3500+ Films - 2.5 million words – 1 million viewers! Founder and Curator Carmela selects some of our most entertaining, powerful and inspiring Actors films at We Are Moving Stories. These include feature length and short fiction and documentary about real-life stories, women’s stories, the biz and a focus on actor Eric Roberts who is a mighty champion of indie short film.

Total length of this section: 23 films.

<REAL-LIFE STORIES>

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LONGSHOTSVILLE - A self-created family of actors emerge from a community theatre in the quirky artist town of Taos, New Mexico. Taking their passions to the next level is going to take humor, courage and more than a little small-town heart. Length: 54 minutes. Director Jody McNicholas:

If you need a dose of creative inspiration, come watch LONGSHOTSVILLE! You’ll get in some good laughs, but you will also flow along with these young characters and their mentor Bruce McIntosh of Metta Theatre through all their trials and tribulations. And you’ll come out of the theatre with a smile on your face (and maybe more energy for the creative dreams of your own!)
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Still Dreaming - Stretching physical, emotional and mental limits, a group of long-retired Broadway actors, musicians and dancers bravely dive into a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and find that nothing is what it seems to be. Length: 93 minutes. Director Jilann Spitzmiller and Hank Rogerson:

We were first and foremost attracted to this story because of the amazing people who reside at the Lillian Booth Actors Home in the quiet and suburban town of Englewood, New Jersey. You’re just 10 miles from New York City, but indeed it seems a lifetime away. At the Lillian Booth, we discovered a group of people who have spent their whole lives following their dreams, some wildly successful, and some hardly at all. And here they are, retired, supposedly having given it all up.

But what we witnessed during the rehearsal and performance process of “Midsummer” is that the huge talent of these former entertainers is still alive and well, despite their physical and mental challenges.

Surviving Sunset An Actors Hollywood Journey - For anyone with a dream. It's a Documentary about my Journey as an underdog actor. Fighting against the odds, overcoming my own fears, and creating my own path towards the Hollywood dream. Along the way, I meet other actors who share their own fears and insecurities. Helping me to understand my own journey as an actor, so I can inspire others to do the same. Writer/Director/Producer Shaun Anthony Robinson:

The Universal message I would say is: if you don’t believe in yourself, then other people aren’t going to either. You can’t fear yourself. You have to get over yourself. You have to be venerable and not give up. Allow yourself to fuck up – and don’t be scared of it. You don’t learn if you don’t fuck up every now and then.

<WOMEN’S STORIES>

Tracy Buckles is a fantasy comedy series that follows the aspiring actress Tracy and her timid sidekick No One, who find themselves swept away by a never-ending string of magical misadventures. Length: 30 minutes. Writer/director/producer Robin Nystrom:

Our web series portrays a young woman by the name of Tracy who falls victim to a despicable curse that prevents other people from hearing her voice. In the second episode, she meets a nameless drifter called No One who is plagued by a curse of invisibility. Tracy and No One form an immediate friendship, because they both understand the pain of not being seen or heard. I think we’ve all felt that struggle in one way or another — the pain of not being listened to or of being misunderstood. It was a theme that I considered strong enough to carry a web series.

Diminuendo - A film director whose life crumbles after the suicide of his Hollywood starlet girlfriend becomes obsessed with a lifelike robot that appears to be her exact duplicate. Length: 1 hour 45 minutes. Director Adrian Stewart:

I loved the concept of creating a film built on the memory of an unreliable narrator, and the way the story manipulates the audience’s perceptions and expectations. Much of the story is told in flashback as our main character Haskell remembers his life with Cello Shea, a young actress who killed herself nine years earlier. Haskell has been hired to make a biopic of her life starring a robot LifeDoll that has been designed to replicate her, and we see a lot of these scenes from his life intercut with the same moments as he presents them in the film he’s making.

Momtress - Libby, a suburban mom, is trying to juggle an acting career and parenting while also dealing with aging and loss. Looking for signs that things will work out is what keeps her moving forward. Length: 12 minutes. Writer/Producer Liz Samuel:

It will make you laugh, make you feel and make you think about why and how we continue to move forward to pursue our ‘perfect’ life when sometimes things aren’t always so perfect. It’s relatable and cringy funny.

The Gaze - An actress is repeatedly catcalled on her way home from a shoot until just the right guy comes her way. Length: 5 minutes 25 seconds. Writer/Director/Producer Christina Raia:

My approach to horror films are always exploring something deeper under the surface, but entertainment is always a major part of the craft for me. At under 6 minutes, The Gaze is a playful ride meant to put a devilish smile on your face.

