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IFH 087: Into the Madness: Shooting a Micro Budget Feature Film w/ Jill-Michele Meleán

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You knew it was bound to happen. Well, the time is here. Please welcome the talented Jill-Michele Meleán to the Indie Film Hustle Tribe. Jill is the star of my debut feature film “This is Meg“. She is one of the most talented actors/comedians I’ve ever worked with and we have worked on a ton of projects of the years.

Jill-Michele Meleán, “Jilly” was born and raised in Miami, Florida (aka Cuba). She declared at a young age that she wanted to be like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Benny Hill. Jilly started in Theatre and toured with The Coconut Grove Playhouse (which is the Broadway of Miami). In 2000, she moved to Los Angeles and needed to be on stage.

She took her natural comedic timing to the Standup Stage, headlining across the country while continuing her acting career. After many years of hard work, she’s made a name for herself in the Comedy Television world with memorable performances on FOX’s “MadTV” and Comedy Central’s “Reno 911”. However, her first love is her dramatic acting career. As she continues her theatrical Film and Television career, she’ll never stop making people laugh.

Which brings us to This is Meg.

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Alex Ferrari 1:58
So without any further ado, I want you to please have a warm welcome for the lovely the talented, Jill-Michele Meleán. I would like to welcome to the show, Miss Jill-Michele Meleán. Thank you so much.

Jill-Michele Meleán 3:54
Yay!

Alex Ferrari 3:55
For coming on the show I appreciate a Jill. I know I know. The crowd the tribe has seen your face a lot lately.

Jill-Michele Meleán 4:03
Yes.

Alex Ferrari 4:05
But everyone wants to know who is the girl behind the poster of this is Meg. So I wanted to bring you on the show. So we can talk a little bit about not only this is mag but you've had a very colorful career and you've gone through a lot of ups and downs and and I think your your whole story is is a wonderful one and hopefully educational for a lot of people trying to get into the business so

Jill-Michele Meleán 4:29
well that's what I love about This is Meg because it's so therapeutic.

Alex Ferrari 4:36
It is it is definitely therapeutic. For both you and I.

Jill-Michele Meleán 4:40
Yeah, absolutely. And it's also so much fun to have these amazing friends of mine that you know via text, I can text them and say I want you to be a part of something really special. And they have no idea what it is and they say you got it whatever you need. I'm right there. It's it's a really wonderful for failing to to be able to have those kind of relationships

Alex Ferrari 5:04
no absolutely absolutely so let me let me Let's start with this take it all the way back to going back walk back into time or how did you well first of all how did you get into the business and what made you want to get into this this ridiculous business

Jill-Michele Meleán 5:20
oh my god we're gonna go real far back i mean

Alex Ferrari 5:23
you know what let's try to keep the whole thing under an hour. So Reader's Digest version gonna have like

Jill-Michele Meleán 5:29
part one part two part three or four um, I was born and raised in Miami and I was that little girl that instead of like sneaking out on my room to play with dolls or to do other mischievious things, I would sneak out of my room and I would watch Carol Burnett and I'd watch Alfred Hitchcock and I my one of my favorite movies was mommy dearest. I loved All About Eve. I love Sunset Boulevard I was such a strange kid and and that was my my thing it was like how do you do what those people are doing in that box? You know, because we didn't have flat screen TVs back then it looked like a box and yes, you remember you know going back and going back and we

Alex Ferrari 6:17
were in a time when there was no remote controls. Oh really? I was my ground I didn't

Jill-Michele Meleán 6:21
have that I had we had remote we had remotes but they weren't they weren't like what the sofas sophisticated as it is today. You know it's now it's all universal remotes and all that kind of stuff in the

Alex Ferrari 6:33
universal remote anymore now it's like I'll just pull up my iPhone and

Jill-Michele Meleán 6:38
bring it up Scotty Exactly. Yeah, let me Bluetooth it

Alex Ferrari 6:42
we're making ourselves making ourselves sound extremely old. So let's move on.

Jill-Michele Meleán 6:46
But thank God for Botox thank God I just want to put that out there. Can that be a sponsor please?

Alex Ferrari 6:53
By the way you look fantastic for 55 I'm just I'm 82

Jill-Michele Meleán 6:56
but it's thank you I appreciate

Alex Ferrari 6:59
it. You look horrible for 20 fantastic

Jill-Michele Meleán 7:03
yeah 108 you're just hi You're so hot Well yeah, I just always kind of dreamed that's where I'd be and after I got my piece of paper from college that my parents were so adamant about I literally gave him the paper and went here Can I go to LA now please and that's when I got their blessing um so I came out to Los Angeles and didn't know anybody stood in line with homeless people for open mics and and then that you know, increasingly I started to get things here and there because I worked really hard I really dedicated myself and focused and didn't i didn't get another job. I know I'm not saying that this everybody should do this. But I lived off my credit cards because that's how crazy I was and how much I believed in myself. But I would cry myself to sleep every night because I was like do you really believe in yourself? Or are you insane? And it paid off though it did pay off from there. You know, I had come from a sketch world and theater world with a theater degree and fell into stand up because stand up was somewhere I could get on stage right away and perform. And that is therapeutic in itself to that immediate gratification of people laughing you're like okay, I'm, I'm validated, which in spirituality you're not supposed to have not care what other people think. But as an actor and performer it's very important that other people like you

Alex Ferrari 8:38
know, that's what I've met very few actors who don't care what other people think. Exactly.

Jill-Michele Meleán 8:42
I'm always like, when I listen to these spiritual gurus, they're just like, with no expectations, and I'm like, but I need them to clap.

Alex Ferrari 8:50
I'm not I'm not doing my job.

Jill-Michele Meleán 8:54
I'm like, I don't understand. No, they need to buy tickets.

Alex Ferrari 8:57
I know. Exactly, exactly.

Jill-Michele Meleán 9:01
So there Yeah, you always you always kind of um, that's one thing with me. It's always this internal Battle of what where's the balance? Where's the balance? And because you hear like the spiritual gurus say that but then at the same time, you're like, I gotta pay my rent. So we're in a different world. So it's tryst trying to find the two things and matching it so you're in I guess the path of least resistance you know. But yeah, so from there I did stand up and then from stand up I went to mad TV they pretty much followed me for about a year and a half the producers I would go back to them like every few months and do my characters and all this and then finally the timing was right. And they made me an immediate cast member and all those bills got paid off.

Alex Ferrari 9:51
So how long about from the moment you Atlanta to LA to the point where you got mad TV? How long was it?

