BIG AL, HIP HOP and HER – OFFICIAL ENTRY TO NMFF!
This Los Angeles-based festival will be June 5th and 6th in Glendale, California. Tickets and more information can be found at on their website.
Learn more about the BIG AL, HIP HOP and HER here.
Ellen Gerstein and Susan Johnston Chat NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL
Ellen Gerstein recently had the pleasure of interviewing Susan Johnston, Director and Founder of the New Media Film Festival (NMFT). This organization has spent 15 years honoring creators of “stories worth telling!”
Watch the entire interview here on YouTube
Their interview is a robust conversation, including about Al, Hip Hop and Her, written by Ellen, being included in the upcoming festival line-up as an official selection for the Screenplay category.
Susan shared the vision of the New Media Film Festival and gave sage advice for content creators, filmmakers, and anyone who is venturing into the field of production on how to look for opportunities – especially at festivals. Through Susan’s own experiences, she has learned that sometimes the unexpected or less preferred opportunities are the ones that have the most profound results.
Learn more about the New Media Film Festival and how to submit your project here via FILM FREEWAY (discount code is WOW )
Want to attend the festival? Tickets can be purchased here!
Ellen Gerstein: Guest Speaker During the World Autism Summit
Recently, Ellen Gerstein appeared during two nights of programming for the World Autism Summit, sponsored by Autism Today. She was interviewed by psychologist, Louise Sattler, about her work within the special needs community for actors with special needs.
The World Autism Summit’s goals were to shine a spotlight on the positive attributes of people with ASD and neurodiversity. Ellen spoke about her films Waiting for Ronald and Come Away with Me. She focused on her casting of actors with special. needs and her being drawn to topics that showed people overcoming challenges and/or have diversity..
Here is a snippet from the World Autism Summit interview.
GET INFO: REGISTRATION FOR ACTORS OF ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
We are here to help you “get info” about Ellen Gerstein’s Acting Classes and Coaching!
Are you an actor looking for an acting coach? Have you been thinking that you would like to hone your acting skills? Perhaps you want to audition for regional theater? A commercial? Or even try to make a living as an actor in Hollywood? But then you think you don’t have the time or don’t live in an area where you can easily access coaching sessions? Or perhaps you have an audition, but need to analyze the script to get the scene “just right”? Or you are a parent and can tell that you have a young budding actor under your roof.
These are great reasons to connect with Ellen Gerstein – who is an award-winning actor, director, screenwriter, and producer! She calmly and with. much support guides people through the process of being coached for acting work. She helps people of all skill levels (yes – people with special needs) and skill levels (including students with special needs).
Curious? Want more information? Simply fill out this brief registration/ information form at this link>>>> GET INFO
The first class/consultation is FREE! Whether in-person or virtual. And, there is no obligation.
WORLD AUTISM SUMMIT 2023 SPOTLIGHTS ELLEN GERSTEIN’S FILMS!
First off – thank you to all who attended the GreenLight Women’s Writer’s Group table read for my project – COOKIEFACE. It was a wonderful success and I was so appreciative of the feedback!
Now it is time for me to prepare for the next “big gig” on my schedule – The World Autism Summit! I am going to be participating over a number of days -and so can YOU!
Want to join me in the fun? First register for FREE at WorldAutismSummit.org/registration-page
And be sure to hang out with me on these dates and times: Tuesday, September 26th at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT for the screening of Waiting for Ronald and Come Away with Me. A director’s Q and A is included (that’s me!)
Next – listen to my interview on Saturday, September 30th. According to the summit schedule, I am “on deck” at Noon -ish (Pacific time, 3p Eastern Time). Here is a sneak peak of what to expect from this presentation.
Come back that night to join me for the Gifts, Strengths, and Talents Panel discussion at 5p Pacific/ 8p Eastern. (links are sent to those who register – hint, hint). Can’t make these times live – you have until October 2nd to catch the FREE REPLAY!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Ellen Gerstein a Semi-Finalist in the Reno-Tahoe Screenwriters Awards
Ellen Gerstein is a semi-finalist in the Reno-Tahoe Screenwriters Contest – 2023, for her project: BIG AL, HIP HOP, and HER. This is one of her newest projects that is vying for the contest “top prize” of being a script optioned and produced for a feature or TV pilot.
The following mission statement was found on the Reno -Tahoe Screenwriters Awards website:
Founded by screenwriters, producers, directors, and other industry pros, the Reno-Tahoe Screenplay Contests knows just how difficult it can be to see a script go from an idea to the screen.
Rather than just acknowledge a winning script, we look to grow careers and nurture the best writers and talent.
Each contest cycle, winner of the short script contest will get their script optioned and produced and the winning feature and TV pilot scripts will get a table read of their full script read by professional actors and directed by a director (winners will get a copy of the video and audio recording).
Whether you’re an old pro or a burgeoning writer, we encourage you to submit, get our professional feedback, and join our growing community of writers.
Thank you to the Reno-Tahoe Screenplay contest judges!
Ellen Gerstein Appears in the Stuart-Hara Production of SMOTHERED
Ellen Gerstein is starring as Goldie in the Jason Stuart/ Mitch Hara production of SMOTHERED. This is an Amazon Comedy that people have been raving about! Learn more about SMOTHERED here.
Ellen Gerstein:The 5 Things You Need To Be A Successful Writer
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…An interview on medium with Susan Johnston (via Authority Magazine).
It was an honor to be interviewed by Susan Johnston, writer for Medium. I loved how she explored my career through an effortless chronicling of some of my career highlights.
Plus, I was given an opportunity to share my “5 tips for being a successful writer!”
