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Gretchen’s Lock | From Inception to Grand Premiere | Part II

Today we are continuing with the multi-part blog about Gretchen’s Lock. In case you missed the first part you can check it out HERE.

Filming: Day 1

After getting everything prepped and showing everyone the lock, the cast and crew were eager to begin our filming journey. We headed down the Vondergreen Trail that leads to Gretchen’s Lock and decided to shoot with the sun behind the actors. Like I said before, the weather was absolutely perfect for our days of filming. The bright sunshine coincided with the adventure the campers were on and their joking manner. So, we found a section of the trail that seemed like a good place to start. We looked at the trail that went slightly uphill and thought everything was in place.

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Sound and cameras were rolling, “ACTION.”  As myself, the three members running audio, and Danielle started trekking backwards the terrain proved to be challenging. A couple of steps into the take the boom mics were hitting branches I was tripping over rocks and roots and everything was going a little too fast. Side note, operating the Glidecam is an art form itself which I have not mastered by far. We decided to move a little slower and Danielle guided me by holding onto my belt and tugging to warn me if there was a step up, a rock, a root, a squirrel, whatever I couldn’t see behind me. After a couple of takes we began to find a rhythm and finished out the opening scene.

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As we arrived to the trail offshoot that leads to Gretchen’s Lock the sun was still brightly shinning. However, as soon as we walked down to the lock the sun went behind the hill on the other side of the creek leaving Gretchen’s Lock in a shadow. I think the geography of the area and the bend in the creek set up Gretchen’s Lock to be dark, cold, and quiet which adds to its mystery. We quickly executed the takes and finished up before dinner time. Scene 1 was in the bag and we made the 15 minute hike back to the parking lot.

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As pizza arrived the cast and crew quickly bonded and we gathered around the fire talking about filming the first scene. This group of people seemed to click instantly as we began setting things up for the night scenes.

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Because the area we were filming is primitive, there was no access to electricity. We set up a generator for the lights we used for the campfire scenes. We placed the generator back in the woods and ran a couple of 100 ft extension cords. After running cords and setting up the lights we started the generator. Immediately the noise was quite prevalent and was going to be an issue with the audio. We covered the generator with a box that had ventilation and carpet to absorb the sound. This seemed to eliminate a lot of noise.

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We position the actors and cameras and began to film. Right after the first take the lights faded out and the generator stopped. I looked up from my camera with concern. We walked to the generator and heard it making a hissing sound. I removed the box and felt the heat coming from the generator. Obviously we didn’t have adequate ventilation and it was overheated. We needed to relieve the pressure so it didn’t blow up (we joked about doing another film with pyrotechnics to calm everyone’s nerves. Gretchen’s Lock II: Gretchen’s Out for Blood). I was able to unscrew the gas cap and to release the pressure and we let the generator cool down for a few minutes. We started it back up and continued filming and decided we’ll deal with the noise in post production. As we finished with the campfire scene we headed into the tent.

The cast was super ornery at this time as they snuggled up in their sleeping bags and blankets. One of my regrets was not filming some of the antics that were happening in between the takes. After the cast got comfortable inside the tent four of us crew members went in to film the scene. Huddled in the corner was Danielle, Jacob, Amy, and myself. We knocked out that scene in a couple of takes and we moved outside to finish up the day 1 of filming.

At this point I decided we weren’t going to use the generator anymore because it was becoming a hassle. With the help of white foam boards we were able to light the actors as they walked through the woods. The story seemed to get more real as we ventured into the woods with flashlights, a camera, and a crew of foam board holders. The woods were very dark even though there was a full moon each night we filmed. At one point there were no flashlights on and the only light you could see was the moon in the distance and the glow of the campfire. We finished out and were done by 10:30 pm. We gathered all the equipment and loaded it into the cars and left the campsite.

On my way home I finally had sometime to think since Danielle drove separately. I was still in disbelief that this was actually happening and amazed that everything went as smooth as it did for the first day. I quickly grounded myself and began to plan things out in my head for the next day’s shoot which was jam packed…

 

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Gretchen’s Lock | From Inception to Grand Premiere | Part I

Inception

Gretchen’s Lock was our first independent film. Both Danielle and I spent a lot of time visiting Beaver Creek State Park with family as we grew up not knowing each other. Five and a half years ago, before we got into photography and way before video, we went to explore Gretchen’s Lock for the first time together with our pug, Norris. It was an early Autumn day and there was a chill in there air. Of course, that was heightened as we approached the lock.

