Gardner's Almanac 🍃 SHARON GARDNER ~ September 🍂 |
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#UNIONSTRONG ABOVE: 'V' for Victory! After 148 days of the WGA strike, the writers went back to work at 12:01am on September 27th. It has been an honor for me to join our sisters and brothers from the Writers Guild Of America West and East in solidarity on picket lines in Los Angeles and New York. I am overjoyed that their strike has ended with an "exceptional deal”, and await the return of SAG-AFTRA to the bargaining table with the AMPTP on Monday, October 2nd. Until our guild reaches an accord with producers and we are permitted to return to work and promote prior and current work on struck contracts, I will continue walking the line with my fellow actors. Next week, I’ll be back at Paramount in Hollywood and aim to picket in the Valley for the first time as well, stirring up some good trouble at Warner Brothers. Let's drink some more "STRIKE TEA" below... |
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Joshua Bassett's JUST LOVE Music Video |
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It was a special experience to shoot singer/actor/director Joshua Bassett’s video for his new song “Just Love”, a moving message against bigotry, violence, addiction, and hate. The former male lead of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” with pop star Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua has made a commitment to raising awareness about mental health, which is regrettably necessary in this age of warping social media. As we enter a critical time leading up the next presidential election, may this song help counter the skewed narratives of those who would have us return to the darkness of the Trump years. May human rights prevail. Thank you to Joshua Bassett for your vision, to producer Mark Cockfield for bringing me on board, to cinematographer Ksusha Genefeld for the beautiful photography, and to Levi Tariff (who directed me in Taps) for connecting us all. @joshuatbassett @itsmarkcockfield @ksushagenenfeld @levitariff #love Just released this week and already has over 230,000 views and counting (100k views in the first 6 hours)! I play a grieving mom. |
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ABOVE: It was a surprise treat to share the stage with pals Charlie Jensen and Megan Barker (both class colleagues from The Actor’s Refuge with Brian Hill) Supporting Women and Diversity in Film What a delight to be back on a theatre stage for the first time since 2018! On September 27th, I joined the terrific writer and actor community of the Breakthrough Reading Series, founded and produced by pal Melissa Bickerton and Karen Herr, to support women and diversity in TV and Film. At The Broadwater theatre in Hollywood, I had a blast cold-reading 3 roles in 3 very different TV pilots to a lively audience energized by the end of the writers’ strike and the imminent hope of a resolution to our own. Thank you, gifted writers, for the opportunity to infuse your characters with some spirit: Drama pilot “Drop Zone” by Megan J. Wilson @megantotem Dramedy pilot “Own It” by Brittany DeLynn Drama pilot “Hag” by Jules Nurrish @julesnurrish Founding producers @melbic21 and @kgoga. Find out more on their instagram @breakthrough_rs Thank you, Melissa Bickerton, for the invitation and for zooming in from Australia! We missed you! |
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UPDATE: Premiere Screening Tomorrow! I can’t wait to see the film and reunite with the cast and crew for the first time since shooting wrapped in February 2021. Photos forthcoming in October’s Almanac. |
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Obsessive-Complsuive Disorder traps millions of humans in torment. Writer, director, and editor Andy Cruz bravely excavates his own painful emotional past (please see below) to construct a story that will illuminate and resonate. It's an honor to be playing Evelyn, a driven agent-of-change committed to healing her community one person at a time. We shot this film in 2021 and I’m happy it’s reaching the world now, when our society is attuned to the urgency of mental health as never before. |
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I give special thanks to two incredible women, Sophie Jordan Brooks, MSW, and Victoria Goodman, LCSW, MSW, whose generous insight and expertise guided my performance as Evelyn, assigned to support our hero, Andrew, portrayed with vulnerability and power by Jamal Lloyd Johnson, former NY Jet and producer, whose partnership with Andy Cruz is bringing necessary new voices to the national conversation about diversity, justice, equality, and the health of our communities. LEFT: Sharon as social worker Evelyn at work in the jail system |
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Andy’s story: "I was working on a Netflix show when I suddenly developed severe OCD. My condition was so bad, one of the producer’s told me I had a few months to “figure-it-out”or they would fire me. After being misdiagnosed by every doctor, I had no clue what was wrong with me. I hope and thought my Hollywood dreams were over. After careful research, and the right doctor, I realized I had Obsessive-compulsive disorder. OCD is a condition that is extremely misunderstood. In fact, even the industry I love hasn’t done the best job of portraying it correctly. So it was important to me, to make a film that showed what living with this hellish-nightmare is truly like. Creating this film gave me the hope I needed to get my life back. I was able to return to my Netflix job and find a way to work on my dream show - HBO’s “Euphoria” With that said, I’d like to thank the entire Euphoria post production team for all their support and understanding. The Other Mind is based on my real life struggle with Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is a chronic disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (“obsessions”) and/or behaviors (“compulsions”) that they feel the urge to repeat over and over.” It’s my hope the this film can provide even an ounce of hope for anyone with this condition." |
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ABOVE: A rare and necessary outdoor rehearsal for "The Other Mind" with Writer/Director/Editor Andy Cruz and Star and Producer Jamal Lloyd Johnson |
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ABOVE: Evelyn (Sharon) is escorted into a cell by an officer of the peace (Timm Perry) |
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UPDATE: Coming soon! E.P. Rich Burns is on target to wrap up post-production in October and I can’t wait to see a content-starved audience eat it up! |
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Just in time for Pride month, the Season 2 trailer was cut and screened in WeHo, L.A., and it was a hoot, a holler, and a heartache to glimpse our heroes Ray, Gary, and James journey through transformations that upturn their lives. It has been an absolute delight to join the S.2 cast of the Humanitas Prize-winning black comedy “The Disappointments”, about 3 gay best friends in their late 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 timpani. Here’s the trailer: wait for it! |