Jill-Michele Meleán 9:57
It was about three years.

Alex Ferrari 9:59
That's pretty fast.

Jill-Michele Meleán 10:00
Yeah it is pretty fast because again, I really focused hard It wasn't like I was waiting on the couch waiting for the phone to ring no one knew who the heck I was. And so I was out every night at the stand up clubs I enrolled in the Groundlings and Second City and improv Olympic and I was thinking oh my god this is like college Why don't you just come here in the first place? You know, but my parents did what they knew and they didn't know about this world so um, you know more than anything they wanted me to get married and have kids and I did the exact opposite. And I also talk about secrets and my family's very loosely you know, they love their their secrets and here I am on stage singing everything and they're like oh my god, what is happening? You're like their worst nightmare bass. Oh, totally. Totally. I mean my father till this day looks at me with these eyes like

Alex Ferrari 10:57
I don't wanna you get it when is this gonna stop?

Jill-Michele Meleán 10:59
When is this gonna stop or he just like I don't understand you at all

Alex Ferrari 11:04
different yeah different we're like listen my father is not too much of a different beast as well and my god bless him I love him to death and he loves me but he's still it's hard for him to grasp

Jill-Michele Meleán 11:15
yeah it's just a different it's a different world for us especially coming from you know Latin family and my father and growing up in South America this is this is so wrong you know what i where I am however a few years ago he had come out to visit me and he gave me one of in his own approving proving Lee way I guess if that's even a word I like to make up words. He says you're a very unique and special girl. Wow. Yeah.

Alex Ferrari 11:48
And take in many different ways. Many different ways.

Jill-Michele Meleán 11:51
I chose to take it as something Yeah, so that was in my eyes I was like, okay, he may not ever get me but at least he's accepting me and and that felt really good cuz until this day, he still sees me and that's those big guys it's those I like what is this little thing here? I don't know.

Alex Ferrari 12:15
I'll tell you the the the one story with my with my dad was he didn't understand what it was. I was just editing at the time in Miami. And then one day I said hey, I'm editing a commercial with Don Francisco. And if everybody who doesn't know who don't Fransisco is, he's like, kinda he's like like the Johnny Carson or the Jay Leno or the Dave Letterman all rolled into one of Latin America he's Yeah, he's huge. And I was just doing a commercial with him as an editor and apparently that was no matter what else I did in life I'm like what he worked with Don Francisco he could hold on to the only thing he could grab on to and I guess your dad similar in that way

Jill-Michele Meleán 12:53
isn't so funny I my dad um, and this is just a quick story for the audience. I don't know if I told you this. I'm sure I did. But I have to tell the story. My father when I adopted my dog a Mr. JACK he didn't want me to have a dog cuz I don't know why he didn't want me to have a dog. And I brought him to Miami, Mr. JACK and my father was so like, like, why do you have a dog come on you're, you're never even home, you travel and by the die and all this type of stuff. And it wasn't until I finally said, Dad, do you know who his other grandpa is? And he went Who? And I said alpa Chino. And because I have this opportunity. Yeah. Because I adopted Mr. JACK from Beverly D'Angelo. Oh, yes. And an owl like brought him you know, balloons for his birthday and all kinds of stuff. And even though I physically never met out he brought it to the house because we had a birthday party for the dogs like the first year that I adopted a Mr. JACK and once I told my dad alpa Chino he paused, and he went Scarface. I mean, all that is so good. Oh my god. And then jack is now accepted anywhere we go. So

Alex Ferrari 14:08
he's like to two people removed from Scarface Yeah,

Jill-Michele Meleán 14:12
the grandpa's are alpa Chino, and my father Carlos milyon. So

Alex Ferrari 14:17
absolutely amazing. That is our Latino roots. Ladies and gentlemen, that's and we could talk for hours about our crazy families. So when you were on mad TV, you became a regular on mad TV. And you were the first Latina to be a regular on mad TV. no worse

Jill-Michele Meleán 14:34
than first and only now we're called the classics because now they're doing the remake of of Mad TV for CW right, but there were other Latins that came on mad TV, but they were featured so until this day, I can always say I was the first and only Latina cast member on the original mad TV, which is really a cool thing. Yeah. But again, I was always in wigs. I have this I call myself the Gary Oldman of comedy. Because you put a wig on me or you shoot me in a different angle, and I transform. And so I had that thing where after mad TV was done, I, there was no face recognition. There was character recognition. If I told somebody like, Oh, I did britney spears and Drew Barrymore, and you know, Jennifer Lopez, and they go, Oh my gosh, but you couldn't if I was walking on the street, you would never recognize me. Whereas somebody like, you know, a dear friend of mine, like a sister is Deborah Wilson, and Deborah walk the street, and we cannot go anywhere, because she gets stopped left and right for pictures or whatever. And then she would go, you know, Jill is on that TV, too. And they were like, I don't care. Like

Alex Ferrari 15:46
Yes. So what so what did you learn from that experience? Because I know that experience was, you know, was a very big part of your, your career path.

Jill-Michele Meleán 15:57
Yeah, I have to say this, it was, it was like boot camp, because being on a sketch show is not like being on a regular sitcom, or a drama or anything like that, because you're fighting for sketches to get in, on. So we would read like over 50 something sketches on Monday, and for get picked. So I was very naive. Because this was my first big show that I was on. I had written I did my bump up writing for Nickelodeon live action show prior to that, but this was the first show that I was actually, you know, a cast member on. I was so gung ho, I was so excited. And then it was like high school times 100. And you would just be like, why didn't that sketch get in that sketch got in. That's not funny, though. And this not and then people were like, you know, going back behind your back, this let in, I was not prepared, trained or prepared to be in that kind of world. And I fell really flat on my face. Not as far as my performances are. But as far as my, my social life and my off camera, I was kind of depressed, because I just didn't know what the heck was going on. And so I was in the trenches, and it was like boot camp. And when they didn't renew my contract, I was devastated. I was just because here's a dream come true. Here I am doing what I love, and it didn't feel good. Um, and so from that experience, I could have gone into a downward spiral. But instead, I shifted my focus, and really did the work to pull myself out of it. And I got Reno 911. After that, I was recurring on that. And then from there was, you know, other TV shows guest star here, they're there. But it wasn't the big huge paychecks coming in as a series regular all the time. So it kind of forced me this business forced me to find my balance or quit. And I found a balance. And that's why you see a lot of people drop off the map after a big show, because they hadn't found their balance. And in this business is so hard core. And that's why when I go and I mentor, young teenage girls, and I talked to them, the first thing they say is like, do you have any advice? You know, what's your advice, Uncle, you really got to love it. You got to love it so much, because it is probably one of the hardest businesses to be in because it doesn't matter how talented you are. That's part of it. But it is like having Rhino skin because people beat you up people that you think are friends or not your friends and all kinds of so you just got to love it because that's your what's gonna keep you steady, because everything else comes and goes comes and goes, comes and goes. And you find awesome gems like me, you know, me and you. We've known each other for seven years. But there's times that, you know, I haven't talked to you for months, because I'm on a project, you're on a project, and then we meet back up and we're like, Hey, what's up? So it's a weird world. It's a very straight, it's not corporate by any means.

