Gardner's Almanac 🌷 SHARON GARDNER ~ SPRING EDITION 🌸 |
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In honor of Seymour Stein and his flawless taste, here’s The MutherFathers cover with yours truly on lead vocals of The Pretenders “Middle Of The Road” at The Venice West, 11/29/22, to support the Boys & Girls Club of Venice. |
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As we celebrate the return of Spring here in Los Angeles, and a rain-regenerated super bloom of osteospermum, lavender, and azalea in my garden, I mourn the loss of one of music’s visionaries, Seymour Stein, co-founder in 1966 of Sire Records, who championed the artists whose music has defined my generation: The Ramones, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, The Talking Heads, The Pretenders, Depeche Mode, Echo & The Bunnymen, and the list of seminal bands continues. Without the crowning glories of Sire Records legends The Smiths and Madonna, where would we be?
As a D.J. at WCWM while an undergrad at William and Mary (which ludicrously dropped the "College Of…” portion of its historic name for heavens-knows-what reason, but I suspect its a conformity to contemporary nomenclature), I would typically begin my first-year graveyard set loud and punk, with a selection from a homegrown D.C. Dischord record, and conclude new wave-ish and UK, carrying the DNA of romantic gloom and determined liberation all the way through. Thank you, Seymour Stein, for shepherding the soundtrack, so both my heart and my feet could move to the rhythm of life. The MutherFathers, the parent rock band of preschool Branches Atelier, will appear next at the upcoming annual Branches gala on April 29th in Santa Monica to support early education excellence. Let me know if you’d like to join us! Yes, I would love to star as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (co-founded by Seymour Stein and Ahmet Ertegun) 2005 inductee Chrissie Hynde in a Pretenders bio-pic, so producer-friends, let’s put it together! |
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Lockheed Martin Ethics Awareness Training
After the pandemic separation, it was a joy to reconnect with my Lockheed Martin industrial friends in-person again! Since 2005, I’ve portrayed a warm and thoughtful Lockheed Martin manager committed to leading with integrity, and the folks involved from soup to nuts are among my favorite: Laura Buckles, Bridget Streb Weitzel, actor Jason Broad, 1st A.D. Tristan Wright, production designer Frederica Nascimento, director Anthony Dolan, D.P. David Carstens, and gaffer Brent Dilger for Resound Inc., and the stellar writing and leadership teams from Lockheed Martin corporate, who unfailingly approach the complex issues that emerge between humans working together in a global company with nuance, honesty, and fairness.
As an actor, I love to tell stories that explore the question of how we live as individuals within the interconnected spaces of community - be it family, a workplace, or broader society - and the stories we tell here with Lockheed, inspired by true events, are where the rubber meets the road. It’s nice to know my work is connecting with approximately 77,000 people in the Lockheed community worldwide every year. |
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Thank you, D.P. Dave Carstens, for sharing your camera view on-set. (above)
That’s a wrap, with lightning-fast director Tony Dolan, who typically shoots my scenes in 2 takes!(above right)
At the end of Day 2 with producer and actor Laura Buckles, and talent coordinator and script supervisor Bridget Streb Weitzel (left) |
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Hear Ye! Hear Me!
It’s been great to jump back into the VoiceOver world and I’m so grateful to the phenomenal Mary Lynn Wissner for writing and directing my new commercial demo, and for friends and VO gods Yuri Lowenthal, Karen Strassman, Ash Sroka, and Steve Marvel for their guidance and support. Gratitude flows as well to Tim Friedlander and Carson Beck at SoundBox L.A. for the beautifully clear sound engineering and the exciting foley atmospherics! Click button below to hear my hijinks. |
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Heading to an air-conditioned cinema in the Middle East! National and international distribution for the theatrical release of "The Portrait” is being negotiated currently, and the first deal to be announced is with esteemed Front Row Filmed Entertainment, out of Dubai. I’ll keep you posted on a stateside premiere. (you won't see me in this trailer and mum’s the word on my role.) |
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The gothic thriller "The Portrait” stars Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Virginia Madsen, Ryan Kwanten, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar. In the vein of Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture Of Dorian Grey” and the Henry James classic “The Turn Of The Screw”, this feature was shot at an estate steeped in the residue of faded glory, the 100-year-old Villa Narcissa, which is rumored to be “haunted” by an unhappy spirit. This chilling tale debuts in 2023 on a major streamer. British duo writer/producer David Griffiths and director Simon Ross create an eerie atmosphere which envelops this story in an uncanny beauty. |
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ME TIME with Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, Mark Wahlberg now on NETFLIX |
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(above: Sharon with Kevin Hart and the director John Hamburg [center in mask] in the background) ME TIME held the top spot as the #1 Movie on NETFLIX in the U.S. for 12 Days & the #1 Movie in Mexico for 7 Days. It’s been a joy to see this wacky, heartfelt comedy find a large audience. Not only was it a blast to play with Kevin, Regina Hall, Luis Gerardo Mendez, director John Hamburg, and my fellow agents-of-change at the gala, but learning about the ripples a film can initiate in our lives brings another layer of meaning. What a pleasure it’s been to listen to the feedback from my parenting communities about what a fun release it was to kick back together, watch the movie, and laugh, and how much they related to the relationship dynamics. I love the way the fizzy energy and vulnerability inherent in comedy can shift perspectives and connect people in new ways. More, please! (below: 10/27/21 - ME TIME Wrap Party with fellow philanthropists Connie Chen, Kieran Roberts, and Shyaam Karra) |
