[il-talk] FW: Blind Actor Description

Tue Apr 21 02:20:40 UTC 2009

Hi All:

If anyone knows of any aspiring actors who are blind or visually impaired in
the Metro Chicago area that would like to help this woman out with her
Thesis, please forward this opportunity to them.

Ray Campbell, President, Illinois Council of the Blind
ray1530 at wowway.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Dominic Calabrese 
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 11:51 AM
To: Ray Campbell
Subject: Blind Actor Description

Hi again Ray,

Marie Ullrich, the Columbia student you met on Friday, is definitely
looking for a blind actor to perform for free in her movie.  A
description of what's she's looking for along with background on the
blind character is below in her e-mail message.  Any assistance you
could provide would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Dom

Dominic Calabrese

Public Relations Director

The Chicago Lighthouse

312-997-3662

dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org

________________________________

From: Marie Ullrich [mailto:marie.ullrich at gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 8:54 AM
To: Dominic Calabrese
Subject: Re: graduate student's thesis film

Hello Dominic,

It was wonderful to meet you and see the Lighthouse.  I got a lot of
great information and was really impressed with all the services the
Lighthouse offers.  Thank you so much for taking the time to show me
around and introduce me to people. 

I would definitely be interested in reading as a volunteer, if you can
pass my email along to the appropriate person. I probably won't be able
to start until after my thesis film shoot, however, since I'm getting
crazy with preproduction and meetings! 

So, regarding finding an actor for the film who is blind - I'm going to
hold another round of auditions very soon. I don't know how you'd get
the word out, but here is a description of the character who is blind -
and anyone who is interested can email me their headshot (or current
photo) and acting resume, and for the audition I ask for a contemporary
dramatic monologue. The shoot dates are May 30th - June 7th. There is no
pay (I'm funding the film out of my own pocket), and there will be
probably 5 or more hours of rehearsal before the shoot.  I'm really only
interested in local actors.  

PAUL SHERMAN
Caucasian.  Late 30's to early 40's. Tall, brunette or greying and / or
curly hair.  Paul is fully blind.  He and his sister Nancy came from an
affluent if not wealthy family in a medium sized city. Now Paul runs his
own non-profit agency and is less affluent, but he cares deeply about
the work he does.  

Beyond that, I wonder if you might have a student at Columbia might like
to write a press release for the film. I have a list of bullet points
that I'd like to be included but I don't really know how to shape it
myself. I guess I could take a stab at writing it, but it only occurred
to me while talking to you Friday that maybe you might have an ace
student who you could recommend?  The press release would go on my
website (which is under construction) and in all Press / Marketing
packets associated with the film.  

Hope I'm not asking too much!  It was fantastic meeting you.  Hope you
had a great weekend despite the rain.

Best regards,

Marie Ullrich
P.S. I should have mentioned, but Marie is pronounced like Calamari or
Sari. Sometimes I get embarrassed about my name because it sounds
pretentious so I kind of go by anything that starts with an M and is in
the right ballpark. 

On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 1:02 AM, Marie Ullrich <marie.ullrich at gmail.com>
wrote:

Fantastic. see you then!

Marie

On Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 5:32 PM, Dominic Calabrese
<dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org> wrote:

Just a reminder that I've asked our maintenance people to block off a
spot for you with an orange cone.

See you at 9:30.

Best,

Dom

Dominic Calabrese

Public Relations Director

The Chicago Lighthouse

312-997-3662

dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org

________________________________

From: Marie Ullrich [mailto:marie.ullrich at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:16 PM

To: Dominic Calabrese
Subject: Re: graduate student's thesis film

Fantastic. Thanks & see you Friday!
Marie

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 12:13 PM, Dominic Calabrese
<dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org> wrote:

Yes, Marie, it should be a straight shot down Ashland and west on
Roosevelt.      

I'll try to reserve a spot in our lot with an orange cone.

See you then!

