Trapit Discovers and The Disappearance of Benjamin wraps.

So The Disappearance of Benjamin is now wrapped and in the capable hands of Patrick Tooley and Austin Hobart for editing, color correction, creating two Coltrons on screen, and other movie magic in post production.
Until I have more to share about wrap parties, premieres and film festivals (hopefully within the next month-ish), I leave you with this:

The smiling faces of myself and cast member Anne Woods on set!

Now for exciting developments in the world of blogging. I've previously linked to a post on The Hunger Games that I wrote for Trapit, the company where I work. Trapit has launched a Tumblr blog called Trapit Discovers, covering unusual and fascinating sources on the web, for which I will be a regular contributor. 

Here are my first two posts:

http://trapitdiscovers.tumblr.com/post/23100611532/feminine-voices-in-archaelogy

and

http://trapitdiscovers.tumblr.com/post/22897980159/ecosalon

Check back a few times a week if you'd like to read my pieces and see all of the interesting finds the Trapit team is making!

The Disappearance of Benjamin and Laika's Paranorman Wrap Party!

My 2012 St. Patrick's day (Holla to my Irish brethren!) was well spent at the wrap party for Laika's latest feature Paranorman due out in August of this year. I know so many wonderful artists and individuals involved in this production, I really have to hand it to them and say it looks great- I'll totes be going to see it.
Also? These people know how to party. From signature cocktails, fantastic company and creative spins on the traditional photo booth, the Laika parties I've attended have yet to disappoint.
Case in point:

My evening's companions: Jordan Robb, Myself, Artist Terell Seitz (A recommended adviser for your TD and/or digital animation-related needs; hit him up- he's quite handy).

 

Where else could I have the opportunity to impersonate the movie's namesake?!

 Or a zombie, for that matter.

What I've been up to in more recent weeks is a short film project that I'm pretty freaking stoked about. It's a piece entitled "The Disappearance of Benjamin", written and directed by Patrick Tooley and shot and produced by Austin Hobart, two very professional and talented individuals that it has thus far proven to be a pleasure to work with. The cast retains an equally high level of competency and general awesome- my only fellow lady involved in the production is cute, charming and also a blogger:

 

Myself and Anne Woods, on set this past weekend in Salem (check out her blog below!)

The aforementioned Austin Hobart

This project will be headed for the festival circuit and I will certainly be providing updates and further production stills as they arise- in the meantime, feel free to send positive vibes as we continue with the filming process!

***Shout Outs!***

-Anne Woods' blog will also have the latest info about this project, as well as her own unique perspectives on acting and the industry: Anneinaction.tumblr.com

-Kellie Morrison, my cousin and a first-rate hairstylist, is offering a deal to new clients at her salon, Twisted Locks, in Portland: $10 off of first-time hair cute, $20 off of color services. So if you're in the area and need a stylist- do give this girl a ring.

Kellie and I on her birthday, a little snippet of her handiwork :)

Now it's back to the grind for me, until -I'm blissfully grateful to report- my weekend getaway in Pacific City, OR. Cheers, and here's hoping for a relaxing spring weekend for us all!

Opening night and after party!

POW Fest began last night (check them out this weekend, folks!), with a local shorts showcase followed by an opening night party. Never having attended POW before, I was excited to see what it would be like, and I was incredibly pleased! The films were diverse topically, but they were all narratives, and the production and talent quality was ubiquitously high. On a bittersweet note, this was The Lost Van Gogh's last official Portland screening. It was great to see it included in this outstanding line up and festival; what a wonderful experience and opportunity participating in that film was overall!
There were a few in the shorts showcase at the Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival that really stood out to me:

-The Company of Thieves was beautiful and compelling, I appreciated the mood of a dark western set against springtime in Oregon. It was a favorite with two guests that accompanied me to the screening. The lovely Director Shilpa Sunthankar and DP Shawn Sunby did a bang-up job!

-I was very impressed with the vision of Kimberly Warner's CPR, particularly after reading this was her first short. Actress Mia Allen brings so much to a non-speaking role, and the piece is visually stunning, thought-provoking, graceful and poignant without need for dialogue. Extremely well done.

-Some friends and I went to see the hilarious Roadhouse: The Play last year, and it was super exciting to meet some of the creative people behind that project at POW last night! Writer and director Courtenay Hameister and actor Sean McGrath were involved in both Roadhouse and Stella's Flight , a charming and funny short that made a wonderful addition to the showcase.

The illustrious director of The Lost Van Gogh, Jessica Lyness and I at the screening after party.

And faithful readers, I leave you with this:

My evening's escort, Jordan Robb, harkening back to the days of his father's balloon company (truth being stranger than fiction and all) to construct both a little poodle and a sword, which naturally soon  found themselves on an inevitable collision course. 

Bam.

POW!

L

Portland Oregon Women's Film Festival, thank you so much for including us in your line up! And a million thank yous (in advance) to the compatriots, loved ones, and patrons of local film that will come see my face in this showing on Thursday, for it's final theater screening in Portland. Last chance, friends! It means so much to me to be a part of projects that I can truly be proud of and see them shared with the PDX community <3

Plus, there will be all of the hugs from the universe, good karma, and unicorn magic visiting themselves upon you as an integral part of your viewing experience. For realsies.

***Blog to blog shout outs!
-Read on as my good friend Alan Justin Patterson, a fantastic Portland photographer, chronicles our winter forest shoot:  http://www.alanjpatterson.com/apps/blog/winter-headshots-angelique

-Portland Women's Film Festival (aka POW Fest) and The Lost Van Gogh get shout outs (That's me in the still!) in this lovely blog post from The Rain Falls Down on Portlandtown.

It is February

"The heart breaks.
Some one does or does not go mad.
It is February
And all is forgiven.
And the cake? I believe it was a Mocha Cream Cake from Mother's Bakery on Johnson Avenue in Riverdale, N.Y." -Maira Kalman
This quote is from her lovely book called "The Principles of Uncertainty", and it comes to my mind every February since I've read it; it captures the mood of the month somehow.

A few days ago I went to a charming local event called Back Fence PDX. It was held at Portland Center Stage where my good friend James works:
 
Here we are in the audience :)

Back Fence PDX is a live storytelling event where people from the community come out and share their different experiences based around a theme. As a person who is passionate about theater, I love this use of live performance to get unexpected people up on stage, and create a unique experience for audience members. This past show featured hilarious and interesting stories from a diverse group of Oregonians, from novelist Laurie Notaro to small business owner Gregg Abbott of the Whiffies food cart.
I definitely recommend heading out to the next one in March!

I have previously mentioned the fine work of my photographer friend Alan J. Patterson, and I'm please to now be able to round off this post by displaying some of the fruits our joint labor this past month; my first shoot of 2012:

Photograpgher: Alan J Patterson, Model/HS/MUA done by me, shot at the beautiful Audubon Society.