December

I know...I'm late. I haven't written. Well that is the thing with this blogging business. It can take time for thoughts to collect or for the events in ones life to accumulate enough for interesting reading. In my case, I've had way too much going on to put pen to paper (or fingers to keypad) and plunk out the yellow brick road heading towards my Emerald City. Now here we are in December. A year ago today I was keeping chronicles of my journey into the role of 'Alba' for the film "Soledad" which is still in post-production. This year I am currently working on the role of 'Alma' for an upcoming short film yet to be named, so we will call it "Untitled". This film is special because it is being produced by me. Yes folks, that is why I've been so busy. My film company, Guapa Films, LLC is now up and running and we are embarking in our first production. We are slated to begin principal photography in early January. Take a tour of our website to find out all the details of the movie. Of course, I will be blogging about the role of Alma and all the production gossip. So stay tuned.... Happy Filmmaking - KD

©GuapaFilms™

Round and Round We Go...

June came and went in a flash of monumental activity. I guess I should tell you all about FITP (CT Film Institute Training Program) but I'm going to switch gears and instead of sputtering out how amazing the program was, I want to take a moment to talk about what happened during the time that I was in the program.

The weekend before starting FITP my uncle Emilio passed away. He was a quiet family man. Unassuming, my father's best friend for many years. Emilio worked for the Local 201 in NYC, a Painter. He was proud of his Spanish heritage. Born in a Naval Moral De La Mata, Spain - He's loving the World Cup Win from heaven! A few years ago, Emilio was in a bodega (grocery store) when he was spotted by a director shooting a commercial in a nearby park. He was asked if he'd like to participate. He said OK. Lo and behold he ended up on a Time Warner Cable commercial and received the coveted SAG card! The hoot was he did it cause it was fun! He made friends with the director and that director would call him and check up on him often throughout the years. That's the kind of man Emilio was. Everybody's friend. He had a story ready for the tell, a joke in his pocket to lighten the mood and the door to his home open to every person willing to climb the five flights of stairs of his NYC walk up.

Emilio's Passing taught me to value Time. You are never too old to give up a dream. Keep living. Keep having FUN.

During FITP we were working hard to prepare all the materials needed to bring to fruition the production of the short film To Dye For - written by Marty Lang. It was Directed by Richard Dobbs (of Law & Order fame), The heads of each of the departments were: Angelo DiGiacomo for Camera, Danielle Rigby for AD, Mike Barrows for Grip, Garret Boehling for Lighting, Virginia McCarthy for Script, DanaJean Cicerchi for Wardrobe, ( which was the department I was in), Chat Gunther for Sound, Maria Bierniak for Location, Jim Kent & Jonathan Tessler for Set & Props. Plus, Betty Chin in the Production Office.

An "A" list team of participants and cast rounded out the team that urged forward the four weeks of intensive instructions and "hands on" experience to get the project completed.

In the meantime the weekends were spent flying up to see Dad. He was not doing well.

Right before Memorial Day he had suffered a setback with his health. Hospice had been called in. We were looking at the end. We just didn't know when that end would be.

For those of you that don't know the story: "Dad" is John my Father-in-Law. My Papi, died 16 years ago. But John, may have well been my Dad. For the past 15 years he's been just that! My Dad. When I met my husband...(who happens to be named after his Dad - John), Dad took me in, made me his daughter and never looked back.

He was there when I had my accident. Understood my pain. Talked to me about his. Shared stories about his past. I felt honored to be given pieces of himself that I know he did not share with many people. Dad was a man of few words. You knew he liked something or he didn't by the way he stared you down. He had one favorite show: Law & Order. He died on the week of our pre-production.

I didn't get to tell him who our director was - he would have gotten a real kick out of that!

Dad's passing bought out a lot of strength in people amidst the sadness;

Cory gave up his 16th birthday gracefully - His grandfather passing that same day. The day prior we had returned from visiting on Father's day The last pictures of Dad are of Cory and he sitting together. Every trip up to MA, Cory was there to see him, sharing with the family and spending time.