Dominic

Dominic Calabrese

Public Relations Director

The Chicago Lighthouse

312-997-3662

dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org

________________________________

From: Marie Ullrich [mailto:marie.ullrich at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:10 PM

To: Dominic Calabrese
Subject: Re: graduate student's thesis film

Hi Dominic,

I'll be driving. Seems easy enough - a straight shot down Ashland and
then W on Roosevelt.  I'll meet you in the lobby at 9:30 on Friday!

Thanks so much,

Marie

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 12:02 PM, Dominic Calabrese
<dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org> wrote:

Yes, can you meet us here at the Lighthouse in the lobby, 1850 W.
Roosevelt Rd?

We're at the corner of Wood and Roosevelt.

Will you need directions?  Just let me know?

Also, will you be driving?

Looking forward,

Dominic

Dominic Calabrese

Public Relations Director

The Chicago Lighthouse

312-997-3662

dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org

________________________________

From: Marie Ullrich [mailto:marie.ullrich at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 11:48 AM

To: Dominic Calabrese
Subject: Re: graduate student's thesis film

Works for me! Where shall I meet you? At the Lighthouse?

Marie Ullrich

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 11:45 AM, Dominic Calabrese
<dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org> wrote:

Yes, this Friday, the 17th.

________________________________

From: Marie Ullrich [mailto:marie.ullrich at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 11:44 AM

To: Dominic Calabrese
Subject: Re: graduate student's thesis film

This Friday the 17th?  Yes.  Well actually for any of the days I
mentioned, I can. 

Marie

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 11:40 AM, Dominic Calabrese
<dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org> wrote:

Can you come around 9:30?

Dom

Dominic Calabrese

Public Relations Director

The Chicago Lighthouse

312-997-3662

dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org

________________________________

From: Marie Ullrich [mailto:marie.ullrich at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 11:39 AM
To: Dominic Calabrese
Subject: Re: graduate student's thesis film

Hello Dominic,

That's great news.  I'm available this Friday, or next Monday at just
about any time. In general that's my standard weekly availability -
usually I'm also available Tuesdays but next week I've got appointments.

I look forward to meeting you.

Best regards,

Marie Ullrich

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 10:35 AM, Dominic Calabrese
<dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org> wrote:

Hi Marie,

I also teach public relations at Columbia.

I would be pleased to take you on a tour of our facility and give you an
overview of the Lighthouse.

Let me know some dates when you can visit.

Cordially,

Dominic

Dominic Calabrese

Public Relations Director

The Chicago Lighthouse

312-997-3662

dominic.calabrese at chicagolighthouse.org

________________________________

From: Marie Ullrich [mailto:marie.ullrich at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:05 AM
To: Dominic Calabrese; Jean-Claude Kappler
Subject: graduate student's thesis film

Dear Sirs,

We've never met, but I found your emails at the Chicago Lighthouse web
site.  

I'm a graduate film student at Columbia College Chicago and am making my
thesis film in June.  One of the characters in the film is blind, and I
am doing research since I have never known a blind person or been
visually impaired.  I've been doing a lot of reading online, but would
like to extend my research.  In fact, if you know of any 40-ish male
actors in the Chicago area who are blind, I'd love to meet them.  But
even if there aren't I'd like to make this character as authentic as
possible, including his workplace.  In the film, we will see him once on
the street with his white cane or dog, and we will meet him later in his
office.  So I'd especially like to know how a blind person's office
might differ from a sighted person's office.  

I understand also that the Lighthouse employs a number of blind people
to make clocks, and this could also be interesting, if Paul (the
character) worked there.  In my mind right now, I have him running his
own not-for-profit agency, a small one, in the Chicago Loop.  But I am
open to change. 

Do you think I might be able to visit the Lighthouse, talk to one or
both of you for perhaps half an hour, and see the clock making
facilities?  This would allow me to bring a great deal more depth to the
character, whether I can find a blind actor or not.  

With thanks and best regards,

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

-- 
Marie Ullrich
773-633-6280 cell

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