After exploring we made our way back to the parking lot. Jokingly we said, “Someone should make a movie about this place.” Like I said before, this is way before we even got into the industry and we didn’t remember that we talked about it until just before we started to film. Digging in the Facebook archives today we found this post that blew our mind! Seriously, this is CRAZY!!

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Fast forward to last July, after photographing over 100 weddings and dabbling in a few promotional videos, I had the idea of making an independent film. I wanted to make a film about something local, something outdoors, and something relatively low budget. Beaver Creek came to mind because of its beauty and wonder. As I started to develop ideas, Gretchen’s Lock popped into my head. I began research and found out even more legends in the area that I’ve heard in passing but had never connected.

I began writing a screenplay in mid-July and finished the bulk of it sitting on the porch of a cabin in Amish country near Sugarcreek while we were on vacation in August. As soon as we returned home I quickly wanted to get things underway. I drove down to the park, hiked to Gretchen’s Lock, snapped a few photos of the lock and Hambleton’s Mill before I left and put a poster for a cast & crew call. Danielle and I joked in the evenings saying, “Who do you think we can pull into this production?” We thought maybe some family friends and perhaps a handful of people could be dragged in. After posting the cast and crew call poster our phone, email, and social media blew up with interest of people wanting to be a part of the production. I think my phone rang nonstop for 3 or 4 days! The reach of the poster was over 67,000 people! Yikes!

After sending out hundreds of emails and receiving information forms from those who were interested we narrowed down the crew members and the potential actors we’d be auditioning. We set up the auditions for September 20th, 2015 and got things moving at Beaver Creek by applying for a permit to film there and reserved the Group 3 campsite. We were blown away by some of the auditions and started to assemble the cast.

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After reaching out to fill in a couple of the roles we had our team! I finished tweaking the script and we had one and only production meeting and table read. Due to the quick nature of wanting to film at the end of October, a good handful of cast and crew couldn’t make it to the meeting. Despite that fact, after the meeting I felt energized and ready to get more things rolling.

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October is usually the busiest time of the year for our photography business. From weddings to family sessions to high school seniors our schedule was jam packed. What a great idea to schedule films dates in the busiest month of the year, NOT! Danielle sometimes looked at me like I was crazy. We were running around from all of the sessions, taking care of our 8 month old, and gathering equipment, supplies, and working around everyone’s schedule to come up with a solid film schedule for the three days we filmed in October. October was surely a whirlwind of chaos, but things started falling into place.

The week before filming we had photo sessions almost every evening, a wedding on Saturday, and another session on Sunday before we began filming on Monday, October 26th. That Friday, the 23rd, I got up at 3:30 am, went to Walmart to get supplies, went to a few hardware stores when they opened, hit up Hobby Lobby to get some other supplies, and then, of course, stopped at Chick-Fil-A for an early lunch.

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I sped my way back home to begin working on things. As the day quickly faded away I realized there were some things that just weren’t going to get completed. We packed up and headed to our wedding the next day and then to our session Sunday evening (our session was in Bethany, WV so it took an hour and twenty minutes to get there). After arriving home late, we got everything we could together.

As the restless night ensued, I got up at the crack of dawn to load everything up for filming. I was quite tired, very anxious, and hoping everything would go as planned. Everything was loaded up, I headed down to the park, met up with Joe, and we began unloading. It was a beautiful Fall day. The leaves were so colorful, the sun was golden and warm, and there was an Autumn chill in the air. If there was any day to be representative of an ideal Fall day, this was it.

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Butterflies were still fluttering away in my stomach as other crew and cast members arrived. When I saw most of the cast coming out of the shuttle, it hit me. This is actually going to happen.

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Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be directing and filming a screenplay that I wrote and that there would be so many people willing to commit most of their time for three days to make it possible. After I met a few for the first time it was back to reality.

We began setting up the cameras and getting the audio equipment ready to go. The cast prepped for the day as the crew gathered equipment to hike to Gretchen’s Lock, which was about a 15 minute walk from the parking lot. I lead the pack with my camera on the glidecam attached to the stabilizing arm and vest still in disbelief that this was actually happening.

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I wanted to show everyone Gretchen’s Lock before we began filming to set the tone. After a brief overview it was time….

