Actress Pearly Mitnasala recently appeared in two short films that gave her the chance to explore very different types of roles. Read further as we have the latest and more!
Fast-Paced Filmmaking: Simmer N’Serve at the 48 Hour Film Festival
Simmer N’Serve, a short dance rom-com, was made for the 2024 48 Hour Film Project and screened at the Regal LA Live Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. The rules of the challenge were clear: write, cast, shoot, and edit a short film — all within 48 hours.
Pearly, with years of experience in acting and being able to channel versatile roles, was brought onto the project late Friday night after receiving an unexpected email inviting her to join the team, Film Hero. “I got that email. They said I was perfect because I could dance.”
By the next morning, she was on set learning choreography, rehearsing lines, and filming scenes alongside cast members Milan Anderson, Darius Marquis Johnson, and Nick McCarthy. The film was directed by Scott McKinney, written by Phae Amara and Andrew Burks, and shot by cinematographer Sarah Reddy.
Pearly in the Recording Studio for Her Character!
After filming wrapped, Pearly was called into a recording studio to do ADR — automated dialogue replacement — for her character. During the session, she was asked to improvise an internal monologue for a scene where her character had lost a dance competition.
“They told me, ‘Make us laugh,’” she said. The result was a line that played during the screening and got a big reaction from the audience:
“Why did you break your leg today? Tomorrow would’ve been fine.”
A Premiere and a Birthday
Simmer N’Serve made it to the official screening round of the festival, and the timing lined up with Pearly’s birthday. “I celebrated my birthday at the Regal Theatre, watching myself on a giant screen,” she said. “It doesn’t get better than that.”
More Film News on Pearly: Fern and the Film2Future Gala
Pearly also appeared in Fern, a short film produced by Film2Future. The film was written and directed by young students with guidance from mentors in the industry.
In December, Pearly attended the Film2Future Red Carpet Gala at the Saban Theatre, where Fern was screened for an audience that included students, families, donors, and professionals.
“Seeing myself on screen at the Saban Theatre, just months after graduating from that very neighborhood? That’s something I’ll never forget,” she said.
Between the filming of Simmer N’Serve and her role in Fern, Actress Pearly Mitnasala shared her experience working on the different productions. “These projects helped me try new things and work with some really talented teams,” she said. Keep up with Pearly on her official site links! @readyin5mins