Update on new tragic drama

So rehearsals have begun on the lastest drug/alcoholic infested tragic drama 'One Last Sun Ray in the Eyes of Joy'. The indie actress Raimonda Skeryte will be losing x amount of pounds for a role that was written for her by me. Raimonda is familiar with the stress free way of working with me but this role is on another level. The intensity will be different.

Raimonda played Gunta in the experimental short 'Beautiful Women Wake Up Early' (recently in post production) as a model with some gender issues.

'Beautiful' Ones Speak Part 5: Sarah Himadeh

Audition

I think that from the start, from the audition process to wrap of the shoot, he's [Keith] been, actually 'til today he's been so amazing and such a pleasure to work with. Like from the audition, he makes the environment safe so you can go wherever. You feel you can get into the character that your suppose to get into. Be yourself, when you guys are talking about the character or talking about the shoot, the film...or talking about life in general. So he really does create that environment; you feel completely comfortable. I went through the monologue at the audition and it's a monologue where you go into places that are private and intimate, it was just so effortless. I felt like nobody was in the room. He's got such a presence but it's so graceful and elegant and effortless when he's there.

On the set

During the shoot he's just so great generous and kind in transmitting the idea of what the character should be like...he encourages discussion. The character that he paints is just so vivid in front of you. If there were any hiccups we had he was there to clarify it. During the shoot he was just so...I've never worked with a director so gentle and present with the actor and making sure that the actor is okay. It makes it so pleasant...it really allows you to go there. It doesn't matter, any mistakes you make, you just jump in...

He cast so well, all the women that we work with were so talented, gracious, and you can tell it was very well selected.  I remember the [woman-(Connie Romano)] that played my aunt we instantly had chemistry, he was able to cast so well that, without a chemistry read, was able to put us together in a room and it was just instant sparks.

The crew treated us so well. So yes, he brings a great energy around him...and you can tell that he treats unto others the way he wants to be treated and it really does pay off.

Favorite memory

My favorite memory of him is the last day [of] the shoot I had to catch a flight for work and it was a climax; a breakdown scene. I had found my aunt who pasts away we did the scene in a take or two, two [takes] max. He wrapped it, I ran out of there, and ran as fast as I could to the subway so I could catch my flight. He just opened a path for me to run and get out of there as fast as possible. He's just so understanding is basically what he is. And so human...we love Keith.



The 'Beautiful' Ones Speak Part 4: Aija Terauda

Audition

So my first day on my audition I missed it because I was sick.  He [Keith] had another day to go on. So when I came and I had my monologue I like the atmosphere. I like [the] welcoming and I like [that] everyone was listening carefully to what I was saying. I felt that this [is] good people to work with so when I get the call from Keith, I think it was monday, I was really happy to work on it-he was so excited-he said you got the part to my film, and I was like 'wow that's great'.

On the Set

Working on the set with Keith was so easy, not stressful at all. He does things with big love and you can feel the love around on the set. I can feel that he loves what he does. On the first day we were shooting I felt that the film is going to be good because of this energy around. Cast, crew, amazing. Everybody knows what they are suppose to do.

Favorite memory

So my best memory was on the last day of filming the scene, on [my] second day of shooting. We were thinking maybe my character should go out the windo... she was suppose to have an awakening part and we were thinking maybe its going to rain. At the end of the day the rain started. I...was praying [at] the window and I just went outside on the balcony through the window. So my character became alive. At the end of the scene everyone was happy & he [Keith] was supporting the scene...he said that was exactly what we were thinking about [to] ending the scene.

Solitude

To be a great filmmaker/digital director/screenwriter one has to learn to put aside time to be alone. To be alone for hours frightens a lot of people. Not me. This is where ideas flow, ideas are produced, developed, grow, and are eliminated. We hear the thoughts that are in the forefront of our minds...but what about the those incredibly deep thoughts in our subconscious? Now these thoughts could be very disturbing, vulgar, sweet, warm and comforting. This is what a artist should tap into. Either you keep these thoughts, use them for a character, a story, or you just throw it away. To throw it away could be liberating, this frees you from all the garbage that could hinder your story. True writers don't have time for nonesense, the writer wants what we all want to discover in our art, as a participate and an observer, and that is Truth. This truth can only be found in a deep way when you are soaked with what is before you-the characters, the plot, the subplots, the supporting characters, the settings, everything-only then you'll find truth. It'll reach you, it'll speak to you. I'm not trying to make this sound mysterious or mystical in any way. This is about immersing yourself into your work so that you can find the gold treasure buried underneath the shallow surface. And the surface is nice and cozy and you want to hang out there for awhile but way, way below is something greater.

I believe as a digital director I will find that 'something greater' -kind of treasure everytime when I make a movie.

Solitude, it's not a bad word.

The 'Beautiful' ones Speak Part 3: Diana Margulies in 'B.W.W.U.E.'

I worked on the movie 'Beautiful Women Wake up Early' as a make up artist and I love it. Mr. Bracker is a pleasure to work with because he's very well organized. We didn't waste time, everything was prepared...I knew exactly what look I should achieve...the atmosphere was very good... it wasn't rushed. Even though we were working fast, you didn't feel like someone [was] pushing us.
Mr. Bracker is pretty easy going, I love to work with him. It was no problem. Even if something didn't go the way as it should he could reverse the situation and make it look good...it was a very good experience.

