Some projects take longer than others. They follow us around like ghosts tucked away in a cobwebbed attic, popping up to haunt our creative cores. They creep up from time to time, usually when we have a marathon to do list to tackle. My short film, Method: A Voice Actor Prepares, was just such a project. I wrote and directed it while I was rounding out my last year of my 20s. Now in the first year of my 40s it’s wild to see what a decade away from a project can do to my perspective about it.
The concept of Method: A voice Actor Prepares came to me while working as a production coordinator/ Japanese translator in a sound studio specializing in original animation, video games and Japanese-English dubbing. So much of film and acting is about the art of a project and can get very serious at times. Even working in animation, which tends to be seen as lighthearted, there are very high stakes and a lot of moving parts to get a project to premiere. In all the hustle and bustle of my day job I began to think of all the dedicated voice actors I worked with who were professionals with a ton of classical theater training. Many of them starred on Broadway, or in national shows that toured. They also tended to be the character actors who the general population could recognize from a guest role on “Law and Order”, but never know the name to match the face. Most voice actors that specialize in dubbing, usually get very little recognition for their work from the film/TV industry. (You wouldn’t believe all the people who have gotten their starts playing Pokémon.) So, this idea began to percolate in my mind for a comedic short that showcased some of the best voice actors working in anime, while also poking fun at how seriously the entertainment industry can take itself. On any given day, a voice actor can play a dragon, a sex pot and a little boy, sometimes all in the same show!
So, what would it look like if one of these dedicated thespians was also a method actor? Then the brilliant Ben Diskin came into my life. He was cast in several series simultaneously and I couldn’t help but notice that he also looked like a character he played on a very popular anime. I realized that I had found my star! Luckily Ben is a great sport. He has been working in show biz his entire life. A child of the 80s, like myself, he had a very different life path than me. While I was growing up in Gary, Indiana, he was starring in some of my favorite classics such as “Kindergarten Cop” and “The Wonder Years.” Like many child actors, Ben switched to voice acting as an adult. He also happens to be a black belt in karate. So, with a little coaxing I talked him into wearing some very silly costumes and coming back to on-camera work. With my lead in place, it was easy to get the rest of the cast to join in on the fun. Our cast stars some of the most popular and prolific names in animation. Since initially shooting this film, they have gone on to win Emmys and make waves on the small screen.
We finished shooting the film in 2010, but only completed the post-production this January (2022). Everything technical and personal that could complicate getting a project to completion happened to me in the last decade; job changes, the death of my mentor, cross-country moves, computer crashes (twice), and having a late in life bundle of joy during an international pandemic. That was just my decade my production partner/ editor had quite the wild ride as well! Our Almost Fairytales crew, who were all volunteers on this project, may have taken almost twelve years to tackle this twelve-minute film, but we managed to complete it.
So, in January with the final version in hand, I had to make the big leap to let it be judged on the festival circuit. Cue the imposter syndrome and all the other waves of worry that can come while living as a creative. Hitting submit can be the hardest step of the process sometimes, but I made myself do it. After all, what’s the point if you never let anyone see a project, or read it?
I got the best Valentine’s Day gift when FilmFreeWay.com (the film festival submissions hub) sent me a notification that “Method: A voice Actor Prepares” was accepted into its first festival and the event was in New Orleans. I’ve never been to America’s only European city, but I’ve always wanted to go there and so has my fella. So, the premiere was a long-awaited experience for many reasons. With my supportive fiancé and wild haired toddler along for the adventure we headed due south in my trusty Rav4. Fourteen hours-straight on the road would have been tough for a pair of adults, but throw in an 18-month-old and we knew a pit stop was needed. I’m blessed with a big blended family. My dear cousin Emily put us up in her fabulous oasis outside of Memphis. (She actually AirBnBs it so if you’re looking for a comfy spot to stay, you should check it out.)
It was wonderful to connect with my kinfolk before hitting The Big Easy for three days of comedy. We came into New Orleans on the second longest bridge in the world.
The landscape shifted from southern forests into inlets and swampland. Stilted houses and boat docks, eventually gave way to the airport and then the curve of The Crescent City itself. Our AirBnB was in the 7th Ward and within a variety of walkable attractions.
The main feature we came for was Method’s premiere, which was set for Sunday, March 20th. Lysistrata was billed as three-days of comradery and comedy. It delivered! Named for the classic comedy, this inaugural event seemed like just the right place to premiere my quirky little film baby. Friday night featured Improv Troupes at the Hi Ho Lounge, Saturday was devoted to Stand Up Comedy at The Allways Lounge and Cabaret and Sunday was the short film festival at Café Istanbul. (You can read more about the genesis of the festival in this Gambit article by Jake Clapp.)
My nerves revved before the premiere and panel. Would the audience laugh in the right spots? Comedy is hard, I would venture in some ways more difficult than drama, because you know when you bomb.
Nothing can be worse than the sounds of crickets and a few coughs when a joke doesn’t hit the right beat. There are a lot of meta moments for the true animation fan in "Method: A voice Actor Prepares.” I began to worry that it might not have a broad enough appeal, but it is also chalked full of fun slapstick and an extra dose of silliness. For being brave enough to hit submit and show up to the premiere, I was rewarded with laughter. People got it. They got all 12 minutes of satire and it was wonderful to share this moment with my love and our little guy.
When I shot this short as a 29-year-old single lady living in LaLa Land did I see myself watching its premiere in my 40s holding my baby boy in New Orleans? Not at all! Was it wonderful? Absolutely!