Diversity and Inclusion – An Acting Coaches Perspective
Diversity in the film industry seems like a new trend. After all, CODA, a film about a hearing child of Deaf parents, took top awards in 2022 with the cast being comprised of amazing Deaf actors including Marlee Matlin, Daniel Durante, and Oscar winner – Troy Kotsur. Plus, more and more programs we watch and stream seem to have at least one actor with “unique needs” in the cast.
In actuality, in relation to the film industry – “diversity” is not a new term. For years, television programming, and commercial and theatrical products have been made with actors who have unique challenges. The difference is that back in 1980 the person in the wheelchair might have been in the background. Or the child with Down Syndrome was a character on a TV series for a few minutes in one episode. It wasn’t until the last ten years or so that diversity in the entertainment arena made headway to become an industry standard.
I am glad that FINALLY, we can talk about diversity in the entertainment field as if it was “commonplace.” Needless to say, I have been waiting a long time for the public to see the amazing qualities of actors with exceptional needs, as I have for decades.
Waiting for Ronald is an internationally award -winning short film I wrote, directed, and produced many years ago. It starred actors who happened to have Autism and Down Syndrome. It was one of the most delightful and insightful experiences as a director I have ever had. If you are curious, you can watch the film trailer here.
The Waiting for Ronald experience, along with years of working with people as a therapist, supporter of special needs projects, etc., taught me that there is very little difference between being a filmmaker in a film cast with individuals who are unique and those who are more “typical”.
Actors, “as a species” all have commonalities such as a passion to perform and to absorb the characters that they are cast to portray. They live for the response of the audience and an opportunity to do it all again – with some financial benefits, of course. It simply does not matter what IQ the actor possesses or if they are moving around a television set with a wheelchair. What matters is their drive, willingness to learn, and commitment to the process. All of this can be very exciting!
And let’s face it… learning to be a professional actor at a caliber that pays the bills or more – doesn’t happen overnight and usually doesn’t happen without training. So, for the person with special needs, it would be helpful to have an acting teacher/acting coach who knows how to teach using methods that are relatable, engaging, and at the pace of the learner.
That is where I come in. I recognize that not all people who want to learn to act live within the Los Angeles – Hollywood area. For that reason, and my desire to reach actors who have skills at all levels – I am offering virtual acting coaching.
Interested? Let me know by completing the form below and I will be connect back as soon as possible.
Read more about Waiting for Ronald and Ellen Gerstein in this issue of Ability Magazine.
Read here For more information from SAG/ AFTRA about inclusion and diversity with these unions and their resources.
I have Been Waiting for Ronald for 20 Years!
Who is this Ronald and where he has been for 20 years? Well, let me tell you – Ronald has made the rounds – from festival to festival. Actually, Ronald and I have quite an entangled relationship. One that has lasted more than most marriages. Filled with life lessons, laughs, and tribulations. How about I tell your our story .. from the beginning…
Back in 2003, I wrote, produced, and directed the international award-winning short film Waiting for Ronald. I was ahead of my time as a filmmaker – recognizing that all people should have the opportunity to be in front of the camera and not just cast an “able” person to play the role of someone with special needs. It just seemed like the right thing to do. All actors should have an opportunity to enjoy filmmaking and not be tossed to the curb just because they have some limitations! (Don’t we all!). So, when I went to cast Waiting for Ronald I insisted on a blended ensemble of characters – all with unique talents and some who had never been an actor before.
As a filmmaker – this is where intuition can guide you. I knew that a blended cast was going to make Waiting for Ronald more authentic and very much a stand-out among films.
First, I needed to cinch up the story that revolved around Ronald, a 34-year-old man with developmental disabilities. My idea was to honor this character by giving him a rich backstory. So, I decided to tell the tale of his life after spending decades in an institution. I spotlighted the way he says goodbye to his friends and caretaker. The arc of the script then takes Ronald to join his buddy Edgar, a previous resident of the institution who is now living independently.
Ronald embarks on his journey armed with bus fare, a lifetime packed into his one small suitcase, and a heart full of courage. He boards the bus excited to meet up with his pal, but Edgar, is fighting demons of his own and this reunification does not start smoothly. No spoilers here about what happens next – but really it is worth watching! Waiting for Ronald is a testament to faith, humor, bravery, and true friendship.
About the cast…
Ronald was played by the actor Jody Clark (click to see interview), who has unique developmental challenges. His experiences were limited until this film as he only had some roles as an extra but never really worked as a principle before the camera. I coached him prior to filming for this role. Oh, we had so much fun!
Watch Ellen’s Interviews with actors Jody Clark and Blair Williamson- CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH
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The next chapter…
This story of Waiting for Ronald has stayed with me for two decades. The whole concept of casting people with challenges -authentically- was not really the traditional “Hollywood” way. In case you haven’t figured out I am a non-traditionalist! So, in many ways, I believed and practiced access and inclusion in casting way before many of my colleagues.
I always wondered what happened to Ronald and Edgar after they settled into their new life together? This prevailing and gnawing set of thoughts inspired me to write my new series, Just South of Normal. In the vein of The Odd Couple, this half-hour comedy follows the lives of Ronald and Edgar, two high-functioning men with developmental challenges, who together, “take on the world”!
It is my hope that similar to these films – CODA, AUDIBLE, I AM SAM, The THEORY of EVERYTHING, and many other endeavors- our film community will continue to demonstrate that people can blend together to tell stories about real lives. My hope is that Ronald and Edgar will have many opportunities to continue to teach lessons and make people smile.
The current film culture is changing my friends and I invite my fellow filmmakers to join me by writing, directing, casting, and producing stories that make a difference and include the fabric of our world – all of it.
Waiting for Ronald Links: