emily keefe

In addition to a faboo new trailer (see below) featuring the filmmakers of Departure, an Indiegogo campaign has been launched to raise funds for post production adventures. 

I wanted to share some of the Indiegogo campaign content here, and, if you are interested, CLICK HERE to donate and learn more! Every bit counts.

About the Film:

Set in a small town in southeast Ohio, Departure is a feature film that explores the lives of four disillusioned family members who face their own trials during the tragic events of a single day. Our film is the product of four filmmakers from four different countries coming together to depict a story about the struggles and values we hold in common. We funded the shoot by winning multiple grants, and now we're asking for your help to raise funds for professional post-production services.

About my character, Anne Foreman:

Anne is a headstrong and impulsive seventeen year old. When it becomes clear that certain secrets she’s kept from her parents are about to co...

Before this website was created, I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life playing Evelyn Chappellett in Further Back Slightly.

A character study film, Further Back Slightly explores Evelyn's journey back home to Milwaukee after a difficult three years in Los Angeles. I loved working on this film because, not only do I really jive with it stylistically -- it breaks a lot of rules and has a great cinematic intelligence about it -- but I discovered how I work best as an actor. One of the rules of the film is that Evelyn needs to be in every single shot -- that's every frame. So I worked very long days for three weeks in a row with no days off. And. I. LOVED. Working this way. 

When my goddess Jessica Lange speaks of her experience working with Ryan Murphy, she always says how much she loves how little time she has to prepare. She's forced to jump right in, and she has no time to think. That's what this film was like for me. I was really forced into...

I auditioned for this film April of 2016. This was a part that I read and I absolutely needed to play. 

Brooklyn Viscetti is a self-identified gypsy that Bastion meets on his crazy adventures. She is very eccentric. I felt like a mix between Stevie Nicks and a modern day Sally Bowles (which, if you know me, is a dream). She reads palms. She wears excessive jewelry. And when she gets shots in a bar, she has a little goblet that she pours them into. 

We filmed in a Hookah bar in the East Village and then in Upstate New York. It was a beautiful drive up. I listened to Stevie on my ride up and Stevie + that scenery was magical.

Takeaway from this shoot -- it is 100% possible to feel 100% comfortable on set with men as a woman. It is RARE. But it is possible. These guys made me feel like a human and gave me a little beacon of hope in some pretty dark times for actresses. It filled my heart with joy. We had so much fun, and I felt so relaxed. And I laughed a LOT.

 This one is expe...

I remember being in high school and thinking that joining SAG was just about the coolest thing anyone could do.

The other day I got a letter in the mail that said if I didn't join in two weeks, I could never work for SAG again. 

Paying that initial joining fee -- my wallet would say that it was not, in fact, the coolest thing I've ever done.

All kidding aside, I am overjoyed to finally be able to join this community. It finally feels real to me. What a wonderful next step. 

AND I can't wait to get my screeners this winter. [:

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Emily

I honestly can't even write about this for too long because it was just so surreal and so crazy that it just. Wow. 

I booked a role on H.B.O.'s Crashing starring Pete Holmes, and I got to rip fake bong with Pete Holmes for the day. I got my own dressing room, transportation, the whole nine. The whole day I was just like. What is happening. I couldn't believe that I booked this so soon after graduating. 

What was so wild was that the other dude that was cast in the scene was in my middle school production of Peter Pan. Like. WHAT?! I played Wendy and he played Smee. And now we're playing stoners on H.B.O. Cedar Drive, hope we're making you proud.

Catch us on the last episode of Season 2 of Crashing! Season premiers this January.

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Emily

Today I opened Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat  at the Henderson Theatre in New Jersey as a Narrator. The part was originally played by a man, then a woman, but in our production, the part was split into four women. I feel such an incredible bond with these women, and it is so amazing to get to share the stage with them. We have officially called ourselves the Cheetah Girls.

To be honest, I'm not crazy about the show as written, but I loved Brenden's vision of the badass narrators. How we truly got to author this story. It was such a gift and I am so lucky to have these three in my life now. 

xx

Emily

Today I filmed a Samsung commercial directed by the lovely (and patient) Daniel Navetta in Chelsea, New York. It was just me and a dog, and I had to take a LOT of selfies on set. 

Here's a ridiculous photo of me lookin glam:

This shoot was really cool because it was the biggest set I have ever worked on. There was a huge crew and a LOT of equipment, which was a little overwhelming at first, but I got over it.

When I auditioned for this, all I had to do was smile at the camera with my phone in my hand. No callback. Isn't that wild? Not used to this yet...

Takeaway from this experience: when you're on set with a dog, you. don't. matter. 

"Does the dog have water? Is the dog comfortable? Do we have a fan for the dog? Can someone get some food for the dog? Is the dog happy? Is the dog well lit? Does the dog have a double chin?" and I'm like hi I haven't eaten in eight hours and I have to pee and my nails are turning purple from dehydration.

But hey. Love dawgs so I ain't salty one...

I am finally home. I have graduated college and completed principle photography on Departure. I guess, now life starts? But first a quick reflection.

I am really excited to share this film. It is such a unique project. The film is a family drama broken into four segments from the perspective of a different family member -- the Dad, the Daughter (me), the Aunt, and the Mom. Each segment goes through the same time period, and each segment reveals more and more. AND each segment is written and directed by a different director from a different country. We have Iran, Turkey, Columbia, and the United States represented. How awesome is that?! What an amazing, collaborative experience. And these guys know how to write real, complex women. 

I don't want to give too much plot away, but I will tell you that I got to drive this awesome food truck (see above). I honestly thought I was going to kill someone with it (or accidentally drive it into the river). There was one shot where John, our...

Currently at the airport waiting for my (very delayed) flight to Ohio. Today, I graduated Muhlenberg College (Cum Laude, might I add), packed up my apartment, and am on my way to finish Departure. Have not processed any of this. What a whirlwind.

I think about how lucky I am to be on a flight to film a feature the DAY I graduated college. I want to appreciate every moment. But it's also a lot at once. A chapter of my life is closing, and a new one beginning in one short, emotional day. May or may not have just sobbed in a bathroom stall. Its. All. Good.

Gotta study my script a bit now. We film early in the morning tomorrow!

Can't wait to walk in Anne's shoes.

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Emily