John (my husband) withheld grief to travel to NYC to bring back cake, gifts, and my mom to acknowledge his son's special day. He did not want Cory's day to be overshadowed and knew that Dad would want us to keep Cory's day special.

Andrew & Matthew in their ultimate wisdom kept us cheerful, because Grandpa would want us to remember the "good times" and celebrate Cory's birthday (they are wonderful cousins). They had been staying with us while their parents went on a much needed short vacation. They broke the silence that descends on a moment like this. They kept the vibrancy of life alive in my home. I will forever be grateful for their presence. The hustle and bustle of young boys running around left little time to wallow in sorrow.

My Mom came from NYC (she and Dad) had a wonderful relationship throughout the years. She had seen him the week before and had had the chance to say goodbye. To her, John my husband is her son. So, she feels his every pain and love tenfold. Dad loved that about her and they often spoke and shared stories. At family gatherings you could find them off together whispering away about the "kids". Mom had three and Dad had five so they had lots to talk about. My mom is loved by all of John's brothers and sisters ( John's brother was vacationing in the DR when Dad died - that is baby brother Chris/ by the way I'm from the DR- Dominican Republic) and Dad loved my brother and sister as well.

As this had to be, I missed one day of FITP. That was the day I traveled up to Dad's Funeral. Leave it to him not to be all fussy about the whole thing. It so happened it was on his birthday. June 24th, 2010.

Dad would have been 75 years old. He was determined to make it. He was determined to get out of that Hospice one way or another. He was determined to live free of his illnesses (COPD - Don't Smoke People!) In his stubborn way..Damn it.. He did it! (Oh, He was determined I would meet the director of Law & Order...he did that too! Just wish he didn't go to such extremes to do it. I was getting there on my own. Humm- I wonder if this was all planned.. and he knew all along.)

His gift is of Determination. Every time Dad would call me he always wanted to know what was I up to. Had I gone on an audition? Was I doing a show? What new project was I doing? Was I famous yet?

He wanted 'IT' really bad for me. I want 'IT' really bad for me too. (Maybe he can finally tell me what 'IT' is!)

So, there was my June an amazing experience sandwiched between two very sad goodbyes. Strong links in the chain of my family snapped free, irreplaceable, unforgettable.

July opens with quiet whispers of things I can't decipher yet. Possibilities from the camp at FITP? Maybe?

The Movie Project ... (I'll write a blog about it later). But, basically I will be working with the writer Danielle Berarducci. The Investor/Producer Obaid Kadwani (still a dear friend) is looking for another style of writing than what was produced by the writer that was picked from the search we did. As we could not lock down a contract we felt it was best for parties to part. Danielle and I will continue to work on the script to bring it to fruition. (It's really Awesome!)

I don't know if I will ever write a detailed blog on FITP. It would mean having to separate the emotional experience from the practical and I'm not sure that I want to. Right know I am charged with such drive to push forward, as Chuck Miller says: "I've drunk the cool aid!", I don't want to diminish that feeling by dissecting down everything lived. Maybe I should just let it be?

Then again, I may change my mind, who knows. - KD

©GuapaFilms™

May... May... May...

May! We are approaching its end. It was full of great surprises and accomplishments this Spring month. Completed and for viewing pleasure is a great video project I participated in for New Artist Brasco Directed by Rob Graydon and shot by Richie Mauro of Solar Plexus Studios. You can view the entire video here: http://www.youtube.com/k9drama.

May auditions yielded the wonderful results of being cast as Supporting Lead in a New Musical called "Salem Towne" in the role of Tituba. The Reading will take place this Fall at the Katharine Hepburn Theater in Old Saybrook, CT - date TBD. I will be journaling my adventure into this role and can't wait to start the process of discovery. It's been a long while since I've been on stage and doing a musical, so I'm thrilled to be back!

Another summer adventure I'm about to embark on is a five week intensive with the 2010 Connecticut Film Industry Training Program at Quinnipiac University. As I continue to grow, I do not want to place a label on who I am to become...so the journey of learning continues.

