Aleta Doroudian [Interview]

Hello Folks! Welcome back to another week of wonderful content here at TWS. If you can think far back into the past, say one week exactly, You may recall a wonderful interview we did with the brilliant indie filmmaker Bill Briles. We talked a bit about his new film A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen! and there was a good deal of mentioning one Aleta Doroudian, who was, literally, the other half of the creators on this wonderful film. Aleta shines in the film, and we are so excited that she is with us here today.

Aleta and Bill have been working together for over 10 years to create some of the most original work you could really lay eyes on these days. She’s a damn fine performer, but also manages to complete just about any role required to make an independent film. In a time where we are all constantly complaining that every film made is a reboot/remake, we should all be looking towards the independent scene. Actually, we should probably ALWAYS be doing this, as the most creative content has always come from these folks. And in that realm, Aleta and Bill should reign supreme. I implore everyone to take 92 minutes out of your day to check out A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen! and assure you that you will know what I am talking about here.

So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful responses from the great Aleta Doroudian!

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What inspired you to get into the world of filmmaking? What is something you had wanted to do since your youth, or was it something that you happened to find yourself doing one day? 

My husband, Bill Briles inspired me to get into the world of filmmaking. We met at his movie premiere in February 2007. Our mutual friend invited me to come see him in a movie. I cancelled my night out with my girlfriends since they didn’t want to come and went with a different girlfriend. It was at his movie that our mutual friend introduced my now husband (writer/director/actor etc.) to me. I really enjoyed the movie. At the afterparty, Bill asked me if I wanted to be in his movie. I was a bit skeptical and said that I had to meditate on it for two weeks and I would get back to him. Fast forward, we are husband and wife still making movies. Ha. 

I always wanted to be in the movies, and I always enjoyed performing. I would do magic shows in our lawn, as a youth. My little late sister, cousin, and I would perform “Sunday Afternoon Live” (instead of Saturday Night Live) on the backyard of my Uncle’s tavern in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as children. For those of you who remember, we did skits of “Captain and Tennille” and “Cone Heads”, to name a few. In elementary school I would produce, direct, write, and star in plays (a lot of Gilligan Island style ones) in my basement. I would also sell popcorn and tickets to the neighborhood kids. I guess I started out as a little entrepreneur, too. I also took drama classes in middle school. 

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affects your work today? 

Our first paid gig in the world of entertainment was for our movie Romance at Frisky’s Bar. We went to the Tribeca Film Festival with our movie in our hand and literally on our back (t-shirts). We were in the Tribeca Film Lounge and I said that we were looking for a distributor. Then someone said I’m a distributor. He took our movie and got it on Netflix. Yay! 

I would say the lessons I have learned from this experience that still affects my work and life today are to ask for what you like (put what you’ve prepared out there), stay curious and naive, never take no for an answer (at least not right away).:-) Also, do things the way you think they should be done (as long as it’s not harming someone). 

I recently truly enjoyed your latest film A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen! It was so great, and insanely original. I am curious to know where the idea for this film came from? What made you want to tell this tale? 

Bill was the writer. The idea for this film probably came from us, as human beings. So, I would imagine the characters in the movie represent a part of who we are. Bill is an amazing artist (painter and sculpture) and doctor. He puts my name scattered in all his artwork, since I met him. So, he’s probably a cross between “Billy” and “Doctor Edward Sebastian” in the movie. Ha! I also enjoy singing, songwriting, and dancing, which were part of “Alyssa’s” character in the movie. I’m also a doctor that enjoys meditating. 🙂

You have a very original style of filmmaking in Private Dancer, the likes of which I don’t believe I have ever really seen before. And I’m actually not quite sure how to describe it. So, would be willing to do so? Can you tell our readers what it is about your style that makes it unique from other filmmakers out there? 

We have been told the style of our moviemaking is very different. The movies we make may be called “quirky”, eccentric, and eclectic full- feature comedies. We tried to do a drama once and since we were in it, the distributor called it a “Black Comedy”. Go figure. Ha! I guess we are a bit “quirky” and funny people ourselves.:-). We also did everything for “A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen” from pre-production, production, post-production and acting. 

If you were handed the opportunity, on an unlimited budget, to create the biopic of any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?

I would maybe create a biopic of the legendary figure in American history of Muhammad Ali. Even though it has been done before, I may look at a more comedic side of the great boxing champion on how he plays with his opponents and the media. His upbringing and his later years would be interesting, too. His relationship with his family, country, and Islam would also be interesting. 

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers? 

We are currently in the production of the dramedy (drama- comedy) full-feature Thomas A Peeper. The name says it. Ha. Though, there’s more depth to it than that. It’s about a gardener named Thomas A Peeper who is forced to work nights for a lady who is going through a bad divorce. Thomas gets involved and trouble ensues. 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My husband, Bill. He is hilarious. 

Check out this trailer from the Dr. Gabs, and check out A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen on Amazon Prime.

