Conversations in L.A.

Conversations in L.A. is a one-shot romantic drama television series about the relationship between an older woman and a much younger man that was created, written, and directed by veteran stage actress Anne Marie Cummings. It follows the conversations between Michelle and Gus as they meet and fall in love, and the conversations they have with the people they know, who oppose their relationship in the City of Angels. The decision Cummings made to have the series filmed in the one-shot style with 360-camera choreography, was to submerge viewers into the world of the characters, as well as give actors an exhilarating experience similar to that of being on stage - - building the consequential momentum of one emotional moment upon the next without having to “cut.”[1][2]

Conversations in L.A.
GenreRomantic Drama
Written byAnne Marie Cummings
Story byAnne Marie Cummings
Directed byAnne Marie Cummings (25)
Brett Benner (3)
Sebastian Heinrich (1)
StarringAnne Marie Cummings
Gustavo Velasquez
Eric Balfour
Brett Benner
Danny Bick
Bryan Chesters
Chris Damiano
Marquet Hill
Tami Tappan Damiano
Willie Garson
Vanita Harbour
Sterling Jones
Justin Kirk
Sally Kirkland
John Kozeluh
Mark Lewis
Rebecca Metz
Gabrielle Olivera
Lou Diamond Phillips
Amy Pietz
Jack Plotnick
Stephen Rockwell
Melanie Rockwell
Alyssa Gabrielle Rodriguez
Jack Standen
Terra Strong
Trey Teufel
Theresa Tilly
Jaymz Tuaileva
Matt Turner
Jon Patrick Walker
Mike E. Winfield
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes29
Production
Executive producersAnne Marie Cummings (seasons 1-3)
Brian Medavoy & Erwin More (season 3)
ProducersGustavo Velasquez (season 3)
Winston A. Abalos (1 intro, season 3)
CinematographySebastian Heinrich (seasons 1 & 3)
Roland Andre Miller (season 2)
EditorSebastian Heinrich
Camera setupSingle-camera
Production companyImmediate Vision Productions
Release
Original releaseDecember 1, 2017 (2017-12-01) –
October 16, 2019 (2019-10-16)

All three seasons are available on Amazon Prime (USA, UK, and CA), FandangoNOW, and ConversationsinLA.com, the series’ home website. Seasons One and Two are available on iTunes (in English and Spanish).[3][4]

Season One premiered on ConversationsinLA.com, with 14 episodes of differing lengths, on December 1, 2017. Season Two premiered its eight, half-hour episodes on December 16, 2018 on Amazon Prime (Season One moved to Amazon Prime during this time as well). Seasons One and Two also premiered on iTunes on December 16, 2018. Season Three premiered its eight, half-hour episodes on Amazon Prime on March 15, 2019. And FandangoNOW picked up all three seasons and premiered them on their platform in October 2019.[5]

Filming Style

All three seasons of Conversations in L.A. were produced by Anne Marie Cummings' film production company - Immediate Vision Productions.[6] The signature of this series are its one-shot episodes that are shot with a single-camera and that are highly choreographed by writer/director Anne Marie Cummings.[7] Seasons One and Three were filmed by Sebastian Heinrich, and Season Two was filmed by Roland Andre Miller.

Season Three Cast

Season Three was cast by Christy Faison and Jami Rudofsky and includes Anne Marie Cummings ("Eat Bitter, Taste Sweet") and Gustavo Velasquez ("Insecure") with Lou Diamond Phillips (“Goliath,” “Longmire,” “La Bamba”), Justin Kirk (“Weeds” and “Angels in America”), Willie Garson (“White Collar,” “NYPD Blue,” and “Sex and the City”), Amy Pietz ("Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Caroline in the City"), Eric Balfour ("Haven," "Skyline," and "Six Feet Under"), and Terra Strong ("The Litch").[8]

Full Cast
  • Anne Marie Cummings as Michelle Macabee, a middle-aged woman having a mid-life crisis.
  • Gustavo Velasquez as Gus Borrero, Michelle's young lover.
  • Eric Balfour as Blaine, Michelle's commercial director.
  • Danny Bick as Bernard, Michelle's commercial director's assistant.
  • Brett Benner as Alex, Michelle's second best friend.
  • Bryan Chesters as Derrick, Michelle's martini date.
  • Chris Damiano as Wayne, a guy in Michelle's pet loss therapy group.
  • Tami Tappan Damiano as Kelsey, a woman in Michelle's pet loss therapy group.
  • Willie Garson as Dr. Kerr, Michelle and Gus’ second couple's therapist.
  • Vanita Harbour as Nicole, Michelle's best friend.
  • Marquet Hill as Dancer 2, a dancer in Michelle's commercial.
  • Sterling Jones as Peter, Michelle's second best friend's pal.
  • Justin Kirk as Michael Miller, Michelle's new friend.
  • Sally Kirkland as Evelyn James, Michelle's second best friend's friend.
  • John Kozeluh as Mark, Michelle's blind date.
  • Mark Lewis as Seth Parker, Michelle's movie star friend.
  • Rebecca Metz as Dr. Nowak, Michelle and Gus’ couple's therapist.
  • Gabriel Olivera as Drake, a guy in Michelle's pet loss therapy group.
  • Lou Diamond Phillips as Martin, Michelle's boyfriend's lifecoach teacher.
  • Amy Pietz as Mrs. Shannon Pierce, Michelle and Gus’ social worker.
  • Jack Plotnick as Adam, Michelle's second pet loss therapist.
  • Stephen Rockwell as Steve, Michelle's brother.
  • Melanie Rockwell as Chelsea, Michelle's brother's wife.
  • Alyssa Gabrielle Rodriguez as Sonya, Michelle's boyfriend's sister.
  • Terra Strong as Leanne, Michelle's boyfriend's sister's girlfriend.
  • Trey Teufel as Joel, Michelle's second best friend's husband.
  • Theresa Tilly as Marion, Michelle's first pet loss therapist.
  • Jaymz Tuaileva as Dancer 1, a dancer in Michelle's commercial.
  • Matt Turner as Bob, Michelle's ex co-worker.
  • Jon Patrick Walker as Danny, Michelle's friend's drug pal.
  • Mike E. Winfield as Jeremy, Michelle's boyfriend's drug dealer.

