HPAG Workshop #8: Special Workshop before Christmas Break!

Dec. 16, 2012

The Hollywood Players Actor's Group's 8th Workshop.

Physical Warm up
Everyone got on stage for a quick physical warm up.  After we stretched, we did the body part shake to 8 and down. Right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg. From 8-1.
Getting faster and faster as the number got smaller.  Always a great warm up.

Vocal Warm ups 
Me May Ma Mo Moo, starting lower and going as high as we could.

Tongue Twisters 
Everyone repeated these three times each.  Tricky!
"Eleven Benelivant Elephants"
"Unique New York"
"Red Leather, Yellow Leather"
"Tea Time is at a quarter to two till two."

Affirmations
"I am relaxed, trusting in a higher plan that is unfolding for me."
"I release and destroy my attachment to results. I am here to enjoy the journey."
"I am a talented and unique actor and there is no one else like me."

Exercises
We did the following Exercises:

"What are you doing?" Improv Exercise.
Meisner's Repetition Exercise.
"Yes And" Exercise where we start with a phrase and each person adds a
"yes and" and they continue the story.  That was fun!

IMPROVISATIONS

Improv #1: Robert Mangiardi & Kachiri Irizarry played husband and wife planning a Christmas party. Robert wants to invite his Uncle Joe, but Kachiri thinks he's obnoxious and drinks too much.  Robert says he makes great Lasagna and after some back and forth he mentions that Uncle Joe has cancer and they HAVE to invite him, because its the right thing to do.  Great improv with a twist!

Improv #2: Carl Rolle and Andy Wasif play a couple of janitors cleaning up an office when Andy finds an envelope in the trashcan with a bunch of $50 bills in there.  Carl's character wants to keep it, Andy wants to turn it in.  They have a major conflict during this scene.  Carl was hilarious as he attempts to reason with Andy's character. Andy was definitely a man torn by the right thing to do, thinking it was put there as a test and how could they get away with it. In the end, Carl strangles Andy and takes the money!  Tragic, yet funny and unexpected! 

Improv #3: Kelly Mullis and Kachiri play a couple of friends who have rented a beach house in the Hamptons, but it starts raining as soon as they get there.  Kelly's character is negative and complains about the rain and is bummed that they'll be hold up inside all weekend and Kelly has a new bathing suit for the weekend.  Kachiri tries to cheer Kelly up by suggesting that they'll cook and watch movies.  Finally Kachiri suggest to Kelly that they get dressed up and hit the nearby bar to meet some guys.  All is good at the end.

Improv #4: Andy Wasif and Kachiri play a photographer and Model. The model doesn't like the photographer and refuses to smile.  Andy is trying to get her to smile.  Kachiri was having a great deal of trouble staying serious. She kept laughing. It became clear that the improv was a bust. That's okay.   :)

Improv #5: Andy and Kachiri try another improv where Kachiri is a doctor and must convince Andy to get an operation. He is in dire pain, but won't sign the papers.  He's will die if he doesn't. I come in at the last moment as Andy's wife and sign the papers and he lives! 

COLD READINGS

"BUCK'S RACE HORSE" starring Carl Rolle and Kachiri Irizarry.  Carl plays a stable hand who poses as a Veteranarian when Kachiri's character comes to consider buying a horse. Carl is very flirty and inappropriate, saying all the wrong things.  Kachiri misses the signs at first, but then it becomes apparent that Carl is being a pervert.  It was a really funny scene. Carl gets in trouble with the boss. Kachiri gets out of there!  Good job guys.

"PULP FICTION" starring Andy Wasif and Robert Mangiardi. Andy plays the drug dealer that Eric Stolz played in Pulp Fiction. Robert plays the John Travolta character who comes over to score the herion. Andy describes the different potency of each strain. Robert orders up what he wants and then shoots up there on the spot as they talk about his old vintage sports car getting keyed by someone. Robert played the role considerably different than John Travolta, but I dug it none the less. Andy was not sleazy at all, he could have been selling cars.  It was quiet a dichotomy. Loved it!

"HOUSE" starring Kelly Mullis and Carl Rolle.  Kelly plays a doctor in the hospital who has a brother who needs a kidney transplant. She asks House to test her to see if she's a match. They have some banter in the beginning of the scene.  They meet back in House's office and House gives her the results of the test, that she is a match, however, that she is also pregnant and cannot be a donor.  Kelly becomes emotional, she is both shocked and happy, and says she must go to see her husband immediately. Carl Rolle played House perfectly sarcastic and dry. I loved the scene.

"TOO CLOSE" starring Carl Rolle and Andy Wasif.  Carl plays a police chief and Andy plays a detective. They are discussing a case and Andy's character says he doesn't think the guy is guilty. Carl sets him straight and then tell him to make them a drink and then makes him move some furniture around the office. The scene was over too quickly.  They did great!

"THE WRESTLER" starring Kelly Mullis and Robert Mangiardi. Kelly played the Marisa Tomei character of the stripper who goes out to talk to Robert's character played by Mickey Rourke originally.  Kelly is concerned about Robert since he's just experienced a heart attack and must quit being a wrestler.  Kelly suggests that he go be with family and get a hold of his daughter. That every daughter needs their father.  It was a bittersweet scene.  Kelly tells Robert that 'they' cannot have a relationship.  I loved working with Robert. He played the character perfectly depressed and down. He drew sadness from me.  Great work Robert!

