Melissa
Ferraro
Melissa Ferraro is a professional actor and improvisation artist living
in New York, as well as an accomplished educator. She is a graduate of
the Circle in the Square Theatre School 2 year Conservatory Training
Program and Summer Intensive. In addition, Melissa holds a B.A. from
the University of Rochester and has studied at the British American
Drama Academy in Oxford, UK.
Her acting credits excluding her role as Agent Leah Forsythe include
the film "That's What She Said", roles with the Sundance Filmmakers
Lab, MTV, Court TV, Circle in the Square Theatre and performances
at Upright Citizens Brigade and the P.I.T. She has also worked on
Saturday Night Live, MTV Productions and VH1.
in New York, as well as an accomplished educator. She is a graduate of
the Circle in the Square Theatre School 2 year Conservatory Training
Program and Summer Intensive. In addition, Melissa holds a B.A. from
the University of Rochester and has studied at the British American
Drama Academy in Oxford, UK.
Her acting credits excluding her role as Agent Leah Forsythe include
the film "That's What She Said", roles with the Sundance Filmmakers
Lab, MTV, Court TV, Circle in the Square Theatre and performances
at Upright Citizens Brigade and the P.I.T. She has also worked on
Saturday Night Live, MTV Productions and VH1.
Working with DJ on the movie
"Benjamin" was an experience that
was and remains to be unparalleled
for me. For starters, this was my
first big role in a feature and I
basically owed the part to him, so
from the get go I was incredibly
grateful.
"Benjamin" was an experience that
was and remains to be unparalleled
for me. For starters, this was my
first big role in a feature and I
basically owed the part to him, so
from the get go I was incredibly
grateful.
The moment I met him I felt at ease knowing he would be my scene
partner. Not only does he have this amazing almost childlike energy and
unbridled enthusiasm, but for all his success he is incredibly unassuming
and approachable. Always in a good mood, I learned so much watching
him over the next month. The way he made a point of knowing everyone
in the crew, and always came to set in a good mood, even when other
variables and circumstances were going terribly wrong and there was a
lot of tension, he was able to diffuse it with a joke or a smile to the right
person.
partner. Not only does he have this amazing almost childlike energy and
unbridled enthusiasm, but for all his success he is incredibly unassuming
and approachable. Always in a good mood, I learned so much watching
him over the next month. The way he made a point of knowing everyone
in the crew, and always came to set in a good mood, even when other
variables and circumstances were going terribly wrong and there was a
lot of tension, he was able to diffuse it with a joke or a smile to the right
person.
When it came to our scenes, while
I had no expectations other than
that things would hopefully go
well, what ended up happening
was amazing and hysterical and
something I will never forget.
I had no expectations other than
that things would hopefully go
well, what ended up happening
was amazing and hysterical and
something I will never forget.
We were shooting multiple car tailing scenes around Manhattan and
Queens in a period of time that the temperatures were breaking 106
degrees, in full suits with no a/c and lamps on us that may as well have
been heat lamps. There were days that literally I lost 5 pounds in water,
and we had such a blast the whole time, with no complaints from anyone.
DJ started this on going joke that anyone we passed in the street who was
rather ridiculous for some reason (a homeless man pushing a shopping
cart of cans, a half naked man on rollerblades, an old lady in a
muumuu) was an undercover agent getting too close to spoiling our
cover, and from the first time to the last, the joke never got old to me.
Queens in a period of time that the temperatures were breaking 106
degrees, in full suits with no a/c and lamps on us that may as well have
been heat lamps. There were days that literally I lost 5 pounds in water,
and we had such a blast the whole time, with no complaints from anyone.
DJ started this on going joke that anyone we passed in the street who was
rather ridiculous for some reason (a homeless man pushing a shopping
cart of cans, a half naked man on rollerblades, an old lady in a
muumuu) was an undercover agent getting too close to spoiling our
cover, and from the first time to the last, the joke never got old to me.
From Agent 'Savage' (rollerblade
man) and his sidekick 'Wheelie'
to Agent 'Helga' (fat muumuu lady)
he had me in such stitches that I
literally couldn't speak because tears
were coming out of my eyes.
man) and his sidekick 'Wheelie'
to Agent 'Helga' (fat muumuu lady)
he had me in such stitches that I
literally couldn't speak because tears
were coming out of my eyes.
My only regret is that those hilarious one liners never made it into the
film, and I imagine in part because of the fact that I broke character
every time to laugh my ass off. DJ is a delight to work with; hysterical,
smart, charming and just an all around great person. I feel so lucky that
I was able to work him and that I gained his friendship in the process. I
hope I will be lucky enough to work with him again in the future; I've
been working on my poker face so that I can hold it together
the next time :)
film, and I imagine in part because of the fact that I broke character
every time to laugh my ass off. DJ is a delight to work with; hysterical,
smart, charming and just an all around great person. I feel so lucky that
I was able to work him and that I gained his friendship in the process. I
hope I will be lucky enough to work with him again in the future; I've
been working on my poker face so that I can hold it together
the next time :)