Alex Ferrari 19:07
Jesus, can you can you imagine being on onset just within the first two minutes of what a grip will tell you? I mean, seriously, you'd be you'd be slapped with sexual harassment suits left to right. In the film industry. I mean, seriously? Absolutely.

Jill-Michele Meleán 19:21
Absolutely. So it's a very, it's a total different beast. So if I had any recommendations for recommend recommendations, you like that word? that's really what's good. Thank you. Thank you very much. But if I had to any recommendations for people that are listening that are in film school, or in theater, getting their BFA, or even in high school, thinking about going into this business is definitely intern intern intern. Yep. Relationships is what this town is about. I find myself always circling back and wanting to work with people that I love that I've worked with in the past that have no ego and that love What they do, and that's what I mean me and you are trying to do is that that whole thing of, you know, our first feature together like this, to create a whole nother group of, and I don't want to use this comparison but it's an example of like Adam Sandler's company where he has all his group of friends or like, will Pharaoh's company where he has his group of friends, and they're constantly pumping out these in the duplass brothers. They're constantly pumping out these amazing projects, and all their friends are cast and they're having fun doing what they love. So that's my hope and dream. And this is Meg is just like the launch of that with you. Yeah,

Alex Ferrari 20:39
I hope so as well. I definitely hope so as well. And we met we met almost eight years ago. Now when I first got to LA you when I was 12. When you went obviously when you were 12. But when we met, I think we I met you like three months after I got here. Like I literally wasn't that soon. It was literally like you were I was Fresh Off the Boat. I was still growing green horn in LA and then and then we both got thrown into that short film that we did. Emma Demas and the porno queen. That's when we first worked together. And and then we did we've got we've done we've done a lot of projects since then. together here and there over the years, right?

Jill-Michele Meleán 21:21
Yeah, yeah, that was and that was a cool experience. To work with you. I think it's also because we both we come from Miami, we both come from very similar kind of backgrounds. I and we're both go getters and hustlers, hustlers of hustlers. There you go. I love that we're hustler. I'm a hustler.

Alex Ferrari 21:43
Every day we're hustling.

Jill-Michele Meleán 21:47
Um, but yeah, it's it's it's cool because we know how to, we don't need all the bells and whistles. We can make something look amazing, because we're so I, I don't are we ghetto is that.

Alex Ferrari 22:04
I like to call I don't like to say ghetto. I'd like to say I'm a filmmaker from the streets. Here we go. Yeah. Yeah, from the streets, because you're always hustling, like, you know, like you're hustling on the corner. And you and yours and we're street smart. But we understand what it's like to be up in the up in the hills, and we can hang up in the hills. And we can also hang down in the streets if we have to. And I think the ability it's similar to what Robert Rodriguez Did you know he he was able to create tremendous amount of production value at little cost, because he stripped down the all the bells and whistles. He's like, he looked at these, these huge movies and you're like, why is there 500 people working on this movie? Like, you don't need that many people to make a good movie, like a lot. I mean, obviously bigger the $200 million movies and so on. But I'm talking He's like, he's like, well, I could do this cheaper, and I could do this better. And let's just get it done. And that's what he did. And I think that's similar mentality, at least the way I go at it. I think we've taken it to an extreme level with this as Mike, but we'll get into that later. But real quick, I wanted to ask you, and this is just a question I always had. You do stand up. So I know and I've worked with a lot of different stand ups over the years as well. It takes a tremendous amount of time doesn't it to create even something as short as a 30 minute stand up set?

Jill-Michele Meleán 23:28
Right? Oh my gosh. Yeah. I mean, it's really funny when you have people that are doing it for two years and they're like I'm doing a special and then he just go Hey, more power to you go ahead. And it takes 10 years to get your first hour. You need 10 years because you need to be on the road. You need to know what works in Oklahoma may not work in Miami may not work in Kentucky may not work in Rhode Island you got to travel you got to see what is that universal funny? Where's your voice? You develop a voice and it doesn't mean like Oh, I can't speak I have no voice. No, it means literally like there's something that happens to you in a 10 year mark. Because now I've been doing it for 16 years. But there's a something that just pops that you're now able to write with such a strong clear voice and it's not just jokey, jokey hack stuff because anybody can do that and anybody can do the dirty stuff and the shock stuff so that's like when I would see some specials that are on you know I'm like hey, no and I know it's laughable it's very funny because a fart it's funny it's hilarious that a table you know it Yes of course. But it does that have longevity. Does that is that a TV show that you want to watch a person just farting for 45 minutes or you know an hour like but

Alex Ferrari 24:46
yeah, but you watch something like delirious and it still holds today. It still holds today. Still funny as all hell yeah, absolutely.

Jill-Michele Meleán 24:53
Because that's a strong voice and very strong point of view. And so that's so it takes Yours it takes about 10 years you get one hour and about 10 years if you're working really hard and then from there you're able to develop like Louie ck and George Carlin and everybody they were able to pump out one hour new specials every year because now their voice is so strong and they can just hit the road and just right boom boom boom boom and you're doing they're doing you know how many shows per week and that's like rehearsal for them and then by the time by the time the time the time them the next year comes they got out because they have that entrenched in them now so I always it's always interesting when you when I watch these competition shows and somebody wins because they got a good three minutes and they can't hold it on the road they go on the road and they tank when they're doing an hour because they're not funny for an hour they're funny for 10 minutes but that's what YouTube has done there's a good and bad YouTube is great because you're able to showcase and show off talent that normally people wouldn't see but at the same time three minutes doesn't hold up a whole hour in a theater and you don't you don't want people paying $80 a ticket coming in and watching you breathe for 45 minutes you know

Alex Ferrari 26:11
exactly exactly so so let's get into this little thing we're doing called This is back i what i what point in my sales pitch to you Do you agree to do this as mag At what point when that phone call came? Because I probably when I called you I hadn't I guess we had i don't know if i think we had talked probably a month or two prior to that not about this about other stuff and I just called you and at what point did you say yeah, I think I'm gonna do this

Jill-Michele Meleán 26:41
you know um, or what was it

Alex Ferrari 26:42
in the sales pitch that said yeah, you know, this sounds like a good idea.

