The moment finally arose for BlueJay Entertainment to encounter its first independent short film production at Salty Earth Pictures. It’s beneficial to a performer’s career when technology evolves and strengthens every day, your name now can be broadcasted across the nation overnight, but my initial shot in a short film was delivered to me via text message, by a returning photographer known as Christian C. Gill. His skilled craft brought together one out of five foundations that make up me, that being my “Motivational” photoshoot! On Wednesday of October 2nd, 2019 in the middle of a family game night. A vibration drew my attention to my pocket, Christian C. texted:

“You mentioned that you were interested in trying to get involved in acting projects, right?”

“Yes, of course, go on…” I said.

“I have a buddy who will be shooting a project next month. He might need an actor that could play a teenager. You came to mind right away. I’ll follow up with him and see what he needs.”

It was an absolute honor to be recognized by a fellow actor to a director regarding a fitting role. I thanked him for the recommendation, then soon after an email sent by Anthony T. Morodor popped up in my inbox. A script was attached, scouting in the hopes to see if I was accessible to embody one of two characters, Jason or Dylan. Jason is a clever teenage orphan who lacks to find fulfillment in relationships, he soon is introduced to Dylan who is deaf, it is then revealed through their differences in disabilities that they find similarities in one another; founding them brotherly common ground. For this role I was required to learn sign language, which prompted me to google how to sign ‘yes, please’ to my position. I skimmed the script as soon as possible and responded with a link to my portfolio. Even though I was still participating in game night, my mind was anxious but my body felt taboo entering the entertainment industry.

January 4th, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. and I wake up in a panic, am I late? No. I head out to Anthony’s sent address Saturday morning since last night we planned on carpooling up to Fort Atkinson together. If you didn’t know by now, this was a perfect chance to ask him any questions about the script, and in depth backgrounds on the leads of the film in order to embody Dylan more accurately. In a cul-de-sac in Wauwatosa, I arrived to the house of my first director and knocked on the door, then who opens the door was an older gentleman and a German Shepard black lab mix seemingly expecting my arrival. The hospitable man invites me in and offers to get me a drink, “Orange Juice, please!”

“You got it! Anthony will be out shortly, in the meantime meet my wife Marie, my mother Cornelia, my other son Nick, and I am Anthony’s father Gerard. Nice to meet you.” he said. I was glad to meet a family as compassionate as my own, they were just sharing their morning with each other around the couch watching “The Even Stevens Movie” on Disney+. I see Anthony hustling around the corner with a duffle bag before Gerard returns to the living room with my drink, and interviewed me on how I began my career choice since I was starring in his son’s film.

I said “getting an opportunity like this was great, because as a performer it was a next step closer to increasing my experience and training towards my aligned mission. Ultimately, promoting my message on my platform, And, well, I needed a place to start!”.

As if being summoned, Anthony enters the room ready to go. Cutting the conversation short, I slam my orange juice and gave my farewell to the Morodor residence to head out into Anthony’s red corolla. We disembarked on our hour drive, then off I went on all my questions about who Dylan & Jason were inspired after, who’s playing this part & that part, and asking how long my director has been in the cinematographer industry. But a couple questions answered, some project scheming, and a few challenges provoked, later, we approached a castle on the side of the freeway stating that we were passing through ‘Fort Atkinson’.

“Something tells me it won’t be too long until we get there, I’m super excited” I said with glee.

“You will love Salty Earth, it’s the biggest studio in Wisconsin. Ironically, There’s tons of great people to meet there, and I’ll even introduce you to the owner Zambo.”

“Is it really one of the biggest production studios in Wisconsin?” I speculated.

“Yep!” he reassured.

Soon after we pulled up into a parking lot across the street from Salty Earth Pictures. Anthony approached the entrance first, unveiling indoors a land of make believe! There were massive lit signs hanging from the ceiling, shelfs full of props varying in sizes, and even vibrant colors splashed along the walls. I took a deep breath in, knowing I was home.

We wasted no time and set our luggage near the back of the studio where a diner prop set was spread out. Anthony then asked me since I ‘love to learn’ if I knew how to use a camera, he shuffled in his duffle bag and handed me a Canon EOS M50 for me to capture a couple minutes of footage. I was shocked that I even got an opportunity to direct the motion of the picture. In the climax of the film after Jason enters the bar, you’ll see my director Anthony starring as the bartender of said bar.

