This was a really BIG deal!

Ian filmed the short film on Monday and Tuesday, 6/17 & 6/18.   The timing was absolutely perfect as school had just finished for the year the week before and we still had 2 weeks before Ian was headed down to Orlando to visit family.

Upon arriving at the set on Monday, Ian and I were impressed with how large the crew was.  There was a director, assistant director, the executive producer, the regular producer, cameramen, people in charge of sound and lighting, make-up/clothing stylist, the writer, the casting director, and a few others.   It was a much bigger deal than either of us was expecting.

The parents were told to hang out in the "green room", which was basically a nice basement in the director's house, where the filming was to take place on day 1.  I had a great conversation with 2 of the other parents who also had kids in the film.  These kids were also 14 years old and already very accomplished performing in professional theatre, voiceovers, movies, and more.  Ian and I were definitely in uncharted waters. This was all so new to us.

I learned so much during day 1.  The mom of Vivian and the dad of Talia were so helpful and provided lots of advice and tips on how to navigate this new world for us that Ian wants to explore further and see where it can take him.

At some point during different times in the day, a few of the crew each came up to me and asked if Ian had done film before...um, no!  Hello, this is our first professional ANYTHING!!   They were impressed with Ian, said he was doing a great job, and then let me know that he is really great at improv. Apparently, he was making them laugh A LOT during takes.  They weren't sure I knew just how funny Ian was.  Yep, all you need to do is let him go and he will do his thing for any kind of audience.  Each conversation would end with, this movie will give you great footage to add to his reel.  I guess that means we have to start a reel!

Talia's dad said to make sure we add this movie listing as an entry on his IMDB page.  Ha!  I guess that means we need to start an IMDB page for Ian.

So the big kissing scene turned in to a peck on the cheek.  It just worked out better for the scene for Abby to lean over and kiss Elliott on the cheek rather than turn his head and kiss him on the lips.  But this still counts as Ian's first kiss!  And it is still captured on film.

Day 2 of filming found us at a synagogue in NW D.C.   I was a pro at this 'Momager' thing by now.  :)    I barely spied on the kids during filming and instead hung out at the synagogue's library or the room with all the food and just enjoyed being a part of it all.   At the end of the shoot, we made our way to the National Cathedral just up the street and took a bunch of photos for publicity.  (and maybe a movie poster?  -- do they do those for short films??).  We will find out!

The film is going to be entered into film festivals all over.  It seems to me, it would be a perfect fit for our local Northern Virginia Jewish film festival that I've gone to a few screenings over the years.  Between being about Jewish kids, having a local writer and being filmed in NoVa, it has to make it in!   I can't wait to see what happens next!

Update on short film

Ian was emailed the script for the short film.  It is really, really short.  Like all of 7 pages short.  When he went for the audition and had a few pages sent to him to do the audition with, it turns out that was half the script!

In one of the scenes Ian's character will have his first kiss with the girl who likes him. And now it will be recorded forever.  We've been having lots of fun making jokes about this.

I guess my plans to have a screening party is no longer necessary.  This short film can't possibly be longer than 5 minutes in length.  My new plan is to post it on YouTube and send it to friends and family.   Don't get me wrong, we are all so excited that Ian got picked to star in the movie, but it could be a while before he is getting recognized out in public.

Best blog post update EVER!

I needed a day or two to let myself calm down a bit before I could write this next line.....

IAN GOT THE ROLE!!!  Yes, THE role!  OMG!!!

Here is the official description of what the movie is about:

"Tell Me About Orange" tells the story of Elliot, a gay, blind middle school student, who has been keeping his crush on a boy a secret-even from himself.

Ian is going to play Elliott! 

It was about 7:20pm on Sunday evening when the call came on Ian's cell phone.  Martha, the casting director, was on the phone.  We weren't sure yet who Ian was talking to until we hear him say, "You want me to play Elliot?"

It was at that point we knew and the excitement went thru the roof at Casa del Toppall.  Holy Moly!  This was happening!!  Who knows the reaction you will experience when something like this occurs?  For me, it was instant racing of the heart rate and a mix between an emotional cry/laugh.  WOW!  Once Ian got off the phone, the jumping up and down and screaming in excitement hit the roof.  It was so awesome that we were all home for this moment.

Going into this we kept our expectations realistic and hoped at the most Ian was going to be asked to be an extra.  But this turn of events was simply crazy.    

I'm thinking ahead and got the screening party plans forming.

Making the cut

Ian went on his very first real audition on Monday.  It was for a short film and the part he was auditioning for, was a blind, gay, Jewish boy who is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.  And no, I am not kidding.

Ian heard about this opportunity from his theatre teacher who knew someone who knew someone who had a friend looking for local talent to cast in this movie.  They were planning to use union and non-union actors and the acting job is paid.  This is all so very exciting and each step Ian got closer to showing up in person for the audition had him (and all of us!) in awe and dreaming of what it would be like to have Ian starring in a movie at this young age.  And if you are going to dream, why not dream big?   Doesn't the role of a blind, gay, Jewish boy scream academy award nomination?  :)

The first step was to send in an email that he was interested in auditioning.  After hearing back from the point person, Ian had to send in a headshot and a very recent picture.  After successfully getting thru this step, Ian was sent information on sending in a taped audition using pages of the actual script.  About 2 weeks after that, Ian was asked to come in for an in-person audition.

Auditions were scheduled from 5:00pm to 8:00pm in Bethesda.  Ian was given the 6:50pm time slot.  When we arrived and took our seats, you can't help but notice all the moms and kids around you waiting for their audition too.  They called Ian back. I was not able to accompany him, but let me tell you, my heart started pumping wildly waiting for Ian to return.  I have no idea why I got as nervous as I did.  It was crazy.  Ian came back out about 10 minutes later and whispered to me that he thinks it went really well.  He was asked to stay longer.  So we wait it out for the next set of boys to go for their audition and then Ian is asked to read with one of the girls that were asked to stay too.  Meanwhile, Ian had a friend from school who was auditioning too and he was dismissed and told to go home.

After Ian had read with one of the 2 girls who has stayed behind, the girl comes out and says to her mom she can now go home.  Ian comes out a few minutes later and is told to stay even longer.  Seriously, can this get more exciting waiting to see what is going to happen?!?!

I asked Ian what happened when it was just him and they had sent the girl out before him, he said he heard them talking and asking if there was enough time for Ian to read with the boy they had cast Harry.

After a few more minutes, the point person stuck her head back in the hallway and said Ian can now go home too and they would be in touch.  Either they ran out of time to do all they wanted to do, or Ian was just cut.  The strange thing was, the woman who told Ian he could go, was about to say something else, but held her tongue.  She had all this energy about her and it was like she was tripping over herself to keep it in.

We are patiently waiting for an email to come letting us know what was decided.  In any event, Ian is very proud of the audition he gave and feels he did the best job he was capable of.  This was a great experience for him and will help prepare him for future auditions.