Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Congratulations, Milena Canonero

People think it must be fun to wear all those beautiful clothes that costume designers provide actresses with. I've always loved working with the costume designer but wearing the clothes is another matter. Milena is a perfectionist and if you work with her you know that your clothes will be authentic to the period, right down to the underwear. Which brings us to Cotton Club, where Milena and I met. Imagine wearing stockings rolled up with wire bands like ladies did in the twenties. Imagine wearing them for up to eighteen hours a day. For a modern woman who loves her jeans and comfort, this takes alot of getting used to. Nevertheless, with Milena in charge, you will look and feel the part and the era day and night, which can give a tremendous boost to an actors performance. So she deserves alot of credit and the Oscar many times over. These awards are highly political. If they were a bit more democratic she would have many more. See her credits for yourself!
This is the dress Milena Canonero designed for me to wear in the scene where I come to the Cotton Club to confront my husband, Dutch Schultz (played by James Remar) about his mistress (played by Diane Lane). This is a bias-cut dress, beautifully executed by John Schneeman. At that time, bias-cut clothes had been out of fashion for many decades and very few people knew how to cut or make them. This was an amazing example of the style. The fabric and the cut gave the dress a kind of liquid movement. It is one of the few costumes I have ever wished I could have kept. You can also see that I am holding new script pages. Changes happened by the minute on that film but I always knew what I was going to be wearing and that it would be perfect for me. The photo is a production Polaroid.

Photograph of Milena Canonero by Lisa Jane Persky. All rights reserved.


Saturday, February 24, 2007

Swingin' Squirrels

I've made a little video of some randy squirrels experiencing the rite of spring in the dead of (California) winter. It's up on youtube for anyone who is interested in animal antics. Some may say it's exploitation but HEY, these guys were using my hammock. I saw unnatural movement of the thing when I happened to glance out the window. Upon further examination, I found what you will see in the posting. I just happened to have a camera. I would advise against showing this video to children unless you want to answer more than the usual number of questions. Otherwise, only the window I took the pictures through is dirty.

Disclaimer: No animals were harmed during the making of this movie.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY



image by lisa jane persky copyright 2007

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Show me the "reel" Lisa Jane Persky

One of the tools of the acting trade is a "reel". Mine was made by a really terrific editor named Richard Prince. If you're looking for someone who is a great collaborator with a point of view, I recommend him. Have a look at the many moods of me along with the other fine work he has done on the Sample Reels page of his website. Click This

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