If you’re residing in Los Angeles, chances are you are gainfully employed as an actor.
If so, lucky you!
According to the actors Union (SAG/AFTRA) 90 % of its members are out-of-work at any given time.
Many may have moved on to other sectors of the industry to become talent agents, casting directors, public relations officers – or even gone into real estate (the ones who enjoy eating and having a roof over their heads) - when the dream became too elusive.
Those who elected to hang in there – against all the odds – may have made themselves a promise, though.
They’ve vowed to themselves that if they don’t “make it’ within a given time frame, that they will get real and find a day job!
That’s the premise of “Goodbye Promise” – an independent feature film – that has been making the rounds in recent days at local Movie Revival Houses and Film Festivals.
Gregor Collins (who co-wrote the script) plays a struggling actor in Tinseltown (gosh, how original!) who faces a dilemma.
He promised himself when he first trotted in to town that if he didn’t succeed in the biz in seven years, that he would return home (having gotten rid of the “acting bug” hopefully).
Now, the deadline is on the horizon; in fact, it's just a week away!
Does he leave town with his tail between-his-legs, or muster up the balls to hang-in there until he lands a gig that catapults him into the limelight - and ultimately - superstardom?
In a nutshell, the uneven scripted material focuses on an avalanche of emotions that overwhelms him as he reflects on his life, his career, and his time spent on the glittering West Coast.
Understandably, during that last few days he is inclined to visit a few haunts, chat up a couple of friends (in particular, one or two he crossed paths with on the acting trail) and even look up a former flame for old time’s sake.
When he learns that his acting buddies are “connecting” in the industry – and landing legit roles - it doesn’t help matters much.
For good reason, he doubts his own talent and senses a feeling of lack of worth.
At one point, when an ex-girlfriend informs him that she is in love with another man, he laments sadly:
“Nothing ever works out for me.”
For the first time during the course of the film, the audience reacts sympathetically from below the footlights of the theatre.
“Aw!”
But, at this juncture, it’s too late for him (and the flick).
After all, "Goodbye Promise" has dragged along miserably at a snail’s pace, and only managed to deliver up every tired old cliché in the book!
"Same old same old" when it comes to the heartaches actors face onscreen and off.
One of the problems with this vanity vehicle is that the actors are too close to the project.
No wonder.
The performers acted, directed, and produced it.
Hence, their vision was obviously clouded during the whole production.
For starters, "Goodbye Promise" is too self-indulgent.
A bit of judicious editing may have tightened it up; instead, the excessive baggage drags the potentially worthwhile project down down down.
The Director’s decision to get a bit artsy was a fatal mistake, too.
Especially when you consider the fact that he lacked the vision – or ability – to execute properly.
If I had to look at the back of one more head during the sceening, I would have screamed!
Curiously, on the night of the World Premiere, the producers thanked a film editing company for working on the production values just before the screening.
I didn’t see any evidence of any professional work up there on the screen.
The lighting was bad, some shots were fuzzy, you name it.
What I didn’t see on the screen was problematic, too.
Although there was a lot of talk about acting and auditions and pounding the pavement for elusive jobs, there wasn’t one scene depicting any casting session or legit effort to land a job in front of the camera or on stage.
On a couple of occasions, some dialogue focused on the fact that Gregor’s character was working out.
“Are you bulking up for an acting job,” one of his pals quizzed.
Uh-huh!
That said it all, really.
Hollywood (stardom, at least) is all about “looks” and beefcake and not about “the method” or acting.
Superficial?
Yes, just like this film.
Sorry, guys.
2 stars!
0 comments:
Post a Comment