Filmmaking / Directing : STAGE 32 SHORT FILM Festival at HollyShorts was an Awesome Experience! by Xochi Blymyer

My short Hey Alexa was chosen as a winner and so got to screen with 6 other cool shorts a couple weeks ago at the TCL Chinese Theater of all place. I grew up in Los Angeles and went to many movies there including the first screenings of Star Wars. So imagine, having a movie of my own that I wrote and produced screening there. Anyway, backing up...this was the first short I've written. I work as a DGA 1st AD also. I had often wondered if ALEXA, whom we all talk to and ask for info, was a real person, what would she be like? With that question, I wrote this 10 minute short about the day in the life of Alexa. The biggest challenge was taking that step to actually taking the script and putting it into production. A woman I know read it, asked if she could direct it and that motivated me to really going for it. Because the idea was Alexa was in the end, not real, the story takes place all in one room, a room with no doors but filled with all the items that she could use to provide someone with the information they requested. I was the production designer/decorated and wanted to show no signs of computers or cell phones and so the office looks like it could have been 1950's/60's so the audience can see Alexa only uses what is in her office. I added a variety of questions so we had serious, fun, weird and someone who thought Alexa is his friend. All that became HEY ALEXA! The shoot itself went well, the crew made up with talented people, most of whom I've known from other shows. The one real challenge before our shoot day was my main cast member cancelled the afternoon before!! Luckily I had spoken with another wonderful actress, Stevie Lynn Jones, and she accepted the challenge of jumping in and I couldn't think of anyone better to have been Alexa! The voice actors were a handful of actors I had worked with before and all wonderful! It's been great fun to be in festivals, it's my first time to do that, so many great people to connect with. While waiting for the strike to end and for a show to start, I have continued to work on my documentary. After many years, I finally have a very long rough cut of my documentary, Red Dog & Bates! Next step is the post production of music, graphics, sound and all the finer editing. I've been doing this on my own but now ready to connect with those who could help get it completed. Besides that, I have a couple scripts and other projects. Was always told it's good to have more than one! That's what's been going on with me lately! When I get pictures of the fun at the festival, I'll post those too.