I Wanna Know - when there's a video being shot at the Danforth Music Hall!

Casting calls for most music videos are looking for people in the 18-24 age range - which is why it was a change to see a casting call for a part in my playing range.

Now, after a 12+ hour day, I can say I've taken part in a music video, portraying Grieving Lady.  When the DVD is available, I'll create another post with some live footage of my scenes in the cemetery and attending a music performance.

 Here are some backstage shots...

I was glad we had dressing rooms (top photo)... and, even better, some of them came equipped with facilities (second photo)! (This might not seem newsworthy but... I've not only been to auditions where there were no washrooms available, I've also been on all day shoots in the middle of nowhere, in minus ten weather, with no toilets near at hand!)

The view from the dressing rooms was only so-so (third photo) but at least we could see daylight!

Most of the video was shot on location at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto under director David Mewa. NE Inc. was the production company.

The Danforth Music Hall, ready for its close-up!

The performers included members of The Trews, Rich Kidd and Maestro Fresh Wes.

Much of the footage was shot in the lobby of The Danforth Music Hall )(photo at left).

Maestro kindly posed for us while we were waiting in the dressing room; in this shot, he's wearing "his pea coat look". Like most of the performers, Maestro had to supply his own wardrobe. For my cemetery scene, I wore my dark burgundy winter raincoat, as Director Dave said he liked its "upscale look".

Suzka came from Vancouver to play violin. Here are a couple of shots, taken from the wings, showing her in action.


(If you are noticing some of the shots have a kind of smoky patina, that's probably due to the special effects that were in use during the day.)

And, here's a shot showing what everyone does best... waiting! (At left, actors, crew, director of photography Samy Inayeh, AD Patrick Hepburn, and more) are all just...waiting!




Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

Under The Circumstances: teachable moments

One of the films I appeared in, in the summer of 2011, was "Under the Circusmtances" by Undertoe Productions.

It is a docudrama, telling the story of what happens to an innovative teacher when he engages his students in a school, located in a very conservative community.

My role was that of what I call the School Secretary, although I've been corrected and told I should refer to her as the Office Administrator. (That's interesting, if only because the word "secretary" includes the word "secret", implying confidentiality - and I think that should still be an important part of the job...)

Following is a video clip, edited down from the original although, hopefully, not too much of the context has been removed. It's a scene where the innovative teacher has been called in to see the principal and is about to be declared "surplus"...

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

The Oh-So-Serious World of Art

Back in December 2010, I auditioned before three young men who were making a mockumentary pilot for Rogers TV. I read for two parts - and, at the end of my auditions, they applauded. That was a first!

I eventually landed the part of an art historian who is absolutely besotted with a post-modern artist, Chandel Butterburry. In my eyes, he can do no wrong! For the TV pilot, I discuss Chandel's place in the art world and the significance of his work.

As well as my scripted lines, I was also "interviewed" in character, ad libbing a lot of information about Chandel. In some ways, this segment was possibly funnier than the scripted part, judging from the way the producer was cracking up off camera. Sadly, none of the unscripted part made it to the TV show, although the director may have used some of these outtakes on his own website.

All being well, the video on this blog post shows the segment - edited - in which I appeared.

The pilot aired in mid-2011 and was called The Onald by Mike MacDonald.

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer

P.S. Just to add irony to the mix, I am also what is known as a "gallery-hung" artist, having had both solo and group shows. To view my own contribution to the art world, go to my blog at
http://DeborahSawyerArt.blogspot.com

Behind the Scenes - and more!

Just over a year ago, I began - or, more correctly - recommenced my acting career.

Now that I have several productions 'under my belt", I've decided to keep a blog as a way of recording my activities, plus keeping people up-to-date on my current and upcoming films and TV work.

My blog will also be a forum for me to share various behind-the-scenes stories of what goes on at auditions and the like - no names mentioned of course, to protect the guilty as well as  the innocent.

Stay tuned...!

Copyright Deborah C. Sawyer