Better Than Dreams is about pushing the boundaries of film, theatre, and music.
Better Than Dreams was formed to handle production of music and film projects that naturally fall outside of the mission of a non-profit theatre. BTD projects carry the same unusual, innovative and highly theatrical sensibility that exemplify David and Melissa’s work on stage as actors, directors, writers and producers.
Our first film, Romeo and Juliet was produced in the midst of lockdown, summer 2020. It made use of social media platforms, animation and traditional filmmaking. It was initially streamed in conjunction with some scenes played live and additional characters interacting through instagram, twitter and Facebook.
The Last Syllable (2021) went further, deconstructing Macbeth though and interactive website that encouraged users to connect with the story through making phone calls and and exploring immersive rabbit holes.
Live At The Porpentine - A Comedy Of Errors (2022) is perhaps our most traditional and yet our most ambitious project to date. Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors re-imagined in 1960’s with all new original songs and music. Filmed in Griffith Park and (appropriately) Charlie Chaplin’s original home at Henson Studios in Hollywood. The film is heavily influenced by the silent comedy era and the films of Blake Edwards.
Upcoming projects include:
Red Barn, A Murder Ballad. A concept album that tells the story of the bizarre but true events surrounding the murder of a poor farm girl in Suffolk, England in 1827. This project will be released as a podcast and on vinyl with a supplementary short film and additional video content.
Anita Berber is Dead! A live immersive project based on the life of the celebrated nude dancer who shocked and thrilled Berlin in the 1920’s.
David Melville and Melissa Chalsma met while acting in the Broadway production of Ralph Fiennes’ Hamlet in 1995. They formed a theatre company together, Independent Shakespeare Co., and have since produced over 100 theatrical works. The center-piece of ISC’s work is the hugely popular Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, an annual tradition in Los Angeles now in its third decade.