This week we connect with screenwriter, Deb Setele to hear about her PitchFest experience. We get some great tips and take-aways about how to handle the stress when you’re pitching -- which goes for auditions too!
Deborah Setele
Screenwriter/Story Analyst
Deborah started her career as a screenwriter by writing short stories in her bedroom as a kid. In an effort to become more social as a teenager, she studied acting in high school and then continued her acting and theatre studies at Virginia Tech. While her love of movies brought her to Los Angeles, she also wrote and performed sketch comedy. After some time bouncing around different day jobs, she landed at a production company where, as part of her job, she had to read screenplays every day.
She then studied screenwriting, at UCLA Extension Writers’ Program where she earned a Certificate in Screenwriting. Her credits include the independent feature “G.I. Jesus” (winner of the grand jury prize at the Cinevegas Film Festival) and the short film “Latchkey.” In addition, she provides script coverage and/or story notes for hundreds of scripts for contests and production companies.
This week I’m talking to producer, director, actor, stunt-person, America Young. We talk about how she broke into the business from Nebraska of all places, and how she went from being accepted into med school to having 32 stunt credits on IMDB, and the importance of good relationships.
America Young is currently working in many aspects of film-making. A show she co-created has been licensed by POW! (Stan Lee’s production Company) and Comediva. She has directed 5 entire web series, and episodes from two others. She has directed 2 music videos and 7 shorts. America is so excited that all her years of production experience and geek obsessions culminated into directing her first feature, a pop-culture comedy called, The Concessionaires Must Die!! which is now in post
Her IMDB page is here and her women in film project is here:chimaeraproject.org
This week I Skype with Elissa Weinzimmer, a vocal health specialist. She’s got a new program explaining in detail How Your Voice Works launching later this month.
She’s also the co-creator of the Vibrant Voice Technique with David Ley where vibrators are used to improve your vocal production and resonance.
Elissa attended the University of Southern California and after losing her voice she began to study and then became certified in Fitzmaurice Voicework ®.
In 2012 she earned an MFA in Theatre Voice Pedagogy at the University of Alberta
This week I’m letting you in on a conversation I had with veteran dialect coach, Andrew Jack about being on big sets like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.
Check out his website here. I also tell you about how they found the sound for BB8 for the latest installment of SW.
Here is the article in Post mag