The Craft - A Hollywood acting guru challenges a young actress to confront her demons in order to maximize her potential. Length: 11 minutes. Writer/Director Armand de Saint-Salvy:

I wanted to give audiences an insight into the powerful and dangerous emotional techniques actors use to create a performance. It becomes contentious when an acting mentor begins to delve into an actor’s soul in order to bring out a performance. I have witnessed confronting, gut wrenching acting class situations like the one in my film. I wanted to share that with an audience.

Memory Box - A young mother works at a facility where actors recreate clients' memories. When a client pushes her to break rules, cross lines, and jeopardize her job, she's forced to decide how far she's willing to go. Length: 11 minutes. Writer/Director Audrey Ewell:

Our films have always been about shining a light on something that people aren’t super conscious about: mechanisms in society or personal dynamics that are hard to look at directly. This is the same. This film has a few layers, and it helps to watch it a few times.

<THE BIZ>

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Designated Caretaker Redux - A high school drama teacher has to come to grips with the fact that as a result of his obsession with completing a film about the great actor/artist Michael Chekhov, he is losing touch with his family and perhaps his sanity in the process. Writer/Director Frederick Keeve:

I had a bit of success with the first feature-length film I made From Russia to Hollywood: The 100-Year Odyssey of Chekhov and Shdanoff, starring Gregory Peck (his final film), and many Academy Award-winning actors. The making of that film took seven years and changed my life personally and professionally. Several years later I wrote a screenplay Designated Caretaker about the making of that film and what happened to me as a filmmaker in trying to realize my dreams as an artist.

UNCAGED: A Stand-In Story - Marco Kyris worked as Nic Cage’s stand-in for a decade on 20 films; everything from Cage’s break out role in Leaving Las Vegas to the blockbuster franchise National Treasure. In Uncaged: A Stand-in Story, Marco talks about his early life as an actor, his journey into the entourage of Nic Cage, and what it was like working in the shadow for one of Hollywood’s Legends of Cinema. Length: 11 minutes 20 seconds. Producer/Actor Marco Kyris:

You should watch this film if you want a true insight for what it was like to be a stand-in, in the Hollywood system. You’re carried around like a movie star, but you’re really just a stand-in. There have only been about a dozen stand-ins to have experienced this on a superstar level, as I did working for Mr Cage of the Coppola family dynasty.

Christopher Walken's Coffee Shop - Christopher Walken has branched out from his very successful acting career to pursue his true passion, creating artisanal coffee beverages and pastries, but be warned his concoctions have more than just meets the eye. Length: 4 minutes. Director Leah Dubuc:

Since the film is completely improvised, we never worked from a script. One of the members of the cast, Matthew Crawford, had the idea to do a bit based on Christopher Walken and together we worked to build the game of his Coffee Shop using excessive murder to create its food/beverages. The story we built was then edited down and structured by our sound editor, Alan Snider, who gave it its distinct pacing and flow.
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CONfessionals - A mockumentary Office-style web series about the fictitious careers of famous voice actors.

Why would I watch this film? If you are a fan of Japanese anime this series holds a ton of value as it features many well known voice actors. But for those who don’t belong to that group, this still has entertainment value. Drawing comedic inspiration from shows like The Office, Parks & Rec, and Arrested Development, CONfessionals will have a familiar approachable feel. Plus it may even prove educational to those who don’t know anything about what it’s like to be a voice actor who attends anime conventions.

One Day Notice is about a timid assistant who attempts to quit his job with one day’s notice, and his washed up talent-agent boss who gives him a final task: sign Hollywood’s most valuable A-list star... or die. This is SUNSET BOULEVARD meets MISERY. Length: 20-25 minutes. Director Bryce Marrero, Writers Matthew Kic and Mike Sorce and Actor/Producer Adam Lopez:

Our goal is to make the Sunset Boulevard for the new millennium. A deep character study, disguised as a noir thriller, that reveals the psychological effects of Hollywood’s rotating door, and the lengths of ruthlessness one’s willing to take as they try to claw their way back to the top. It’s a film about the struggle to stay current, and the desire to reclaim the glory days instead of forging a new path.

Quitting - After six years in LA, Alex abandons his pursuit of acting in lieu of a simpler life in small-town Oregon. Length: 16 minutes 41 seconds. Producer/Actor Sherry Berg:

Brett, the writer/director, and I wanted to capture what it truly means to “pound the pavement” in Los Angeles and what happens to a person when they have not reached their acting goals after years in LA.

