The Film

Ever since I can remember, I've been fascinated by movies. Movies with stop motion animation, my favorite being 'Jason and the Argonauts'. The sci-fi movies of the 1950s, I would sit there and figure out how they did the special effects. Whatever book on sci-fi and fantasy films I could get, I did. Like so many others, I told myself that one day, I was going to make movies and animated films.

I was told that I would have to go to Hollywood or New York. I attempted Hollywood several times. The first when I was accepted to UCLA for film. I wanted to be a matte artist. Loved the work of C. Bonesteel. Couldn't afford to go. The second time, the same reason. The third time, 911 happened and I lost my job, along with my savings. Disappointed? You bet, but I filed that dream away. I refused to let it go altogether. That was my dream.

Fast forward some years and I'm in a new place emotionally, a new part of the country, a new state and a new town. I joined a writer's group and was introduced to a fantastic and dynamic person, Nathan Ross Freeman. Please check him out. www.nathanrossfreeman.com
www.mrbonesfilm.com www.authorityaction.com

The first time we met, he was the guest speaker for the group. The second time we met it was at the writer's group member appreciation party. He remembered me and asked me if I was still writing and I said no. After receiving a dirty look, he asked, "Why not?" Not having seen this man in months, my left eyebrow raised, not really knowing which direction to take my answer. So I cut him some slack and quelled the mini 'Wrath of Wendy'. I mean, who did he think he was? I smiled and told him that I was busy making dolls.

His eyes widened, a light had gone off over his head and lit his face.
"You make dolls?"
My eyebrow goes up again. The bad, mischievous Wendy is fighting to be a smart ass as I recalled having just told him that I was making dolls. Me being a better looking Santa. The good Wendy prevailed.
"Yes, I make dolls."

He put a finger up and said, "Wait a minute."
Cogs in his head began to grind.
"For sale?"
"Yes, I sell some of them."
Before I could say anything else.
"Wait!"
He closed his eyes and placed index fingers on his temples. I could actually see the wheels of creativity turning in his head. Really, it was amazing. I wasn't expecting the next question.
"How would you like to be in a movie? Have your dolls in a movie?"

Not one to pass up on too many creative opportunities, I said, "Sure."
Now on the inside, I was jumping up and down saying, "Hell yeah. You don't have to ask me twice."
We set a date for our first meeting and the rest.... well it's becoming history. Herstory. My story. My side of this creative endeavor with a bunch of other creative folks.

There were a few glitches at first. Funding being one but this is Nathan's baby. One of those life projects that just won't go away until it's done. It has baked a little and changed a lot. Things were regrouped and money raised. Which is ongoing but that's cool. An LLC was formed with Nathan at the helm, Jarrett Tolman, LaMyra Kinzer (actress extraordinaire) and me, Wendy Luane Barber. Artist. Is this sweet or what?

I'm going to use my blog to document my journey into filmdom. I can't give details about the movie but I can give details of my part, my creative process in the making of it. I am making dolls for a character who makes, wait for it, dolls. She's got this whole house of dolls.

So please join me on my journey. Check back every now and again. All of my entries will be marked as film. Am I excited? You bet. And I'm not even in California.