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Gretchen’s Lock Cast & Crew

Gretchen’s Lock; a machine. Cast; the fuel. Film Crew; the moving parts grinding away to make the machine move efficiently.  There were so many incredible people that we got to work with to produce Gretchen’s Lock. Without them this production would have completely fallen apart. They were dedicated, imperative, knowledgeable, and willing to do anything it took. Even those with no experience jumped in, got their hands dirty (literally), and turned into pros 5 minutes into filming. It was fantastic to have worked with such a great group of people. Maybe it was being out in the woods, in the rain, in the mud, or sharing a part of ourselves and pouring it into the production, and there will forever be a bond between us. This cast and crew came together and created something special to say the least. We will be forever grateful for the hard work everyone has put in and will cherish the friendships that were forged while filming.

Here’s the amazing cast & crew of Gretchen’s Lock. We wish everyone was here in this photo, but unfortunately schedules don’t always align.

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Here are some other photos from the filming of Gretchen’s Lock:

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Thank you to everyone who was involved in the making of the Gretchen’s Lock film! Without you none of this could have been possible! We feel truly honored to have gotten the chance to work with every single one of you. We look forward to future productions with you all!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the showing in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock TODAY, April 23. The 6:30 pm showing is SOLD OUT and the 8:00 pm showing is getting close to selling out, as well. Get them while you still can!

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Tyler Fisher | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

To round out our Actor Highlight series is Tyler Fisher. Tyler’s role in the film was a man in a vintage suit (circa 1920-1930’s) who had a sweet 1923 Dodge Brothers Phaeton Convertible as his ride.

Tyler was a student of one of our crew members and submitted a video audition, which showed his versatility. He was a perfect person to play the role as the Man In Suit. Man In Suit is a mysterious character and the others meet him as they are moving camp. Although his identity is a mystery, there is a mention of his name is the first part of the film. Tyler carried that mysticism and intrigue and delivered his lines in the way that seemed fitting for his character.

Tyler_FTyler has been involved in many productions in high school and enjoys doing impressions and improv sessions.

Man-in-Suit_0001Here are the questions we asked Tyler:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Tyler: As an aspiring actor, having something so local and anticipated as my first official project is really great, and I can say that I really enjoyed my experience on set.

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Tyler: I’ve lived in East Liverpool for my entire life, and, living that close to the park, it’s hard to not know about the stories.

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Tyler: I can’t say I do, but maybe I just haven’t had a reason to, yet.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played? (Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be your role in Gretchen’s Lock). 🙂

Tyler: I definitely enjoy the bragging rights that came along with portraying “_____________”  [in Gretchen’s Lock]. <————– (make your own assumptions after watching the film 🙂 )

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Tyler: Robin Williams was a big inspiration for me on and off camera. His take on life, and his acting showed me that someone can be loud and theatrical and still live their dreams if they choose to follow them. His comedy is some of my favorite, and his roles in movies like “Good Morning Vietnam”, and “The Adventure of Baron Munchausen” really made me feel like I had found something I could happily do for the rest of my life, if I only could find a way. He was an enormous inspiration to me, and continues to be through his work.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Tyler: Film is my single favorite form of art and to ask me to pick a favorite is really asking the impossible. My taste in movies ranges from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (1981) and anything Monty Python, to The Fisher King and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Though, if I had to choose a genre of movies as a favorite, Cult Classics have a special place in my heart. From poorly dubbed kung fu movies, cheesy 80’s sci-fi, to campy horror flicks and anything Quentin Tarantino has ever put out.

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Tyler: I like playing guitar in my free time, but I am guilty of wasting many a night watching B movies or playing video games. 

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Tyler: I have always felt like it was just what I wanted to do. I played sports as a child, but never really enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed doing impressions and improv comedy for my friends and family. Now I’m out of high school and I’m not letting anybody else dictate my future. I would rather fail miserably at something I love, than get by on something I loathe. Who knows! I might actually find my way and really learn what it is to be an actor.

MPF: Favorite color?

Tyler: Blue and all variations of blue 

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film?

Tyler: I can’t say I have a favorite. They were all great!

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Tyler: I myself am an aspiring actor so I can’t say that my advice is worth anything, but you should follow your dreams no matter what they are. People are always going to doubt you and there are always going to be rough patches, but you only have one go at this and there’s no reason you should waste it doing something you don’t enjoy. 

Thank you, Tyler, for your intriguing performance in the film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the production and you did an awesome job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on THIS SATURDAY, April 23. It’ll be a mysteriously good time!

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Pakob Jarernpone | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

Today on the Actor Highlight series we are featuring Pakob Jarernpone. Thanks to Deanna Sherman, a fellow cast member, we were introduced to Pakob, whom Deanna has worked with several times in the past.