Jill-Michele Meleán 26:46
Alex I think it was just all timing it was the perfect timing because we have this thing called pilot season for people that aren't in the industry in for actors and pilot seasons usually like January through April and you are as an actor you're out oh my gosh you five times a week five to six times maybe a couple of times but if even if you're out going out for these new TV shows you're I'm in the level where I'm going in for series regular so the the sides which are the script that you have to memorize for the audition is about 12 pages approximately six to 12 pages and it's very heavy dialogue and you're memorizing you're developing this character you you you do your brain is just working so hard then you go in and there's the the pressure of hitting it and one at one take for the casting director getting that on camera for the producers and then there's all these levels and the next thing you got to go to the producers and the next thing you go to the studio then the next thing you go for a test deal and it there's so much that happens that a lot of people don't even understand to get a show on the air so during this season of pilot season we're doing all these pilots for all these different networks and I had just I was so beaten up because I had done this for how many months and I'm so close so close on so many projects and you know what it was a wonderful pilot season I lost a huge star names which is totally fine got a lot of fans producers and casting directors and it was an amazing pilot season for me but I was exhausted and there was nothing substantial to to go look at this trophy I got from all this hard work I've done and so when you called me I knew that this was something that I could grasp something that I could actually feel attain see a finished product and it was mine and I went oh let's do this yes something that I can actually put love into and then see a final product would be amazing I guess

Alex Ferrari 28:51
as an actor yeah you put your heart and soul into stuff but you never get a final product at the end of the day Oh unit generally you don't I mean you could so many out there I never looked at it that way I guess that's a great point of view because I you know as a director and as a I always create whenever I create I have an end product. Yes I'm telling you actors don't so I guess that's a big plus.

Jill-Michele Meleán 29:12
And yeah, it is this is that's why it's so wonderful to do these. These. I call them love projects because because then it is something that we can actually see and go I love the work I mean I was just talking to Carlos I was Rocky. Yesterday we talked on the phone and people that are following this as make know that Carlos I was Rocky is from Reno 911. He's done a lot of other TV shows. And I played a sister on the show. He was officer Garcia and he has he's an iconic, you know, actor in this in this town. And he said this is the fate his favorite character Tony icart that he plays in this as make his favorite character that he has ever played. And it just, yeah, it just made my heart melt and I went Are you serious and goes yeah and it's because there's a freedom that we're allowing the actors to come in into play and to take it to the next level that's written on the page and that as an actor is so rare because we're always constricted to a certain point and then once you're a Bryan Cranston, you know when or things like that then it's a different ballgame but usually they want you to fit into some kind of box because that's what the writer wants and then at that point once you book it you can develop more with the producers with the writer with the director but it's booking is what is the pressure that happens so I'm allowing people to come in and just play is just like oh my gosh, it's it feels effortless and I love that feeling

Alex Ferrari 30:50
we'll be right back after a word from our sponsor. And now back to the show Yeah, that was my I was gonna be my next question like your experience now working on this because this is in many ways our I know this is therapy as you said earlier, this is therapeutic for you but it's extremely therapeutic for me as well because I feel the same freedom that you guys feel but now I feel it as a director you know, and as a creator I just kind of am it's flowing like but then we sit down we both sit in the kitchen when we were shooting that scene. We looked at each other I'm like, Are we really making a feature? I know we made it Why is it so easy? I don't understand like why haven't we done this? How can we haven't had that 10 of these? Why don't we have 10 of these under about like I don't understand

Jill-Michele Meleán 31:43
I think we I think we had to get beat up I think we had to get beat up to be able to appreciate those this and those moments um, because yeah in the kitchen and even when we were we hiked up to get those beautiful shots that it

Alex Ferrari 31:57
was just a couple days ago yeah,

Jill-Michele Meleán 31:59
yeah, my legs still hurt

Alex Ferrari 32:00
everything hurts in my car you were actually in shape Julie um, I'm getting in shape but it's you know I've come from the the Alfred Hitchcock School of directors and I really need to get to the Zack Snyder School of fitness of directors oh my god well yeah yeah for the for the audience we actually hiked up to the Hollywood sign to get some some shots for for the movie and it was my bright idea to go cuz Julie was like well we could go here we can go there and get some nice view shots I'm like no, it's got to be the Hollywood sign. And it was three and a half mile hike up and it's not like straight up yeah, it's not like a little incline it's like a 45 degree

Jill-Michele Meleán 32:48
and we had to bring gear which was here where I'm

Alex Ferrari 32:51
carrying the gear your carry yes and your and your wonderful niece is helping us Daisy

Jill-Michele Meleán 32:56
Daisy was amazing she's 14 and that girl was like that that I want them and I was like oh my god slow down

Alex Ferrari 33:04
made us feel so old. I was like yeah, slow down. So we got up that we got up there and shot these beautiful beautiful shots in in magic hour. So it was it was just this gorgeous glowing stuff but yeah, it was but there was a freedom and by the way that was all all as we call it gorilla we as they say in the business stole the shots.

Jill-Michele Meleán 33:27
Those shots and those are beautiful shots and and even up there I remember you know never forget this moment Alex after we were done and we looked in the sun was setting and I looked at you and I go we're making our first feature and it was this talk about bliss. You know everyone talks about bliss that was a blissful moment for me and that's when someone says go to a happy place. I'm gonna think of that place right there because it was Oh,

Alex Ferrari 33:54
it was magical because you're literally on the top of Los Angeles you are literally at I think one of the highest points at least from the viewpoint of Los Angeles at the Hollywood sign. And you see all of Los Angeles you see it's a 360 so you see the valley you see the west side you see century cities see Santa Monica see that you see everything you can even see Catalina Island on a good day and you're just sitting there so you got the Hollywood sign you've got the sunset coming down I mean it is just this one and we just finished shooting a bunch of stuff and it's just like this really blissful moment I'm paying mind you in absolute pain freezing our asses off because the sun was going down and we really didn't really underestimated how cold it got away that's so cool we're sweating Are you know what's off going up there but coming down we were like just hurry it's freezing.

