Oct 3, 2008 5:36 pm US/Eastern
Larry On The Job: Movie Director
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
When you think of Hollywood hotshots, KDKA Radio's Larry Richert naturally comes to mind. Well, maybe not.
But Larry recently got right in the middle of the lights, cameras and action. He's trying his hand at being a movie director in this edition of Larry on the Job.
John Mowod and Larry co-wrote a screenplay called "Shannon's Rainbow," a teen angst movie starring newcomer Julianne Michele.
They also acted as Pennsylvania producers on the project. But as good as that might sound, it's the director who really calls the shots.
Meet Frank E. Johnson, whose credits include CBS' classic favorite, "Touched By An Angel."
Johnson's directing a great cast including Jason Gedrici, Eric Roberts, Stephen Colletti of "Laguna Beach" fame and Krista Allen.
"After it's all said and done is to get the actors to say the words that fit the page that fit their character. So at the end of the day we have a scene," explains Johnson, "and we have to take all these scenes and cut them together into a finished story that has a track to it."
Action may be the word but there's a lot of standing involved in this job, and waiting, and observing. Tools of the trade include headsets to hear the actors, so Larry follows Frank's lead.
Interacting with the actors is an art form and in the shadows behind the bright lights, Krista Allen, who plays Eric Roberts' girlfriend, tells Larry what actors really want from directors.
"Direction's always a good thing from a director really. So it's nice to be directed by a director," she said.
With that suggestion, Larry jumps right in, giving Krista instructions on where to walk and helping Stephen Colletti with his lines.
Every person plays an important role on the set, coordinating all of it is in part the assistant director's job.
Despite giving it his best shot, this is one time Larry is just happy to be behind the scenes.
Have a job suggestion for Larry? Send an email to webteam@kdka.com.
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