The role Pakob played in Gretchen’s Lock was Kevin. Kevin’s character is cautious, unadventurous, and the husband to Jenn. Due to Jenn’s controlling personality Kevin is easily swayed. Pakob submitted a video audition and his facial expressions and emotions he portrayed for Kevin were fantastic. While filming Gretchen’s Lock, those expressions and emotions took his character to another level that I never even imagined.

ATT_1435006331092_03Pakob Jarernpone is best know for his roles in The Deprogrammer, Grasshopper, and Julia. Pakob has 5 years of training in Tatsu-Do, has been involved in well over 15 films, and was an extra in The Avengers, which initially sparked his interest to further his acting career.

Here’s the link to a short reel of Pakob: Pakob Jarernpone

And here’s the extensive list of films he has be involved in: Pakob IMDB

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Here are the questions we asked Pakob:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Pakob: My favorite part of filming GL was the camaraderie between all of the cast and crew.  Shooting in cold rainy weather can be tough, but if you’re with the right group of people you can have a great time with, none of those things seem so bad.

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Pakob: I never knew anything about any of the local legends until I became involved with the project. 

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Pakob: I DO believe in ghosts and other supernatural phenomena.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Pakob: My favorite movie of all time is Big Trouble in Little China.  I love all of John Carpenter’s movies, but this one has a special place in my heart because I have always been a big fan of martial arts/chop socky flicks, plus it was a movie I watched hundreds of times when I was a kid and I still love it to this day!

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Pakob: I’ve collected and read comic books ever since I was 12 years old.  I’m a huge comic book nerd.

 

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Pakob: I became interested in acting after working as an extra in Avengers.

MPF: Favorite color?

Pakob: My favorite color is black.

Thank you, Pakob, for your admirable performance in the film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the production and you did a superb job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on April 23. It’ll be a scary good time!

You can also find us here: Facebook | Instagram

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Emily Geary | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

Next up on our Actor Highlight series is Emily Geary. Emily is basically a supermodel and got into acting through modeling.

To add to the legend of Gretchen and Gretchen’s Lock another story has been told about a bride who was left at the alter that is within a 15 minute walking distance from Gretchen’s Lock. There are many versions of the Esther Hale story so I decided to incorporate some of those ideas and create my own rendition. I wanted Esther’s character to be a distraught, lonely, and heartbroken bride that evolved into a sinister being.

Due to scheduling conflicts Emily was unable to make the auditions so she submitted a video audition. I literally got goosebumps as I watched her audition for the first as I saw her transform from a sad, frail, brokenhearted girl to this vindictive, vengeful woman. I felt like I had to look over my shoulder to make sure there wasn’t anything there creeping behind me.

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Emily has been a featured extra in The Last Witch Hunter, Banshee, and The Outsiders. She is the lead actress in a new country music video called “Countrified” by The Stickers that you can check out here: http://www.cmt.com/videos/the-stickers/1271010/countrified.jhtml. She has also modeled for Pittsburgh Fashion Week, Tampa Swim Week, as well as many other fashion shows throughout the country.

Emily has done promotional work for GNC, Nemacolin, and has been featured in many magazines including Fahrenheit, Glady’s, and was on the cover for The Wig Company. She is also the host for StickersTV.