Jill-Michele Meleán 34:47
I was so good. I was like shaking. I think the hairs on my legs grew three inches. It was disgusting.

Alex Ferrari 34:55
is a lot of fun. Now, what's your experience I guess because you've never done a feature like this. You've never done a feature in the first place, but you've never done. I guess this is very non scripted. I mean, have you done a lot of non scripted stuff before?

Jill-Michele Meleán 35:08
Well, this isn't again, this isn't this is my first. This isn't my first feature. It's me producing and writing and starring and yeah, there's features. Yes. Yeah. I just want the audience to know its features. She's done many features. Yes. Many features and a lot of studio films and they you know, in studio films, you have like, 50 takes, like, first of our 20 takes, and there's a lot of bodies and there's a lot of network people and studio people over people's shoulder like you can't do that can't do this, my mom. Um, but the money is great. So you're like, I'll do whatever you say. Where this is just, it's, it's, it's such a freeing experience, because now it's actually getting something that you feel like even more doing the takes, it's like, I feel it like I looked at you and I go, I feel it. That one, I felt it. So you're able to really just dive in, in a deeper level, I believe. But what was your question? I totally went on

Alex Ferrari 36:04
the nonce? Well, because this is non scripted. And that's a kind of weird term because it's not non script. It's not like we're just showing up on the day like, okay, let's make something up.

Jill-Michele Meleán 36:12
It's called loosely scripted. And, and we Yeah, I'm so used to that. And then all the players that are in this, in this project are used to it too, because their hands elected because they're friends of mine. And we come from an improv world and Curb Your Enthusiasm. I fat actress, a pilot, I did mud show, Reno 911. They're all written in the style. And what what it is, is it it there is a script, because you need a beginning, middle and end you need an X 1x 2x 3x. You need a structure, right? characters, you need all of those things. And you need a little bit of dialogue to, you know, to push people into the point of view to guide them, but then you have bullet points and there's bullet points that you need to meet and that improv or need to hit. And so all these people are this, this cast that's in this film are amazing improvisers. They're ridiculous. So I knew I couldn't write better than what's going to come out of their mouth. And that's the beauty of when you do any kind of TV show or film like that is because you trust them so much. And as a performer, to have that kind of trust put on you you. You step up to the plate, and it's fearless. And you feel you feel appreciated. So you become even more fearless. And I love that Alex and I are You're mean you're like we're right on it. We both get it. And we have so much appreciation for everybody's performances. And that's what I loved about Reno 911. And that's what I incorporated into this is that I'm Reno going from Mad which was very mad TV, which is very structured, and very much you fighting for sketches to get in. I'm going to Reno 911 they literally sometimes would let the camera roll for 45 minutes. And when you were done improvising, they would go oh my god, that was so great. You were so amazing. Oh my god, okay, remember when you said this, this, say those things again, but then do whatever you want, and then just go even further. Do whatever you want. Okay, you were so awesome. Okay, we're gonna start back to one. And you were like, Really? Yeah. And you feel like, okay, I'll go, I'll push even more like, I'll totally give you more. And it's such a gratifying experience as as a improviser. And not a lot of people can do it. Not a lot of actors can improvise. I worked with an actor, a very well known actor, once that the director said afterwards he goes, Okay, we got that now, do whatever you want. And this actor, every time I would go to improvise, his actor would look at me, like a deer in headlights, like, oh, and then they would go cut and they go What happened? And he goes, Oh, I didn't know when I should talk. Cuz she didn't say it was hilarious. Yeah. So that's when I realized oh, okay, there's It's a special quality.

Alex Ferrari 39:19
And I'll tell you what, I think in a lot of ways, um, and I don't want to say I'm improving as a director, but I'm on the edge a lot with this movie. You know, I have a very clear vision of what I want, but the technical aspects of things I'm definitely on the edge. As you know, I'm doing everything. Oh, everything. Yeah, I mean, literally everything. And even some days I am holding the boom. Yes, but it's that freeing kind of, I think it's if I can, if I can make the analogy of what you guys are going through like, we'll do whatever you want. And you don't have any you don't you have a box you got to stay in. But within that box, you can just have fun and as a director, I am kind of doing that as well. I mean, I have my shot list, I have things that I want to do that day. But when we get there, I kind of just kind of flow with it. I'm like, Alright, let's just grab this over here, let's go over here over there. And, and, and just kind of roll with it. And the stuff that we keep bringing back is cutting

Jill-Michele Meleán 40:18
wood, I think that's where the that's where the film magic comes into play. And it's reading on camera, because there's a trust behind the scenes, that it's so special. That what we are shooting, you can tell we are having fun. And I think that's what the difference is sometimes when you watch a film, and you're like it was good, but I just can't there's just something about it. That doesn't make me love it. And I think it's because you can feel the chaos that was behind the scenes. And it's so it's so stagnant on screen. And the performances feel very tight. And almost like a to b to c. And we're a

Alex Ferrari 41:02
to z to T to D to F

Jill-Michele Meleán 41:05
that's it. Yeah. And it's like, and I know most people, I'm sorry for the sirens. It's so my gosh, we're live baby. We're live. We are live. Would you stop it? did you stop? Stop chasing?

Alex Ferrari 41:17
I'm recording. I'm on indie film hustle

Jill-Michele Meleán 41:19
for God's I am on a podcast. Yes. Dynavox. Anyway, they stopped. Perfect. But yeah, I you know, this is a very special special environment that we are creating. But again, it's not. It's not a foreign environment. It's definitely an environment that I have seen in the past and it works. Again, like on Renan. I'm one I can't say enough about those guys. On Reno, the all those producers, they were just just they taught me so much. And they actually pulled me out of that kind of depression that I don't even think they know about that. But because of coming from Mad TV and feeling like what is this what it's supposed to be like? And then when I went to Reno I went Oh, no, it's not that was just that show, you know, so but I appreciate mad TV 100% because I it was my boot camp. And I wouldn't have learned those things if I didn't have that experience.

Alex Ferrari 42:23
No, definitely with without question. And so let's talk a little bit about the, the importance of building relationships in this business, because I think we're able to do what we're doing because of our relationships. Yes. Oh, and I had I had a thought that's why I was pausing for a second. I think one of the things that I think the audience needs to know, this is the reason why we're going through this process. And it seems like as we're talking like, it seems like it's so effortless. For both Julie and I and and for the team that we got together to do this. That's experienced in years. I mean, it's not like Jillian are both 22 No offense, all the 22 year olds out there. And there are probably geniuses like Orson Welles who made Citizen Kane when he was 23. But generally speaking, the experience and just the confidence, I think that you build over time, is what gives you the ability to do something like this.

