FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS Shoots This Month, Stars TRANSPARENT's BillingsSeptember 19, 2017 by Mike McNamara


The fast and fun new LGBTQ comedy feature FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS is currently shooting in Chicago, and they have lured a Chicago native back home to join the cast of this unique production. Chicago's Alexandra Billings of the Golden Globe winning series TRANSPARENT has joined award-winning Spanish filmmaker Sonia Sebastian (DE CHICA EN CHICA/Amazon) and Chicago producers/co-writers Lisa Cordileone and Amy Dellagiarino (all three pictured left).
A lesbian COMEDY OF ERRORS, written, directed, and starring an ensemble of women, FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS is part of a brand with a narrative story that will crossover and integrate on multiple platforms for a truly unique and engaging experience. "What makes us unique is that we are integrating a story across multiple platforms, from media in film to usable technology, in a way that not only gives visibility to the LGBTQ community, but also invites audiences who would usually be more hesitant to see the world through the lens of a woman who just happens to be gay," co-writer Cordileone told SCREEN.
The Return of Alexandra Billings
This film is also notable in that it marks the return of acclaimed transgender actor Alexandra Billings back to Chicago. Billings was a mainstay of the Chicago theatre scene, anchoring award-winning productions at Steppenwolf, About Face Theatre, the Organic, Northlight and Bailiwick. After heading out west in 2004, Ms. Billings landed on episodes of GREY'S ANATOMY and ROMY AND MICHELLE: THE BEGINNING before getting her break in the role of "Davina" on the Golden Globe winning series TRANSPARENT. Billings is joined by actors Mouzam Makkar (NBC series CHAMPIONS), Natasha Negovanlis (CARMILLA), Jennifer Bartels (AMERICAN WOMAN) and Megan Cavanagh (A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN).
In FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS, Billie #hatesherjob and is desperate for a change, so she quits mere months before getting married. When she breaks the news to her fiancee Gayle, things don’t go exactly as planned. Billie meets a ragtag group of women who are also looking for employment, and is struck with the idea of cultivating their skills to create an app for freelancers.
Behind the Camera
The triumvirate of Dellagiarino, Sebastian and Cordileone have assembled a top-notch production team, which includes Director of Photography Alvaro Martin Blanco, 1st Assistant Director Timothy Farrell, and Production Manager RoseMary Prodonovich. FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS is also being produced by Full Spectrum Features in association with Black Apple Media, who recently teamed up to produce Signature Move, which was released in March of this year.
For co-writer Dellagiarino, "what's exciting to me about this film is that not only is it a big, silly comedy, but it's one made up almost entirely of women, mainly focusing on women in tech. I don't think a lot of people are doing that type of thing right now, and I think it's something everyone is ready for."
FREELANCERS ANONYMOUS continues shooting through October 5th throughout Chicago, primarily in the Andersonville and Ravenswood neighborhoods. 
For more about this film, visit freelancersanonymousmovie.com. As this film forges ahead through production... as always, I'll keep you posted!
Mike McNamara is the Co-Founder of The Midwest Independent Film Festival, www.midwestfilm.org and Programming Associate for U.S. Narrative Features at the Sundance Film Festival. Mike pays his rent as an actor in Chicago in theatre, commercials, television and film. More from Mac at www.findmac.com.

Ha, yes, I know it's very strange to be positing about a website on a website, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING! The website for the movie Freelancers Anonymous is now live at freelancersanonymousmovie.com! Come check us out! Sign up for updates! There will be so much more in the coming weeks and months!

Just a little taste of what I've been working on the past few months... Freelancers Anonymous is coming soon -- more info (and a snazzy website!) to follow! STAY. TUNED.

The first official reading of the 90 minute comedy feature "Freelancers Anonymous" is upon us! "Freelancers Anonymous" follows Billie as she tries to balance work plus home life with the "help" of a ragtag group of women freelancers.

Co-written with my partner in crime Lisa Cordileone (who will star in it) our film features one script, two writers, one director and ten plus characters: all women.

BAM! Happy International Women's Day. On it's way to some final revisions, and then upward and onward to pre-production! Aiming for a 2018 release!

Join us tonight for Episode 2 of "Employee of the Month"! Things get crazier, stakes are higher, and there is a legit fight between a person wielding a blender and a person wielding a toilet brush onstage. Come see it for that fact alone.

We can't survive without YOUR vote!

Directed by: Rani O'Brien
Fight Choreography by: Glenn Stanton

Carrie Keranen as Chris
Amy Dellagiarino as Jenny
Andres Paul Ramacho as Max
​David Neale as Jeff

A wacky (and deeply sad, when you really think about) piece I wrote called "Employee of the Month" will begin it's life at Sacred Fools' Serial Killer series this Saturday! 

