa. Luis and Vanessa are each other's peer in college. Luis decided to bring Vanessa to his family's’ Christmas celebration because Vanessa’s parents are out celebrating their anniversary. Not only that, but Luis is contemplating to let Vanessa know how he truly feels about her.
The sad part about this year's celebration is that Luis’s mom passed away earlier that year. Luis’ mom was the nucleus of the family and the life of the holiday parties, and so the family is having a hard time adjusting to her absence, while trying to carry on the family tradition. In short, this is a movie about family, relationships, unity, love and the value of holding traditions.
Luis was the subject for bullies in his adolescence. When he was younger, he struggled with obesity, but he lost the weight after hitting puberty and by adjusting his lifestyle to a healthier one. Given that he was a victimized by bullies, his self-esteem was shattered and his confidence is very low, which is why he’s struggling to confess his true feelings to Vanessa because he feels that she is out of his league.
[Side thought ] I actually had a crush on a Vanessa in my lifetime but nothing ever happened. *shrug* lol.
[--- FILMING ---]
Because of college, I became used to memorizing materials for presentations, speeches, etc., but this was my first time trying to learn a script. Every day, I would try to rehearse for 30 minutes to an hour. I eventually recorded my lines on my phone so that I could listen to them on my way to work. Since most of my line was dialogue with my brother, who also played my older brother in the film, and Kathy, my girlfriend in the movie, I rehearsed with them multiple times.
The weekend to record came very fast and I arrived at my mother's house in New Jersey that Friday night at one am. Of course, once there, I went straight to bed because I had to be up at 8 a.m the next day and get ready to film by 10 a.m. All the actors met up at the set location and I finally met the whole cast in person, most of them for the first time, but I immediately felt the positive vibes from the group. I especially felt as though I already knew Kathy, my film partner, for a while. Everyone there was passionate about filming and their career goals. They were all very supportive and open-minded. I spoke to two other actors on set about philosophy, social issues, politics, and religion -- all topics considered tabu to talk about when you first meet someone.
I enjoyed the bloopers as much as the recording itself and we had a lot! I loved them because everyone would burst out laughing and it always seemed to lighten up the atmosphere. This was especially good for me because seeing others who have been acting for years forget or mess up their lines let me know that it’s okay to mess up; but, it also let me know to not to take it so seriously that I actually forget to enjoy the process of filming/acting.
The first day we filmed until 8-9 pm. The following day…...2 am!
[--- FILMING CHALLENGES ---]
Although the film was a message about the importance of family, we were dealing with family issues while filming. For starters, he had to leave the original filming location due to my relative becoming very impatient with us filming in their home. That's despite her agreeing to lend us the space for the two days when originally asked a month in advance. Her complaints were becoming so loud that the cast could hear her in the living room from her room. It was embarrassing for Leo and Katt because they were the ones who settled this location, and for me just because of my relationship with the person. Secondly, another close relative was aggressively complaining about her children being part of the film. The problem with this is that the kids were doing something they loved with close family and despite my brother agreeing to bring them to school the next morning, she just wanted them home right away without any compelling reason. Either way, we finished the film and kept up the spirit of family.
There was an intimate scene I had to record in this film. To be honest, it was a little nerve racking, lol. I wouldn’t call myself a romantic, so to act romantic was difficult (times 2). The funny part is that my partner and I rehearsed that part a lot, but when it came to recording the part I kept messing up! It didn’t help that we were surrounded by the whole cast just watching us! Nonetheless, we made it happen.
[--- A COUPLE OF BLOOPERS! ---]
(A QUICK MTV CRIBS INTRODUCTION LOL)
(LEO OR MICKEY MOUSE? LOL)