Jill-Michele Meleán 43:21
Yes, I absolutely agree. I think that if you were to come to me five years ago, even and said, let's do this, I would have been like no, because there's so much the stakes are so high. And because it's almost second nature to us at this point, we are able to do a crowdfunding and to know that that those people's money's, whatever they're donating, is not going to waste. We are doing something with that we're doing some wonderful with that. So because I hate asking people for money, even as a standup, I always try to calm everybody in I'm always like, you know what, just don't pay me and let me comp everybody in I'm always I'm that person. I'm that person, I'm wearing a shirt and you go, Oh my God, let me shoot on my ticket. Like, I just I'm that way. So if I'm going to ask somebody for money, it's because I am doing something really wonderful. I want you to be a part of this. And I'm going to show you something great at the end. So definitely, definitely, it's our experience.

Alex Ferrari 44:23
And just I think the biggest thing too, at least from my point of view, and I know you have this already because of years of stand up and just being a performance is that confidence. And it took me a long time to get that confidence as a director and I think you've worked with me as a director for me when I got here to LA to the point now and I'm a little bit different than I was when I directed Emmett Yeah, it's just I was I'm a completely different human being. And I think that just kind of is something you need to build up so before you know a lot of a lot of people listening to this podcast might say, Well, let me just go off and do it like you can absolutely but understand that the reason why we make it sound as easy as it is, is because of just as confidence and in all honesty, we might fall flat on our face at the end of this thing, I don't think but both you and I don't believe we will, you know, that's not just I don't think it's a question either. But just saying, you know,

Jill-Michele Meleán 45:18
and I think also too, and I'm speaking, you know, for me knowing you, you know, for seven years in our the first project we did in Medina's you know, I remember, I see the growth that you had where you were very technical director, you were working out the technicalities, you're more about the the shots being set up. Now, that's almost second nature to you, that is second nature to you. And now you're able to really work with the actors more. And that's for me, that's what I think an incredible director is is that they have they already have the technic technical aspect down that's, that's already given. And then the working with the actors is what makes it special. That's what makes a director sore is when they can bring out performances and an actor and get that trust together that creates magic and that's what's happening with this is make is the magic is happening because your timing and where you are. is so perfect to so yes, these are my friends. I wouldn't bring my friends in with you. If I didn't think that you know, you would, you know, I'd be like No, that's okay.

Alex Ferrari 46:28
I guess you're right. I guess there's also too that it was just such a quick Yes. That I just kind of like okay, I guess it's just the way it rolls but there's there was thought behind it. There's definitely total thought

Jill-Michele Meleán 46:38
because I it's not the You're not the first director that's come to me that says, hey, we should do a feature. I got an equipment and I've been like, No, that's okay. But I know you and I know how far you've gone that I'm I'm contacting friends that they are doing favors for me even though they're saying yes, I'll be there for you. I'm show up for you, because I love you. But it's it's a huge favorite because they get paid a lot of money to get to a set. You know, we don't even have hair and makeup for them. And they're like, got it. Don't worry about it, you know. So it's, it's a pretty, I'm asking for a favor. And I was waiting to ask for that favor until I knew something was great. So I know this is great. So asking for the favor, is going to be beneficial not only to me, but to them. And we've already seen that with janica. And with Carlos coming in the scenes that we shot. They have said, Oh my gosh, this is amazing. Because the timing was there. You're ready. I'm ready. You know, now the favors get asked and pooled. And you know, and

Alex Ferrari 47:42
the thing is to like jenica and Carlos. But well, Carlos, we actually wrote more for him and brought him into another scene. And Jenna goes like, Is there anything else kind of come back? She's like, Is there anything I can do need me for something else. I'm there. She had so much fun doing it. And you told me that Carlos? Like was super, super, super excited to come back and play Tony.

Jill-Michele Meleán 48:05
Yeah, it was just it made sense. After you know, we shot his pieces where I'm watching it through the iPad, it made sense that he would come back. And so that was a wonderful rewrite for me to do. And he had a he had a stand up show that night that we were going to shoot because we have to shoot at night for the scene. And he has a stand up show and he was like, Okay, I'm gonna cancel it. And he cancelled it. And he's getting

Alex Ferrari 48:32
paid more on that stand up show than he is. Yeah. Yeah. That tells you a lot about how much he really likes. Yeah, the project. And that's Alright, enough about this is Meg, we'll get back to why. So you also have a YouTube show called Stop

Jill-Michele Meleán 48:50
it. Stop

Alex Ferrari 48:53
with with Sean and I can never pronounce your last name.

Jill-Michele Meleán 48:55
polewski polaski. Yeah, I mean, this is Megan.

Alex Ferrari 48:59
She's playing your agent. So I can't wait to shoot her seeds. Can you tell the audience how that came into the world?

Jill-Michele Meleán 49:07
Well, again, it involves you, which is funny. Um, I'm not you know, I'm that generation, which is like the YouTube stuff. It was it doesn't really, it doesn't really excite me. Um, it wasn't my world at all. Like, I'm just like, yeah, I watched up on YouTube or whatever. But to get a page and to do stuff, I'm like, you can watch me on TV, or they can see me in a film.

Alex Ferrari 49:30
What is this TV you speak of? Yeah,

Jill-Michele Meleán 49:32
exactly. Um, you know, but the kids are all on there on YouTube. And everything is quick and fast. And and so I was like, Well, I don't want to do something solo. So I just thought it would be really fun if we did this little web series and me and Sean Paul offski. She's a really good friend of mine. I've known her for over 10 years. And she's a stand up she was on Chelsea Lately. She's on parkson bracketing. How are you? No community. And she is she's a riot she's so she's, she's such a Jew. She's my token Jew I love. Well, I shouldn't say token, I've got a lot of Jewish friends. They're all here in LA. There's a lot of Jewish people know, Leon Stein sometimes to get ahead. But she is a liar. And I just love being with her. And we've known each other for so long that we just said, Oh, it makes sense. If we did these little Stop it, they're like, they're kind of like, we're inspired by Louis black and how he just rants. And he rants when he used to rant on, on Jon Stewart, the daily Daily Show. And so we have these things where we take a topic and it's two minutes, and we just do these stop it and we do all these one liners, and we can cut to like different pictures or footage. And it's a blast. It's really a blast. And it's not anything like, oh, we're hungry for for we got to have these many subscribers. All of that will come because we are just having so much fun doing it. And it keeps us current and it keeps us writing and it keeps us being quick. And yeah, so it's called stop it and you go to stop it show. So it's like youtube.com backslash stop at show. And we're there. There's a bunch up there. Right now I'm taking a break so we can focus on. This is made by we'll be back again with some new ones. So send us topics because we'll definitely hit the topics and we'll give you a special shout out to

Alex Ferrari 51:34
it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun. And I remember I called you and I yelled at you, Julie Why aren't you on YouTube? Yeah, like what is YouTube? No, she didn't say that. No.