Sum Of Us was first workshopped as an experimental piece that explores and deconstructs the often-mythologized beliefs surrounding acting. Director Anthony Meindl and his world-famous acting studio follow and film actors on their journey of telling stories as themselves (and as the roles they play) and demonstrates that our beliefs about art, acting, ourselves and the cosmos are not always what we think they are. The project explores such topics as Ageing, Teen Domestic Abuse, Alzheimers, Global Warming/Pollution, Carl Sagan and our role in the Universe. Length: 1 hour 40 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer/Actor Anthony Meindl:

This film, in particular, came out of the work I do with actors all over the world and was an expression of the vulnerable work artists do in telling stories.

Artifice - Following an actor’s preparation for a terrifying role. As reality and fantasy blurs, he finds himself lost between both worlds. Length: 1 hour 44 minutes. Director/Producer/Writer Steven Doxey:

You should watch this because you will relate to it, because you will be terrified, and because you will have a lot of fun. It’s a film lover’s film. It explores the industry, and all of its pitfalls. It explores method acting, and just how far a totally committed actor can take his craft. It’s also quite the psychological thriller, it blends realities, and hopefully transports you to different worlds.

Shakespeare Republic - From Hamlet in a bathtub to Juliet as one half of a same sex couple, Shakespeare Republic is a collective of Australian-based actors who have come together to celebrate Shakespeare, his works and his enduring legacy, through sharing his words via settings and circumstances that are familiar to a 21st Century audience. Length: 5 minute episodes.

The main idea behind Shakespeare Republic was to bring Shakespeare to audiences who may not usually watch or attend a full play. So I’m delighted to say we’ve attracted audience from around the world that may not normally have engaged in another, longer-form medium.

<THE FILMS OF ERIC ROBERTS>

Our Next Caller is a short film about a failing legal advice radio program which gets a sudden boost in popularity when a mysterious caller offers a violent proposal. Length: 11 minutes 13 seconds. Writer/Director/Producer Troy Whitaker:

I was given a wonderful opportunity to get to know Eric Roberts when I was a lowly PA on a film set. One day, he talked about how much he respects writers. I mentioned I was an aspiring writer myself, and he said he wanted to read something I wrote. I asked him what kinds of characters he likes most to play, and he said, “I like grey characters. You know, not black, not white, but somewhere right in the middle.” I told him I had the perfect script for him.

Hungry is a short film about an idealistic grade school teacher who has a fear of speaking up in public (other than in front of her kids). But when she finds out that children in her school are going hungry - thanks to federal cutbacks - it compels her to do things she wouldn't have thought she could do, to help out the children. Length: 23 minutes. Writer/Director/Producer Jillie Simon:

The film flies, with the terrific score and first-rate acting propelling it forward. Oscar nominee Eric Roberts got involved because he cares about the topic and loved the screenplay, and he contributed so much to his role of Congressman Thicke - and was awarded a Special Jury award for it.

Never Saw It Coming is a dark comic feature thriller that will have you on the end of your seat. Length: 83 minutes. Director Gail Harvey:

This film is a chilling story of double-dealing, violence and murder that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a roller coaster ride of the unexpected. It also has black comedy elements. And amazing actors.

No Solicitors is an award winning feature length film. On a quiet suburban street there’s a house like any other where the Cuttermans are model citizens within their community. Lewis Cutterman (Eric Roberts),  a highly respected brain surgeon, is happily married with two beautiful children who run the family business. A visit to their home by a hopeful solicitor turns into an invitation to dinner; except dinner takes a macabre turn. The solicitor soon discovers that the family business is to farm out internal organs to needy patients. But, it gets worse. Length: 1 hour 38 minutes. Writer/Director John Callas:

I was having lunch with a friend from Warner Bros. and he asked why I seemed upset. I explained that over my door bell is a sign “No Soliciting” (In the States Soliciting is a term for someone who is selling something and doesn’t mean an attorney) but they keep on ringing my door bell. He sits back and then says – why not write a story and kill them. I liked that idea and took it from there.

Oiled Up is a short drama. After Mike, the elder brother of three sacrifices his life as free man in order to benefit his younger sibling’s lives and relationships. When he comes out jail twenty years later, he comes to realize his sacrifice did not amount to anything. Mike will have to reconcile their broken relationship after all the years of being apart from each other. Length: 14 minutes. Director Richard Selvi:

When working with seasoned actors like Eric Roberts, Cathy Moriarty, Vincent Pastore or Chuck Zito, they bring so much to the table for you as a director to pick and choose from it makes your job both so much more fun, and spontaneous.