I volunteered at the "Acting for Film" workshop today. It was held at an unusual venue: a place newly named La Perla del Mar (Pearl by the sea). La Perla is a converted Methodist church. The church was on the market, expected to be torn down, when Shelly Malcolm and her friend Garin Sinclair met with the owners to work out a purchase. The church was renovated in six months and opened last December as an event hall.

I sat at a table outside to take money from attendees. There weren't many. There was a filmmakers workshop in SLO at the same time, which I expect would have drawn some people who would otherwise have gone to this one. After the workshop had been going a while I was able to slip inside and watch the rest.

The church:



Workshop leader Aaron Metchik:



The light inside was dismal for available-light photography, and because I was at the rear of the room I lost other opportunities to maximize its potential. So these pictures are barely usable. Still, the flavor:

Some improvisational scenes:











All of the workshop attendees did very well, regardless of experience. I felt that Aaron created a positive, non-threatening environment for them and I even thought it would be fun to try this myself some time.