Updates:

La Soledad: When last asked, still waiting on a trailer. The waiting is hard, but I am confident that the final product will be stunning.

The Movie Project: Funny that the Month is 'MAY'... As of 5/18/2010 the project is on hold pending contract discussions.

Well, there you have it! I hope to journal classes - BUT no promises (I just got an iPad-so we'll see what I can do).

Until next time... KD

©GuapaFilms™

Entering Spring!

I am inspired as the world around me thaws and we head towards longer days. I am looking forward to the projects that lay ahead even though at times they seem monumental. We have selected not a "Script" but a Writer. Our journey has bought us a brilliant storyteller who is working diligently to create a personalized story. Out of the many talented scripts and ideas submitted she was able to capture the essence of what we were looking for. We do have a second Script selected as our alternate. Working together from the ground up will be the best way to bring this project to fruition and make the "Magic" we all so long for. We thank all who submitted a script and/or concept/idea and are humbled by your generosity and talent. At a later post I will announce the name/s of the Writers and their Script/Titles. Thank you!

©GuapaFilms™

Opportunities!

Each day we are tempted with the ideas of grand opportunities. Ways to fast forward our careers; jumpstart into the fast lane to top directors and producers. Most of these ideas live inside our own heads. We believe we hold the magical key that can open the door through the relationship of a friend who knows a friend, an agent we just became acquainted with, through the hard work of a film/play that is doing well, etc. Sometimes these venues do us justice. Most times they are short lived and we go back to work to find another vehicle to build upon our short lived success. This business is HARD. And then... there are those times when out of the blue, without warning or prompting, a situation lands on your lap with all of the favorable conditions needed for you to advance and reach a goal. It comes wrapped tightly, coded neatly, in the word investment. $$$ Ah. Where does the creative stop and the business begin? Or have they always co-existed and we just played ignorant out of convenience? I mean, we are after all a Product. Aren't we???

©GuapaFilms™

In Search of the Perfect Script Continues!

February finds me in the midst of reading scripts. I am amazed at the huge amount of talented writers I am surrounded by. The level of creativity is beautiful to behold. However, we are still in search of the Perfect Script! Mostly due to the strict criteria we are trying to stick to. These are: 1. Limited Locations 2. Male Lead/Non-Caucasian 3. Multi-Ethnic Cast/Ensemble With that said, the genre of the story is open to all different kinds of story lines. So, write away...and submit! Who knows... maybe you have it! You might just join our creative team to make dreams into reality! To recap on who we are and what we are trying to do... I am an Actor by trade. You can read my blog to learn more on me. 2010 opened its doors with new possibilities and opportunities; beginning with secured funding on a joint venture with a good friend of mine Obaid Kadwani. Obaid is a successful actor, TV host & personality, plus business entrepreneur boasting a plethora of successes you can view here: http://www.obaidkadwani.com/main.html. Together we decided to go into the realms of film making. So thus, began the search for the Perfect Script! Our goal is to continue our search process throughout the month of February. We'd like to begin production in Spring/Summer 2010. Submit (via email) a short summary of your story line or a condensed version of your script. We will contact you if we'd like to hear more on your story! Submit to K9drama@live.com - Subject - Perfect Script! Thank you to all who submit and Let's make a movie!

©GuapaFilms™

Looking for Writers! Re-Post

In Search of the Perfect Script! 2010 opens it's doors with new possibilities and opportunities. Beginning with secured funding on a joint venture with a good friend of mine Obaid Kadwani. Obaid is a sucessful actor, TV host & personality, plus business entrepreneur boasting a plethora of successes you can view here: http://www.obaidkadwani.com/main.html. Together we have decided to go into the realms of film making. So we are in search of the Perfect Script! Who knows... maybe you have it! Maybe you can join our creative team to make dreams into reality! Sumbit (via email) a short summary of your story line to be considered. We will contact you if we'd liked to hear more on your story! Submit to K9drama@live.com - Subject - Perfect Script! Thank you to all who submit and See you at the Movies!

©GuapaFilms™