Lisa Temple Actress Your Senator, Doctor, Teacher, Mom

Thursday night I attended a wonderful meeting sponsored by MOVE LA, a committee from the SAG-AFTRA Union.  The meeting was called “Developing Your Own Project: From Concept to Completion.” Well, it was amazing, and I left feeling inspired and empowered! (In fact, I was so revved up I couldn’t sleep. Should’ve stayed up and written this blog then.)

The meeting consisted of a panel of professional actors who have been successful in creating their own content. You may remember I used to balk at this very idea, but amazingly, now I’m freed up about it and no longer have writer’s block. So glad I didn’t miss this meeting because everyone had a unique approach to success. One woman spent $800 on a three-minute film, entered it into a competition, and won $60,000 for first place. Not bad, eh? And what did she do with that money you may ask: she used it to shoot a much bigger project. 

There was also a union lawyer on the panel, and she told us lots of important info about the different types of projects, and the contracts required for each of them. The union really wants to support us to make our own content, and they’re willing to work with us so that all of our paperwork is in order. Pretty nice. Feels great to have that support and protection.

One woman on the panel is not only an actor, but has now become a director and a fearless producer. She believes in herself and her abilities so completely, that the minute I heard her speak, I knew I had to talk to her afterwards. And that’s what I did.  She was kind and helpful, and I handed her an Info Sheet I put together about my series. She happily took it, and said I could email her. I got home and immediately sat down and sent that follow-up email. The next day she replied and suggested I send her the first episode. How exciting to know she wanted to read more about my series. This is why it pays to talk to people, and to ask them appropriate questions that they’ll want to answer. Not long ago I would’ve been way too shy or scared to approach her. I would have thought I wasn’t worth her time and would’ve just quietly left without talking to anyone. Now I choose courage and grace, and a commitment to creating an artistic community. 

But there’s more good news! Today I dropped my latest script rewrite to another director who’s already given me excellent notes. She’ll read this version and give me more notes (writing is rewriting remember), and she’s on board to direct our first rehearsal in March. BUT, when I dropped the script off, I mentioned this new director I just met, and it turns out they know each other! WHAT?! If this isn’t a gift from the Universe, then I don’t know what is. I’m hopeful that this new director will also want to direct some of my episodes, and I’m so grateful. Fingers crossed!

There were other enthusiastic and inspiring people on the panel at that meeting, and I took copious notes. One thing I’m doing for sure on Monday is to contact local film schools – AFI (American Film Institute), Chapman University, LA Film School – because they all have eager young graduates looking for experience. BONUS: They often have student discounts on things like equipment, which is a big line item on a budget. It was suggested to start by contacting Producing Fellows, mostly because their training is in pre-production, but also because they went to school with directors, directors of photography (DPs), Sound Engineers, Lighting Designers…they are a fount of resources and information! 

This has been an eye-opening experience all around, and I’m so ready to take this project where I dream it can go. We all have unique life experiences, talents and abilities to offer, and our personal stories to share, so why don’t we? 

“Leap and the net will appear.” John Burroughs

About SAG-AFTRA MOVE LA – MOVE is a non-partisan, member-driven committee, dedicated to supporting the initiatives of SAG-AFTRA and positively influencing the lives of actors and performers. Through trainings, forums, and events, MOVE provides member education, organizes to create more union employment and strengthen existing contracts, and promotes union solidarity within the labor community.

SAG-AFTRA is the Screen Actors Guild, which is now merged with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.