By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 9/28/2015
In two weeks, we’ll be getting some quality time with the cast of Netflix’s next Marvel Defenders series, Jessica Jones, at New York Comic Con. The followup to the incredibly lauded Daredevil, the series will focus on the titular metahuman, portrayed by Krysten Ritter, as she attempts to salvage her life as a detective after a brief […]
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By: fishgirl182,
on 9/16/2013
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By: Little Willow,
on 1/25/2012
Susan Lee is a busy, creative person wears a lot of hats. (That's probably why we get along.) As a playwright, a filmmaker, a screenwriter, a teacher, and a painter, Susan has made her mark in many different fields. I know she's made her mark on me as a director and as a friend.
I thought readergirlz would like what she had to say about strong characters:
"What motivates me is when a piece speaks to me. As a director, it's always the language first. If something isn't well-written, I won't do it. [...] So I always want something that's smart and intelligent. Something that has characters who are complicated and rich. Characters you want to spend not just two hours with but want to take them home and make them dinner and dig even deeper into them. It has to make me want to explore why the characters are the way they are."
- and why she finds being a teacher so delightful:
"What I love about working with kids is how open and vulnerable they are. They're not afraid to tell you what they think. And when they grab on to something, they hold on for dear life. My favorite part is when they have a breakthrough and they achieve something they never thought they could. And to have them step back from their drawing or their painting and have them gasp in wonder at what they've created, there is not enough money in the world to compete with that. They astound me with their ability to create and with their openness and access to their emotions. They make very single day at work a pleasure and so very worthwhile."
Read our full-length interview at Bildungsroman! Share the link and help get the word about Susan's works so she can get an awesome publishing deal for the Mastermind graphic novel!
Important links...
Life On Its Side Productions: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Mastermind: Website | Webseries on YouTube | Facebook | Twitter
Susan's Blog: Diary of a Mid-Life Crisis
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Posted on 1/24/2012
Susan Lee is a busy, creative person wears a lot of hats. (That's probably why we get along.) As a playwright, a filmmaker, a screenwriter, a teacher, and a painter, Susan has made her mark in many different fields. I know she's made her mark on me as a director and as a friend.
I first crossed paths with Susan in 2009: I was acting in a musical, and she was the stage manager for the show. Since then, I'd had the good fortune to work with Susan on multiple productions, including a Moises Kaufman play, a short film (more about that shortly), and some amazing new works.
What he doesn't know could kill you...
The masked villain, Mastermind, has not been seen for a year, except for a pre-recorded tape announcing that he has secreted a bomb somewhere in the city that will detonate soon... unless he stops it.
An amnesiac man, J.D., who has been trying to build a new life for himself with his girlfriend, Liz, finds himself thinking he may have been Mastermind before he lost his memory. Liz, a reporter, has covered Mastermind extensively and he tries to enlist her to attempt to recover his memories before the bomb goes off in order to save the city. But Liz struggles with the choice to help him because she wants to save their relationship.
Mastermind has evolved from a play to a short film (as seen at Comic-Con!) to a webseries - and now, a graphic novel. How has the story changed along the way, and what's coming next? Let's find out.
Tell us the history of Mastermind and how you came to work on the project.
Mastermind was submitted to Eclectic Company Theatre as part of Hurricane Season, their yearly one-act writing competition/festival. I read the first paragraph, which is Mastermind talking about blowing up the city, and I was hooked. Michael Patrick Sullivan's writing has a very Joss Whedon flair, which I love. And the characters of Mastermind, J.D., and Liz are all so well-written and complex, especially Liz. I apparently was so passionate about the project that the rest of the directors in the company were afraid to even suggest they were interested in it after I planted my flag in it.
What do you think the different formats have to say about the piece?
Each format has its own challenges and its own rewards. Doing the play will always be my sentimental favorite because we were able to play and find so many levels because we had six weeks of rehearsal, a luxury you don't often get in any other format. And the play is where Brad C. Wilcox, the brilliant actor behind the character of Mastermind, created the whole idea behind who Mastermind is and build this brilliant, unique character. Working with him and Beth Ricketson, who plays Liz, was such a pleasure, getting to explore their relationship and playing with the levels and depth of characters. I don't think the film would be as deep as it is without having done the play first.
Posted on 10/30/2011
It was done better in THE PRO 14 years ago.