Special thank you to production for approving the trial of their equipment, I’ve learned tons of videographer terminology to respond accordingly in my future.

Now it was finally my turn to be on screen. Anthony repositioned the tripod to fit both of us in the following scene, while I sat down in a booth with a menu ready to order my meal. But unfortunately, that’s all I’m going to give, because upstairs the professionals were on set.

Anthony and I wrapped up our final scene of the movie and decided to tip toe up the stairs to smell what Zambo was cooking in his part of the kitchen. We made it to the top of the steps and I gaze down this narrow hallway ending with a vibrant glow, as we advance closer we hear the boss directing and staff abiding along with recording equipment over their shoulders. Until we were behind the scenes of the director’s action, I got the privilege to witness the founder of Salty Earth Pictures, Steven F. Zambo in the heart of his craft. He seemed to be conducting a movie that included puppets, which at first glance, reminded me of the Muppets! I was struck in sheer awe of how synchronized the crew was interweaving throughout their set with discipline and telepathic like coordination.

“Quiet on Set!” The set was immediately silenced, and the film unraveled in front of my eyes. A little blonde girl dressed up as Charlie Chapman appears from a rack of clothes.

“Hello Mom?…Mom! Uh oh – what was that? Oh, phew – it’s just a scarf. It looks like your eyes start to play tricks on you when you’re in a closet…All alone.” As a red puppet reveals themselves above another clothing rack, until the director yells “Cut! That’s a wrap, good work everyone!”.

Antony pulled out his phone and typed in his notes in the hopes of not disturbing the concentrated room. “This would be a good time for me to introduce you to, Zambo.” I nodded in agreement and followed Anthony’s lead.

“Boss! Mr. Zambo, I’d like for you to meet, Jaydon. He’s been assisting me with my film on the main level.” Steven turned around with a big smile. “Oh, pleasure to meet you, Jaydon. Looking for a career in acting?”

“Yes! I love what you done here with the place, it reminds me of being in a huge prop shop!” We returned back downstairs to collect our things and reset the stage the way we found it. Steven Zambo’s orders. Today put the Industry in a new spotlight for me, since I’ve finally had my first hand experience on set with a film director, until we collaborate again – We’ll create more movie magic!

January 18th, 2020 started off frosty at 9:30 a.m. after the effects of Wintergeddon hit Wisconsin. But this Saturday was going to be exciting because of the full cast scheduled to film together at the Dominican Catholic High School in Whitefish Bay. Driving a half hour up here was a catastrophe since there were at least four cars spun out on the freeway, it made me think of what we did to deserve today’s Wintergeddon Judgement Day. On the horizon of my snowy windshield exposed a three story, cream bricked, private high school. Peeking through the front entrance doors was my filmography family, Anthony’s parent’s Gerard & Marie, his aunt Joanne, and himself.

“Come on in! You must be so cold, how was your drive up here?” Joanne said.

“Thank you, there were roughly about four cars dug in a ditch of snow on the side of the freeway.” I responded while accumulating my lost heat.

Gerard and Anthony’s familiar faces welcomed me ‘back to school’ with resembling smirks, even though I’m nineteen and graduated, I will always take the chance to be two years younger and reckless again in the hallways of a gymnasium.

“I’m Joanne, I assist anyway I can in the Dominican, it is nice to meet you.” Joanne said while offering her hand for a shake.

“It’s great to see you all again!” I said overjoyed. After we spent a couple minutes discussing, we filled the time in between for the remaining cast to show, all but one no show. Anthony directed me through a half open door. The nostalgia of a classroom’s atmosphere sunk back into me like spilled 2% milk. As if we understood each other’s energies by now, we wasted no time and set our bags near the front of the room being out of frame. He told me that I would have to verse the script to Christian as Jason, looks like I got a temporary spot in two lead roles. Laughing and chuckling chimed from the hallways followed by my co star Christian Gill and his starlight of a smile; comes gleaming around the corner. A brief greet by the doorway and he jumps straight into his scene as Professor Darrow by approaching the whiteboard, he begins to write the English Civil Wars in numerical order I-III. Anthony grabbed his new camera, I prepared for my read-through and then I read my sides as Jason. Christian intently turns around with his marker pressed to the board. “Jason. What a pleasant surprise!”