"THE BOSS'S ELVES" starring Kachari Irizarry, Andy Wasif, and Robert Mangiardi. This is a really funny scene where Robert is Andy's boss and Andy is trying hard to make a good impression and look as good as he can. Robert asks where Andy's wife is. Kachiri is over at the bar drinking up a storm. Andy calls her over to meet the boss man and she proceeds to make an embarrassment of herself. She's so drunk and she starts asking why the woman who are working at the party are dressed so sexy, that the men should be dressed just as hot. Kachiri is outrageously funny in this scene!  I was laughing so hard! Great work everyone. Andy played the nervous office working to perfection and Robert was the surly boss that everyone has had experience with if you've ever worked in an office.  Wonderful!! 

SINGING of SONGS
After the scenes were complete, we had a  bit more time. Robert Mangiardi said he had an audition for a singing competition the next day and wanted to try his song.  He said that originally he was going to sing "A Change is Gonna Come", but he wanted to change it to "Star Spangled Banner". I told him that "A Change is Gonna Come" would be more impressive to sing especially with current events.

Robert Mangiardi sang for us "A Change is Gonna Come" acapella and it was wonderful. I nearly started crying.  Then he sang for us "Star Spangled Banner".

Andy Wasif got up and sang "Who Can I Turn To?" from the musical "Roar of the Grease Paint, Smell of the Crowd." Channeling Sammy Davis Jr.  He was wonderful.

Kelly Mullis sang "Funny Valentine". 

Karchiri Irizarry sang "Silent Night".

Carl Rolle sang as well, but I must get back to you on which song he sang. It was great though.

I plan to incorporate more singing in the workshops!

HPAG WORKSHOPS CONTINUE.......

The HPAG Workshops return to the Shepard Theater at the COMPLEX on Santa Monica Blvd. on Sunday, January 6th at 3-6 PM.  $20 per Workshop!

We've got big plans for 2013!

We'll be doing staged readings of large parts of Scripts written by Writer/Directors that are currently in production on other projects.  They will also be speaking to the members of the workshop about their inspirations, techniques and experiences.

We'll have more guest speakers who are writers, directors, successful actors, managers, etc. 

We will be doing a Writer's Lab and come up with Short Film Scripts and Web Series Scripts.

We will also be producing a SHOWCASE of Scenes in February to perform for Invited Casting Directors, Agents, Friends, and Family, so if you'd like to sign up for that, please let me know!

***Also, if you're a writer and have a short film you want to hear read in the workshop. We'll actually put it on it's feet and act it out for full impact! Or if you have a stand up Routine you want to try out, or a song, or part of a one person show....come work out at the HOLLYWOOD PLAYERS ACTOR'S GROUP!  That's what we're here for!! 

MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE IN 2013!!!  

See you the Stage!
Kelly Mullis, Artistic Director of HPAG

Super Spectacular 7th HPAG Workshop on Dec. 9, 12

 INTROS
Skipped the Kelly Mullis intro since all the people at the Workshop had heard it already!

Got everyone on stage in a circle and had each person say their name and three things about themselves or how they were feeling, etc.  A lot of people said they were happy and excited to be there at the workshop.  Aww, thanks guys for the warm fuzzies. :)

STRETCH & VOCAL WARMUP
After the intros, we did a big stretch to get limber.  Then we did a big face stretch.
We took deep breaths, held it for 5 seconds and then let it out.  We did some Blah, Blah, Blahs, some Lalalala's, and some da, da, da's.

We followed that with some A.E.I.O.U.s going up the scale. Then I asked everyone if they knew the words to DOE-A-DEAR from "The Sound of Music" and they did....so we all sang "Doe a Dear" and it was awesome!

AFFIRMATIONS
These were from my head, I had everyone repeat after me:

"I embrace who I am."
"I can play any part."
"There are no small roles."
"I will shine in my life."

EXERCISES
I had everyone collect all their energy into a tight little ball and then when we were ready, we all threw our energy ball into the center of the circle. You could feel the energy blast back at us! Super cool.

Circle Story Exercise:  Someone starts with a word and then throws it to someone else who adds another word and we begin to weave a story together.  It was a short story about a bird and some dragons.  Fun exercise.

Attitude Exercise:  I had everyone walk around with three different attitudes.  The first was "COCKY".  I said they could talk, so people were saying stuff like "What's up?" "What's your problem?" "What are you looking at?"  That was fun!

Second attitude was:  SCARED.  We all walked around the stage being scared.  Looking at each other with fear in our eyes. Then Andy Wasif pointed to the ceiling and gasped, then we all gasped!!

Third Attitude:  HAPPINESS!!! This was great because we were just so giddy and happy and hugging each other and laughing and smiling.  The room was full of love and joy! I loved that attitude the best!  Good way to break the ice for sure!!  Yay, happy shiny people.   

IMPROVISATIONS
The night before the workshop, I brainstormed and came up with different improvisations for the group.

The first one was based on a story that a recent headshot client, who was also at the workshop, told me about that had happened to her.