Awards and nominations

Critical reception

After Season One, the Huffington Post wrote, “Anne Marie Cummings is a force and Hollywood has taken note. As Creator, Cummings dares to go there. As Writer, Cummings is brilliant. As Actress, Cummings draws the audience in with each raw, real and authentic performance. As Director, Cummings commands nothing but the best from the entire cast.”[18] USA Today wrote, “Anne Marie is living proof that it’s never too late to chase the dream, whatever that may be.” USA Today also wrote, “The finished product is…a study in the art of art.”[19] Emmy Magazine said of the show, “…beautifully choreographed.”[20] In an interview with AXS TV, Lou Diamond Phillips said of Anne Marie Cummings’ writing, “It reminded me a bit of Mamet. It reminded me a bit of Tarantino. There’s just some great conversational musicality to it…incredibly well-structured and compelling from line to line.” In the same interview, Lou Diamond Phillips said, "At this point in my career, after 40 years as a professional and 30 years in Hollywood, there are not many things where I can say, 'I've never done anything quite like that.'"[21] Hollywood Alert wrote that Anne Marie Cummings, “…is the first woman to receive Emmy nominations for Digital Series Acting, Writing, and Directing.”[22] Carlos Sottomayor Magazine wrote the series is, “A funny and witty series.”[23] In an article by Stareable, it was written that, “Cummings’ theatre background is clear in their format.”[24] After Season Three, Grit Daily wrote, “Conversations in L.A. is worth discussing.”[25]“Anne Marie Cummings is phenomenal! If you’ve never heard about her - - now’s your chance! She is the first woman to receive Emmy nominations in the digital drama categories of Acting, Writing, and Directing, and all for the three seasons of her Amazon Prime digital drama series about an older woman who falls in love with a much younger man called CONVERSATIONS IN L.A.” – The Frank Magazine, UK[26]

References
  1. "CONVERSATIONS IN LA: The Show We Should All Be Talking About". Medium. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  2. "Anne Marie Cummings Emmy® Nominated Star & Creator of Runaway Hit Series "Conversations in LA"". Huffington Post. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  3. "THE STARS OF 'CONVERSATIONS IN L.A.' TALK SEASON TWO". This is the Latest. October 5, 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  4. "Features - Conversations in LA". Starry Mag. May 10, 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  5. "Web Series 'Conversations in LA' Starts Production". The Daily Fandom. Apr 22, 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  6. "Re Daytime Emmy Award Nominated Conversations In LA Releases". Indie Pub Radio. August 9, 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  7. "About Conversations in LA". Starry Mag. May 10, 2017. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  8. ""If I see something in my mind – we do it": Anne Marie Cummings talks about the creative process behind 'Conversations in L.A.'". Meaww. August 14, 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  9. "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR THE 44th ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS" (PDF). Emmy Online. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  10. "Introducing 2017 Best Actor Daytime Emmy® Nominee: GUSTAVO VELASQUEZ". HuffPost. April 28, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  11. "FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: HOLLYWEB FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FULL SCHEDULE – EPISODES FROM 97 DIGITAL SERIES WILL SCREEN AT AMC UNIVERSAL CITYWALK". festworks.com. festworks. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  12. "THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES NOMINATIONS FOR THE 45TH ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY® AWARDS". Emmy Online. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  13. "IN IT'S [sic] 9TH YEAR, THE NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL BEAMS WITH A HEART FELT ULTRA TRAJECTORY TELLING ,MANY NEW STORYS, DIFFERENTLY FROM JUNE 16-JUNE 17-JAMES BRIDGES THEATRE, 235 CHARLES E YOUNG DR. N LOS ANGELES CA 90035". cold heat news. June 4, 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  14. "46th Annual Daytime Nominations" (PDF). emmyonline.org. Emmy Awards. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  15. "10TH ANNUAL INDIE SERIES AWARDS WINNERS". Indie Series Awards. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  16. "10TH ANNUAL INDIE SERIES AWARDS NOMINATIONS REVEALED". Indie Series Awards. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  17. "Conversations in L.A. - Telly Awards". Telly Awards. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  18. "Anne Marie Cummings Emmy® Nominated Star & Creator of Runaway Hit Series "Conversations in LA"". Huff Post. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  19. "Conversations with Emmy Award nominated Anne Marie Cummings". The Spectrum. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  20. "L.A. Stories - Anne Marie Cummings brings a theater experience to L.A. actors". Emmys. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  21. "Interview: Lou Diamond Phillips talks legendary career, joining 'Conversations in L.A.' and his future behind the camera". AXS. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  22. "Interview with 4 time Emmy nominee Anne Marie Cummings, Conversations in L.A." Hollywood Alert. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  23. "CONVERSATIONS IN L.A. By ANNE MARIE CUMMINGS-THREE DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATIONS". Carlos Otto Mayor. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  24. "A Conversation with the Co-stars and Creator of Conversations in LA". Stareable. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  25. "WITH THREE EMMY NODS, UNIQUE ONE-TAKE AMAZON SERIES "CONVERSATIONS IN L.A." IS WORTH DISCUSSING". Grit Daily. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  26. "Frank Magazine". ISSUU. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
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