You can learn more about Emily here: http://modelemilygeary.wix.com/emilygeary

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Here are the questions we asked Emily:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?
Emily: Of course the actual filming and getting to work with such an awesome cast and crew was amazing and was such a great time.  But my favorite part was actually getting to film at the real site of the legend. Often in films, the location is just a set made to look like the real place, but in our case, we got to film on the actual grounds of where the legend took place! This made the acting so much more real because, for me, there was an added eerie feeling!
MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?
Emily: Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, I’ve heard about “Gretchen’s Lock” many times.  A lot of my friends made it up to the lock a few times but I never got the chance to go until we filmed so I was really excited about that!  The actual legend of my character, Esther Hale, was new to me when I heard about the role. Getting to research Esther and learn more about her story before filming was very interesting and made the whole legend even better for me!
MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?
Emily: I’m very much a believer in ghosts! Growing up I was always interested in ghost hunting and Ouija boards. I’d love to have an actual encounter.
MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played? (Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be your role in Gretchen’s Lock). 🙂
Emily: Acting is very new to me, I’ve been modeling for a while now and that’s where my focus is. In the future I would love to get more involved in acting, as of now playing Esther was one of the only major roles I’ve done and I loved it! I’ve done background work and I’m core background for the WGN Americas series Outsiders which is so much fun, I spent the majority of my time last summer with the cast and crew and got to be a part of so much of the show, it really made me realize how much I enjoy being on set and want to pursue acting!
MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?
Emily: Margot Robbie is my favorite actress, she is an inspiration to me in many ways.  She is a beautiful and talented actress.  I’m also very inspired by Julia Roberts and Sandra Bullock, they’re both very talented women, along with so many others!
MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Emily: I’ve always been very interested with the Holocaust. It’s one of the saddest things in history and so hard to believe that such horrible things existed. I’ve taken classes, read many books, have been to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC., and have even had the opportunity to visit the Dachau concentration camp in Germany.  With this being said, one of my all time favorite movies is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It’s a must see movie!
MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?
Emily: As I mentioned before, I’m a model, so this is what I spend the majority of my time doing. I guess this is considered my career, but when you love your job so much you can still consider it a hobby, right? With this, I get to travel to different places all the time and I just love traveling and meeting new people and seeing new places! Recently moving to Florida from Pittsburgh, PA to pursue my career I left pretty much everyone and everything I know, getting time to visit home and spend time with friends and family is a real treat to me as well!
MPF: What made you interested in acting?
Emily: Unlike a lot of actors, I had different interests growing up and I didn’t participate in school plays or acting lessons.  It wasn’t until after graduating I realized this was something I was very interested in. Modeling lead me to acting when different films called for models, once being on set and getting to watch the actors do what they do best, I knew immediately I wanted to get more into acting.
MPF: Favorite color?
Emily: This is kind of weird, but I love white and nude/neutral colors.  I just think these colors, especially together, look so classy and then they can always be spruced up with a touch of color or just a touch of gold or silver, I love it.
MPF: Who is your favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film?
Emily: All of the characters were really great! Gretchen’s character was awesome. Sarah Hunter just fit the character so perfectly and she was so interesting to watch. Watching her transform from her naturally beautiful self into this scary, dead girl was just great. We had so much fun getting our makeup and hair done and turning into our characters!
MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?
Emily: Always go after your dreams! People often think what I’m doing is silly and try convincing me to go in a different direction, but I’m so happy with my choices and lucky to have the people who do support me! Don’t ever let anyone persuade you to do something you’re uncomfortable with and stay true to yourself.  You’ll meet so many wonderful people along the way and you’ll find yourself in many ways!

Thank you, Emily, for your terrific performance in the film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the production and you did a fantastic job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on April 23. It’ll be a haunting experience!

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Joseph Morales | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

Next up on our Actor Highlight series is Joseph Morales. The character in the Gretchen’s Lock film who guides the other campers through the woods to the lock is Dominic. Dominic appreciates the history of where he grew up and wants to show his friends a place he used to visit with his grandfather. Joe sent in a video audition trying out for the role of Dominic and he had the calm, in control demeanor that I wanted for this role. While filming, Joe delivered his lines perfectly and the emotions he portrayed elevated his performance in each scene he was in.

View More: http://ryandamicone.pass.us/jmheadshots2015Joe started acting at the age of 11 performing in school musicals and plays up through the end of high school. He graduated in 2014 with Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Communication at The University of Akron. During that time, he worked as one of the music program directors at WZIP, the campus radio station. After graduating from Akron, he was involved in a student feature film and since then has been pursuing a career in acting. Over the last year he has done background work for a variety of movies and has completed a film acting course. Although Joe is relatively new to the film scene, he plans on improving his acting skill set and pursuing future film endeavors.

Joe_0001Here are the questions we asked Joe:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Joe: My favorite parts of filming Gretchen’s Lock were getting to experience the lock itself (especially at night) and getting to work with such incredibly talented and overall fantastic people (and I am not just saying that to be a kiss up, I genuinely mean it haha).

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Joe: I had absolutely no idea Gretchen’s Lock existed until the audition came up. I looked a little bit into it beforehand for research, but getting to experience a little bit of the legends through the film made learning about it much more interesting. It’s a great ghost story and I am all about ghost stories.