"HOLD UP" starring Bivas Biswas, LarJayne Blackwell, Andy Wasif, Ardes Armstrong, & Rebecca Hirshfeld.   Bivas played a young man who comes into a Hallmark store and starts flirting with Ardes. There is another couple in the story, Andy and Rebecca. LarJayne plays the store clerk. After some time, Bivas pulls out a gun and holds up the store.  He tells everyone to go in the back. They don't listen to him. He tells them to get on the floor. LarJayne plays it cool and goes and gets the money from the safe in the back and gives him $735.  Rebecca is dialing 911 on her cell.  Bivas is getting nervous thinking that the cops will show up.  He finally leaves with the money and everyone is safe again.  LarJayne warns Ardes not to be so friendly to strangers because you just never know! Haha!

"THE GREAT ESCAPE" starring Carl Rolle, Jim McCaffree and Andy Wasif.  The three men are serving very long sentences in prison and they are making a plan to escape.  Carl is the leader, Jim is the brain of the group, and Andy is a sleazy Ladies Man.  They discuss how they will escape. Jim says he's going to put a virus in the computer system with a memory chip he's designed that will open all the gates in the prison.  Andy says he has a 'lady friend' who can get up to the main guard tower and seduce/distract the guard up there and help them escape. Every few minutes Andy mentions another girl he knows and Carl is just amazed with how many girls Andy has in his pocket.  Jim confesses that he has 23 Million dollars in a Cayman Island account that he stole before he got locked up and now the plot has thickened, they each want a piece of the pie. The improv was great. Good job guys!

"THE HOLLYWOOD PARTY" starring LarJayne Blackwell, Kelly Mullis and the entire group.  
LayJayne comes to my office. I'm a fixer of people. If someone wants to be a certain way, they come to me and I give them a 'magic pill' and their dream comes true.  LarJayne comes to me with a wish to be more beautiful, fun, & popular.  I tell her about the 'fee' and she agrees. I give her a magic pill and tell her that I'm throwing her a special "Hollywood Party" that night and to take the pill 15 minutes before she shows up.  LarJayne shows up. Her name for the evening is ANISTASIA.  Everyone loves her. Producers and directors want her in their next movie. The ladies want to be friends with Anistasia. I as the hostess introduce her to ToPac LaRoc, a famous female rapper (Kareema) who wants to have Anastasia in her new buddy movie. Everyone admires her hair, her clothes, her face. They are enamored. I'm sure it was a bit overwhelming for Anistasia, but after that party, she will forever be changed!

 "SUPER HERO MEETING" starring Kelly Mullis, Lisa-Marie, Ardes Armstrong, and Kareema.  We are four female super heros that are called upon to save the planet Earth. We all have super powers.  Kelly spins and when she spins in circles, everyone around her gets happy.  Lisa-Marie can read people's minds. Ardes can see the future when she puts her glasses on. Kareema can shoot lightening bolts out of her hands.  We all agree that we must go to the White House Oval Office and meet with President Obama. Kareema is afraid that she will get stressed out and catch the Oval office on fire.  Lisa-Marie is annoyed by Kareema negative thoughts, which she can read.  Kelly has to spin around because the situation is getting tense.  Ardes is seeing the future with her glasses on.  I convince the group that we will need money and I say I shall call in Mitt Romney to help us save the planet.  Lisa Marie thinks this is a bad idea.  The girls are having a hard time figuring out a plan, they all decide to hit a happy hour at a bar to discuss it further.  The end.

COLD READINGS

"GOODBYE TO ALL THAT" starring Jim McCaffree, LarJayne Blackwell, and Rebecca Hirshfeld.  LarJayne plays a therapist who is conducting a counseling session with a married couple. Jim plays the confused husband who isn't sure why things have gone South in their relationship. Rebecca tells him she wants a divorce and has a lawyer. LarJayne really seems to be siding with Rebecca because they are actually 'together'. The scene is funny as LarJayne in no uncertain terms tells Jim that the marriage is over.  He is getting more and more agitated by LarJayne and keeps telling her to shut up as he tries to get to the bottom of this with his distraught wife who clearly doesn't love him anymore.  Everyone did a great job!  Jim played his character perfectly. He was so frustrated. His commitment was wonderful. Rebecca was clearly upset and I think she even cried. LarJayne was the perfect bitchy professional...even though she was breaking every rule that therapists are supposed to follow. Great job guys!

"DANGEROUS LOVE" starring Carl Rolle and Andy Wasif. Carl plays a frustrated police officer who is finding that he's missing files on this important case.  He asks Andy why he's still at the station working "don't you have a life?"  Andy says he has no life.  Carl Rolle plays a craggy police man just perfectly and needs to do so on TV ASAP!!  Andy was perfect as his associate. The two guys had great chemistry together and I believed that they had history working side by side. Great work.

"JET SET" starring Bivas Biswas, LarJayne Blackwell, and Ardes Armstrong.  LarJayne plays the hostess of a cooking show that Bivas is the special guest CHEF on.  I'm not so sure how much cooking experience Bivas's character has, but he sure is trying to turn on the charm and seduce Ardes's character.  It's a pretty funny scene as they all clumsily stumble around each other in an enduring manner.  I liked the chemistry between Bivas and Ardes's characters.

