Oxford Film Freak

A film I really enjoyed out on the fest circuit a couple of years ago, Low and Behold (read more of my thoughts at the link), is now out on DVD. The feature film was made in New Orleans just after Hurricane Katrina and stars Eddie Rouse as Nixon. The film was made by Zach Godshall – who later made God’s Architects (played Tupelo Film Fest).

You can order a DVD through the film’s website: www.lowandbeholdmovie.com

Four months ago, I was a reporter, a mom, a co-director of a film festival and a wannabe writer someday. Then a friend e-mailed me asking to look at the first act of his script. I review lots of friends scripts because I am brutally honest and people like to get feedback. I didn’t think much of it.

But then I read the story. And it opened with a flash forward sequence and a gun. I told him to get rid of all of that but keep the rest (with a lot more suggestions of what to change too because I am picky). But there was something that drew me in right away to the character of Jacob, a wandering soul trying to find a home. I loved it. I hit send on the e-mail and went back to work.

Then my friend called me a few minutes later. He asked me if I ever thought of writing a script. I said of course, some day, which was my usual answer to everyone who asks. But I had been thinking about it more and more this year. He then asked me to write the script with him. I was paralyzed with fear by the idea and couldn’t believe I could contribute anything of significance.

But I said yes. And I started writing. And it wasn’t great stuff. But I kept pushing and kept studying what he wrote and learning the style and craft of screenwriting. Then it began to click and we wrote like we were one mind.

Then I wrote Connie, the mother of the lead, and this intense emotional scene that was completely cathartic yet depressing. Her character haunts me, even more so now that Cindy Hogan has fleshed her out and made her so real. In fact, all of the women in the film are this piece of everyone of us as women and they each touch me on a different level. Jill became that broken part of me that dares for more. Haddy was the eternal optimist that we cling to when all has gone wrong. Kristen is that scared part of us that uses the world as a mirror, never letting anyone really see us. They are all someone we know or something within ourselves we can recognize and I love each and every actress that brought them to life.

Three months went by like a blur where we wrote and fundraised and began thinking about casting, then casting, then location scouting, then changing to Oxford, then re location scouting, then casting some more and so on and so on until every part of my being was consumed completely with this movie. Friends, family, boys were all put to the side and I became obsessed. But in a way that felt better than anything else I have done in life.

Then we began filming, less than a month ago. A 19 day shoot with a couple days off in between where I went to my day job then went to set, often sleeping about 3-5 hours a night, if that. I was delirious most of the time but so in love with the process of the craft and watching everyone work. But even more so was the bonding you develop on set when everyone is working on top of their game and getting to know one another. It was like summer camp or a dysfunctional family. It was priceless. I even got the chance to direct a very short scene and it was exhilarating.

Now, we are on the verge of post production, with Thomas editing and me prepping marketing materials and working on festival strategy. It is the part I am most familiar with in the film world and also love, but it saddens me to think just how long it may be until I can work on another film.

Thomas has made a teaser trailer already and it is beautiful and made me cry. In fact, I have cried, sweat, bled and felt more intensely in the past couple of months than I have in years. I have been frozen for the past couple of years, living a comfortable life and not taking much chance on anything. To make a movie with virtually no money and in the middle of Mississippi in summer, that all had to change. This movie and Thomas have helped bring me back to life and for that, I have no words to describe.

I share this with you because I have been mostly absent from this blog, my life for months now and plan to fully submerge myself back into the real world. But it is with a changed heart, a new outlook, and the ability to dream a little bigger now.

Check out the trailer, let me know what you think. I hope you fall in love with these people as I have.

We wrapped after 3 long hot weeks of filming. The cast and crew were tremendous and Thomas L. Phillips even let me direct one scene which was a great experience. Thank you to everyone who has been supporting us and sorry to friends and family I have ignored the past four months. We still have a long road ahead of us but I am so happy to share our first teaser trailer that Director Thomas L. Phillips worked on all night. Enjoy!

Oxford Film Freak
Silent film fans have quite the treat next Thursday as Tupelo filmmaker Rex Curry Harsin brings his series of Chaplin-esque short films to Oxford, set to music from silent film composer Donald Sosin. “Haphazard Happenings with Purdie & Friends” is a series of short films following the hijinks of “Purdie,” played by Harsin.“It is in the style of the great filmmakers of the silent era, including: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Laurel and Hardy,” Harsin said. “These films are set in modern day, yet carry a certain feel and nostalgia for the 1920’s.”While attending film school at the Los Angeles Film School, Harsin created the character Purdie after seeing “Benny and Joon” and appreciating Johnny Depp’s performance of a Buster Keaton-like character. “I stumbled across this, and in it discovered his love for Buster Keaton,” Harsin said. “So, while perusing the library in L.A., I picked out a Keaton film to give a chance. From there on, I became absolutely obsessed, devouring all his and Chaplin’s films. And, of course, in L.A. the film opportunities are much greater than here. I began going to the Silent Film Theater on Fairfax and they happened to have a Buster Keaton festival at UCLA I attended.”At the festival, Harsin discovered the power of live music with film and determined to make his own show, created numerous short films of Purdie with the intention of screening them as part of a music and film package. “You have the impact of a live performance, coupled with the story telling possibilities of film,” Harsin said. “It’s a perfect combo. The impact upon the mind is different as well. Audiences watch and interpret silent films in a different way than they do a talkie. But a silent film, in a theater, without the live score, is somewhat plain. It takes the combination to make it special.” Harsin said that he feels silent film has been neglected but is a classic method to tell a story. “The world classifies and labels things constantly, and silent films were shelved as old and a thing of the past, whilst the talkies moved in. The problem with that is that silent film is not the “old” type of filmmaking. It is an art all it’s own,” Harsin said.Harsin will screen two of the short films, “Girl Trouble,” and “Backstage” as well as a feature “Purdie and Pepper,” with the live music to accompany the films. The show will be held at the Powerhouse on Thursday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children and can be purchased at the door. —melanie@oxfordeagle.com

“Where I Begin” Director, Thomas Phillips, has agreed to lead two workshops for Yac at the Powerhouse this month for “anyone that has a strong desire to better their skill set when it comes to performing.” If you are just starting out or a seasoned veteran, there will be something for everyone in his classes. Thomas also adds that any child or adult who takes his class has the option of being cast as an extra in his new film.

The children’s acting workshop is for ages 8-17 and will work with actors on performing in front of the camera, audition technique and cold readings. Preparation is a key factor in performing and students will have a strong concentration on what it means to break down a scene, discover them in it and bring it to life. The class is 5 straight days of intensive yet fun classes, culminating with monologue performances on Friday that will be recorded and delivered to the students on DVD. Students are asked to bring a 1 – 3 minute monologue for the first day of class- which will be honed, crafted and molded into what it should be during the week. Thomas’s Child Acting Class is $85.00 on July 26-30 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 at the Powerhouse.

The Adult Acting Intensive Workshop, a one day course from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00, is designed for people who really want to hone their craft. Phillips wants the actors to create and explore character work, while allowing the actor to delve deeply into challenging material in a safe environment. In this one-day course actors will cover everything from auditions to cold reads, to material and scene breakdowns. Learn how to give all you have in order to bring your character to life. Actors are asked to have a 1 – 3 minute monologue ready to perform to help show the instructor what you are bringing to the table. Thomas’s Adult Acting Intensive Workshop is $100.00 and will be Saturday, July 23 from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 at the Powerhouse.