Jody (Leelee Sobieski) is Finding Bliss in adult film.Acting and truth in film
By Carlin Nguyen
The 11th annual Method Film Festival -- which focuses on the truth and realism in the world of acting -- runs now through April 2 in Calabasas, California.
MFF will host a total of 33 feature films from seven countries and the US, along with 10 short film programs and shorts preceding the features. In addition to films focusing on acting, MFF also features free youth workshops on filmmaking, screenwriting, acting, youth screening and youth bands.
Here are a few samples of what to expect at this year’s MFF.
Finding Bliss -- In director Julie Davis’ film Leelee Sobieski plays Jody Balaban, a recent award-winning film school grad, has been in Los Angeles for about a year. There’s one problem – she can’t find a job. After vast job inquiries and no callbacks, Jody has no choice but to take a high paying editor job at Grind Productions, an adult film company. A sexy romantic comedy about coping with the demands of editing porn while facing her secret past about sex, Jody must find a way to muster her ability to get by -- on the job and with her family.
Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger – The story about Esther Blueburger (Danielle Catanzariti), a shy but lonely girl looking toward her Bat Mitzvah. Esther tries to fit in at her private school while struggling to make ground with her loud parents. One day Esther meets Sunni (Keisha Castle-Hughes), an outspoken and daring girl at a neighboring public school and life for Esther changes immediately. Directo Cathy Randall’s film is a funny and witty story about life’s changing identities from one young Jewish woman.
When Life Was Good -- A comedy-drama revolving around three friends -- Brooklyn (Kristine Cofsky), an aspiring actress who arrives home from studying abroad to celebrate her boyfriend Ben’s birthday; her best friend Faith (Keri Horton) who has to confront her relationship issues while managing her ambition as a dancer; and Casey (Casey Manderson), a struggling screenwriter needing help to get his play developed from the ground up – the director Terry Miles film forms a life struggle as these three friends try to make something of themselves while dealing with conflicting emotions, unexpected intimacy and the demands of the real world.