"DNA" starring Kareema and Rebecca Hirshfeld.  Kareema plays a victim of rape who comes in to talk about what happened to her.  Rebecca is DA on the case and tries to convince Kareema's character to testify and then we find out that the rapist is actually her real father.  Kareema played the character very tortured and introverted.  She even got emotional.  Rebecca did a great job of not anticipating the news that Kareema was about to share with her and reacted accordingly.  Rebecca showed compassion and understanding.  They both did a great job!  :)

"ANGER MANAGEMENT" starring Ardes Armstrong and Andy Wasif. Andy Wasif plays the Charlie Sheen character in this funny sitcom scene.  Ardes plays an ex-stripper who now has a tattoo removal service called "Tramps without Stamps".  She and Charlie flirt about the past and decide to get together for old time sake!  Ardes was really funny and can really pull off a fun character like that! She'd be great to book under fives on any of these funny sitcom shows.  She's got great comic timing!  Andy is a standup comedian so he's got the comic timing down as well. They really hit the beats of this cleverly written sitcom. I was really proud of them both.  Really funny stuff guys! Yay!

"UNDERCOVER "IF"" starring Lisa-Marie  and Jim McCaffree. This was a funny scene. Jim plays the handler of another FBI agent who is on a case. Lisa calls him in to assist because the man she was there 'watch' or 'capture' has died of a heart attack. Lisa's character is scantly clad in the scene and when Jim comes in, he is confused and worried.  "Why are you dressed like that? Did you sleep with him?"  We soon find out that Jim is not just her handler, but her father as well.  Jim played the concerned father great.  They had wonderful timing and banter back and forth. Lisa-Marie was so adorable and cute as the innocent FBI agent who happened to cause this man (Carl Rolle) to die on the sofa.  I just loved these two characters and could have watched a whole movie with them both!  Great work!!!

"SAFE HARBOR" starring Andy Wasif and Rebecca Hirshfeld. Rebecca and Andy used to be in love and together, but that ended some time ago. Rebecca wants one last chance to prove that she still loves Andy, but it's too late.  The pain is too deep with Andy and he's actually got someone new in his life. Rebecca plays the character perfectly with just the right amount of emotion in her voice as she sounds like she's on the verge of a breakdown. Andy is kind, but strong with her, not willing to give into her pleas and excuses of the past.  The past is gone and the damage is done. There is not turning back. Andy placates her with a kiss to the head and he is gone.  Her last words to him are "I hate you!" It was scene from a Danielle Steele Movie and they played it perfectly! (the scene was so riviting....I forgot to get a photo. Sorry.)

"AFTER HOURS" starring Bivas Biswas, Andy Wasif and Lisa Marie. One of my favorites of the workshop! Bivas plays a doctor who is also training to be a fighter.  He's handsome and everyone wants him...only problem is, he's gay and won't come out.  People are starting to talk and Andy tells him this and that he really should consider 'coming out'.  He says the nurse named Kristin is hot for him.  Bivas's character says that it would ruin everything if he came out, that he can't do it! Andy has to run off to surgery.  Moments later, Lisa-Marie's character, Kristin, comes to see Bivas. She is quite flirty and suggesting that they get together that night or very soon. She totally wants to hook up with him.  He's so nervous that he keeps backing up as she gets closer and closer to him. She is pouty and begging for him to spend some time with her.  He insists that he has to train for his fight and he has to work and has no time at all to see her.  Kristin is crushed. She touches his face and he is clearly uncomfortable.  It was a great scene!! Lisa-Marie was adorable as the 'take no for an answer' nurse.  I loved it! Bivas was wonderful.  Andy played his role perfect as the understanding friend. 

"MOROCCAN DINNER" starring Carl Rolle and LarJayne Blackwell. Carl and LarJayne's characters have been married forever.  Carl never takes LarJayne out and she is bored. As she asks for clue to her crossword puzzle, she is clearly interrupting Carl's newspaper reading time.  Then LarJayne's character suggest that they go to a Moroccan Restaurant where they can watch a belly dancer and eat with their hands.  Carl is so not interested and doesn't want to spend the money or leave the house for that matter.  "Why can't you just cook dinner like you usually do?" LarJayne asks about a clue where the answer is "DIVORCE" and suddenly Carl realizes the importance of the matter at hand.  Carl played the surly hubby to a tee and LarJayne was perfect manipulative wife.  Funny chemistry between these two. Good job! 

"CANDY APPLE" starring Bivas Biswas and Kareema. Loved this scene!!  Kareema plays a young woman who goes on an interview for a job as a stripper.  She calls herself "Candy Apple".  After the initial interview where Kareema says that she's got experience dancing in an 'exotic manner'.  Bivas asks her to show her stuff!  It becomes clear that she has no experience as a stripper at all.  Kareema is so funny doing her little stripper moves. She is clearly uncomfortable. Bivas thinks he recognizes her. She plays it off. It turns out that he realizes that she is the Pastor's daughter.  She gets nervous and asks him not to tell her father about this job interview, that she's in debt and needs a job.  Bivas tells her that what he really needs is a cocktail waitress and would she be willing to do that. She agrees and is happy to have the job.  I think both actors rocked this scene. It was so funny and sweet!