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Joe: Absolutely a thousand percent yes. Unfortunately, I myself did not experience one while shooting and I don’t think anyone else did either. I have been hoping to go back to maybe experience something out of the ordinary. My aunt, uncle and cousins have had experiences themselves with the paranormal and it is always interesting to hear what they’ve witnessed. It actually makes me jealous because I want those experiences myself haha, but I still believe even though I haven’t personally experienced it…or I have and just didn’t realize it.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played? (Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be your role in Gretchen’s Lock). 🙂

Joe: Though getting to play Dominic was fun, I have one role that always stood out most. I played Luke from Anything Goes during my freshman year of high school. He was a Chinese addicted gambler who eventually bets away the clothes on his back, which I had to expose my scrawny chest to the audience, which was awkward and uncomfortable at the time. Looking back, it was quite hilarious. Getting to attempt a Chinese accent was also a lot of fun. Any role I received in school plays and musicals where I got to have a mustache or use an accent were always my favorites. I liked to be the comedic relief any chance I got and embarrass myself. I still enjoy it and get to do it every month during a podcast I am apart of that’s recorded in Columbus called It’s All Been Done Radio Hour, with a variety of characters. Funny voices and comedic relief all throughout it!

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Joe: I could list a lot of actors that have inspired me, but to save some space since I ramble, I would have to go with Johnny Depp. Depp’s characters for the most part are very eccentric and I have always admired his take on such dynamic characters like Edward Scissorhands and Captain Jack Sparrow. Even the more subtle roles like Glen from A Nightmare on Elm Street stood out to me since it was his first film role.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Joe: My favorite movie of all time is John Carpenter’s Halloween. I first saw it by accident when I was 6 and it really scared me, but I love being scared so I always enjoyed watching it. The score is so beautifully done throughout every scene that it helps make it that much more terrifying. The effects may be out of date, but it is the score ultimately, and the visuals at that time, that (in my opinion) helped define the slasher genre of horror films. Plus, you can’t go wrong with stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence and John Carpenter directing.

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Joe: I really enjoy going to the movies with friends, watching television, listening to music and taking my dogs for a walk. If possible, I also like to go swimming. There are a lot of things I say I want to do, like start running, get into photography, get back into singing, and work out, but I haven’t made time for them yet. The running and working out would definitely be a struggle because I can be active, but I’m not that active. Essentially, I kind of like to be lazy, haha.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Joe: When I was little, my mom would tape my brother, sister, cousins, friends and myself doing skits of The Maury Show and Jerry Springer. We even did spoofs of Rush Hour, Tomb Raider, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. It essentially became our childhood and from there, I realized I enjoyed entertaining people with different characters in stories I wanted to be told. I then got into plays and musicals throughout middle and high school and after college, I started getting into film.

MPF: Favorite color?

Joe: It would be a tie between Blue and Green.

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film?

Joe: I couldn’t just pick one, so my two favorite characters are Jenn and Jason. Jenn is a bit of a smart aleck and will correct you any chance she gets so it’s very easy to get annoyed with her, which was what was intended. Emily Kelly plays Jenn so well and she is the complete opposite of that character, very nice and warm hearted. Jason, who is also a smart aleck and a bit reckless, is the opposite of Nick, who is kind, quiet and is quite the talented musician and photographer. I will point out though that Deanna, Pakob, Sarah, Emily Geary, and Tyler all did great in their roles. I think I did okay.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Joe: My best advice is “If you dream of doing it, make it come true.” Though the options are best in the big cities like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta, being here in northeast Ohio has a lot of options from other aspiring actors and filmmakers that make it happen, like the Mennings did for this film here. Sometimes, it just takes some passionate dreamers to make something happen.

Thank you, Joe, for your excellent performance in the film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the production and you did a terrific job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on April 23. It’ll be an eerily good time!

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Emily Kelly | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

Today on the Actor Highlight series we are featuring Emily Kelly. Emily has quite a resume that is deeply rooted in theater. The role Emily played in the Gretchen’s Lock film is Jenn. Everyone knows that one person who is very matter of fact and likes to correct things that ain’t right (I can see eye rolls from Emily now, haha!). Emily will even admit to having a bit of Jenn’s personality. As soon as Emily auditioned for the role she knocked it out of the park! Yes, that’s for all of you baseball fans since Opening Day was yesterday. We all immediately looked at each other, wrote “Jenn” on her audition form, circled it, and maybe put a few exclamation marks beside her name also.

During filming she nailed every scene and keep us laughing in between takes. If you purchase a blu-ray of the film she ends the blooper reel laughing hysterically and puts her own take on being injured. Also, it was 1:00 am after three long days of filming so it was a nice comic relief.

Headshot-2Emily graduated in 2003 from Marshall University with a BFA in Acting and Directing.  Following graduation, she relocated to Los Angeles where she worked for eight years in various aspects of theatre and film production.  The bulk of her time as an actor has been spent onstage, although she played a featured role in Dark Alley Film’s “Killer Yacht Party” and also spent time working in post-production sound as ADR/Looping Talent.

