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Canyon News
On the Industry
MICHAEL ST. JOHN'S CONFIDENTIAL FILE
Oct 21, 2007 - 7:05:22 PM
The 2007 LA Femme Film Festival Opens With a Bang!
HELLO AMERICA! The LA Femme Film Festival is one of Beverly Hills' most prestigious annual entertainment industry events. Dedicated to showcasing motion pictures that have been written, produced, or directed by women, the LA Femme Film Festival comes to Beverly Hills each year to shine its spotlight on an exciting and dynamic new crop of female artists.
This year's festival, held at the Fine Arts Theatre on Wilshire Blvd., opened with a bang -- the world premiere of the feature film "Behaving Badly." Out of hundreds of entries, the festival organizers chose "Behaving Badly" to lead off their festival, and it's no surprise why. This sly, insightful, romantic comedy about a young couple coming to terms with issues of trust and fidelity in the days leading up to their wedding is one of the most well-written and well-acted independent films in years.
Screenwriter Linda H. Weiss presents a raw, honest, and oftentimes hilarious peek inside the lives of a young, soon-to-be-married couple and their small circle of friends. This is one of those films that touches upon issues we've all had to face at one time or another. Anyone who's ever been in a relationship will find something in this film to identify with. Weiss has an undeniable talent for striking a universal chord while telling a specific story.
"Behaving Badly" also marks the directorial return of cult film icon Juan Drago, director of the seminal Andy Warhol films "Superartist," "All About Andy," and "15 Minutes." In "Behaving Badly," Drago shows that he's lost none of the subversive, mischievous spirit that elevated his Warhol films to cult status.
That "Behaving Badly" is a well-crafted and thoroughly entertaining film is of no surprise -- the filmmakers are industry vets with decades of experience between them. The big surprise to emerge from "Behaving Badly" is actress Natalie Miston, in the ingénue role of the young bride-to-be. Simply put, Miston delivers a star making performance. She's the heart and soul of the film, and her transition from an insecure, innocent, somewhat clueless young naïve to a mature, self-confident, calculating woman is portrayed with great subtlety and humanity. Miston has a screen presence that is thoroughly engaging and endearing. She also has one of the most hauntingly beautiful faces to ever grace a movie screen. Her breakout performance helps make "Behaving Badly" one of this year's "must see" indie films.
While Miston is undeniably the standout, the rest of the cast of "Behaving Badly" is top-notch. Silvia Suvadova, who starred in the Academy Award-winning Czech film "Kolja," is charming as the self-assured (and sexually experienced) best friend. And Nicolas Porcelli, as the rakish, oft-tempted groom-to-be, infuses his role with skilled comic timing.
"Behaving Badly" is exactly the type of film that the LA Femme Film Festival was created to showcase. The festival's organizers are to be congratulated for choosing such an entertaining and thought-provoking film to open their week-long series of screenings.
Natalie Miston, star of “Behaving
Badly |
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Wringing chaos out of 'Order'
Jabbing at British politics, this is frivolous, frenetic stuff expertly done in Bellflower.
By Eric Marchese
Special to the Orange County Register
February 20, 2007
"It takes a certain bent of mind to write a British sex farce, to direct and perform in one and, to a great extent, to watch one unfold on stage. Aiming for these goals and misfiring can induce any number of audience reactions, from dismay and disappointment to outright ennui. Then there's Gregory Cohen's Bellflower Theater Company staging, in association with Fleabitten Productions, of Cooney's ‘Out of Order.’ Cohen exhibits a fine sense of the ridiculous that extends well beyond the mistaken identities, scantily clad women, dropping trousers and door-slamming that are sex-farce staples. And Cohen's cast of 10 is game, willing to shed their inhibitions – not to mention various articles of clothing – without going over the top. The result? Frenetic frivolity – innocuous, silly stuff – but silly stuff expertly done.”
