On Tue, 30 Sep 1997 13:38:47 -0400 Avital Bins <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > We believe you will find the following information valuable. If we have made > a mistake, please hit reply and type REMOVE in the subject line. If you > would like to continue receiving FREE information on upcoming industry > events, FREE interviews with name producers & directors, FREE articles from Ho > llywood Success Magazine including casting information before it is > published, please type KEEP ME ON YOUR MAILING LIST on the subject line. > Thank you! > ****************************************************************************** > ******************** > ****************************************************************************** > ******************** > The following is taken from a feature article in > Hollywood Success Magazine > > FEATURE FILM PRODUCER / DIRECTOR > Bryan Michael Stoller > > Maximize Your Potential! > by Kelly Hill > > Bryan Michael Stoller started in the film business at the tender age of six > in Ottawa, Canada. Fascinated by the Gumby shows, he made his first film at > age 10. At 12, he was the star of his own television show in Toronto called F > ilm Fun, co-hosted by his sister Nancy. The show covered all the > behind-the-scenes makings of a film - everything from interviewing the > director to production of the soundtrack. > > Bryan went on to do several commercials in Canada and filmed his first TV > movie, Just Like Magic, at age 17. His eleven years of experience inspired > him to set his sights on Los Angeles. He applied and was accepted to attend > AFI as student director. He moved to California with comedian friend Howie > Mandel. Howie ended up starring in Bryan's first student film along with a > cameo by George Carlin and some help from Robin Williams. > > Since then, Bryan has gone to work with such well-known stars as Barbra > Streisand, Dan Aykroyd, and Rock Hudson. He has also helped discover unknown > talent such as Paula Devica (who is now starring on Party of Five) and > Brandon Adams (who then starred in Michael Jackson's video Moonwalker and has > gone on to star in The Mighty Ducks I & II. > > Bryan has produced and directed several independent and studio projects. He > directed an episode of Tales from the Darkside, which is currently running on > the Science Fiction Network. The episode is The Bitterest Pill. He also > directed a film for Paramount entitled Undershorts - a Brief Movie. It is a > series of comedy shorts with cameo appearances by Linda Blair and comedian > Gallagher. The film is awaiting release. > > Recently, his company produced three independent feature films. Turn of the > Blade is the story of a female helicopter pilot caught in a fatal attraction. > The film co-stars Julie Horvath, an APS member whom Bryan met through an APS > networking function. The film has done very well overseas and will be > released here very soon. His film Dragon Fury II also co-stars an APS > member, Cole Andersen. Bryan's feature film The Random Factor (with Dan > Aykroyd) stars Andrew Divoff (who co-stars with Harrison Ford in Air Force > One), and has just been released to the home video market. Bryan's > reputation for being "easy to work with and totally professional" has kept > him very busy in the industry . . . and he's getting busier! > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ------------------------------ > > You are a producer and a director - which do you prefer most? > > Director, because it is more creative. You are working with emotions and > psychology. The producer is more technical. In cooking, he is the person > who assembles the ingredients to prepare the food and the director is > actually the chef. He brings the film to life. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > When you are casting, what is the most important thing you look for? > > Personality. I encourage actors to develop your personality first. I cast > on personality first, acting second. Also when preparing for an audition, > study the character as opposed to just studying the lines. If you know the > character, the lines will come. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Any suggestions for the actor during an audition? > > If you are unclear about anything, take the time and ask. It is your > audition. Also, be natural. Don't overexaggerate your movements in an > audition unless it is for theatre. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > What if you have not achieved the level of success you desire as an actor? > > Network, Network, Network. I can't stress this enough. Develop the skill of > networking. APS is a good example of an organization that can expose you to > some of the people to network with. > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > What are some of the mistakes that actors make? > > Not following up on leads or waiting 4 weeks to reply when someone gives you > their business card. Be diligent about this business. Be professional. > Don't lie on your resume. Use a professional photographer and always send a > note with a headshot. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > - > > I understand that you also teach. > > Yes, I've taught a class called The A to Z's of Film Making. It covers how > to write, produce and direct a feature film. I also teach a class about the > metaphysics of acting which is simple and easy to understand. It is about > developing their personality and injecting it into their characters. Many of > the great actors inject their personality - Dustin Hoffman, Al Pacino. You > see their personalities in every character. That's what I teach. I like to > teach because I did not have a mentor, so it is a way of giving back, and > it's a great outlet. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > --------- > > What is the film you are most proud of? > > I have several projects that I am very proud of. There is a screenplay that > hasn't been produced yet called Light Years Away that I wrote. It has been > optioned several times, but it hasn't gone any further yet. It is an > uplifting story about making your dreams come true. Along the lines of Ghost, > or Splash. It is very near and dear to me. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -- > > What is your ultimate goal in the business? > > I've been doing pretty much what I want to do. I would like to direct and > produce larger budget films, maybe do a few studio films, but you don't > always have the control I have as an independent. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ----- > > What are your thoughts about the Oscars going to more independent filmmakers > this year? > > Well, the meaning of independent is changing quite a bit. I am sort of a > rebel about that word. Most of the Oscar winners were not solely > independent. To me, an independent is more of a struggling filmmaker who has > to raise financing from several sources - private investors, etc. He is > usually not as well-connected as Miramax, who is owned by Disney. Also their > budgets are usually not as high. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -------- > > Do you have a personal motto you live by? > > Actually, I have several. If you want to get something done, do it yourself! > Also, the motto I've had since I was twelve - the problems we worry about > are the ones that never happen and the ones that do, we deal with right away, > so why worry! Don't be obsessed with worrying. As a producer, I have one - > If it's man-made, it's negotiable! My dad always says: You can't go wrong > doing right and you can't go right doing wrong. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ------ > > The term producer seems to be used a lot in Hollywood. Any comments about > that? > > Yes, make sure the producer is legitimate. You can always ask for > references. If they are still securing financing on a project, don't start > anything with them until they do secure financing. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > --- > > Do you accept head shots, resumes, and demo tapes? > > Yes. Please send them to APS. If I am interested usually I will request a > demo. Be prepared - most actors don't have a demo so be a step ahead of > them. Even if you have done a student film, get it on tape if you have a > good role in it. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ---------- > > Any final suggestions to actors? > > Don't get co-dependent on acting classes. I see a lot of actors who aren't > working get too dependent on their classes. Make sure your personality is > coming through. Watch Michael Caine's tape on acting. Watch movies with the > volume down. Network! Remember, this is a business. Be professional and > follow-up on every lead! > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > --------------------- > > Bryan Michael Stoller is expected to be one of six featured speakers at an > upcoming BUSINESS OF ACTING seminar at the Hollywood Holiday Inn. Recorded > information is available by calling (213) 980-3375. Seating will be limited > to the first 75 actors who make reservations. We hope to see you there! > > ---- > Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite > http://www.sa.ua.edu/screensite ---------------------- Donald Larsson, Mankato State U (MN) [log in to unmask] ---- To sign off SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]