“Ah. Professor Darrow.” I respond.

“You’re late once again.” he speculated.

“Maybe its opposite day. You guys are late while I’m early.“ I joke.
“Sure. We love to hear another one of those poor jokes once again. Unless you want to really impress the audience here, try a little harder next time. Ok?” he authoritatively mocks while signaling me to my seat. “OK?! Take a seat.”

Then the scene came to a close, I was impressed how nimble he was embodying a formidable professor in mere seconds. With me as the last subject to be in frame, it was then my time to debut as Dylan. I walk back to my desk near the front to take the focus off of Christian’s performance and start to embody my own, trying to narrow on the repetitive effects of my character being hard of hearing, as I waited cold in the ambiance of a familiar classroom. Thankfully prior to filming, Anthony had taught me how to sign ‘I can introduce myself to him’ in sign language.

“Rolling!” Anthony chants.

Dylan walks over to Professor Darrow wearing a curious face after he caught my attention to wave me over. Stopping near the desk as if Jason were beside me, Christian grabs a post it and a pen but accidentally ends up tipping over the holder.

Stop and reset. Christian intricately realigns the post it back how it was in the previous shot for consistency, then he seamlessly continues. Adjacent from my in-scene professor, watching reminded me of the true craft of acting; that this art form takes much more than patience beyond belief, consistency, memory, and a reliable bond of cooperative communication!

Reshoot. Christian continued to write the message for Dylan: ‘I am introducing you to Jason’. He caps the pen then flips the post it into my view, tripping my cue to sign my independent presence to Jason – since our Jason wasn’t here it was only a clock on my horizon. Professor Darrow begins to mark up a follow up message reading: ‘He may not understand you yet, give him time.’ He crumples the post it into a tiny ball and three point-shots it in a distant recycling bin like Kobe Bryant on his first try, well – almost.

We settled down from our cheering, and I took a seat. Anthony was impressed with the progression of footage captured in short timing. Giving each other a pat on the back, our director then recommends Christian to help him voice-over a scene they produced together with another actor, whom was unavailable. I got a front row seat in a desk to watch how inflections and timing were key while voicing over a scene that was prerecorded. With the camera’s shutters blinded as did the silenced room; allowing them to solely focus on audio, as I mentally note the skill of a vocal artist and how it could become a potential hobby of mine.

‘Thats a Wrap for today!’ Anthony bellows. I get up and shake Christian’s hand in astonishment after a great hard day at work. We both peek over Anthony’s shoulder to breakdown our scenes SOC (Straight Out of Camera), analyzing a few

more takes done together; nevertheless making great time. ’Thats Lunch on me!’ Anthony says putting down his equipment with a content grin on his face. With a big score settled by Anthony giving us the ‘A-O-K’ sign, we head across the slushy street to Jimmy Johns for a treated meal for the cast – Freaky Fast!

February 22nd, 2020 at 8:00 a.m closes our first and final shoot for this month. Saturday started off with a frosty drive up to the Dominican High School, greeted by the door to help was Joanne’s joyful face! I skipped up the stairs to make it inside before the wind blew me away for a rain check, soon to be followed by Anthony arriving afterwards.

“I can unlock any level of the building you need to shoot in.” Joanne said.

“Thank you, we just need the classroom from our last shoot unlocked for now.” Anthony replied. Joanne chuckled “The teacher of that room said it didn’t even look like you shot in there, it looked exactly the same!”.

Good to know we didn’t disjoint the feng shui of the room because film production sites tend to be spread out and expanded for easy maneuvering. Fun fact: you can find Anthony in the bloopers reversing into the leg of a desk for a shot. A neatly laid out set that can breath will benefit you in the long run. Our attendance was filled since our lead role Jason, played by Nick Montag arrived subsequently to Christian before the bell, we reshot all the scenes in the classroom that we did on the eighteenth of January for an hour and a half says the clock. The next scene in the story stars Dylan tripping on his shoelace in front of Jason’s blinded heart aching crush for Nancy (a.k.a Christian C. Gill). I reentered the class to be stopped by Anthony with a game plan.

