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Your show Filming 'Round Midtown - in a few words, what is it
about?
Deann Baker: It's about two chicks, in
front of the camera, giving you independent film news quickies.
https://www.youtube.com/user/
FRMseries?feature=watch
Heather Dorff: Ha. D said 'quickies'. What inspired you to start Filming 'Round
Midtown?
D: It began as a simple idea to generate a spotlight on
independent filmmakers who were/are struggling to raise funds on Kickstarter and
IndieGoGo. Then Heather got involved and all hell
broke loose.
H: In a galaxy far far away... Actually I just happened to see D
do an episode of her concept of this and thought "WHAT A GOOD
IDEA!" A few things fell into place at the perfect time and caused
me to reach out to D to see if she might want to expand on the idea/take
it to the next level. She was down and the rest, my friends, is
meticulously documented YouTube-history.
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Deann Baker, Heather Dorff
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What can you tell us about your ties to the
Midwest indie filmscene, and about that filmscene as such?
D: That catchy song It's a Small World After All I think encapsulates everything you need to
know about the Midwest film world. I got tied to the indie scene through
acting, editing, and composing original scores. I met one independent
artist which led to another project where I'd meet another indie
filmmaker which led to another project and so fourth.
H: I wanted to kill people. I figured a
better and less jail-inducing way to express myself was killing people
for fake in indie horror films. It's working well thus far. I have been
in touch with Dexter to see if he might teach me the 'code'. WE SHALL
SEE.
How
did you two first hook up, what's your collaboration usually like, and how
would you describe one another as co-host?
D: The first time we hooked up it was a lovely summer night under
the stars, we were together for 24 hours straight, and in the end
decided to stay in contact. All I have to do to relive that night is to
watch Event Invitation.
When Heather, Drew, and I develop an episode it's a very
technical, difficult process. I write the script, Heather makes it good,
then Drew makes Heather and I look good.
A good word for Heather the co-host is BEAST. Take that any way
you'd like to.
H: I love that D and I both took "How did you two first hook up" in
the same light. WAY TO MAKE IT SOUND SEXUAL MICHAEL! Making my job
easier with one sexual innuendo at a time :) [I only aim to please! -
the editor]
Besides
hosting, you both also work behind the scenes on your show - care to
elaborate?
D: The division of labor is pretty well balanced so that each of
us are doing jobs we know best. Heather knows how to talk to the
internet to get it to do her bidding. She keeps the website up and
running, does a huge majority of the social networking, and managing the
show's formula.
I drink a few beers and put words onto a blank text project. If
you read the credits it also says I edit the show. That mostly entails
picking out the best takes, putting them on the timeline, then praying
the rest will finish itself. Some people say I also composed the theme
song but I don't want to take credit for that. No, I really don't.
H: PSHHH. PSHHHH. I just post stuffs. D and Drew are the superheroes here. There would not even remotely be a show without them. I'd
be filming this on a shitty webcam in my neighbors' dark and creepy
basement - ie: how 90 percent of indie films are made :D - without them.
'Nough said.
What can you tell us about the rest of the
team behind Filming 'Round Midtown?
D: With both Heather and I in front of the camera we needed
someone behind the camera that knows how to use it and understands the
importance of making actors look good. Drew Pientka is that man. He's
our director and Director of Photography (lighting and pressing record).
He also does ALL of our graphics which IS the show. He's also our bitch.
H: Bitch Ours He is.
No seriously - Drew is fantastic. He is creative, talented, and
professional and brings a hella lot to the table. I call them the DOUBLE
D's - the dream team! We all know how BIG and IMPORTANT double d's are! :D
Yes. I am a smartass, but I do mean it! What is a Filming
'Round Midtown-shoot usually like?
D: It's like being at an episode of Whose Line is it
Anyway? surrounded by giggling tribbles.
H: LOL! That is really all there is to say about that.
I still think we should, alongside every episode, post all our damn
bloopers. We basically seem like crazy people in a, hopefully,
non-threatening very funny way. We say time and time again that we really
have no clue how we ever got through live broadcasts - and really I don't
know how we ever did it! Best, worst,
funniest, most heartwarming, silliest, cleverest, scariest, whatever elsest moments
when shooting Filming 'Round Midtown?
D:
Worst: Heather on a teleprompter. Outtakes will be full of these
moments.
Heartwarming: When I have heart burn.
Silliest: The Jurassic Park skit in the beginning of Ep. 5
Cleverest: This implies that we have the ability to be clever.
Scariest: Talking about any piece of information we talk about. I
get scared that we'll relay a message incorrectly or give out wrong
pieces of information.
Best: Each time Heather and I schedule an Filming 'Round Midtown-shoot. It gives
me something to always look forward to. I know that's corny, wanna fight
about it?
H: In my defense:
I NEVER WEAR CONTACTS SO I CAN'T SEE THE DAMN PROMPTER. Now darn it! But
yes, it is pretty bad. LOL
Scariest: When D made me do a joke about people missing arms and stuff.
Luckily we meant it in the lightest, best possible way and it went over
without any hateful emails or death threats. So yay!
Silliest: Every episode taping. EVERY SINGLE ONE.
Best: I agree with D! Shooting Filming 'Round Midtown is good times. It's fun and rewarding
and awesome to be trying to do something that helps promote other
people!
To be
featured on your show, what would one have to do?
D: Don't ask me, I just work here.
H: YOU MUST LOVE FILM LONG TIME.
Or go here and follow the instructions and stuff: http://www.filmingroundmidtown.com/submit-us
Any
big future plans for Filming 'Round Midtown?
D: We each have ideas on how to approach the third season that
will be adapted when we get there next year. The ideas are all quite
exciting. We want to start incorporating indie artists across the board.
For example, invite composers and song writers to create a new Filming 'Round Midtown-theme
song. The plan is to continue doing Filming 'Round Midtown for years.
That could lead to YouTube subchannels focusing on independent artists
outside of the film world, the audience becoming more a part of the show
rather than just submissions, and even a spin-off webseries that
involves Heather and I having the most useless powers in the world.
H: At the end of the day, Filming 'Round Midtown is always changing and growing. The fact
of the matter is we have no plans to ever stop. We want to make this
work - to reach indie fans across the board and promote real, hard
working and talented artists and projects to people who actually want
to know about them and learn more. We want to give our artists the
resources they need to help them with their careers or projects from
general resources like casting calls, classes, and dos and don'ts of the
industry to overall promotion. We are here to help support the indie
world in every way possible!
And
since we're talking, any future projects besides the show?
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D: There are a few projects I'm a part of that's in the works but
I have no idea how much information I'm able to divulge. They are always
watching me. With that in mind, I do have a personal goal that within
the next two years I will start production on a superhero webseries I've
been writing. That's no relation to the Filming 'Round Midtown
spin-off though.
H: I'm actually outside of D's window now making sur she doesn't
divulge anything she isn't suppose to. We take this indie stuff
seriously 'round here.
I'm doing a bunch of stuff. Cool stuff. Awesome stuff. The kinda
stuff you want more stuff of. Find info on this stuff here: www.facebook.com/actressheatherdorff
or here: www.heatherdorff.com!
Your/your
show's website, Facebook, YouTube, whatever else?
https://www.facebook.com/filmingroundmidtown
https://www.youtube.com/user/FRMseries?feature=watch
@FilmingRoundMid
Thanks
for the interview!
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