An Interview with Tracey Birdsall @traceybirdsall1 |

Tracey Birdsall. Actress, producer, and model and actually a very talented writer.

With her demanding acting commitments – and now producing obligations, too – the Malibu-based actress doesn’t get a lot of time to write, but when she does the result is usually special.

Tick Tock, a self-penned short that won accolades and impressed festival committees a couple of years ago, saw Tracey land on the radar of the writing community.

I was fortunate enough to be able to find out more from Tracey and thought I would share it with you. Tracey was at work on a new science-fiction film – about life behind the keyboard.

The first project you wrote was I Might Even Love You. What was that? And what inspired you to write it?

I was inspired to write a feature that would be marketable on a broad scale. I Might Even Love You was a romantic comedy that truly fit all marketable rules of it’s time. I was inspired to produce a feature and I Might Even Love You was collaboration between myself, the director, the DP, and many other people. Although I was at the helm of the project, many people deserve the credit for bringing the feature to fruition.

By the time you did Tick Tock, did you feel a more confident writer?

Most definitely. By the time I did Tick Tock, I knew exactly what buttons to push.

Did the script for Tick Tock change much by the time it got before the cameras?

Kevin Coleman did a final pass on the script of Tick Tock. I believe the most valuable thing he did, which perhaps changed the projector path of the film forever, was to add the bible verse at the end. Although I would like to take the credit for that moment of brilliance, it was all him.

Did the budget constraints hurt the script at all? Or did you write knowing what your budget would be?

I wrote the script knowing the budget constraints and then I went quite a bit beyond budget purposefully. That film was important to me as a comeback, and my instincts were spot-on.

How did you feel when Tick Tock won awards? I’m surprised you didn’t write more after that – why not?

I write to serve a purpose. If I had a purpose to write, or a goal, it would be the very best out there. That said, I can blame my success as an actress on why I haven’t written more! I really just too busy to focus on it although I realize I’m really good at it.

You won the Maverick award for acting last year at AOFF. Did that refuel your passion for working in the industry? How has that award changed things?

I guess the best way of describing it is that I haven’t been on an audition since! I basically decide which roles I want to play and people send me scripts, which is pretty awesome. That said, I don’t take it for granted. Life can change at any moment. I just do the best work that I can given each opportunity.

When you’re working on a film do you feel the itch to be more involved in the storytelling process? Even suggesting things to the writers?

I’m very good at suggestions, although I don’t need credit. If I have an idea, I’ll pass it along. I think the key is in not needing credit for your suggestions. After all, the project makers deserve all the credit. We are just there to bring it to life, and there’s no greater joy.

What are you working on at the moment? How much say are you getting at the table?

I just wrapped Robot Armageddon, and am going into production on Who’s Jenna Jameson? I had a ton of say on Robot Armageddon, as the character was always in a state of morph (it’s complicated). I don’t yet know on Who’s Jenna Jameson? As it’s yet to develop and grow. The producers are very open so I expect them to want the same thing as I do… for it to be the very best it can be.

In addition to writing, you also produce – how are you finding that?

I adore producing as it allows me to use my brain – not just talent and skill. I enjoy being able to rescue things and to come up with solutions. Producing is a skill. I take it all very seriously and passionately.