THE TOP 10 BENEFITS OF FILMING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY

BY DANI FAITH LEONARD

writer bio

Let’s face it, we often get locked into our day-to-day, breezing trough our obligations on auto-pilot, not really stopping to process our accomplishments or experiences.  Even when working on a film, we can sort of keep our daily schedule and it is often natural to try to keep our sense of normalcy to maintain our equilibrium. (I know!  Since when do I sound this fucking extravagant?)

I am currently shooting a movie in Spain and my equilibrium has been thrown way off.  And it is great.  Here are The Top 10 Benefits of Filming in Another Country:

10. Starting Fresh // If you are working in another country, chances are you don’t know most of the people on set.  This lends itself to new beginnings.  If you have had any problems in the past, nobody needs to know about it.  Maybe you haven’t been totally satisfied with your previous collaborations.  Here is your chance to start anew.

9. Keep Distractions to a Minimum // In the US I run a company, have auditions and meetings, work on films and sketch comedy shows, go out with my friends and visit my family.  Here, I am only an actress.  It’s rare that any of us get to focus only on the task at hand.  Maybe we would do a much better job if we were able to tune out all of our distractions.  Working abroad may be your chance.

8. New Faces // Meeting new people is always important in every career.  Why limit yourself?  Plus, watching the World Cup with people who actually care deeply about soccer has been awesome!

7. New Places // Obviously, if you are working abroad, you have the opportunity to explore.  Spain is very hot in the summer, but there are a few hours in the morning that are perfect for running.  I have been running around Madrid every morning for a week.  It has been great to experience a different city, while working towards a career goal.

6. Learning the Film Lingo of Other Countries // It’s not something that you need to know, but it is fascinating.  Although the process might not differ greatly, there are different words and phrases for filming.  I feel like I might be on a film set at home until I hear someone say “grabando!”  instead of “rolling.”

5. Observing the Technique of International Artists // You never know what you are going to learn from other artists who have studied elsewhere.  You might learn completely new techniques for art direction or lighting.  You might discover the solution to a technical problem with the next project you were planning.  You also might be inspired to create a new project based on the new techniques you have learned.

4. No Harm Done if you Don’t Understand a Word They Are Saying // Let’s face it, there is a lot of truth to the advice “just smile and nod.”  I speak some Spanish, but when these people are speaking at their fast pace, I have no idea what’s going on.  They could be telling me to eat shit and I have a huge smile on my face.  You won’t be getting into any fights on set!

3. Easier to Create When You Are Already Completely Out of Your Comfort Zone // This might not be the case for everyone, but I find it easier to be creative and brave when I am already completely out of my comfort zone - and I am.  People make bold decisions when they feel like there is no turning back or they have nothing to lose.  Maybe you’ll be personally uncomfortable in a country where you can barely communicate, but this might help you push yourself professionally.

2. Learning About Different Cultures Makes You a Better Artist // Ugh, I know it’s kind of a cliche.  But it’s definitely true.  The more you learn about other people, the better artist you become.  I will definitely be a better actress when I go home from observing the way that people behave in Spain.  In the US, we are pretty reserved with our emotions.  The Spanish express themselves more freely.  When we study acting, we try to get out of our own way and learn how to do something that some people do naturally.  If we just always expressed ourselves to the fullest, our job as actors would be a million times easier.

1. Sangria // A lot of it.