Hazelle Goodman [Interview]

Hello Folks! Happy Friday to you all. It is Friday after all, in case you forgot. Today we have the pleasure of having the a legendary performer gracing our digital pages. It’s Hazelle Goodman, Everyone! I first came to love Hazelle for her incredible performance in one of my favorite films of all time, and also what I consider to be the best film from the legendary filmmaker Woody Allen, which would be Deconstructing Harry. She is so damn good in it, really just stealing the show. And of course, Hazelle has done some amazing work in films like Heat, Hannibal, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and more! She has also done some wonderful work on the stage, including her infamous one woman show “Hazelle, What’s Going On?”.

And as it usually tends to be, thankfully, Hazelle turned out to be an extremely kind and funny human being with some pretty wonderful responses. We are so excited to have her join the TWS family. So Folks, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant Hazelle Goodman!

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When did you first discover your passion for the world of performance? Was it something you had dreamt of doing since your youth, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I first discovered my passion for the world of performance as a little girl growing up in Trinidad, WI.  My cousin took me to the movie theatre for the first time to see Sound of Music and my dream was born!  LOL!

I always loved performing when company visited but seeing all those kids in Sound of Music made me realize it was possible.

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work today?

Honestly, I can’t remember my first paid gig but the stellar training I received at the Aaron Davis Center at the City College of New York gave me a solid foundation for my work. 

Recently, I had the awesome privilege of being coached by one of my teachers from CCNY, Robbie McCauley.  She coached me in preparing to do a revival of my one woman show, which had been an HBO Special entitled “Hazelle!”.  Our revival, “Hazelle, What’s Goin On?”, enjoyed sold out performances at NYC’s Off Broadway Triad Theatre.  We look forward to a successful Broadway run!

You gave an absolutely phenomenal performance in my favorite Woody Allen comedic films, Deconstructing Harry. I am curious to know what drew you to the role as Cookie? What was it about this project that appealed to you the most and made you decide you wanted to take on this role?

I really knew nothing about the role of Cookie.  Woody doesn’t give you the script  in advance so I was clueless.  I went to the audition in my running clothes and sneakers.   As God would have it, in one of my lines, the character said something about working out.  LOL! 

The role was controversial because I was the first black woman to appear in a Woody Allen film and I was playing a hooker.  However, I loved the role.  Cookie was strong, funny and deep in a unique way.  

You have done a lot of work both on the big and small screen, as well as on the stage. I am curious to know what your preferred medium is to work in? If you were forced to only stick to one for the remained of your career, what would it be?

I enjoy the wide exposure that film and television give.  You are able to impact millions globally at once.  But, I love hearing the laughter, seeing the tears and receiving the warm hugs of my audiences.  Only the theatre can give that magical intimacy, that peep into our souls.

If you were handed the opportunity to portray any legendary figure in world history, who would it be?

I would love the opportunity to portray Sojourner Truth.  Her words “Ain’t I a woman too?” have always haunted me on so many levels as a dark skin, black woman with kinky hair in America. In addition, her courageous work as an abolitionist leader, advocate of women’s rights and prison reform is truly inspiring.  

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

For the last several years, I have had the privilege of ministering to incarcerated women at a maximum security prison for women.  Many of them are serving 25 to life.  One young woman that I have been ministering to since 2014 is finally being released this year 2020.  She has served 25 years.  What I have discovered is that the woman I’m meeting today is not the same person that committed the crime 25 years ago.  Most of these women were in there 20’s when they made wrong choices and are deeply remorseful now in there 50’s and older.  My heart fills with  an indescribable joy as I see them receive a second chance.  

My bright future includes bringing the love of Jesus Christ to the incarcerated and leading them out healed and transformed.  I see me starring in impactful roles in film, television and Broadway.  I see “Hazelle, What’s Goin On?”, a Broadway hit, touching, moving and inspiring lives.  I see me winning Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Golden Globes, and a Nobel Peace Prize.  I see a loving and mutually empowering marriage.  I see me hugging freely without concern for social distance and self quarantine measures.  LOL!!

What was the last thing that made you smile?

The last thing that made me smile was answering these wonderful questions 🙂

Bill Briles [Interview]

Hello Folks! And for those who still my care what day of the week it is, Happy Monday! Today we have a very special guest that is sure to help you all take the edge off just a bit. Today we have the brilliant filmmaker and performer Bill Briles! Bill, alongside his wife & partner Aleta Doroudian are a truly unique team that have created some of the most unusual and downright hilarious films currently available. Bill & Aleta have done as much for comedy as the likes of our dear friends & fellowed spouse team Sophia Cacciola & Michael J. Epstein have done for genre horror. I came across their brilliant work by chance of actually looking at some of the RIYL stuff on Amazon Prime, and their film A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen, was something that I instantly fell in love with thus duo! And now that we all have a bit more time on our hands, I am definitely going to check out more of their stuff. And I recommend that you all do the same, as it can only be great.

