Category: Projects

My 2017 in Review
I’m sure you can tell that this type of post is going to be a yearly post.

Well let me tell you, this has been one hell of a year. Definitely full of ups and downs, I’d like to think that it was more ups than downs. To be honest, thinking about it now I don’t really remember what my goals and resolutions were for the year. With that being said, I do feel like I accomplished quite a bit this year.

So let’s review this year shall we?

JANUARY
- Started off the year in New York with my mom’s side of the family – had a white Christmas and New Year
- Did an adult thing and got myself a gym membership
- Started working for the school for my last semester as a coordinator on shoots and a student assistant in the classroom.
FEBRUARY
- I reconnected with an old boss and got to work on a spec pilot that I recently learned is going to Sundance, which is really exciting!
MARCH
- I signed on to be a Line Producer to a ULB (ultra low budget) short in July
- Took a spontaneous trip with the family to the central coast #whereintheworldisMichelle
MAY
- Coordinated my first PSA (and got a spot as an extra 😉
- Graduated from college
- Watched U2’s Joshua Tree Anniversary tour
JUNE
- Worked on my first commercial and television series
JULY
- All Time Low’s Young Renegade concert – got introduced to a new band (Waterparks – if you haven’t listened to them, you should go and check them out)
- Production for short
- Travelled to Solvang to decompress from the short I had Line Produced
AUGUST
- Worked on Jameson First Shot – first APOC (assistant production coordinator credits!)
- Signed on to be a UPM (Unit Production Manager) for a short shot in November
SEPTEMBER
- Worked wrap out on a YouTube series
- Worked on a reality shoot – I was a walking disclaimer for a cool minute
- Visited my best friend in Washington #whereintheworldisMichelle
OCTOBER
- Worked on a feature for the entire month (yay being employed for a month)
- Went to the Rams vs. Seahawks game
- Saw Tom Hanks do a promo for his book – thanks to NPR
NOVEMBER
- Wrap out of the feature
- Prep, shoot and wrap out of a short
DECEMBER
- Saw Tommy Wiseau in person for a screening of “The Room” at the Egyptian theatre
- Worked on my first music videos (two in one shoot) – the exciting part about this job? I was the Coordinator!
- Did a holiday horror double feature (also at the Egyptian) – and went on a general adventure for the rest of the night afterwards
- Went to my first ballet, The Nutcracker (and I got to put a new coat of mine to the test)
I feel the downs that I experienced weren’t that many. If anything I would say, the few (three days to one week) breaks that I would get, I would start to get bored and question my ability to do a job because I wasn’t working. But then again I feel like that happens to most people who work freelance.

Just a word of advice to newcomers to the freelance film world…

Don’t be down because you’re not getting work. Just keep applying and hustling and sooner or later you’ll land a job. And remember: no job is too small. Don’t think that you’re better than being a PA, everyone starts somewhere. And remember, don’t let your mistakes define you. Apologize, then do better.

With that being said, and me explaining how my year was, how was your’s? Feel free to comment below!
December 19, 2017
That’s A Wrap on The Only People

So I just wrapped up my first ULB show as the Line Producer. And I have to say it was most definitely a learning experience. The amount of fires I had to put out was ridiculous. But I am happy to have this experience under my belt and see that I really am capable of being a Line Producer. I do have some more learning to do, but I mean who doesn’t? I’m also happy to have been able to work with old friends and meet new ones. Hopefully the people I brought on to this show, also learned or got something out of this show too.

When I first went into this show, I couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated just because I had never managed a show this big. But as the show went from prep to production and eventually into wrap, I couldn’t help feel that this was what I was meant to do in film. As most of you know, I weirdly love logistics. There’s just something so soothing and therapeutic (most times) when you look and organize everything.

Production will always be my home and honestly, I couldn’t have done it without the help of my mentors who have taught me everything I know when it comes to production.

I first started in entertainment four years ago as a PA and eventually produced my own stuff. And then I took some time off to really focus on finishing school. It wasn’t until last summer where I started taking on more work and juggling school in the process. Going into March I took on my first coordinating shoot on a PSA for the OCDA’s office. From there I went into becoming a department head for this shoot. It really does show you that if you really want something and will put the time and effort into getting it. You’ll eventually move up and get rewarded for your hustle.

Until the next show guys!

July 31, 2017
Summer so far… (part 1)

Just wanted to give a bit of an update into what I’ve been up to. Apologies for not being able to update as much as I wish I could. Especially with the Summer of Museums page. Work kind of picked up a lot since then.

I got to day play on a Disney show as a Set PA – which mainly consisted of doing runs and helping out any department that needed an extra set of hands. Nothing much to say except that as always it’s hard and fairly honest work being a set PA – I also got to reunite with an old friend of mine who has been trying to hire me for a while and I hadn’t been able to accept because of school. But now that school is over and done with – guess who has more time to work? This girl!

From that job, I had gotten a text from my mentor asking if I was interested in being an office PA for him from prep to production to wrap for a toy commercial. Of course I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Not because of the pay check (though that’s always a plus) but because I love doing office work. For those of you who are new to my blog, my department is Production. I don’t know why. I just have an affinity for all the logistics that go behind making a film – be it a commercial, short, feature, etc. etc. – Production is the department for me.