Jill-Michele Meleán 51:44
I was like, I am so bad.

Alex Ferrari 51:47
I just started yelling like, stop it. You need to do this stop it. You got to do it on YouTube. Why aren't you making millions of dollars on YouTube right

Jill-Michele Meleán 51:53
now? And there's so silly like I we shouldn't with our iPhones, they're so silly and I we just have fun doing them. They're great.

Alex Ferrari 52:00
So um, can you can you talk about what are some of the obstacles you believe artists with throwing on front of their own path when they're trying to create because I think that's something that a lot of people listening would kind of get some benefits from. Because I feel like we we sabotage ourselves as artists, so many times, and we throw obstacles in front of ourselves so many times when there's enough in the real world, as opposed to just throwing your own stuff on. What do you think are some of those things? And how do you overcome some of those things?

Jill-Michele Meleán 52:28
It's amazing that you're asking this question, because I was just having this conversation today, this morning. And I think the biggest obstacle is looking at the final goal. And if you're looking at, let's say, for an actor you're looking at, I'm gonna win an Oscar for you know, Best Actress. That's where you can you fall flat on your face. Because if you're not getting there quick enough, you'll fall into depression, you'll fall into all these things, you won't take projects that are, you know, projects that you believe in, in love, you'll take projects that have the money and the fame attached to it, and you kind of get lost. And then it doesn't happen and people quit. I think that's where people quit. But if you and I'll give a very clear example of even the film that we're doing right now, because it's current in my life, and I talk about things that are current, so but like for this as Meg, it's like, yes, we would love distribution, yes, all these things, but then I have to stop myself and go, Okay, stop. Let's just make a great film. Every time we're on set, let's Be the best we can be in that moment. And that's going to translate and then from there, once we have it in the can, then we go okay, now from there we go. festival circuits, blah, blah, blah. And then from there, everything steps. And if you can detach yourself from the final thing, and just stay very present, and try to do the best you can in that moment. The other stuff will come you've already declared it. It will come but if you lose focus on what you're actually doing, it looks like you're trying too hard. When you get the final thing I've done that with stand up. I've had showcases where they're like we went three minutes and that's really hard for us. Danna that does an hour on the road. Three minutes, like what what am I gonna talk about? I'm gonna breathe and it's gonna be over. What do you mean? Um, I think you'll give us your best three minutes. And I try so hard to like, showcase what a sick my sitcom would be in that three minutes and it comes off sterile. And I went, why didn't I just talk about my my family for three minutes. And if I stayed on one subject about my dog, and my niece and nephew, it would have been so much more passionate and solid, and they would have heard my voice and I would have been in the moment, and who cares if they know what I do, or my dad or wherever I just talked about my dog for three minutes and boom, and I'm out and that would have been wonderful. But we get caught up so much and trying to think what other people want That we lose our passion and what we really want to say so I think that's I think that's my my biggest thing and I and look I'm giving the advice and I have to take it every day I have to remind myself of because I think that's where true happiness exists is actually being in the moment and doing the best that you can possibly in that moment.

Alex Ferrari 55:22
So with that said, I'd like to bring up the jack Mr. JACK. I'm gonna publicly This is an intervention. No more photos on Facebook, please keep it down. Keep it down to 20 a day. That's all I'm asking is 20 a day?

Jill-Michele Meleán 55:41
Fine. If you really do want to you

Alex Ferrari 55:44
know the funny The funny thing is if you guys go to our our crowdfunding campaign page, we have all the actors list that authors are going to be in it and Mr. JACK of course is in the movie, why wouldn't he be and he actually kills it. By the way this Cesar Chavez Mr. JACK, he, he's a pro. He's better than a lot of factors I've worked with in my life.

Jill-Michele Meleán 56:01
He hit his Mark. Mark, he doesn't

Alex Ferrari 56:05
complain. He's not Prima Donna, he just does his thing. And, and at the bottom, Mr. Jackson is part of that. And his credits are Julie's Facebook page,

Jill-Michele Meleán 56:16
which I'm very upset about because I had to change my banner on Facebook and a lot of my little icons to be this has made for for our campaign, and I'm like, I can't wait to put him back on once our campaign is over.

Alex Ferrari 56:31
Sure, there's, there's there's another conversation to be had later on here. Anyway. Um, so what is the craziest story that you can share? from the road?

Jill-Michele Meleán 56:41
from the road? Yeah, cuz

Alex Ferrari 56:45
I've been on the road a little bit, just slightly with some big comics. And I have I have a book. So

Jill-Michele Meleán 56:52
I'm gonna say this one just because again, I again, this is Maggie's, in my life right now. So I have to talk about it. There's a actor that's going to be playing a Booker in. In this is Megan His name is Carlos, Oscar. And Carlos Oscar and I. He was the first person that kind of took me under his wing. When I started doing stand up. And I opened for him on the road for close to a couple years. Um, he's one of he's such a great comic him and Carlos, I was Rocky. I learned everything from there. They're storytellers. And they're just I would sit in the back and watch them. Until this day, I would watch both of them every single time because that's how brilliant they are. You know, there's some comics you're like, Hey, I know their stuff and you walk out. But they're they're so great at storytelling that I watch. And Carlos and I. So cars is playing the Booker, so you'll love it. But I'm Carlos and I were on the road together and a limo picked us up. And because we were doing all these big theaters and everything, and this limo picks up and outcomes. I swear to you pee at MP PAMP. Our PAMP he had a purple pimp suit on No Where was it? What's

Alex Ferrari 58:06
it? What's it?

Jill-Michele Meleán 58:07
Oh my god, I forgot where we were. It had to be. It was one of those small towns because they wanted forgot what where were we? I think it was like Modesto. I think it was Modesto? Yeah. And Modesto. Really? Okay, I'm talking pimp. Okay, we showed up. And this guy purple pimp suit with the feather in his hat and everything. gold teeth. All right. comes up to us. puts us in this limo. We're like what is happening? This stretch crazy looking limo and poked his head and said, you guys, I just want to tell you something more car. You need anything. Anything you need. You just ask me okay? You need unique Chris style. I'll get it for you. You need some weed? aka hook that up. You need some weed? I doubt it. Okay, in fact, I got some weed on me right now. Do you guys want to smoke in the car? And we're like, no, no. Okay, well just anything you need. We got it. Okay. Oh, my. And we got we got to the theater that evening. And there was no water there was only cristalle Yes.