And that concludes another fantastic HPAG Workshop!  I'm so proud of all the actors who come to my workshop!  They should all be working on TV and in Films!!  I encourage everyone to go for their dreams and be proactive in their own careers! 
NO ONE CARES MORE ABOUT YOUR CAREER THAN YOU DO!!!

So Get those Headshots!
Get that Agent.
Submit yourself!  Write your own webseries or short film!  Shoot it! Edit it. Put it on YOUTUBE.
Make stuff happen!!

WE HAVE ONE MORE WORKSHOP BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS BREAK.
We'll be back on January 6th!!

If you want to attend next Sunday's Workshop on Dec. 16, 2012. 
Send me a message on facebook or email me or call me at 323.428.3739. 

See you on the stage!!!
Thanks for reading!

Kelly Mullis, Artistic Director of HPAG 

 We have a lot of FUN, but we are SERIOUS ACTORS!!! Don't KID YOURSELF!!!

Workshop #6: Extrodinary Work by All!

As always, we begin with the Kelly Mullis intro and the Mission Statement for the group.

I had a lot of fun things planned for this workshop so we did the workshop participate introductions a bit different this time.  We all stood in a circle facing each other and we went around the circle and everyone said their name and three things about themselves.  It was perfect.

STRETCH AND VOCAL WARMUPS
We all took a few minutes to stretch out. Once limber, we did 3 deep breathes releasing with sound. Afterwards I had everyone lean back opening up their throats and had everyone release a very deep sound. It didn't sound pretty, but it opened up everyone's vocal cords.  We actors can be trapped by our voices sometimes!

We did the count from 1-10, starting low and quiet and then getting louder and louder with each number to 10.

Then we did a little exercise I like to call:  ANIMAL CROSSING!
We all lined up in a row and I had everyone cross the stage as different animals.  First was a bird,
then a gorilla, then a cat.  This was very interesting.  Sometimes characters can be defined by what animal they are.  Kathleen Turner is like a cat in "BODY HEAT". Marlon Brando was an ape in "STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE" and Jeff Bridges was a bird in "STARMAN".  It's a helpful tool for an actor to use!

AFFIRMATIONS
 We repeated the following:
"I am going to take it from where I am".
"I am going to approach this scene as an improv."
"I release my need to be funny. I am here to tickle myself."
"I will not make choices, however, I will allow choices to happen."

IMPROVISATIONS 
I divided the group into two.

First group was a group of soldiers that had just gotten back from Afghanistan.
I had Sargent Carl Rolle yell at the troops and get them to stand at attention and some of them talked back to him.  Oh no!  Don't make Sargent Rolle mad! He whipped them into shape.

SOLDIER GROUP THERAPY:
It was time for group therapy.  The 'soldiers' sat in fold out chairs in a semi circle and each other of them shared how their lives are now that they've returned home from War in Afghanistan.  Quite a moving improv.  The first actor Jerome Murdock had a few tears flowing from his eyes. Beautiful commitment.  Every actor brought their own voice to the improv acting like a soldier. It was really amazing.  The actors in this improv were Jerome Murdock, Toni Christopher, David Kallaway, Kereema, Jeff McGrail, and Andy Wasif.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE THERAPY:
The next group included me, Kelly Mullis, Carl Rolle, Kachiri Irizarry, Rebecca Hirschfeld, and Jim McCaffree and Toni Christopher was our counselor.  Again, moving stories of struggle with drugs and alcohol. Carl Rolle was the trouble maker of the group only there to have a paper signed but not wanting any help. Kachari was our resident tough girl.  Rebecca Hirshfeld, a fragile delicate broken woman and I was just angry and frustrated by being abandoned by family and feeling like a just can't stop drinking.

The actors all committed beautifully to this improv. It was heavy for sure, but I think it was valuable.

REHEARSAL TIME
Everyone got their scripts for the STAGED READING that was to take place called "FIGHT NIGHT". The parts were cast.  We had a last minute drop out by an actor (food poisoning) who was cast to play the boxer, so I got Jerome Murdock to fill in.  While they were going over their scenes for the short film, as well and going over their TV sides for after the reading....
I set up the various sets on stage for the reading.  This wasn't going to be a sit down reading. I had a restaurant set, an office set, a boxing ring set, and a dressing room set. 

FIGHT NIGHT
Upon Action, The actors jumped into their characters with as much commitment as if they were on a film set.  I was immediately thrilled with the decision to do this STAGED READING on its feet this way.  No narrative took place, the actors flowed seamlessly from one set to the next, in one scene to the next! It was so exciting to watch!  Everyone was amazing!  I was attempting to video tape every moment, but could only capture a few minutes because my memory card was full!  But I got some which is shown below! (stay tuned) You get the idea.  I am seriously considering shooting this short.  I think we could do it for relatively low budget.  The story and the actors make the story great!!
Super successful and super entertaining!  I was very impressed with everyone's performance.

The cast included:
Jim McCaffree as Tony, the mafia guy
Andy Wasif as Ted, the sleazy deal making guy
Jerome Murdock as Billy the Boxer
Carl Rolle as Mose, the boxing trainer 
Toni Christopher as Darla, the boxer's girlfriend
Rebecca Hirshfeld as Andy's Bimbo girlfriend
Kachiri Izizarry as the Psychic 'fixer'
David Kallaway as Goon #1 and 'the Russian Boxer"
Jeff McGrail as Goon #2 and the Medic

Great job everyone!!

