The countdown has begun! Flights have been purchased. Scripts are being copied. Equipment is reserved. Food is ordered.
Next Saturday at 1pm we will gather to read the latest draft of the feature film adaptation of ACID TEST with an audience invited to offer their insight into what’s working and what’s not working with the script. I’m so excited to hear the words that have been rattling around in my head come to life!
It is an honor and a pleasure to have the actors back from the short film: Juliana DeStefano (Jenny), Patrick Sane (Jack), Mia Ruiz (Camelia), Jasmine Balais (Drea), and Jacob Hoving (Owen). Steel Herrera, who played little-brother Michael, has unfortunately aged out of the role but he has graciously decided to join us for the reading as Michael to continue our working relationship and offer his insight into this character for the script development. We’ll find a role for you once we move into production! Kirby Guidry will also be joining us again for the reading as Theo. His role in the short film as the hallucination of Jenny’s boyfriend Theo was unfortunately and painfully sacrificed to the cutting room floor but we are excited to have him read this ENORMOUS role in the script. Thank you!
Two new faces are joining the cast to lend their incredible talent and insight:
Hannah Cabell will read for Mrs. Scattergood, the English Teacher/College Advisor who challenges Jenny’s pre-conceived notions of identity. Hannah is a New York-based actor. Her most recent credits include “The Good Fight” and the feature film Luce opposite Octavia Spencer and Norbert Leo Butz. She works regularly in television, film, and on- and off-Broadway. Over the years, she has performed with the likes of Ellen Burstyn (As You Like It), Frank Langella (A Man for All Seasons, The Father), and Mandy Patinkin (Compulsion). Born and raised in New Hampshire, she received her BA from Oberlin College and her MFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. This is her second project with Jennifer Waldo.
Alisha Seaton will read for Mrs. Walker, mom to Drea and Theo, who provides insight into the mysterious world of adulting and parenthood as Jenny’s surrogate mother. Alisha was born in Santa Barbara, CA. In love with acting since she was seven years old, Alisha has been working steadily since her graduation from the University of Southern California with over 100 credits to her resume. Some feature films include “The Fourth Kind” starring Milla Jovovich, released theatrically by Universal Studios and currently out on Blu-ray/DVD, “Evidence” starring Stephen Moyer and Radha Mitchell and “La Tierra de Sangre” which was shot on location in Chile. TV credits include “Legends” and “Teen Wolf.” Alisha is thrilled to re-team with Jennifer Waldo on the workshop for “Acid Test” after working with her on the short film “Room 119.”
We are so lucky to have them. Both dear friends, Hannah was my college roommate at Oberlin and I met Alisha while earning my MFA at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. As they mention, we’ve worked together before and I had had them in mind as I crafted these two roles that embody varying aspects of woman-hood and provide reference points as Jenny grows into her own identity.
I’m also VERY excited to also have a couple actors from the amazing independent film, RICH KIDS, also funded through Seed&Spark, join us. I met Brittany Sandoval and Michelle Magallon during the film’s Houston premiere and was so impressed by their performances and wanted to start working with them despite not having meaty roles to offer. I’m so grateful they agreed to participate in the Table Read! And I absolutely encourage you to go see this film as it makes its way through festivals into wider distribution. It’s fantastic. Warm and real and sad and very very timely.
I’m also very grateful to the friends who have volunteered to read bit roles to help our script come to life. Thank you!
I could not have gotten this far without the incredible help of Anna Tran! She’s been the motor keeping everything moving forward as I’ve been swamped with a packed teaching schedule and the amazing screenings ACID TEST has been having all over the place!
More soon.