Behind the scenes, she has produced and directed projects for a number of theatrical companies, as well as contributed production assistance and costuming expertise to a handful of film projects.  Since her return to the Ohio Valley four years ago, she has appeared in a few theatrical productions.  She is a lifelong horror fan, and someone who loved to explore Gretchen’s Lock as a teenager.

This Summer she wishes to return to the stage in a directorial capacity.

Emily_K_0001Here are the questions we asked Emily:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Emily: My favorite part of filming “Gretchen’s Lock” was definitely the fun that we had. I wish that the cameras had been rolling between takes to catch all of our hilarious, off-color moments on the set. I think that we really fed off of each other’s energy, and it made for a great time. I couldn’t believe the chemistry that we all had, after working together for such a short time. I really think that it will show through in our performances on-screen.

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Emily: In high school, I had a small group of friends that were interested in the occult-Supernatural phenomena, mysticism, etc. Hailing from a small town with little to do to occupy ourselves, we would sometimes go to Gretchen’s Lock at night to see what we would see. There is an undeniable energy embedded in the area, and I feel as though it’s magnified at night. I can think of one particular occasion where we all experienced something that none of us could explain. I could tell you about it, but you probably wouldn’t believe me, anyway.

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Emily: I absolutely believe in ghosts. I’ve heard way too many credible stories and even had poignant enough experiences of my own that it would be impossible for me not to. I think that each and every one of us leaves an indelible energy on the ground that we’ve walked and the people that we’ve met, that lingers long after we’re gone from this Earth. That energy may not always manifest itself in the same way, but I’m quite sure that it’s all around us.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played? (Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be your role in Gretchen’s Lock).

Emily: I don’t think I have a favorite role that I’ve played, so much as I have a favorite show that I have worked on. In the months following Matthew Shepard’s murder, a theatre company from New York City traveled to his hometown and interviewed townspeople about their feelings and experiences surrounding the incident. The play that resulted, “The Laramie Project,” is a powerful examination of the depths of which human beings both love and hate. I’ve been lucky enough to be cast in two separate theatrical productions of “The Laramie Project,” once in college and once during my time in Los Angeles. Both productions featured a small cast, with each actor playing multiple roles. I’ve played roles ranging from a lesbian college professor, to the young girlfriend of one of his assailants. While I’ve always loved entertainment for its quality of escapism, I value this show so greatly for the thought-provoking dialogue that it creates. I am extremely proud to say that the Matthew Shepard Act was signed into law during our run in Los Angeles. No one may ever know if “The Laramie Project” had anything to do with such an important piece of hate crime legislation, but I like to believe that theatrical activism does play a part in raising awareness of vital issues. It’s such an important story, and I hope that I can bring a production of it to this area sometime soon.

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Emily: I’m always inspired by different actors for different reasons. I LOVE Benedict Cumberbatch. Whether he’s playing a classic, literary detective or a real-life, eccentric mathematician, his characters always feel so multi-faceted and complex. I’ve always admired Robert Downey, Jr. for his versatility. They say that it’s far easier for an actor to make someone cry than it is to make them laugh-for me, he’s one of the most successful actors in doing both.   I’m also a huge fan of Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy, because their performances are always absolutely fearless.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Emily: My favorite movie of all time has always been “The Breakfast Club.” It’s one of those movies that’s held different meanings for me throughout different points in my life. I love writing like that.

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Emily: What are my hobbies? I love to work out. I go to the gym every morning after work. It’s my me-time, and it’s my time to clear my head. Everything’s better after a good sweat. Music is another good head-clearing hobby for me. I love to play the piano. I’ll sing at the opening of an envelope. I belong to a couple of area choirs, but would really love to sing in a band again, someday. My favorite hobby, though, has to be cosplaying with my daughter. She’s five years old, and she loves to dress up for comic conventions, parties and pretty much any other event she can. We love comic books and sci-fi, so we’ve made costumes for everything from the Avengers and the Justice League, to Star Wars. We’re currently working on our new Star Wars costumes for the Steel City Con coming up in Pittsburgh this April.

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Emily: From the first moment that I stepped on a stage, I knew that acting was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. There’s something really intoxicating about getting to put yourself away for a while, and be someone else for a bit. As an actor, you can be pretty much anyone you want to be-The possibilities are endless. Being primarily a stage actor, I’ve also always been drawn to the collaborative energy of performing live. When you’re up there it’s just you, your co-stars and the audience. There’s no safety net. Every performance is different. Every audience reacts differently. It’s electric.

MPF: Favorite color?