Alex Ferrari 59:19
Because apparently that's what they think comics from LA drink.

Jill-Michele Meleán 59:22
Oh, I think so. I can we like we can't drink and do a show. Like I'm thinking like, I would be like wasted there's no way

Alex Ferrari 59:32
the show's gonna really suck.

Jill-Michele Meleán 59:36
Totally. But it was that was we'd still talk about it to this day. You watch them Wade

Alex Ferrari 59:43
straight up. Pamp like, you know, wow, I yeah, like and then what did he own the limo or was he just what was he? He was the Booker. Oh, he was the Booker. So for the audience, the Booker are the people who actually book the comics on the road like you know the book. Come on shows and Things like that. So he was the Booker the pimp was the Booker. a pimp

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:00:03
was an angel who knows if he was a real pimp, but he dressed like one. Wow, it was hilarious. There's so many so many crazy stories, we'll have to do another podcast. just crazy stories from the road. Oh my god experiences that I had. I've lived many lives.

Alex Ferrari 1:00:22
That I could definitely see that. So I'm asked the same three questions of our same two questions of every guest that comes on. So what is the lesson that took you the longest to learn whether that be in life or in the business?

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:00:36
Wow, this is very Oprah.

Alex Ferrari 1:00:38
Very Oprah. If you were a tree, what kind of tree which and I'm joking.

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:00:43
We repeat it again.

Alex Ferrari 1:00:45
What is the lesson that took you the longest to learn whether in the business or in life,

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:00:52
I would have to say balance. Because without good we can't recognize something bad and without bad, we can't recognize something good. And to embrace the both is the biggest lesson to be learned to be polished to be had to be everything. And if you can balance that and that takes every day balancing it, whether it's your whatever meditation you want that to be, whether it's sitting in silence, or going for a run, or you know, I don't know, whatever, whatever makes you happy dancing to your favorite song. It's centering yourself constantly, and not getting thrown with the seesaw of life. And I think that is the biggest lesson I've learned. And I'm still learning and I'm still walking through that and I'm embracing the bad because then I go something goods around the corner. So that's it.

Alex Ferrari 1:01:53
And what are your three favorite films of all time?

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:01:57
three favorite films. Oh my god of all time if you just pick three that you really like, Oh, you guys are gonna hate me. They're gonna be I don't know what they're crazy. They're I'm I'm insane. This is okay. Um, I love mommy dearest. I love my mommy dearest. I love Sunset Boulevard. Wow. And then I say Blazing Saddles.

Alex Ferrari 1:02:25
Okay well Blazing Saddles is yes

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:02:29
there's my personality for you okay, right there. Mommy dear. Blazing Saddles.

Alex Ferrari 1:02:36
So are you ready for your close up? Geez

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:02:42
Hey Madeline Kahn is got to be one of my all time favorites. You know,

Alex Ferrari 1:02:46
wow. When when you're not doing something wet on set, can I just bring out the coat hanger? Is that is that what I should do now? Is that that the way it were? I didn't know what if I needed something to get you to the place I guess now I know. Just bring out a coat hanger.

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:03:01
I'm a gay man at heart to all gay men love mommy dearest thoughts.

Alex Ferrari 1:03:05
Apparently. So everybody knows too. I actually have two aliases that I use on movies like this which will they will be making their appearance because it gets kind of crazy when you see the credits and it's just the same dude's name again and again and again. So and I bring this up because you love Blazing Saddles. My colorist on this movie will be Mongo Wilder. And nice and my my post production supervisor slash online editor will be jalapeno humperdinck Yes, both of them have IMD bees oh my god if you'd look them up anybody wants to look those up? They are real. These are my aliases for and they have many credits by the way so funny so sometimes they they made appearances on films I didn't want to have my name on but anyway so Julie where can people find you?

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:04:06
Um You can find me on all social media it's Julie online g i ll y online and that's even my website Julie online calm and yeah I'm pretty active Snapchat I'm not there yet as active I need to get a little bit more but it's like silly you know it's like I always been a goofball on it. But I love my I love my LG and then you know Facebook is always really a nice like, you know more I feel like it's a little bit more intimate because you actually can come you know can have conversation with people but my Twitter is Julie on line also everything

Alex Ferrari 1:04:42
You have a you have a lot of Twitter followers?

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:04:46
I do. And apparently a lot of them are foreign. So

Alex Ferrari 1:04:51
You're like huge in Morocco. Morocco. I thank you for The bottom my heart not only for being on the podcast but joining me on the Crazy Train that is this is Meg so thank you so much for being on the show and and and doing and and helping me create well for us to create our first feature film together

Jill-Michele Meleán 1:05:14
Yay

Alex Ferrari 1:05:16
I hope you guys can see why I decided to cast Miss Meleán in this is Meg and make her my star because she is a star without question in my eyes and it's now my job as a director to make sure the rest of the world can see the same thing I do in this is Meg so I hope you guys enjoyed that very entertaining and very funny interview with Miss Jill. So if you guys do want to contribute to this as Meg head over to thisismeg.com and that will be our CD spark campaign where you can contribute anything from five bucks to $2 million. Whatever you guys want to contribute it really helps us out a lot. So hope you guys learned a lot about what we're doing. And as we move forward in this process of making the movie, we will be giving a small little taste of it in the podcast. But to get full access you'll be able to go to indie film syndicate comm and sign up for our monthly membership that doesn't just give you access to the micro budget masterclass, which shows you how we're making this is Meg all the way from soup to nuts. But also over 40 hours of online courses. You get access to our community, as well as new courses added every month new videos added all the time. So you can kind of just take your film education up to another level. So indie film syndicate comm check it out. And of course don't forget to head over to free film book calm that's free film book calm to download your free filmmaking audio book from audible. So guys, we're in the homestretch. I will talk to you guys next week. And we'll have probably one last podcast before the end of the campaign. So again, if you guys can support us at least share our content. email your friends, post it on your walls, on your Twitter or Facebook. Just get the word out. Really, really appreciate it. So keep that hustle going. Keep that dream alive. And I'll talk to you soon.

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