“I just read an interview you gave some years ago.  I wish I’d read it before I started making my own movie!  I’m turning a short play into a film.  It takes place in two rooms with five actors and we’re making it on a shoestring.

My question is this — What can I do to bring out the best in one of my actors who has less training/experience (…and it’s obvious)?  I cast him too hastily, on someone’s recommendation, and now I’m not sleeping well.  There is no turning back on my shooting schedule–my DP and lead are already committed to other projects.  I know, stop whining and be glad I have the opportunity, right?  Any ideas on what I can do to make the best out of this situation?”

– (name withheld by request)

Thanks for your question.  I wish you the very best with your film.  I know what you mean about getting a lot of people to come together on a shoestring (or no string at all) to make a film.  I’ve been there.  Many great films have been made that way, so you’re in good company.

One thing I’ve learned is that two elements make or break any film: script and performance.  Just about everything else we do as filmmakers is about maximizing these.  So if you know you’re going in that an actor in your cast really isn’t up to snuff, then you really aren’t serving your film by keeping him in it.  Your best option is to recast the part immediately.  I suspect that deep down, you know this is true but it’s hard to actually do.  Tough!  It’s your film–the hard decisions fall on you.

(continue reading…)

So… even though The No-Sit List still hasn’t been released in the US, I just saw the French DVD had come out from Sony Home Entertainment.  (Check the logo on the DVD box spine below.)

A little lesson for all you aspiring directors out there.  I found out about the release when someone sent me a link to the French Amazon.com page.

I do love the title, by the way.  <<Danny la terreur>>.  And the synopsis just sounds classier in French: Danny, un adorable petit garçon de 7 ans, a des parents très occupés. Il est donc tous les soirs gardé par une nounou. Pour retrouver une vraie vie de famille, Danny va apprendre à être méchant et à devenir la terreur des baby-sitters…

If anyone sees a copy, I’d love to hear how it plays in French.  And all you American kids, guess you have to wait a few more months.

The No-Sit List is out on DVD from Sony Home Entertainment...so far only in French!

Here’s the trailer for The No-Sit List.

The No-Sit List trailer on YouTube.

Rico Rodriguez and Trenton Rogers in "The No-Sit List."

My second feature film is The No-Sit List. It’s a family film starring Trenton Rogers, Danny Trejo, Dee Wallace-Stone, Rico Rodriguez, Chris Cleveland, Kate Orsini, and Brittany Finamore.

The story is about a boy Danny Parker whose parents must leave him with babysitters too often. He learns about the “no-sit list” the list of kids who are too bad for anyone to babysit for. He thinks that if he can just get on that list, his parents will have to spend more time with him. But Danny’s a good kid who’ll have to learn how to be bad.

Since we filmed the movie, the young stars went on to a lot of success on other things. Trenton appeared in a bunch of films, including the opening of He’s Just Not That Into You. Rico is now on ABC’s series, “Modern Family.”

Danny Trejo as the world's toughest babysitter in "The No-Sit List."

Here’s the trailer from Entry Level.