Onahoua Rodriguez as Shane - Shooting a scene from Love 10 to 1 at Cozy's.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Dilana at Cozy's - Look Familiar?
Onahoua Rodriguez as Shane - Shooting a scene from Love 10 to 1 at Cozy's.
Onahoua Rodriguez - Nominated for 2008 Ovation Awards - "Best of the Denver Center Theatre Company" - Best Actress, Play for Lydia
She's also eligible for the audience award in the same category. For a list of the nominees click on the title and it will take you to the Denver Post theater section.
Other Ovation Nominations for Lydia include Best Production, Best Supporting Actor for Carlo Alban and Best Director for Juliette Carrillo.
Winners will be announced in the 12/28 issue of the Denver Post Arts & Entertainment Sections.
If you're on the east coast - New Haven, CT - you can catch Lydia at the Yale Repertory from February 6 - 28 & in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum from April 2nd - May 17th.
Congratulations to all involved in this amazing production and a big Thank You to the Denver Center Theater Company and the Colorado New Play Summit for supporting this beautiful and provocative piece.
I had the privilege of attending two performances in Denver, it was a life changing experience and I am grateful to have been part of the DCTG's audience.
A big THANK YOU also goes to Denver Post Theater Critic John Moore for his relentless support of Ona and the production.
xoxo,
Lucy
Monday, December 15, 2008
When asked whom he makes films for, Mr. Eastwood said, “You’re looking at him.”
The title of this blog comes from a quote in a recent NY Times article on the film Gran Torino by Clint Eastwood.
It made me wonder, is this why he’s such a successful director? His films connect with audiences and critics alike. He’s a gifted actor/director who despite his politics makes films that manage to land themselves as Oscar contenders and do well at the box office (which must make his financiers happy).
He’s an actor’s dream. In Mystic River he directs Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, two actors that are pretty far from the Clint Eastwood political spectrum. In a town where someone can easily get blacklisted for their political/religious views, Clint Eastwood takes risks (his run in with Spike Lee) and even in the current film where he plays a bigot (I have not seen it, but from what I hear, he does not sugar coat the language to make things politically correct).
So he takes risks and makes movies for himself. Is that the key to being a good director? A respected director? A successful director?
When I wrote Love Song, I have to honestly say that I wrote it for me first, my sister second and never gave much thought to the audience. Of course we have a target audience but I was not thinking of the audience when I wrote and cast the film. It was easy for me to do that because at the end of the day, it was my own hard earned $$.
I wrote the film for myself and for my sister; for me - I wanted to see a film with commercial appeal where Latinos play the lead, where race is a fact not a plot point. For my sister – because while as an actress she has been extremely lucky to consistently work, the characters she plays tend to consistently focus on race and/or ethnicity. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but I’ve seen enough of that to last a lifetime. I wanted a pretty film that felt like a slow paced music video and I wanted it to have heart. That’s exactly what I got. I made a film that I can watch time and time again and hopefully enough people will feel that way about it.
I poured my heart and soul into Love Song and dedicated a strong part of the last four years of my life to create the feature film Love 10 to 1. I hope that this is the first of many; I was recently told that “at your age, you are pursuing the dreams of a 20 year old” this was followed by a comment about family/kids not fitting into my directing life. OUCH! If I didn’t have to work full time (to pay for the film and to support myself) in conjunction with being a full time filmmaker, I would be able to make time for the kids.
No one ever said that following your dreams was easy. For me, the payoff would be to get paid to direct so that I can have my cake and eat it too. Some would say this is self indulgent but at least I’ve worked hard to indulge myself and pursue my dreams.
xoxo,
Lucy
PS
In case you are new to the blog, Onahoua Rodriguez is my sister and she plays Shane.
PPS
Read the NY Times article about Mr. Eastwood's new film - He Rocks
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/movies/14head.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
It made me wonder, is this why he’s such a successful director? His films connect with audiences and critics alike. He’s a gifted actor/director who despite his politics makes films that manage to land themselves as Oscar contenders and do well at the box office (which must make his financiers happy).
He’s an actor’s dream. In Mystic River he directs Sean Penn and Tim Robbins, two actors that are pretty far from the Clint Eastwood political spectrum. In a town where someone can easily get blacklisted for their political/religious views, Clint Eastwood takes risks (his run in with Spike Lee) and even in the current film where he plays a bigot (I have not seen it, but from what I hear, he does not sugar coat the language to make things politically correct).
So he takes risks and makes movies for himself. Is that the key to being a good director? A respected director? A successful director?
When I wrote Love Song, I have to honestly say that I wrote it for me first, my sister second and never gave much thought to the audience. Of course we have a target audience but I was not thinking of the audience when I wrote and cast the film. It was easy for me to do that because at the end of the day, it was my own hard earned $$.