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JUST WRAPPED my recurring role! What an absolute delight it’s been to join the Season 2 cast of the Humanitas Award-winning dramedy “The Disapppointments”, about 3 gay best friends in their mid-50’s reconciling their personal dreams with the realities of their lives in Los Angeles. I’m on board as Rachel Payne, a TV producer and chic control freak who marches to the beat of her own restless inner timpani. |
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Grinning with Gedde! Gedde Watanabe (“Sixteen Candles”) is adorable as Gary, a former sitcom star. |
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To receive such a gracious welcome and work with these lovely and brilliant people has been a complete joy: E.P. Steve Cubine, writer, director, star, and E.P. Rich Burns, Gedde Watanabe, James Campbell, Trevor LaPaglia, Luke Grady, Chuck Saculla, Michael Corbett, Debbie Pollack, June Carryl, make-up genius Cheryl Calo, fabulous costume designer Cat Velosa, and the fantastic team of actors and crew. This show feels like perfect timing and I’m so grateful. |
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In the Make-Up room with the brilliant June Carryl, who blazes as former TV star Lorena |
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Painting faces with fabulous Make-Up Artist Cheryl Calo ( left) & with James Campbell, portraying ambitious real estate agent James |
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Backstage as TV producer Rachel Payne, ready to start the show (below) |
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I feel born to play, among many other things, a sharp lawyer angling for the corner office. Anyone want to debate me on that? 😉 A young lawyer and new father (charismatic Chance Perez) navigates between a tricky pro bono case and the Jr. Partner (yours truly) who manages him and her boss’ expectations for a rapid result. On location as Patty in the halls of power at Parsons & Associates |
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Written with personal insight by two lawyers (Grace Hansen and Shuchi Dwivedi) and directed with nuance by Grant Swanson, this A.F.I. short, “Pro Bono” wrapped in January. Filmed at the stunning Mountain View Mausoleum, the Spanish Revival edifice with Baroque and Neoclassical elements brought gravitas to the production values. |
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In the green room with Chance Perez (Brennan) and the radiant Loren Fenton (Leslie) between takes (above) At the end of Day 1, with hero Chance and keen-eyed director Grant Swanson (below) |
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This intense feminist thriller "The Death That Awaits" with Paul Johansson, Megan Lawless, Katya Martin, and Ron Yuan, is headed to festivals in 2023. I play Angela, a mother confounded by her daughter’s mysterious illness and trapped in emotional isolation by her own rigid commitment to keeping up appearances. LEFT: Between shots on set as “Angela" |
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Penned by Rachel Kiley and directed by the multi-talented Richard J. Lee, the movie centers on my on-set daughter Nina (Megan Lawless) and her caregiver Cassie (Katya Martin), as a transformation rips the family apart. I’ll keep you posted so you can meet me at an upcoming screening near you! |
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3/ 31/22: The Death That Awaits Wrap Party with on-set daughter Megan Lawless and Paul Johansson |
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Lunch break, family-style, with Sharon’s on-set daughter Megan Lawless and Megan’s real mom, also named Sharon! |
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Here I am with Ron Yuan, Megan Lawless, and Tim Gabriel as a happy family on our final day on set. |
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A film encompassing themes of body autonomy, the legacy of secrets, and the push-pull of mother-daughter relationships, Of Silence And Song follows a Chinese-American mother trying to celebrate her 8-year-old daughter's birthday while she navigates through a recent divorce and an unwanted pregnancy in Texas. I stepped into a character unlike any I’ve played before and had a great experience working with director Dai Leyi, Grace Mar, and Alex Jiang and her ace production team. Starring Kim Jiang Dubaniewicz and Lynne Bolen, this dramatic short will complete post in May ’23 and be followed by film festival screenings. I’ll keep you updated on the schedule. |
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OF SILENCE AND SONG BTS photos Heading to set as May, whose complicated personal journey brings her to support another woman on a very different path. (above) On set with director Dai Leyi (center) and actor Grace Mar (left) A light moment with Grace on our day-for-night shoot (below left) May passes through a stranger’s kitchen, circa 1969 (below right) |
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A Chekhovian short with a blend of comedy and pathos from Swedish writer/director Erika Apelgren and Venezuelan cinematographer Eduardo Whaite, “B.F.F.R.” centers on Angelica, a lonely tech entrepreneur who is a bit of Yin to the Yang of “Me Time”’s Delphine. Finding herself isolated to the point of despair after a trauma in young adulthood leaves her shattered, Angelica makes one final attempt to forge an emotional connection with another human. Can she break the shell that’s kept her full humanity locked inside? |
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The celebration of Spring brings the Build-A-Bridge Choir concert to Mira Costa High School, and this year Beckett joined in as a baritone in 6th grade with the MBMS Sand & Sea Choir. The voices from grades 4th - 12th were beautifully blended, and it was a delight to see my son love to sing.
The freshness of the new season inspired Claire, who chopped off about 5 inches of blonde waves for a sleek new look, while still keeping it pony-tail available for field hockey this summer.
May the hope and promise of new life and the lengthening of our sunlight hours beckon you to Nature, and the extraordinary world around us everyday.
Warmly,
Sharon
Beckett & Sharon at Spring Recital (above)
Claire with her new haircut & Sharon (right) |
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