We actually just finished shooting the show this past Thursday and I’m going to be doing a couple of wrap days with a day break in between (maybe) and then back onto the Disney show that I day played on.

The commercial was interesting because I got to do more work than I usually do when I office PA on most of the jobs that I get on to. So it gave me more experience to talk to vendors, filling out certain paperwork, and all of that other fun stuff.

Also! Some other exciting news! I got to see my name on the big screen! Twice! Same movie but I saw it twice! The movie is And Then There Was Eve. The first time was for the cast and crew showing and the second one was for the LA Film Festival showing. It just goes to show you that yes, it’s a lot of hard work but to be able to see your name there on the big screen is one of the most satisfying feelings ever.

So as you can see, I’ve been staying fairly busy. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. But mostly good. Now all I need to do is figure out a way to fit going to the gym into my hectic work life and some semblance of a social life and then I would have figured out this whole “adulting” thing. But until then, I’m just going to take everything one day at a time, learning as much as I can.

Well that’s all I have to say for now. Will update soon!

June 26, 2017
LA Cine Fest Semi Finalist Woo!

Hello all!

I know it’s been a while since I last posted anything, but I’m excited to announce that Because I Love You (2016) is a Semi Finalist at LA Cine Fest!

Exciting stuff right!? So I had the privilege to work on this amazing short film a little over a year ago. This project is one of my more meaningful projects because of the message behind the film.

The film itself is about Audrey (Diana Diaz) who after escaping her abusive ex boyfriend (Derrick Dover) falls into a spiral of depression and paranoia. Her mother (Paula Lauzon) pushes her farther by conveying a message from Derrick asking for another chance. Audrey’s cousin, Charlotte (Stephanie Mills), wants to help her out of this vicious cycle, but only she can help herself when her nightmare comes to visit.

We will learn if we’re finalist by hopefully the end of next week. So keep an eye out for more announcements regarding this beautiful short film 🙂

May 14, 2017
WTF!? – Nessa Knows (S01E01)

Hi all,

Sorry I haven’t been posting lately. If you’ve been keeping up with my via social media, you can see that I’m (currently as I write this post) 13 days away from graduation! Woo! Exciting stuff guys!

Well during this semester, I’ve been keeping very busy. I produced a pilot on youtube (for a class), coordinated a PSA for the Orange County D.A’s office, producing a short to be filming at the end of July, all while juggling exams, papers and projects. So, yeah – been staying pretty busy.

Anywho, there is one project that I had wrapped back in the beginning of April that I never got a chance to write about. So I’m going to write about it now.

Over the semester, I had the chance of co-showrunning a pilot for YouTube called Nessa Knows. The show itself is about a Vanessa (played by Alexandria Lewis), a senior in high school, who learns that she has a unique gift of reading minds, but her insight becomes both a gift and curse. She soon realizes the world is full of stereotypes, and learns the true nature of the people she interacts with everyday.

Long story short, this show was fairly difficult to run because, unfortunately we had a difficult personality on the crew that kept holding us back. However, she did pull through with production. Not so much during wrap and post. But what are you going to do? You deal with it, work around it, and move on.

On the upside, the final product turned out to be pretty good. I’ve attached a link below 🙂 And for our final we’ll be making an indiegogo campaign for the show. So if you like the pilot, you can keep an eye out for that!

Well, enough of my rambling. On to my next piece of good news! Post to follow shortly after! 🙂

May 14, 2017
Set Daze

Just wrapped up another shoot. And as always I loved every minute of it. I know that I work in the Production Office the whole time and pretty much handle paperwork for most of my day during production, but I’m not complaining. To be honest I really love it. I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably thinking, “if you love paperwork so much why don’t you just work a 9-5 like most people?” And my answer is because I will most likely not have the same amount of love for that job, that I have for this. I know that if I did that, I would have hated coming into work. I would have always just dreaded the day until I got off. Yes the hours on set are long, but it doesn’t feel that way. Well not to me at least.

I also think I’m getting a better handle on being an Office PA too. And I’m hoping that within the next few months I might be able to move up to Production Secretary or APOC (Asst Prod Office Coord) and then eventually become a Line Producer/UPM.

What I love most about film production jobs is that they’re not all the same. The job’s never the same. There’s always something new to learn. AND I’m not stuck in the same location every time. Maybe that’s what scares a lot of people from not pursuing a career in the arts. Because there’s not stability in it. And most people out there, want the stability you know?

Well that’s all I have to say. I hope you enjoyed reading this as well as looking at my lovely pictures too. I try to keep it interesting for you, don’t want to let it all just be boring text you know? 😉

Until the next job, this is Michelle signing off…

February 24, 2017
Champagne is up for Summer 2016

This entire summer has been one hell of a ride. Definitely got more hands on learning with the industry. I got to intern on two features and a digital series. PA on a commercial and a feature. And produce (well in the process of producing) a short film. All while interning at a small production company out in Studio City. Yeah… one hell of a ride and many hours of sitting in that infamous Los Angeles traffic.