I wrote the film for myself and for my sister; for me - I wanted to see a film with commercial appeal where Latinos play the lead, where race is a fact not a plot point. For my sister – because while as an actress she has been extremely lucky to consistently work, the characters she plays tend to consistently focus on race and/or ethnicity. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing but I’ve seen enough of that to last a lifetime. I wanted a pretty film that felt like a slow paced music video and I wanted it to have heart. That’s exactly what I got. I made a film that I can watch time and time again and hopefully enough people will feel that way about it.
I poured my heart and soul into Love Song and dedicated a strong part of the last four years of my life to create the feature film Love 10 to 1. I hope that this is the first of many; I was recently told that “at your age, you are pursuing the dreams of a 20 year old” this was followed by a comment about family/kids not fitting into my directing life. OUCH! If I didn’t have to work full time (to pay for the film and to support myself) in conjunction with being a full time filmmaker, I would be able to make time for the kids.
No one ever said that following your dreams was easy. For me, the payoff would be to get paid to direct so that I can have my cake and eat it too. Some would say this is self indulgent but at least I’ve worked hard to indulge myself and pursue my dreams.
xoxo,
Lucy
PS
In case you are new to the blog, Onahoua Rodriguez is my sister and she plays Shane.
PPS
Read the NY Times article about Mr. Eastwood's new film - He Rocks
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/movies/14head.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
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About The Three Shorts
Christine Le wrote and directed the 1st story Love 10 to 1.
The first story explores the life of a 29-year-old virgin, Jenny, who desperately wants to lose her virginity before her 30th birthday. As she encounters one loser after another on dates, Jenny pines after her boss, Dustin. While at her grandmother’s retirement home, Jenny learns a powerful lesson from her grandmother about sex and the meaning of life.
Christine Le (right) directs Shireen Nomura Mui (Jenny) & Justin Klosky (Jim).
Lucy Rodriguez wrote and directed Love Song.
The second story revolves around Shane, the lead singer of the L.A. rock band, Dirty Virgin. Shane has her pick of admirers but it’s her roommate Dustin she wants to be with. Shane confesses her feelings on Jackie and Jared’s show but when Dustin meets Cali, Shane’s shot at love starts to dwindle. With Dirty Virgin about to embark on a world tour, will Dustin realize that he’s the object of Shane’s affections? Will they risk their friendship to give this Love Song a chance?
Lucy Rodriguez & David Villar (Dustin)
Laura Somers wrote and directed Diving Lessons.
The final story picks up where Love 10 to 1 left off, but from the perspective of Jim, the guitarist of Dirty Virgin. Jim sees Jenny at a swimming pool, trying desperately to overcome her fear of diving. In fact, he finds out that she’s making a list of everything that she’s afraid of and trying to overcome them, one by one. He is instantly smitten and tries to convince her that he’s not just a rock star who ‘loves ‘em and leaves ‘em’. Can a rock star find love with a virgin?
Shireen Nomura-Mui, Laura Somers & Justin Klosky
Leah Anova is the Director of Photography for Love 10 to 1 & Diving Lessons.
Additional Cinematography on Diving Lessons by Erik Forsell
Matthew Boyd is the Director of Photography for Love Song.
The first story explores the life of a 29-year-old virgin, Jenny, who desperately wants to lose her virginity before her 30th birthday. As she encounters one loser after another on dates, Jenny pines after her boss, Dustin. While at her grandmother’s retirement home, Jenny learns a powerful lesson from her grandmother about sex and the meaning of life.
Christine Le (right) directs Shireen Nomura Mui (Jenny) & Justin Klosky (Jim).
Lucy Rodriguez wrote and directed Love Song.
The second story revolves around Shane, the lead singer of the L.A. rock band, Dirty Virgin. Shane has her pick of admirers but it’s her roommate Dustin she wants to be with. Shane confesses her feelings on Jackie and Jared’s show but when Dustin meets Cali, Shane’s shot at love starts to dwindle. With Dirty Virgin about to embark on a world tour, will Dustin realize that he’s the object of Shane’s affections? Will they risk their friendship to give this Love Song a chance?
Lucy Rodriguez & David Villar (Dustin)
Laura Somers wrote and directed Diving Lessons.
The final story picks up where Love 10 to 1 left off, but from the perspective of Jim, the guitarist of Dirty Virgin. Jim sees Jenny at a swimming pool, trying desperately to overcome her fear of diving. In fact, he finds out that she’s making a list of everything that she’s afraid of and trying to overcome them, one by one. He is instantly smitten and tries to convince her that he’s not just a rock star who ‘loves ‘em and leaves ‘em’. Can a rock star find love with a virgin?
Shireen Nomura-Mui, Laura Somers & Justin Klosky
Leah Anova is the Director of Photography for Love 10 to 1 & Diving Lessons.
Additional Cinematography on Diving Lessons by Erik Forsell
Matthew Boyd is the Director of Photography for Love Song.