COLD READING SCENES

"Blue Bloods" starring Andy Wasif and David Kallaway.
David Kallaway donned a near perfect Boston accent on this cold read of "Blue Bloods" playing the Donnie Wahlberg character of Danny.  Andy was super relaxed and natural as Sorenson. This could have been a scene from TV.  It was pretty darned good.

 "A Closed Door" starring Jim McCaffree and Kachiri Izizarry.
Jim McCaffree can do characters better than most in this workshop. He never ceases to amazing me with his talents. He plays a stoic and emotionless 'stepfather' with a chip on his shoulder. His stepdaughter played by Kachiri was vulnerable and frustrated in trying to connect with her stepfather who has closed the door on their ever having a relationship. It was a hard breaking scene.  Great work you two!!

"Chicago Code" starring Carl Rolle and Jeff McGrail.
Jeff McGrail plays a lawyer is who telling a Neurosurgeon, Carl Rolle, what the score is when one of the patients is a gang member. Good thing there were no guns in this scene or someone who'd have bit it! This was a short, however, super intense scene.  I love the dynamic of these to actors together.
"Human Target" starring Jerome Murdock and Toni Christopher.
I didn't set this scene up for these two at all. I left out a whole earlier scene from those sides. So they were coming in super cold....but no worries for these two pros. They jumped right into the scene. There was a sexy vibe and a bit of sarcasm from Toni Christopher's character. I wanted to see more. Jerome Murdock should have his own TV show. He's so natural and cool.  He's MR. TV! If only I were a casting director, I'd hired both of them for my show!  Fabulous!

"Rookie Moves" starring Jeff McGrail and Kareema. 
Kareema plays a rookie cop who has had enough of the antics of her superior, Jeff McGrail, who seems to be punishing her instead of training her.  At first Kareema had glimpses of life in her character who Jeff's character abused her with words and mixed messages. In the scene Kareema is supposed to get rattled. But she didn't get rattled the first time. So I asked them to do the scene again and for Kareema to get mad at Jeff for giving her such a hard time. She has to defend herself from him and then just say 'forget you'. She adjusted great and the second time she did it, I believed her conviction and that he was getting under her skin. The scene rocked! Great job Kareema and Jeff!

 "The Apostles" starring Rebecca Hirshfeld and Jerome Murdock.  
Jerome plays a very tough man, rough around the edges named Preacher. Rebecca plays his ex-stripper girlfriend. She's very flirty with him in the beginning. He clearly has trust issues.  She accuses him of not being able to forgive and Rebecca's character gets very emotional at the end of the scene when she cries that she's grateful that God brought her Preacher, to love and protect her.  It was a very sweet scene.  Again Jerome Murdock played it brilliantly.

Of course I love to take the fun group shots. Silly and Serious!  We are ACTORS afterall!

Let me know if you'd like to check out one of the HOLLYWOOD PLAYERS ACTOR'S GROUP WORKSHOPS this coming:

Sunday, Dec. 9th 
Sunday, Dec. 16

Call Kelly at 323.428.3739.  Try to call by Thursday Night so I can find you scenes! Thanks!

See you on the STAGE!!
Best,
Kelly Mullis, Artistic Director of HPAG

We'll be taking a HOLIDAY BREAK for the LAST TWO SUNDAYS OF DECEMBER! 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to you and your families! 

And will be returning on January 6, 2013!


 

HPAG Workshop #5 off the CHARTS!! Talent filled!

November 25, 2012 

The 5th Hollywood Players Actor's Group Workshop! 

Mission Statement by me, Kelly Mullis, started off the workshop.  I talked about my career as an actress and how it is so very important to create your own projects in this business. To not sit by and wait for the phone to ring. You must constantly feed your creativity or you'll get down in the dumps!
NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR CAREER MORE THAN YOU DO!! Therefore, it's completely up to you to make it happen! No one else is going to make you do what you need to do! You must get your head shots taken, get on Actor's Access and LA Casting, do workshops, submit to short films and webseries or even better write your own and make them happen. There are actual people looking on youtube and funnyordie for talent all the time!  If you do something good...people in high places will notice!  So go for it!

After I spoke briefly, each person got up and did a 2 minute intro of themselves. This is such a cool thing about the workshop! I just love hearing what people have done in their careers and where they are.  Everyone is different.  Some are just starting out, some have been at it for a while. I love the passion and the love of acting that comes out from these actors. They all have dreams and they are going for it! That's amazing.

STRETCH AND VOCAL WARM UP
We all stretched and did big yawns to stretch out our faces and our voices.
After we did 3 AHHHHHHHHHs! in a row.
Then we did some Me May Ma Mo Mooooo's! Starting low and going high!  So fun!

WARM UP EXERCISES
I had everyone pair up into two's and had them box or do karate in Slow Motion. It was so entertaining from where I was standing! There were 9 of us including me, I was the odd man out, so I didn't get to box.  That's okay.

After that I had everyone line up in two lines and we did the MIRROR Exercise. First, one side was the mirror and the other was the person in the mirror, then I switched it!  Good one!