“For this next scene we’re gonna have you trip in the hallway on camera!”,

“Okay.” I said agitated to perform my own stunt. We transported the equipment to the hallways where I was soon to become part of the flooring.

“Practice Run, Rolling!” Anthony chanted.

Representing my full body prototype of BlueJay Entertainment gear, I trot down the hall near a marker on the ground made of garbage so I could slip graciously in frame. “From the Top!” Anthony snickered. Centering myself in the middle with my biology papers, I stroll down the strip once more and give a comical yelp during my plummet. I could see Nick Montag cramped by the doorway cringing his face so he didn’t break out of Jason’s character. Six trips and a yip later, Anthony was satisfied with my grounding performance to settle on the next scene that would be in the climax of the movie!

March 7th, 2020 on a turbulent Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Nick and I met at Anthony’s home to shoot my favorite scene taking place in ‘Dylan’s House’, also to reshoot a reimagined closing scene for the Bar segment as we did on the fourth of January.

“Please, make yourselves at home. Would you like to start with supper first or shooting?” Anthony said while he straightened the house for our arrival. Nick and I both agreed “We’re ready to shoot!”

“Then we will get started shortly!” Anthony grinned. “Follow me down to our indoor bar.” Anthony adds.

Nick and I were excited to finally start shooting together personally, since both our leads in the film were close like brothers from another mother. I began my way to the bathroom to change into my ‘epilogue outfit’, then turned the corner of the basement to take in this ‘indoor bar’ I’ve heard so much about.

“This is it!” Anthony introduced.

“Almost like a 70’s cheek bar & grill” I inspected.

“That would be correct, more or less.” Anthony also added.

Nick grabbed a seat on the stool to the far right that made a spine tingling creak. We transitioned from the creaky stools to the silent, ambiance of the cellar. In this appropriate filming environment, Anthony trusted my handiwork and let me operate the camera for the following shot that included Anthony as the waiter and Nick as future Jason.

“Rolling – Action!” I chanted.

Jason took a seat and waited to be served.

“Hello, sir. Would you like anything to drink?” the waiter asked as Jason pondered. “I’ll give you some time.”

“w-Wait!” Jason hollered.

“Here is your water to start you off.” the waiter says while sliding his cup across the bars top to Jason’s parched hand.

Jason picks up his cup for a sip and catches a familiar face out of the corner of his eye. Realizing there’s no doubt about it, being his old high school buddy Dylan at the edge of the counter. I enter the frame from behind the camera and pull up a stool next to Jason, we then embrace each other after a long time coming. Jason and Dylan raise their drink until the scene slowly fades to black; as do all endings.

“Cut! Perfect, now that I have options I can assemble the layout of the bar.” Anthony muttered. “Now lets head up to the guest room for our final scene today, Jay, what game would you like me to cue on the Playstation 3 in the bedroom?” he asked me.

“You know we’ve been talking about Uncharted 2 lately…” I snickered.

“Of course, good choice!” he agreed.

“I haven’t gotten around to playing that one.” Nick mentioned. “I’m more of a racing game kinda guy, you know Forza Horizon?”

“Yeah, I downloaded that for free on Xbox Live Gold.” I said while maneuvering around the boxes and going up the steep flight of stairs.

I took one last detour to the bathroom for a quick look swap into my grey beanie and a blue Hollister t-shirt, then readied up for my game – I mean scene. I walk into this cozy guest bedroom to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves loaded on the tv, and my co-star Nick purposely practicing cursing in sign language with Anthony. Fun Fact: All it takes to spew the strongest curse word in sign language is but only a peace sign and two fingered point to the sky away from saying ‘F-U’! Hypothetically, like in my junior high days on a school night I crashed on Anthony’s guest bed to play video games for an all nighter.

“Quiet on Set…Rollin’ – Action!” Anthony chanted.

Nick scrambles through his papers on his desk running an ‘X’ on tossed project ideas, until he abruptly stops to turn over his shoulder and stares at me while I concentrate back on him gripping my Ps3 controller. We bust out laughing at each other’s face because of the sudden intensity. Stop, reset and shoot.

“Hey. Dyl?” Jason called with his back to a disassociated project partner. “Dyl. Can you hear me?”