Emily: My favorite color is pink. Mauve. Magenta. Hot Pink. I love them all.

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film?

Emily: Honestly, I think that my character, Jenn, is my favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film. When I first read the character descriptions and the sides for the audition, I knew that she was the character that I wanted to play.   I won’t reveal too much about her personality, but she is definitely an important, stock persona to the horror genre. While we’re on the subject, I will admit that I did see a little of myself in her.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Emily: If I had to give aspiring actors any advice, I would tell them to be fearless-Don’t be afraid to leave your heart on the stage or the screen. Work on projects that you’re passionate about. Make your own opportunities. Always be punctual, prepared and professional.

Thank you, Emily, for your outstanding performance in the film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the production and you did a fantastic job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on April 23. It’ll be a provokingly good time!

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Deanna Sherman | Actor Highlight | Meet the Cast | Gretchen’s Lock

Today on our Actor Highlight series is Deanna Sherman. Deanna has done a TON of work as an actress from commercials to films and even TV series. Even before the audition process her resume was quite impressive and I thought to myself, “man, it would be awesome if she accepts a part in the film.”  Sure enough, during the audition she demonstrated her wide acting skill set and we knew she would be perfect for the role as Amy.

DeannaSherman(headshot)-cropHer bio on her IMDB page explains Deanna’s expertise very well so I’ll just copy that and paste it here: Deanna Sherman is best known for her role as Grace Todd on Homicide Hunter, airing to 1.4 million viewers in 2015 on the Investigation Discovery channel. She’s been labeled the “ID Actress” with lead and supporting roles in several other shows also airing on the network such as Evil Kin and Evil Twins. She was cast in Sundance Film Festival 2016 selection and SAG feature film, The Land from Los Angeles director, Steven Caple, Jr. Deanna’s been in numerous independent short and feature films including producing her own short, Undead Fred — runner up best film in the Cleveland 48hr film project. She trains with J.W. Myers, a director known for his family friendly films.

Her love of acting started at the age of 6, starring in a school play.She performed theater throughout elementary and high school and transitioned into film after college. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in journalism. Deanna has also done several commercial and corporate video spots.

Whew, buddy! Those are some pretty amazing accomplishments! If that’s not enough here is some more:

Deanna’s Website: www.deannasherman.com
Twitter & Instagram: @DeannaSherman83
Upcoming projects: Catch Deanna on the new show Deadly Demands on Investigation Discovery April 11th at 9pm ET
She has several independent films in the works including her lead role as a private investigator in The Kingsbury Run: https://www.facebook.com/thekingsburyrun

Deanna-Amy_0001Here are the questions we asked Deanna:

MPF: What was your favorite part of filming for Gretchen’s Lock?

Deanna: Meeting new people and being on set with my good friend Pakob.

MPF: Did you know anything about the local legends of Gretchen’s Lock before auditioning?

Deanna: Nope.

MPF: Do you believe in ghosts?

Deanna: No.

MPF: What’s your favorite role you’ve ever played? (Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to be your role in Gretchen’s Lock). 🙂

Deanna: I don’t think I can pick just one because they have all been so different. I loved working on Check Please with Jared Ward, The Land with Moises Arias and multiple shows for Investigation Discovery. I’ve also worked with my daughter a few times for some short films and that is always a good time! 

MPF: Which actor(s) inspire you?

Deanna: Anyone who is successful on their own without having family in the business.

MPF: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Deanna: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

MPF: What are a couple of your hobbies?

Deanna: Running and photography

MPF: What made you interested in acting?

Deanna: I was the lead in my school play in first grade and since then have always wanted to be an actress.

MPF: Favorite color?

Deanna: Blue 

MPF: Who is your favorite character in the Gretchen’s Lock film?

Deanna: I liked Jason’s snarky character because everyone can use a little sarcasm in their life.

MPF: Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Deanna: Network, take classes, do student films! I did a whole interview about this a few years ago if anyone would like to read it:
http://www.midwestmoviemaker.com/2013/11/how-to-become-midwest-movie-actor-four.html?m=1 

Thank you, Deanna, for you time and commitment to this film! We’re so glad that you were a part of the film and you did an amazing job!

For more information about the Gretchen’s Lock film & for tickets to the ONLY local showings in Columbiana, go HERE. We’re thrilled to bring you a locally made independent film production featuring local legends and made in Beaver Creek State Park! Thank you for your support in our endeavors & we hope to see you at the Grand Premiere of Gretchen’s Lock on April 23. It’ll be an artsy good time!

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