So without further babbling, please enjoy these amazing words from the incredible filmmaker/acotr/all sorts of things, Bill Briles!

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What inspired you to get into the world of filmmaking? What is something you had wanted to do since your youth, or was it something that you happened to find yourself doing one day? 

I’ve always been interested in creating “stuff” and directing. I started directing performances at an early age beginning with my own Mickey Mouse Club, and at the age seven I got into big trouble with the parents for directing neighborhood girls (also ages seven and eight) to perform dances in the buff. Needless to say, this part of my directing career ended unexpectedly and abruptly. 

I continued my interests in dramatic arts into college where I took some acting courses and screenplay writing courses. I wrote a lot of screenplays in my 20’s none of which were produced. Once cameras became inexpensive enough, we started writing our own scripts and making our own movies, the first being a full feature. 

Aleta’s interest in performing started in elementary school where she produced, directed, and starred in her own plays (lots of Gilligan’s- Island types) in the basement of her house for the neighborhood kids. She sold tickets and popcorn for her performances (an entrepreneur even in her early years). 

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affects your work today? 

Our first movie, Romance at Frisky’s Bar, was actually on Netflix and we did get “some” money despite it being very amateurish. It was a two-year, low budget project which required turning our house into a “bar- night-club”. It also required living in a “bar” for 6 months while the movie was being shot. Due to complaining neighbors, all actors had to be bused in to the ‘bar” in a van from a local bank parking lot. We were very motivated to make this movie and jumped a lot of “hurdles” in the process. 

My wife Aleta managed to corner a distributor at the Tribeca Film Festival Filmmaker’s Lounge (we were just spectators). The distributor took a copy with him (we had always carried copies of our movies) and three weeks later he agreed to distribute our movie, thus Netflix. 

The big lessons for us in our movie-making experiences are: it can be a cruel world out there and you are going to hear things about your work you’d rather not hear. Also, there are some people quite willing and ready to take advantage of your hard work. 

I recently truly enjoyed your latest film A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen! It was so great, and insanely original. I am curious to know where the idea for this film came from? What made you want to tell this tale? 

The idea evolved over time. We started the movie with an end-goal of making a short since we had never made a short. As we kept shooting, the story evolved and turned into a feature. Also, my wife and I wanted to see if we could make a movie that involved only the two of us, which included everything; main characters, extras, pre-production, production, and post production. 

The story came from different “pieces” of our lives. My wife is a very good singer-songwriter and dancer and this is where the “private dancer” was born. My characters are personal alter-egos and represent to a degree parts of my life and life experiences. I grew up and went to school in the south and the southern heritage has been a part of all our movies. We are also both doctors and I’m a painter-sculptor, all included in Private Dancer. 

You have a very original style of filmmaking in Private Dancer, the likes of which I don’t believe I have ever really seen before. And I’m actually not quite sure how to describe it. So, would be willing to do so? Can you tell our readers what it is about your style that makes it unique from other filmmakers out there? 

We have been told that our movies are definitely not mainstream and “different”. We have also been told more than once that our characters are unusual and at times “quirky”. It is probably because we are “quirky” characters ourselves and our perceptions of the world may also be “quirky”. We love comedy, but a few years ago wanted to see if we could pull off a drama for variety. Our movie, First Shoot the Lawyers was our first attempt at drama and we thought it was drama-like. The first showing at a film festival resulted in, to our surprise, a lot of laughing so we gave up on drama. The distributor called it a “Black Comedy”. So now we call all of our movies comedies whether intentional or not. 

I’m not sure if I answered the question but, we go with what pops into our heads and what pops into our heads “ain’t in the normal range”. I personally am tired of movies with big explosions, lots of killing but say nothing about the “essentials of human existence”. 

If you were handed the opportunity, on an unlimited budget, to create the biopic of any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?

Since Van Gogh has been done (several times) I would go with another famous artist, Edward Hopper (from early-mid 1900’s) and his relationship with his wife (also an artist). Based on my understanding, their personalities were polar-opposite and despite monumental personality differences and on-going friction, they were joined at the hip. It would be an expose’ on the human condition and how ‘suffering and misery’ trumps being alone’ (for some). I think there would be many opportunities for comedic scenes and maybe a little insight into our nature. He is also my favorite artist. 

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers? 

We can’t seem to stop making movies so we’ll probably do it ’til we’re ‘pushing daisies’. We’re presently shooting another comedy, Thomas A Peeper (Get it?). The story is about a gardener who is forced to work the “graveyard shift” and a woman going through a tumultuous divorce brawling with her soon-to-be-ex over “custody” of their house. Thomas A Peeper gets entangled and disaster ensues. 

What was the last thing that made you smile? 

My wife Aleta, a very funny girl.

Check out this trailer from the Dr. Gabs, and check out A Private Dancer in Mom’s Kitchen on Amazon Prime.

Jearnest Corchado [Interview]

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