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When I was a singer, my voice teacher’s goal was to make me NOT need him. He wanted me to own my technique and be able to use it independently of him. Now that’s my goal for you. I teach by doing, I teach by observing, and I teach by viewing. In my classes you do specially designed exercises (you’ve seen some of them in my books!), and those same exercises are repeated by your classmates so that you can see them challenge themselves. Finally, I play specially selected clips so you can see how the pros do it. That’s it: Do (nothing like it); Watch (and dissect or imitate if appropriate); View (and learn from the masters).
This class is all about the jokes! It’s a short but interactive introduction to my sitcom technique. It’s fast paced – just like working on a television set.
If you want to see what it’s like to be on a sitcom — performing in front of 3 LIVE CAMERAS- this is the class for you.
Discover what it takes to direct! This intensive will compress the skills you need to prep, to shoot, and to helm a production that might cost millions.
Find out what it’s like to “be in the room.” Designed for high school and college students. You get to “read for” a real TV show…or at least that’s what it’ll feel like.
Find out how acting in front of a camera is different from acting on stage in this powerhouse workshop that I co-teach with actor Charles Dougherty.
This is a class for directors to work with actors and learn the best way to communicate with them on set.
When I was starting out, the only way to improve my comedy chops was by getting a job on a sitcom. And I got that because I knew somebody, not because I was funny. On set, my education was a chaotic jumble of making mistakes, taking advice from pros, and learning by doing. There were acting books for theatre but there weren’t any for working on sitcoms. So I decided to change that and wrote “The Sitcom Career Book” to give you the lowdown on what it takes to be a professional on a series. With my next two books, “Acting for Young Actors” and “Directors Tell the Story,” I present two more how-to guides with lots of inside info that can only be shared by someone who learned by doing and, as a result, now directs actors for a living.
The 2nd edition of this authoritative classic.
If you want to act…this book is written for you.
Learn what it takes to become a director.
Learn what it takes to become an actor.
Siobhan’s journey of serenity and calm following a disastrous and public divorce hits a bump in the road when her roommate Roxie moves her new girlfriend into this already estrogen-packed house.
Follow the comic adventures of Ms. Lewis as the show-business diva mentor of the up-and-coming drag performer whom Ms.Lewis invites to live in the basement apartment of her Hollywood mansion.
Friendship, feminism, cocktails, sex, secrets, and comedy collide in this digital series about a 1963 ladies-only book club! Official Selection Paris Play Film Festival, No Strings Attached Film Festival, Downtown LA Film Festival, LA Femme Film Festival, Hollyshorts Monthly Screening Selection.
One’s 30s is the decade where women are supposed to have it all figured out. These women prove it’s not always true. Four friends in different stages — marriage, divorce, pregnancy, and career building — help each other while exploring life in Los Angeles through their relationships and jobs as stylists in Hollywood.
Asian American Rebecca Lo posts a racist joke online that goes viral. Not only must she face the wrath of the ENTIRE internet, but she must also examine her own beliefs and privileges – as a person of color, she thought she couldn’t be racist.
After a suspicious death, Delta and Daisy find themselves advocating for the young women and men who are entertainers at burlesque club in the French Quarter. A Nikki and Nora spinoff!
MARY LOU BELLI
Two time Emmy award-winning MARY LOU BELLI has been directing television for over 30 years including NCIS New Orleans, True Lies, Black Lightning, Bull, Legacies, Station 19, Sweet Magnolias, Pitch, Monk, Famous In Love, Devious Maids, The Quad, American Woman, and Hart of Dixie as well as Disney’s The Secret of Sulphur Springs, Ms. Pat, Wizards of Waverly Place, Sister, Sister, Girlfriends, and The Game.
Her short film, Straight Eye for the Gay Guy won “Best Mini-short” at the California Independent Film Fest where she also premiered I Heard Something, a thriller that went on to play fests internationally. She has done ground-breaking work on web-series. Her award-winning short, America, played its 14th fest on its 4th continent at The Hague and won best micro short.
She was recently nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Comedy Directing as well an another Emmy in the Children’s Programming category. Mary Lou served two terms as the Co-chair of the Women’s Steering Committee at the DGA where she also has served on the Western Director’s Council, presently she is on Leadership Council PAC and as an alternate to the National Board. She is an Honorary Board member of the Alliance of Women Directors and Advisory Board member of Women in Media. Mary Lou also serves on the Advisory Circle of Film Fatales is and a long time member of Women In Film as well as the Peer Group Executive Committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences where she presently serves as one of the Governors.
She has served as judge and/or guest speaker for the CSU Media Arts Fest, a judge for the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant, a jury member at the Sapporo Short Festival, Newport Beach Film Fest, Regina International Film Festival, and The Voice awards, a lecturer at the Chautauqua Institute, and a panelist for Women In Film, the DGA, SAG, and AFTRA and the LA Times Festival of Books. She has been a guest artist at the International Thespian Festival for secondary school theatre where she gave workshops to thousands of teens and high school theatre teachers. Through her teaching, she supports many of the vibrant diversity programs including ABC/Disney, CBS, Sony, HBO Access, AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, and Warner Bros. Directing Workshop mentoring the next generation of directors.
She is the co-author of four books: “The NEW Sitcom Career Book,” “Acting for Young Actors,” and “Directors Tell the Story” which she co-wrote with fellow DGA member Bethany Rooney. Her 4th book, “Acting for the Screen” was published by Focal Press summer 2019.
Mary Lou Belli EP/Director Description: In a tribute to his brother’s military service in Iraq, Tim takes his brother’s ashes to NY to the 9/11 Memorial. The journey ends in a lesson in racial profiling when he shares his evening with his middle-eastern Air-BnB host, Abdul. Festivals Rosebud Film Festival Peekskill Film Festival California Independent Film Fest HerStory Cinephilia Society The Artists Forum Festival of the Moving Image (Finalist) Glendale International Film Festival Awareness Festival Freedom Shorts XIX (Philly’s LARGEST Short Film Fest!) (Award) Sapporo International Short Film Festival Julien Dubuque International Film Festival Women’s International Film & Arts Festival Brazil Cinefest Mary Lou Belli EP/Director Description: Gavin has a problem, at least according to the only two gay students he knows at school: he’s not the right kind of gay boy. So where does he turn for help in “fixing” himself? His straight friend, Drew, of course! And like any best friend should, he comes through with the perfect advice! Festivals Ojai Film Festival Woods Hole Film Festival California Independent Film Fest (Best Mini Short) Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Mary Lou Belli EP/Director Description: A woman is awakened at night to glass breaking in her home. Festivals California Independent Film Fest Northeast Film Festival Horror Fest
AMERICA
STRAIGHT EYE FOR THE GAY GUY
I HEARD SOMETHING
Mary Lou Belli EP, Directed by Yu Shibuya Description: Her husband is on his deathbed…his mistress shows up at the hospital requesting to see him…Just One Look explores two variations on this awkward and emotionally charged scenario. Festivals Sapporo International Short Film Festival London X4 Seasonal Short Film Festival (Special Mention) 7th Art Festival of Miami https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkG3LOBgNs0
JUST ONE LOOK
CULTURE CREATIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Paul Weitzman Paul.Weitzman@culturecreativela.com
Brad Rosenfeld Brad.Rosenfeld@culturecreativela.com
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Matt Horwitz mhorwitz@
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