Jason stands up in annoyance and eventually blocks the tv with his body, now Dylan’s attention was drawn since his friend couldn’t be controlled to jump off the screen. Jason nudges his head towards the desk in the hopes to refocus Dylan to the task at hand, the whole reason Jason showed up to his house that night.

“Okay, back to business. Is there a favorite movie you think can be used in the project?” Jason asks as he sees Dylan tilt in wonder to what he uttered. “Is. There. A. Favorite. Movie. You. Like? Ugh, this is hopeless.”. Jason realizes Dylan is still dumbfounded at his attempted mouthing, which brings Jason to a bright idea for another form of communication. Jason unexpectedly whipped around in his chair catapulting Dylan out of his game world. A note on the rough draft papers off the desk read: ‘YOU CAN READ THIS RIGHT?’  Dylan bobs his head as Nick’s phone chimes off from his (actual) girlfriend trying to contact him.

“Aw, shit. I gotta go!” Jason screeched and quickly packed his things. Before leaving halfway out the door, he glances once more at Dylan. Dylan gently waves as does Jason, bidding one another a farewell.

“Cut! We can wrap it up, great timing guys! Ready for the best pizza in town?” Anthony gleed. My stomach growled in response from being empty till 7:30 at night.

We all hopped into Anthony’s car and came back with a steaming, hot, pizza from Lalli’s Pizza down the street. To top it off, we each presented our creations on Youtube with a slice of little Italy on our plates.

May 1st, 2020 on a beautiful mindful morning, starting off this Friday soaking in the sun’s rays in my backyard. Prior to this fine ‘Fri-Yay’, I knew it was a personal production day for the short movie because Anthony texted the cast regarding the pandemic, and how the Coronavirus will affect the summarization of the film. His solution was to record the footage from afar and he’d stitch our media once all sent in.

As we had faith in Anthony since the first cut, we did as we were directed so our movie could reach its fin. I was nervous about my in-home filming environment, because of my uncontrollable dog looking to make a cameo in the big leagues with an award winning bark! Though I was skeptical about the consistency of our footage varying in different locations, houses, cameras, lighting angles, etc. Through this recent experience, I found out the most suitable surroundings to shoot in is a basement or cellar.

To begin, I needed to stay digitally engaged with Nick Montag during this great responsibility. I told him I was going to send him my media first – so that he could factor in my arrangements of the room for reference, until he began his recording session. He texted back notifying me that he didn’t own professional videography equipment, which meant he was only working with what he had, meaning it’s best for me not to over-prepare my set environment. I laid out two alternative looks and a leather jacket for my character Dylan, so that Anthony could have variations to pick from in post-production. My excerpt in the script was short and straight forward since Nick enters the scene much sooner than I do.

Steady, Ready, and Shoot!

Dylan enters the door. Jason turns around to notice Dylan after he broke into his house uninvited for the sake of Dylan’s health. Dylan cringes his face in disappointment then waves back out of alleviation.

The lack of exchanged words but emotion held through this silent discussion, Jason was present for Dylan, he cared enough to intrude in order to show Dylan he associates him not as a friend – but as a brother. Jason grabbed a pen and paper off of the desk and wrote down ‘Did you finish the project?’ He shows it to Dylan. Dylan shakes his head no. Jason rewrites ’Do you wanna finish it, buddy? Together?’. Dylan nods gleefully and hugs Jason. Jason is in shock, but eventually hugs Dylan back. The perfect alternative ending.

Blockbusting thank you to Anthony T. Morodor for this special opportunity to be along for the ride over these six months. I’m grateful I got to work with talented costars to make a cast with great chemistry. For any like minds who have felt the same, the movie was posted on Youtube in its entirety here, afterwards my director and I had a FaceTime discussion fixing to collaborate on a script together in the near future. That night, he posted a thank you to his followers sticking with him through his whole project even as the pandemic put a raincheck on everyones plan, so it is a miracle the short film met its completion. Later, the cast went out for a final celebration, but that part wasn’t in the script.

“Today is a very exciting day because my capstone is officially out on Youtube, if you guys want to check it out and if you really enjoyed it smash that like button! I will actually be creating more videos now that I have this free time with one coming out this week, so be sure to stick around and subscribe to my channel to have more content like this. Thank you once again to all the casting crew who were a part of this really fun experience, so I hope you guys enjoy the video!”