I have definitely been blessed to be given all of these opportunities that have helped me learn and guide me through the belly of this beast we call show business. What I love most about entertainment is that nothing will ever truly be the same job. It’s constantly changing and evolving and well you have to learn to adapt or get eaten alive.

This past project that I got to Office PA for was definitely the job that kicked my ass in terms of learning experiences. This was my first real taste of being an Office PA. And to be completely honest, I loved every minute of it. Sure the job is tough and it royally kicked my ass but I’ll be coming out of it with more knowledge that I can bring to other jobs.

I feel that when it comes to learning or preparing for the jobs that you want in entertainment it’s all based on experience. Sure you can buy all the books and go to all the classes, but really there is nothing like being thrown into the ring and getting down.

I remember when I stepped onto the set of my first feature I was shadowing the UPM (Unit Production Manager) and I asked her, “Is there anything you can tell me that I should know to prepare to be a UPM, Line, Coordinator, etc.” And she told me that there’s nothing she could really tell me except that you just learn from the different shows you get on. Each show is different. And you just learn to adapt and go from there. Another discouraged me from going down that road because all you do is paperwork. And I told him that as strange as this is going to sound I actually like paperwork. There’s a strange solace for me just knowing that I understand everything that I read. I like dealing with logistics more than creative. I think it’s mainly because I’m having a hard time creating so I’d rather help with the process of creating something. That and I also feel that there’s just too much pressure to be creative now. Everyone is creating something. But no one is truly going out there and creating anything.

From that first feature I had landed my first industry internship where I got to see what it was like to work for a small production company. My experience here was and will truly be invaluable. I learned so much of what goes into creating a show, from prep to production. As well as what it takes to run a small independent production company.

While working there I had managed to get onto a commercial which then led to my second feature, both of which I had Set PA’d for, and then finally hopping on to my third feature while developing my fourth short film.

Views from the third.

I learned so much over the summer and I will never forget what I’ve learned and who I’ve met in the process and what they taught me.

And just like every “champagne” shot called, there is always this bittersweet feeling of knowing that something has come to a close. But with every new end is the start of a wonderfully unknown beginning. Fall 2016 I’m ready to see what you have in store for me.

August 26, 2016
I do many things “Because I Love You” and abuse is not one of them.

As of 15 June 2016 at 11:00AM, my chapter entitled the above title has officially come to a close.

It has been quite a journey and a little bittersweet to say the least on closing this chapter of my life. Throughout the process I could see that I have truly grown into my skill set as a short film producer. But it is not only that, I feel as if I have grown as a person working on this film. I have grown sympathetic and more compassionate towards women who have gone through abusive relationships. Trauma like that never truly leaves the victim, or survivor, but with some time and reflection they learn to cope and move on as best as they can.

The film itself is about a woman on her journey towards self healing after an abusive relationship. She is haunted by the past of her abusive ex boyfriend and must finally confront what has happened to her in order to regain control of her life.

Being able to see all of the hard work that the cast and crew put into this film and finally being able to see it on the big screen was definitely something else.

And now we’re onto the 2016-2017 film festival circuit! Will keep you all posted! Wish us luck!

June 17, 2016
Reflecting on “Reflections”

It’s been a little over a year since I first made this short film but I’m still proud of it nonetheless. Mostly because it is my baby. This is the first film that I ever produced and became the project that put me towards the path of what I love to do.

Let me give you a little background to this story….

When I originally wrote this, I wrote it as a short story because I was “taking a break” from studying. I was in Panera looking around the dining area when I saw this old man looking somberly into his coffee. And as I looked at him I began to question why? What happened to him to make him look so melancholy. And that was when I started to write about the possible why’s….

After a little positive feedback on the story itself and an experience on a set that I will never forget, I thought to myself, “You know what, if they can do it, I can do it too.” So I read up on how to produce indie films. I bought and read as many books and articles as I could. And then I started development and pre production for the project.

The story itself is about a woman reflecting on her current predicament in her life at that moment. Originally I thought about doing about four actresses who look the same, but then I was advised that maybe going for the same actress for all four roles and a double for a couple of interaction scenes would be the better course of action. And that was exactly what I had done.

As I wrote the short story and the script for this I knew that I had wanted to shoot this in black and white. Not because shooting in black and white means the audience is going to start paying more attention to the story rather than the details on the screen. Not that one, I hadn’t learned that in film school yet. It was mainly because I knew shooting this in black and white was going to look so much more aesthetically pleasing.

As with most projects, there will always be little mishaps. Original plan A location fell through. Not being able to find a stand in that looks like the main actress. Those are just a couple of examples of what had happened before we began initial photography. And when we did begin to shoot, time was not in our favor. Not to mention the fact that we were filming after hours. But I had a supportive cast and crew behind me so it made getting through that weekend not only extremely efficient and productive but mostly very fun.

I will forever be grateful to those who helped me and supported me all throughout the project as well as my pursuit of a film career. And just being overall patient with me too. I could read so many books about producing and still know so little about this foreign field. Yet with so much self doubt and uncertainty haunting my thoughts, I still felt like this was what I wanted to do. This was where I belonged.

March 8, 2016