“Natalie Miston plays the stern yet sexy young nurse to George's mom." |
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Everything's in 'Order' in fast-paced farce
By John Farrell
Special to the Long Beach Press-Telegram
February 21, 2007
”The Bellflower Theater production of Ray Cooney's fast-paced farce ‘Out of Order,’ which opened Friday, stars a brilliant and attractive cast.”
"Pidgen is eventually required to seduce a couple of women, including his boss' wife, to keep things going, and by the end of the play he is engaged to be married to Gladys (Natalie Miston), his mother's remarkably beautiful nurse….And Miston is just about the best-looking nurse you'll find anywhere." |
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| Natalie just booked the lead role of Amber for an international commercial for ISSEY MIYAKE perfume, directed by Michael Freund. |
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| Natalie has also been busy starring as the lead, Robin Banks, in the horror film, "Hackin' Jack", directed by Stephen Gibson and produced by Arnold Herr from Deep Vision Productions. Expect to see Natalie on the big screen this summer! |
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| Natalie Miston just finished shooting a music video for JUSTICE, directed by So Me and produced by Christopher Daviau from Soixante Quinze Productions She plays a cute all-american cheerleader welcoming these Parisian artists to Los Angeles. |
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| Natalie Miston just won Theatre Neo's Monologue Festival on Nov. 28th 2007. You will now be able to see Natalie perform in "The Best of the Best" monologue competition coming up in January. The monologue festival will be on Wed. Jan 16th @ 8pm at The Odyssey Theatre. For more information, please visit: http://www.theatreneo.com/Home.html |
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"The Method Actor Speaks" |
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Natalie performed in the Iron Man Sketch Comedy Show, "Liquor in the Rear" at The Next Stage Theatre. For more info, please visit: www.myspace.com/liquorrear |
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"The Method Actor Speaks" |
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Thank you for watching Natalie in her television interview with the Actor's Studio's John Solari for the "The Method Actor Speaks". She discusses her process as an actress and her recent feature film, "Behaving Badly". Her exclusive interview aired on Wed, December 5th at 9pm on Channel 24. You could also have seen Natalie interviewed along side her "Behaving Badly" co-star, Silvia Suvadova. They discuss the challenges and journey of the film from an actor's perspective. This joint interview aired on Wed, December 12th at 9pm on Channel 24. |
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Natalie Miston finishes her run of an all-female production of Henry V at The Next Stage theatre. She played Dauphin, the young French Prince, who acts as King Henry's nemesis throughout the play. |
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Commercial: "Design Our Future" |
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To see Natalie drive a convertible yellow mustang while discovering what happens when there are no engineers in the world, click here! |
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Natalie finishes the lead (Diane) in feature, BEHAVING BADLY . |
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The movie that men don't want their wives or girlfriends to see. This Sex in the City inspired serio-comedy explores the journey of the dissatisfied life of engaged Diane who seeks happiness outside of her relationship with womanizer fiance, Mikey. This film is in post-production. For more info and updates about the film. Go here for information or visit the Official Behaving Badly Website.
To read a review about 'Behaving Badly' click here.
'Behaving Badly' has just been nominated for
La Femme Film Festival: lafemme.org |
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Natalie ends her run in Ray Cooney's farce, OUT OF ORDER, at the Bellflower Theatre Company! |
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| Audiences loved Natalie as Nurse Foster/Gladys in the Bellflower Theatre Company's production of Out of Order by Ray Cooney. It was a great contemporary British farce, filled with crazy people doing crazy things. |
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Are you ready to see Natalie as the romantic lead in Trojan Vision's new TV Show, MY SELF? |
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6 episodes airing right now! Stay tuned to channel 8 if in the USC community and LA@36 if in the greater Los Angeles area. My Self is also broadcast on the Research Channel, as well as across the globe 24 hours a day through live and on-demand internet streaming. You can also watch Trojan Vision Programming on the Rancho Palos Verdes, CA cable network and on the Open Student Television Network(OSTN).
To view My Self Trailer click here.
Written & directed by Tim Strube & Nik Visger |
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