Then we did the ALPHABET Letter Throw Game. We stood in a circle and threw the letters of the alphabet at each other. We skipped some letters here and there, so we kept having to start over. Good game of focus and listening.

AFFIRMATIONS!
Affirmations are important for every actor because we can be so hard on ourselves sometimes. We need to remind ourselves that we are unique, talented and beautiful just the way we are. Tell yourselves that often!  OK!?

IMPROVISATIONS
I have a book full of improv scenerios which I cast carefully with people that I know are coming to the workshop.

#1 Improv:  Toni Christopher & J. Michael Hudson.
Toni played a palm reader, with a bad attitude, who J. Michael comes to see. He wants her to tell him his future. Toni wasn't very welcoming at first because he interrupted her Karmic Meditation Session with herself. She finally lets him in for $50 and makes him sit down. She starts reading his palm and pretty quickly realizes that he has a very short life line and doesn't have much time to live. In fact, she gets so freaked out that she puts the plant on lap to hide from him and tells him he only has 3 days to live! She says  "Go out into the world and live life to the fullest!" It was so funny. Toni and J. Michael were awesome in that improv.

#2 Improv: Carl Rolle & Maya Massar

Carl played an airline pilot.  Maya played a crazy highjacker! She busts into the cockpit where Carl and J. Michael (co-pilot) are flying the plane and demands that J.Michael leave the cockpit. She then produces a gun from her waistline and precedes to yell and scream that the pilot turn the plane around and head to South America. She is beside herself with intense hysteria. We don't really know why, but she definitely needs to get to South America. She ends up on the floor, pulling his leg, then back on her feet with the gun in his face. It was kind of funny to watch. I couldn't help but chuckle! Poor Carl, he did the best he could, but in the end, the plane did crash and many lives were lost. Great work you two, way to commit!

#3 Improv: Kelly Mullis & Ashley McGee

I played a woman who has been called in by the bank manager to find out if I'm getting a house loan. I come in very excited about this adorable little house I've found and how I'm going to fix it up, etc. I've filled out all the paper work and everything is in order. Ashley, the bank Manager, looks up my social security number on his computer and my file comes up and it says that I'm not approved! I am so miffed and confused.  We try to get to the bottom of why my credit is so bad. I blame it on a gym that I was a member of that I had a contract with and stopped paying for because they moved. I pout, I flirt, until eventually Ashley gives in to my wishes and approves me anyway! What a guy! I hug him and leave with my new loan.  :)

#4 Improv: Elan O'Connor & Lisa- Mari.

This was one of my favorites of the workshop! So hilarious! Lisa-Marie plays a manicurist at a nail salon and Elan is an old customer who is super excited to hear about the latest gossip.  Lisa-Marie is this adorable blond actress, but she decided to do an Asian Accent for the character! She even did the walk and gestures like an Asian Manicurist. Lisa-Marie's character has to inform Elan that one of the clients at the salon is having an affair with a married man, but that she is sleeping with that woman's husband.  The woman is in the nail salon and they keep turning towards her and smiling and saying hi to the woman! It was so funny. Elan just can't believe her ears. The girls worked off each other perfectly. It was so entertaining. Awesome work girls!

#5 Improv: Kareema & Maya Massar

Maya plays a sympathetic woman who's friend has been accused on a crime. She defends this friend and Kareema is the non sympathetic person who continues to say that that person is guilty and all the bad things that person has done. 








THE COLD READINGS of SCENES

"Eli Stone" starring Maya Massar & Ashley McGee

Maya plays a woman who is looking to hire Ashley, a charming lawyer, to help her with her custody battle with her ex husband.  Ashley played Eli Stone very wonderfully. He was sympathetic to her needs.  Although at first he was reluctant to help her with her case because he didn't feel she could win.  Maya was a very fragile woman as the mother of a young son. You could feel her desperation and sadness.  They did great!

"DAMAGES" starring Elan O'Connor & Carl Rolle
Elan and Carl both play lawyers negotiating a settlement for the case they are working on. Elan was sassy and strong, Carl was a bit on the A--hole side himself.  They worked great off each other. The scene was very back and forth with the sharp dialogue. I thought it was fantastic.  

"OFFICER KILLED" starring J. Michael Hudson & Toni Christopher

This was a very intense scene.  Toni played a wife who's husband had been killed by a landmine that he stepped on. J. Michael was a fellow soldier who was supposed to protect Toni's husband in war. J. Michael explains that he tried to diffuse the bomb.  Toni asked how long he'd been standing on it. J. Michael said one hour. Toni said "He knew he was going to die! Why was he there?! Why did you send him there!?" Toni's face was red with anguish over her loss. J. Michael was stoic. I would like to have had him raise is voice a bit in the role and explode back at Toni with as much passion of their mutual loss as she did.  But otherwise, it was a wonderful scene by them both.

