Gary woman's short film to premiere online Wednesday

Chicago Tribune

10-02-2025

Fifteen years after she started production, a Gary woman's short film will premiere online Wednesday.
'I was in a very different place in my life (when this started),' said Jessica Renslow, co-creator of 'Method: A Voice Actor Prepares.'
'I'm living in my hometown of Gary, Indiana, still living the dream I had back then, which was to be able to work from home and have kids and still be creative. It's funny how your dreams can play out in ways that you never imagined.'
'Method: A Voice Actor Prepares' is a short comedic film that follows a voice actor who uses method acting to prepare for his roles.
The film is a complete satire of life in a recording studio, Renslow said, and she believes people who like anime or manga will especially enjoy it.
Renslow called the film a passion project, and she said they finished post-production during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten cast members and seven crew members worked on the film.
'Method: A Voice Actor Prepares' premiered in film festivals in 2022, but this is the first time it's been released to the general public. Renslow is excited to see how people will respond.
'You can enjoy the film, definitely from just a comedic perspective,' she said. 'But if you specifically like anime or manga, it's going to be really funny.'
The film premieres online at 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to its Eventbrite page. The premiere is free, and the first 300 people can participate in a question-and-answer session afterward.
Renslow created the film with Lindsey Myers, and the two own Almost Fairytales, an independent production/post-production company based in Gary and Studio City, California. Renslow and Myers met in 2007 while working at a Burbank, California-based studio.
Myers is excited to see what people think of the film. Because it's a fun film, she anticipates people will 'get a laugh out of it.'
'It almost felt like it wouldn't happen for a while, even though I knew it would,' Myers said. 'It's exciting to finally get it out into the world, and hopefully other people will like it.'
In addition to being co-creator, Myers also helped create two costumes and worked as editor and co-producer. Renslow directed and edited the film, according to its IMDb page.
Myers said the lead actor, Ben Diskin, 'is incredible' in the film. Diskin is an Emmy Award winner, and has nearly 30 years of voice acting experience, according to IMDb.
'He's playing a completely heightened, ridiculous version of himself,' Myers said. 'He did such a great job and let us take it so far and be so weird.'
Myers is happy they can have an online premiere, especially because Renslow lives in Gary while most of the cast and crew live in Los Angeles.
'It's nice that everybody is able to still get together and celebrate that little passion project and idea that we had 15 years ago,' she said.
Renslow and Myers both said this is a great way for the cast and crew to stay in touch. Myers hasn't seen some people in about 10 years.
Renslow began working freelance not long after they started working on the film, and she said this was her 'last hurrah' to be on a set. The film premiere gives Renslow an opportunity to better look back at that time.
'It was such a joy, and there was so much camaraderie,' Renslow said. 'A lot of great character actors are voice actors. So, it was a real joy to work with them and have them on camera for a change.'