Welcome to The Friends In Film Blog

Hello folks… Just a quick check-in!

Another video from set! This time, a spa house!

The only advice I’ve ever heard for becoming a Hollywood writer is “work hard, write every day.”

No one ever reveals how they actually did it.  

Last week, I worked with Johnny Depp at this stage in Hollywood. It was a screen test where 2 top female actresses were auditioning to star in a film with Johnny. The screen-test was to check the chemistry and decide which actress get the role. Usually, screen tests are small affairs. But someone, Johnny? Rob Marshall? wanted it done like a recreated scene from the movie. So, I got the call on Thursday for the shoot on Sunday. 12 noon to 6 pm.

We shot at a small stage in Hollywood. “Off the Shelf” catering was the caterer. They are off this planet! Truffle mashed potatoes, filet mignon served with a poached egg, warm chocolate chip cookies… stuff like that.

The other day, I shot at a $14 million house in the Hollywood Hills… We were shooting a spot with Zach Levi. He was in the movie, Almost Famous.

It’s not everyday we shoot at a $14 million dollar house…

This shoot had a little drama associated with it.

So, we’re there for a 4 day shoot. They’ve put us up in this incredible resort in Palm Springs (that’s like 2 hours from Los Angeles).

Before Friends in Film, I have to say that my life felt like there was no real purpose. My life was a complete mess and I was doing the best that I could to stay happy no matter what happened. FIF gave me hope.

Now, I feel like a completely different person and I have never worked so hard to get to my personal and career goals. FIF doesn’t just teach you how to get on a set, it also teaches you how to think and feel more positive. It teaches you how to become a better person. That alone has given me real happiness and hope that life can get better.

I feel like it is beneficial to have found a program and community like this where it’s about positivity and productivity.

My life changed in a positive way after I ran into Janet’s program. I learned the benefits of getting outside of myself and changing my state of mind to overcome the uncomfortable situations and interactions. That might seem obvious but sometimes you go through stages in life where you forget that love even exists because everything seems to be headed all over the place.

I wasn’t happy with my job, there was no room for me to move up, and graphic design is not what I want to do for a living.

Since starting the program, I’ve been a PA on a few short films, a couple live events, and most recently a music video! One of my first jobs was actually 1st AD on an Indie Feature. I will be the stills photographer on film for five weeks! : )

The old story of my life was of impending doom. It sucked! A year ago I’d completely five up. I had allowed myself to sink into an office job that wasn’t right for me. I let myself go physically and mentally. I had gained weight and had socially isolating depression. I felt a great sense of hopelessness. I felt like I should accept a shittry job and move on with my life of worldly misery.

Being someone who is known as a great story teller, it’s a matter of telling myself a different story-a better story. “Can’t” becomes “CAN.”

I went into this program focused on revamping my artistic nature to see the beauty in the stories around me. To use others stories as my inspiration to begin expressing myself visually.

I overlooked my own story.