Proud Moments: Attending the “Pratfall” Premiere at the 2023 Brooklyn Film Festival

It came at the most random point in my life, but it was a welcome surprise when I was told the news that Pratfall – a film that I had a supporting role in – would be premiering at the 2023 Brooklyn Film Festival.

I was lucky enough to get the role of Brenda for this film

I say “get” and not “cast” because that was yet another welcome surprise. Someone that I knew, knew someone named Jordyn, who was coming to New York City from L.A. to work on a film. The person I knew let my friend group know that this project – Pratfall – may end up needing people to fill in on certain scenes, so I reached out to Jordyn and let her know about my interest and gave her my information.

On the first day of filming, I got called for a last minute fill-in, but I was already at work and wouldn’t be able to make it. Then, on I think the fifth day of filming, I got called again by Jordyn to fill in, and I accepted, but turns out that both she and someone else working on the film had filled the role, so it ultimately went to the other person since they had been contacted first. I began to think maybe this wasn’t going to happen at all! However, they say third time is the charm and in this case that was true. One of the last days of filming, Jordyn calls me again, and she invites me to do a scene and, this time, it was a speaking role! So I accepted and made my way to the Upper West Side where they were filming.

When I got there, I met Jordyn, who was incredibly kind and welcoming

It was clear that filming was very intense and they were working on a tight schedule (there was also a heat wave in NYC at the time, so that couldn’t’ve been a good feeling), but that didn’t stop Jordyn from being so gracious and wonderful!

Director Alex Andre and actors Chloé Groussard and Joshua Burge doing a post-screening Q&A

The time came for me to do my scene and, because I was brought on at the last minute, it became an improv situation. The director, Alex Andre, gave me the circumstances of the scene and the relationship between me and my scene partner, and then we just went at it. I won’t lie: I was nervous! I didn’t want to fuck it up and leave a bad impression on everyone. But, in these types of situations, there’s only one thing you can do and that is… your best.

I did what I knew how to do, what every actor knows to do: I got into character, embraced the circumstances, and set up a goal for my character. After that, it was just going after my goal and working moment to moment with my awesome scene partner Joshua Burge (who played the lead, Eli). In the end, I was proud of the work I did at such short notice.

Jordyn and I with the *Pratfall* movie poster

After that, I stayed in contact with Alex and Jordyn, but didn’t hear too much about where the film was going until I got contacted earlier this year by Alex, inviting me to the premier of Pratfall at the 2023 Brooklyn Film Festival. I was so excited! When the night of the premiere finally came, I didn’t know if anyone would really remember me but, when I arrived, they definitely did! Everyone was so kind and happy to be there, and it was wonderful catching up with Alex and Jordyn and Joshua again. I guess that doubt I had in the first place was just a bit of social anxiety going haywire!

The movie itself was incredible

It was intriguing, meaningful, artistic, and the acting by Joshua and Chloé Groussard was deep and immersed me in the story. Overall, there were such beautiful moments of tension, of humor, of depth, and I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of it.

And, what’s more, Pratfall ended up winning the Best Feature Narrative Spirit Award at the festival! Yay!

This whole experience was moving and fulfilling for me, and I sincerely hope that I get to work with all of these people again in the future!

xx Selma