The 'Beautiful' ones Speak Part 2: Raimonda Skeryte in 'B.W.W.U.E.'

Audition Day

It seem like a regular audition day. But when I came closer to the building I realized I've been in this building before. The funny thing was that in that building it was my very, very first audition when I first came to New York City, so it was five years ago. The same room I auditioned for the first time, that's where I first met Mr. Bracker. So I thought that was a good sign (laughs). So I walk into the room, I see Mr. Bracker next to his friend. They're both are very serious, wearing big sunglasses. I was thinking 'Oh, this is so mysterious' (laughs). But they turned out to be the two most sweetest, nicest guys I've ever met. I did my monologue, they seemed to really enjoy it. It was a very nice chemistry in the room (pause). Keith is so sweet, he's just the sweetest person (laughs). So the audition went well. I left the building very pleased. Very satisfied. At the time I felt like my monologue, because I do think because of the feeling in the room, it came out very easily and it just flew out of me.

Recieving the role of Gunta

Keith called me to let me know...he gave me the part not the one he had in mind when he saw me for the first time. So I auditioned for a different part. But then he offered a part to be a model. And I said okay, whatever, I just want to be in the project. I feel like I can take something from every role. Especially if it's something that's not like me. I'm into that role even more because I learn something. I get to experience something new to improve myself in my work. So I was very happy. Excited. And he seemed like a very nice person to work with.

On the Set

It was very, very quiet, organized, artistic, collobarative; I have to say this was one of the most dynamic sets I've ever had a chance to work in. The whole crew, the whole team, all the cast, were these amazing creative souls. We just gathered together; it seemed like magic was happening in the room by itself. I loved being on the set. I really did. It felt good. It felt very creative. And as a performer I felt very supportive. Encouraged. It was fun. It really was.

Working with Mr. Bracker

He's very patient. He doesn't rush you so he allows you to really take as much time you need to approach your character to understand it. I felt very open to just talk to him and to be honest and open about everything. You can't want anything more as a performer. To just be really supportive. I think he's a good director. He has his vision, he knows what he wants to see, but he doesn't push you, he doesn't throw you into a situation, you kind of find an organic way to get there together.

Favorite Memory

(Thinks for awhile) The whole thing was my favorite memory (laughs). I can point out the scene we shot where all the women, we were lined up, it started out with me looking at myself in the mirror and then looking back at the next character and that character looks back at the next character-so we had this line of us and we just kind of-sending our emotion our feeling of closeness, just being there we kept sending it into another person...(it) felt...intimate. There was this beautiful feeling in the room. We all felt very connected-related as if we've been good friends for a long time-and meanwhile we just had met a day, couple of days ago. It's hard to achieve that kind of connection. And I'm glad we did. I think that would be my favorite moment.

The 'Beautiful' ones Speak Part 1: Joy Caldwell in 'Beautiful Women Wake Up Early'

Audition Day

It was an interesting audition day because I had just joined this casting service and this was my very first audition I got from this casting service. I was really excited. And Keith was in the room with his shades on looking really suave and cool. He made it really easy. The energy in the room was very welcoming. It's kind of...sometimes unfortunately it's kind of rare in this industry to come to an audition where they're trying to make you feel very at ease. He just asked a couple of questions. I put in my cover letter for the audition that I did music. And we talked about that; my experience in music. It was a beautiful day. It wasn't like I was going in and I had butterflies, something in me just felt at ease, calm throughout the entire process.

The Day of recieving the role of Monica

The day of recieving the part I flown back to houston to spend sometime with my family. I was driving in the car when I saw a new jersey number on my caller ID. I was like 'Oh God who is this' (giggles). When I checked my messages it was Keith telling me how he really enjoyed my audition, my energy, and congradulating me on recieving the part. I called him right back and we spoke.

On the Set

Everybody that he cast, his production team, all had beautiful spirits. There was no diva-kind of thing going on, everyone was open-extremely helpful. Mr. Bracker was very patient. Everyone was very accomadating to one another. It was a great experience. One of the truly great experiences that I've had where everyone on the set was being available emotionally, intelligently, spirtually, it was just beautiful. It was one of my favorite experiences.

Working with Mr. Bracker

He is very accomadating for the actor. A lot of directors only see their technical part of it and they say this is what they need from you now but Mr. Bracker was very patient with us...it felt like I was doing a theater kind of work shop. That's how most of the time theater directors direct-they give you time to find your character -to do different things with your character. I really enjoyed that.  It felt like home. His directing felt like home.

Favorite Memory

My favorite memory was on my first shooting day. It was literally probably my favorite memory of this year, most memorable memory, put it like that. I was coming in from houston, I was suppose to get into New York the night before the shoot. Some how I ended up staying in the airport in Philadelphia and so I didn't get into New York until 6 AM on the morning of the shoot. Then they lost my luggage. I had make up and a bunch of other things I had in my luggage that I needed for the shoot. I was like okay, 'I'll get through it'. I go home, showered really quickly, took a 45 minute nap; ended up being late, my nap extended longer, I got up to rush to the train. I took the right train but to the wrong stop. I was walking around Jersey, in this central area for about a hour and an half. I walked to the bank, lost my debit card...it was the most tumultous time trying to get to the set.
Mr. Bracker was patient, he said 'Are you okay?' I was a bit frazzled. It was still easy when I got to the set.