I needed to do something outside my comfort zone.

My husband, Marco, was vaguely aware of my ennui and just as vaguely supportive of anything I wanted to do to break out of my funk.

“Burt is doing another of his silly little films,” he told me. “Why not go be in it?”

Burt was a friend who made micro — budget films that were seen by minimal art — house audiences.

Still, it wasn’t a bad suggestion. I wasn’t tired of my marriage, even though Marco and I seemed to be in a rut after five years. I was more tired of myself. I’d once been a wild child. Now I felt like a dull 30 — year — old.

When I went to Burt to inquire, he was thrilled by my interest. He never hired professional actors for his projects. He wanted... Read More