Judy Cerda Actress
Dreamer the Easterseal film challenge. What was the experience like?
It was a great experience filming this and I loved the whole story and message in it about making your dreams come true. I played the role of Sandy, an actress auditioning for a great role, and could really relate to the excitement she felt auditioning. I am amazed and happy that Dreamer won so many awards in film festivals. When I first saw it, I was sure it would do well but I didn't expect that many awards and nominations! I am really impressed with it and thank Clinton Siegle very much for casting me in this as well as in another film we just did called "A Mother's Calling" which will also be submitted to a film festival.
How did you approach your role in "Back to the Office!" and what attracted you to this project?
I don't think that working from home in most circumstances works as well as working in an actual office does so I found the film to be interesting as it really shows in an exaggerated fashion what goes on sometimes when employees have free rein working from home. It was also true to form to be using Zoom to communicate with other staff and have meetings. This goes on even when people are working in an office as they meet with people all over the country and Zoom, a great invention, makes it possible.
With the film set in 2024, did you draw inspiration from real-world events or trends to portray your character authentically?
I thought about the ridiculous lockdown that happened a few years ago in California and how many people needed to work but couldn't get to their jobs with places being wrongfully closed down and how this hurt more than it helped so many people. My character was enjoying retreats and really taking advantage of the "work from home" option and I think many people did exactly that while others suffered from lack of income and boredom when they didn't have that option. My character was Penny Fuego who really enjoyed vacations and retreats but was willing to come back to the office and help others but at the same time was content with running her own work life. She's cheerful and tends to think positively which I like.
Can you share any memorable behind-the-scenes moments or challenges you faced during the filming of "Back to the Office!"?
There were no challenges for me. I really enjoyed my role and the scenes. The highlight of it was working next to a turtle who belongs to the director. This turtle was very interested in what I was doing and followed me around between takes. He is so cute and I also loved the director's cats roaming around. I am a huge cat lover. I always love being around them.
Rob Block directed the film. How was it working with Rob Block, and what unique perspective did they bring to the project?
He was great to work with! He had a beautiful set up to emulate a retreat and having his turtle and cats around made it more relaxing and authentic. He directed well and was very organized and pleasant. I'd love to work with him again!
River of Ghosts (2024) Interview Questions:
For Macy O'Connor:
"River of Ghosts" explores intriguing themes. What drew you to this project, and how did you prepare for your role?
I've done many thriller and horror movies so I'm always attracted to those when I hear about auditions for them. I am by nature a good listener and sympathetic friend so I definitely could relate to the role. Besides memorizing lines, I thought about Macy O'Connor being helpful and caring about her best friend enough to recommend someone she thought could help her. It was great working with the actress playing my friend also.
Can you discuss the significance of the film's title and its connection to the narrative?
You actually have to watch the movie to see why it is called "River of Ghosts"! The title suits it well and for those who really believe in ghosts and communicating with the dead, it will be a great movie for them to watch. Our locations were beautiful in Mendocino County and it was a great experience. We also filmed in San Francisco. We had a wonderful director/writer and her projects are all amazing.
What was the most challenging aspect of portraying your character in a film set in the year 2024?
I would have to say being up late the night before a couple of my scenes were filmed and being tired. I traveled with the other actress all the way to Mendocino County which took about 5 hours and then we had a great dinner at the marina in Mendocino County with the director, Jules East, and several other cast/crew members. It was fun but the next morning I had a very early shoot so I was a little tired but it was okay. Things worked out well anyway. I enjoyed all the scenes I did there as well as in San Francisco.
As an actor, how do you approach projects with supernatural or mystical elements like "River of Ghosts"? I study my character well and learn about the story so I can understand where it's all leading. I'm always interested in hearing about true ghost stories and experiences people have had so I found it really intriguing it.
I's (2023) Interview Questions:
For the Business Executive in "I's":
The film has a high rating of 8.0. What do you think contributed to the success and positive reception of "I's"?
I think showing real life situations and emulating working professionals drew alot of attention as people like to see their real jobs portrayed in movies.
How did you approach playing a Business Executive, and were there any real-world inspirations for your character?
I used to work as a legal assistant in law firms. I did this for many years so I was used to a professional environment which helped alot.
In a film set in 2023, did you find any parallels between the fictional world and current business or societal trends?
I think alot of movies came out about the lockdown and the struggles of people during that time, and the work from home businesses showed people being more casual and losing some of their professionalism (such as screaming kids in the background over Zoom) and more interferences than there would be in an office or at a company. It seems as though the whole corporate world has become less professional and has changed alot.
Judy Cerda
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