After a night of drinking, co-workers Chris and Jenny break into Max's apartment to steal his Employee of the Month trophy... but Max has plans of his own.

"Employee of the Month" : How far would you go to be the best?

Come, vote, laugh, help us move on to Episode 2, where things get even crazier.

What: "Employee of the Month" at Sacred Fools
When: 10/8/16 at 11:30 pm
Where: 1076 Lillian Way, Los Angeles

Directed by: Rani O'Brien

Cast:
Chris: Carrie Keranen
Jenny: Lisa Cordileone

My newest play, "Dorm No. 5" will be getting a reading today with the amazing folks at Grey Theatre Ensemble!

​"A nihilistic look at college life, Dorm No. 5 follows the misadventures of a group of college students after the sudden murder of one of their own. Did one of them do it? Or, more importantly, does anyone even care?" 

What: Reading of "Dorm No. 5"
Where: Bar Lubitsch (7702 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood)
​When: 9/18/16 at 7:00 pm

Directed by Megan Smith McGuane

Cast:

Maddy: Cameron Hope
Joyce: Katie Graves
Carol: Nikki Spies
Sam: Andres Paul Ramacho
Wayne: Jake Novak
​Lloyd: Morgan Laugh
​

Tonight I have the very lucky fortune of having a draft of one of my plays read aloud by some ridiculously talented people over at Rogue Machine Theatre! Come, stop in, have a laugh, feel some feelings.

What: "The Value of Moscow" Reading
Where: Rogue Machine Theatre
When: 8/30/2016 at 8:00 pm

June 1, 2016 

BREAK IN…IS BREAKING OUT
AT THE HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

Los Angeles, CA (May 1st , 2016) –  The Hollywood Fringe Festival – Los Angeles’ largest celebration of the performing arts will host Actor/Producer Lisa Cordileone, Writer Amy Dellagiarino and Director Rani O’Brien, for the WORLD PREMIERE of their quick paced, one-woman comedy BREAK IN at Theatre Asylum (6470 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038) on Friday, June 3rd, 2016 at 7:00pm.

The one-woman silent comedy is a multi-media theatrical experience! The uniqueness of BREAK IN lies in the use of live action, film projections, sound effects, voice-over and music, heightening all senses and tapping into the audience’s imagination to connect with one actor on stage for 30 minutes who says absolutely nothing.


Lisa Cordileone conceived BREAK IN after she moved from Chicago to Los Angeles and had several discussions with Playwright Amy Dellagiarino, who “found the best source of content for a comedy show to be all the challenges life provided moving across the country and starting over.”

BREAK IN is like an audiobook on stage. All 18 characters will be played by Lisa Cordileone through voice over and pumped into the theatre for a unique twist on a silent comedy. What her character is thinking, the audience is hearing. The story unfolds like a combination of old-school radio play meets interactive theatre.
“Exploring heartache, self-discovery, and the move of a lifetime in a half hour physical comedy is what intrigued me about Break In,’ said Director Rani O’Brien (Second City Hollywood).


BREAK IN follows Catherine; who, feeling lost, alone, and in need of some serious self-help, turns to her book, “How To Be The Super Hero of Your Own Life” only to find the moving company, “Fantastic Movers,” lost it! She attempts to overcome the depressing cacophony of her neighbors by remembering each chapter of book, step by step. As her memory fails her and tequila, sorrow, and “Orange Is The New Black” blocks her path to happiness, she realizes she must prepare for the “break in” of a lifetime.

“It is important to continue creating content for women by women and stories that include the LGBTQ community and Break In does just that,” said Lisa Cordileone.
​
Lisa Cordileone and team are currently in rehearsal for the show, which has 5 total performances at Theater Asylum (6470 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90038).
Show Dates:
Friday, June 3rd at 7:00 p.m. 
Thursday, June 16th at 11:55 p.m. 
Saturday, June 18th at 1:00 p.m. 
Friday, June 24th at 9:00 p.m. 
Sunday, June 26th at 1:00 p.m.
Tickets go on sale May 1st, 2016 and are available on The Hollywood Fringe Festival website.

"The Hostage Situation" had a reading at 7:00pm on Saturday, June 4th at Atwater Village Theatre.

Credits as follows:

Harry: Larry Clarke
Maxine: Amy Scribner
Matt: Kevin Hoffer
Celine: Alaina Gianci
Gerald: Eric Zuckerman
Vic: Dietrich Gray
Sandra: Carrie Keranen

Stage directions: Annelisha Dixon

Directed by: Adam Tomei

Produced by: Tuesdays@9, Kevin Hoffer, and Roscoe Brandon

Thanks to all who came out! It was a fun time, I learned a lot, and there were donuts. Who could ask for more??