Unscripted - A Blog for Actors - Backstage: Film Pitches Over Fish Tacos

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A delightful thing occurred a few days ago -- a director I recently worked with, Nelson George (Sundance/HBO's Life Support, Variety's Top 10 Directors to Watch), sent me a brief message stating he'd be in Los Angeles for a day, and wanted to nab a touch of lunch. Nab a touch of lunch with Big Sundance Director Who I'd Love to Work With Again? Why, but of course! Ensue MobileMe clearing of the schedule for the day.

Seventy-two hours later, we're consuming fish tacos at a little spot on Sunset Boulevard.

"Ashely," he begins, after we've done all the over-Fiji-water-sipping customary catchings-up, "there's a project I'd like to talk to you about."

It was a very... cool... L.A. moment. A casual lunch that turns into a film pitch. And -- I mean, I don't have crap on my resume but I'm certainly not yet in a place to be pitched projects by a director on this level -- but he's not only presently in talks with a Big Four studio about doing a film with Various Awesome Attractive Dudes in it, he also wants to (in his spare time) do a webisode series. And one of the characters... (and this is one of the most flattering things I think I've ever been on the receiving end of)... was inspired by my performance in his last project! Ah! Sweet validation.

So depending on the shooting schedule, I'll be heading back to [my beloved] New York for a few weeks in July and August. And resume wise, having a director this up-and-coming is certainly getting the agents I've courted/am courting a bit more sniff-around-IMDB interested.

All good things, all good things. And, bonus! My fish-taco-eating buddy also just got interviewed on Craig Furgeson. Things are looking up.

Time to obtain a vat of sushi, Ashley Avis