Posted By: Shirly

The last couple of months were a total whirlwind. It started with my new project- “Labor Pains” starring Lindsay Lohan. I play Britney, the 9 month preggers girl who has absolutely every pregnancy issue - acne, kankles, back pain, hormonal mood swings- it was fun to play the neurotic funny girl. The cute romantic comedy which is a sort of “Devil Wears Prada” meets “Knocked Up” was shot in the valley, around and about Burbank and Taluca Lake. Paparazzi were swarming the area and it was quite the scene with her friend or by now admitted “girlfriend ” -Samantha Ronson visiting the set regularly. I was quite surprised by Lohan. She is pretty quiet, sort of introverted and very professional. Obviously after reading all the stories and following the last couple of years of this girl’s life i expected a diva with behavioral issues.But, seriously- the girl totally impressed me in how she came around and i felt that she was really making an effort for the sake of the project and the producers that gave her this chance.

My next adventure was on the set of Criminal Minds the highly rated CBS crime drama. I play Adrianna the girl that looks like she is the sweet girl next door but is actually a high class Vegas call girl. Its interesting that its my 3rd hooker this year. The first was in “Righteous Kill” (with De Niro and Pacino), the 2nd on “Streets of Blood” (with Val Kilmer and Sharon Stone) and now Criminal Minds. Is the universe trying to tell me something?…ha ha ha….well, at least now i climbed up the hooker ladder…from streetwalker to High Class…ha. The cast and crew were truly amazing. I really enjoyed working with Joe Montagna as well as enthusiastic and actor loving director Guy Bee and really liked the character that talented writer Jay Beattie wrote for me. That set and those people, must be the happiest people in show biz, so pleasant and really love their jobs! so refreshing. Also the casting directors April Webster and Scott David, must be 2 of the most talented and definitely of my favorite around town. I do hope that Adrianna comes to visit the Criminal Minds team later in the season. Look out for my episode Nov 12th.

Next up was the premiere for “Righteous Kill” in New York. It was fashion week in New York and the festivities just added to the general excitement. I had a gorgeous gown couture made by Israeli designer “Nel” in a navy blue that was a scene stealer. As well as jewelry loaned to me by designer Orka- Mesica. k250 worth of black diamonds…. i desperately needed a body guard for those….
The premiere took place at the Zeigfeld and there were all the usual suspects in attendance of course- De Niro, Pacino, Lugizamo, Guiagini, Whalberg etc but also really cool New York types like Julian Schanbel and former mayor Giuliani (very exciting and flattering) and an array of rappers who probably were in attendance because of 50 cent such as Ice Cube and Ice tea etc. Since it was fashion week supermodels such as Carol Alt and many others also showed up. We partied later at Terminal 5 and after which at Marquiz-. I was definitely basking in the attention. I’m glad the movie opened in the top 3 and kept its place there for 3 weeks. It was amazing to see my name up there top billed together with the 2 greatest legends of cinematic history. And it was great to have some East Coast time, eat at really cool spots such as De Silvanos and Nobu, take the subway, drink real NY coffee, eat some real cheescake and walk around Soho and shop for fun little things on the streets. Such a change from LA to actually see people on the streets!

And now i’m here in LA just busy promoting the film, doing the LA fashion week scene. Shot a really cool 2 page spread for the Nov/Dec issue of the national magazine “Supermodels Unlimited” for their 100 most beautiful people issue. Just did a guest appearance on the Time Warner John Kerwin show, And doing my usual 9-5 auditioning and meeting routine , reading scripts that are offered to me and generally working on getting new work. I’m really itching to work again and i cannot wait to get a great new project so i can come back and tell you guys all about it!

for now all my love and hugs
cheers and peace,
Shirly

Post by Shirly Brener

I was away in Lafayette, Louisiana working on a sci-fi film starring Dean Stockwell when I got the news I booked a supporting role in “Microwave Park” (also titled ” Streets of Blood”). Nope it is not a movie about cooking…ha ha, its actually the name of a real park in New Orleans.

The story follows 2 cops- Val Kilmer and 50 cent, post hurricane Katrina, that partner up to clean the city of gang activity and police corruption with crack cocaine serving as the underlying epidemic.

Excited to be playing a crack taking white girl living in the black projects hooking on the side, I sought to find the perfect look for my character -Selina.

After extensive research (mainly watching Spike Lee’s documentry “When the Levees broke” as well as “Hustle and Flow”) I decided on a full head of African American braids. I found a real traditional salon deep in the LA “ghetto” and got a bunch of synthetic extension hair and 6 hours later I was “transformed” with tiny braids to my waist- even Bo Derek would envy me now…

Taking the trip back to Louisiana was no new venture for me, this time to Shreveport.

The film’s director- Charles Winkler - son of of producer Irwin Winkler- who is one of the producers on “Microwave Park” too (Goodfellas and Raging Bull), is amazing to work with.

Charles, as handsome and charming as they come, knows his way around the camera and uses a lot of hand held movements to add to the intensity of the material. He also gives the actors a lot of room to improvise and add our own input. This, combined with my two cute and talented scene partners- Jose Pablo Cantillo (Standoff) and Brain Pressley (Port Charles), had me doing some of the most experimental, edgy, explicit, sexual and dangerous work I’ve done on film thus far.

I’m having a blast! No big egos on this set even though there some pretty big stars- Sharon Stone, 50 Cent, Val Kilmer and Dylan McDermott. 50 cent is as sweet and humble as can be and Val (who has always been my hero since “The Doors”) is a force to be reckoned with. He is working hard with a trainer and looks amazing.

Stone has not arrived yet, she will be here later in the month playing the police psychologist.

The set is full of life and laughter and boy do I hate the craft service table- too much yummy and crappy stuff I’m trying to not gain pounds by stuffing my face with set food.

Today I had my death scene, ending up snitching to the police, I get my tongue cut off and stuck to my chest with a hypodermic needle…pretty disgusting, nonetheless it was cool to shoot and the makeup department did a great job!

I will leave here in a couple of days….back to Lafayette for another sci-fi film playing a NASA White House specialist for Bullet Films And then back for a couple more days on “microwave park”

I think with all this work I’ve been doing in Louisiana I should consider moving here…with Jim Carry and Oliver Stone taking over the state in the next couple of month, I arguably declare Louisiana to be the new Hollywood, Maybe…maybe not But its definitely my new playing ground!