"CHILD CUSTODY" starring Kelly Mullis & Lisa- Marie Gilvery
I played a Social Worker for the City and Lisa-Marie plays a young, single mother who comes to see me and ask when she can get her son back.  I explain to her that the judge gave her a month to get her affairs in order, to get a job, and a place to live and to maintain those things and prove that she can be responsible enough to raise her kid on her own. Lisa-Marie's character is acting a bit twitchy and I ask her if she's on something! Drugs? She denies it and says that she hates all the rule that society puts on people.  I tell her that I will have to report her drug use.  She's leaves in a huff and I have no other choice than to tell my boss about her drug use.  Sad scene. Lisa-Marie did great!  I really believed that she was on something and that her heart was broken and full of desperation.  My character was just mean and not very sympathetic. Well, only slightly caring. 

"PRIVATE PRACTICE" starring Toni Christopher, Ashley McGee & Elan O'Connor
I loved this scene! Toni Christopher plays an actress who fell on stage during a performance and split her head open.  She is getting stitched up by Ashley, who plays a doctor. He inquires about other roles that he may have seen her in.  She's is so adorable and perky. Elan plays another doctor that Ashley has paged for a consult. She comes in and examine Toni's head and asks questions. A moment later, Toni goes into a complete seizure. At first she's sitting on the examination table, the next she's on the floor! Toni Christopher commits like no one I've ever seen. I was really impressed. The actors were a bit freaked out, because I don't they expected that to happen.  Next scene, Toni is fine. She's back on the table being told that she's good as new and her MRI Scans are clean and she thanks the doctors for their help and rushes off to her acting class across town!  Wow! Great scene guys!  Ashley and Elan were great doctors!

"COVERT AFFAIRS" starring J. Michael Hudson and Carl Rolle

J. Michael plays a guy named Auggie who is hooked up to a lie detector machine to find out if he leaked some important secret information.  Carl plays the interrogator.  Carl was crisp and professional with his dialogue. He was very direct and suffers no fools.  J. Michael played the character close to the cuff, with a bit of an edge. I loved the dialogue timing between the two of them. I did wish that J. Michael would have raised his voice more and gotten a bit more irritated with Carl's questions and accusations.  J. Michael admitted that he was second guessing himself about being too big in the scene. But scenes sometimes need "BIG" actions. It makes the scene come to life. It was a good scene though.

"BLUE BLOODS" starring Elan O'Connor, Ashley McGee, and Lisa-Marie.
This scene was very interesting indeed.  Elan plays a woman who's fiance has been murdered after he returned from Afghanistan. He was a hero of sorts in his home town. Ashley is questioning her about her fiance.  Elan explains that he was addicted to pills to get through the mental and physical pain of being in war. Ashley asks about a James Phelps. Elan says that he was her fiance's best friend. Ashley says he was wearing his dog tags when he was killed. Elan asks Ashley if he's been to war. He confirms that he had and understands what Elan's fiance went through. Elan asks Ashley if he'll find out who killed her fiance and he promises that he will with conviction. Lisa-Marie only had one line, but was very present in the scene making Elan feel comforted and understood. It's important to be a good listener in scenes.  Ashley did great as well...I just wish he would have had more conviction with the promise to find the killer, to make Elan believe him. But otherwise, Ashley did great. Elan was beautiful with her emotions. She even had tears in her eyes when talking about her fiance. She really committed to the material.  I really loved this scene!  Great work you guys.

"COVERT AFFAIRS" starring Kelly Mullis & Carl Rolle 
Kelly plays an advocate who has just been on TV talking about more transparency from the CIA and I mention the Director of Clandestine Services by name. Later I meet with the director played by Carl and he's none to happy with me for outing him on TV. He accuses me of trying to push him out of the door.  He says if that happens that there will be someone just as equally bad or worse to replace him.  I scoff at his shallow threats and I am not rattled by his empty promises. Carl is always good at playing those kind of hard characters who are supposed to be intimidating. I am attempting to play strong and smart characters more often myself.  Felt like a good scene.

"BOSS MONA" starring J. Michael Hudson & Maya Massar
J. Michael plays a co-worker of Maya who is playing Boss Mona.
J. Michael is found by Mona sitting at her desk and looking at her email. She is not very happy to see him there at her desk. She goes into bitch over-drive and they have a little office spat.
J. Michael was much more animated in this scene. He was dry and sarcastic. Two co-workers butting heads.  It was a heated scene. Maya was pretty mean.  I liked it! Good job J. Michael! You listened to us and came out of your shell! Good job.

"LEAVING LAS VEGAS" starring Carl Rolle & Kareema
This is a repeat of the scene I did with Patrick a few weeks ago. It was quite a different version. Carl played his drunk character very sweetly and comically. A happy drunk.  Kareema is a brand new actress and was very inside herself during the performance. In time, she'll gain confidence and not be so stuck on the page. I said that I would have liked to have seen her a bit more flirty with him and overjoyed that he decides to stay with her in her apartment instead of a hotel.  But she did well, for someone who has probably never acted before.  Carl was very comfortable in his role.

And that concludes the 5th Workshop of the "HOLLYWOOD PLAYERS ACTOR'S GROUP"!
If you'd like to participate in next week's workshop, just send me a message on Facebook or
call: 323.428.3739 to reserve a spot!!!

SEE YOU ON THE STAGE!!
Kelly Mullis, Artistic Director of HPAG

 We like to do these crazy and then serious group shots! By the end of these workshop we are all so happy and bonded. It's awesome! I love it! Come check it out!