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ABOVE: Sharon with Make-Up Head Cheryl Calo, Arisce Wanzer (Vicki), Rich Burns (Ray), and Trevor LaPaglia (Dwight) BELOW: Sharon with Gedde Watanabe (Gary) |
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ABOVE: Rachel (Sharon), her fiancé Paul (Lucanus Grady) and Ignacio (Chuck Saculla) have a shocking moment. BELOW: Sharon with fab Make-Up Dept. Head Cheryl Calo |
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To receive such a gracious welcome for S.2 with these lovely and brilliant people has been a complete joy: E.P. Steve Cubine, writer, director, star, and E.P. Rich Burns, Prod. Trevor LaPaglia, Gedde Watanabe, James Campbell, 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. The world needs these empowering stories more than ever! Thank you for sharing the love. |
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Thank you so much for the support and encouragement we’ve received from all quarters: from free haircuts at Sony by stylist Carla Zuniga (@carlazunigahair), to the Persian father-son duo cooking a tasty lunch for the strikers at Amazon, to Dean’s Coffee (@deanscoffee_official) for the delicious decaf iced coffee with oat milk and stevia, to the Shappy Pretzel Company (@shappypretzel) whose perfect pretzels were accompanied by the best brown mustard I’ve ever had, and to the massage therapists, such as George McDonald below (@gmanhn22) mitigating the stress of the strikers on the line at Culver Studios, we’ve received incredibly positive and sustaining contributions to the cause. I know I speak for the SAG-AFTRA membership when I express my profound gratitude for all the support. We deeply appreciate it. For a summary of the historic new benchmarks gained by the WGA, please read on: |
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As the WGA states on their website, straight from the eloquent horse’s mouth: "2023 MBA Tentative Agreement The WGA reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new three-year Minimum Basic Agreement. On September 26th, the Negotiating Committee, the WGAW Board and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement. It will now go to both guilds’ memberships for a ratification vote. Eligible voters will be able to vote from October 2nd through October 9th, and will receive ballot and ratification materials when the vote opens. The WGAW Board and WGAE Council also voted to lift the restraining order and end the strike as of 12:01 am PT/3:01 am ET on Wednesday, September 27th. This allows writers to return to work during the ratification process, but does not affect the membership’s right to make a final determination on contract approval. Now that we have finalized the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), we can share details of this exceptional deal, with gains and protections for members in every sector of the business. We set out in this negotiation to address critical issues across our membership, brought on by changes in the business that were driving down writer pay and undermining working conditions. Prior to the strike, the companies refused to engage on most issues. The following is a summary of the deal terms for the 2023 MBA, as compared with the AMPTP offer on the table as of 5/1/2023. This contract—won with the power of member solidarity and our union siblings over a 148-day strike—incorporates meaningful gains and protections for writers in every segment of the membership.” |
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ABOVE: On double strike with actor/producer Melissa Bickerton and writer Josh Gilbert at Amazon at the legendary Culver Studios, August 31st. I’ve joined in solidarity as a SAG-AFTRA and AEA member by walking the picket lines at, so far, Sony, Netflix, Paramount, & Amazon at the Historic Culver Studios, and by using my loud voice to chant in unison with my fellow artists and encourage passers-by to honk in support. |
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RIGHT: At the SAG-AFTRA Rally at the gates of Paramount on September 13th. |
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I’ve enjoyed meeting so many writers and seeing old friends as well: it’s been the strike’s silver lining. |
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LEFT: Striking with dear actor friend Ash Sroka and new friend Troy Weymouth at the Culver gates. |
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National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland writes: "There has been a sea change in the entertainment industry, from the proliferation of streaming platforms to the recent explosion of generative AI, and at stake is the ability of our members to make a living. We must ensure that new developments in the entertainment industry are not used to devalue or disrespect the performers who bring productions to life." Please visit SAG-AFTRA to stay up-to-date. |
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RIGHT: Back in the car with dear friend actor/coach Caryn West after the Paramount Rally |
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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. 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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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 completed post in May ’23 and will appear in film festival screenings. I’ll keep you updated on the schedule. |
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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. 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. LEFT: On location as Patty in the halls of power at Parsons & Associates |
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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 above to hear my hijinks. |
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The glorious equilibrium of the Autumn Equinox ushers in my favorite season, with its back-to-school energy, crisp evenings, the new seasons of film, theatre, art, and music and two of my favorite holidays - Halloween and Thanksgiving. It’s a season of innovative ideas, new work, fresh collaborations, project premieres, and celebrations of the timeless human spirit and the power of love and family. |
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ABOVE: Catching the last of the summer sun with the kids at the beach RIGHT: Beckett, and his BACK-TO-SCHOOL haircut! BELOW: Enjoying National Daughter’s Day at Knott's Berry Farm with Claire |
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I’m thrilled that this autumn also brings a resolution to the WGA Strike and, we hope, the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA strike, so we can all join forces again to tell meaningful stories that help us understand, navigate, and honor our individual and collective human experience. Let’s create!
Warmly, Sharon |
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