In an interview, Francis Ford-Coppola once said he wanted film to become an art form where even "a little fat girl in Ohio" could make a movie. We're getting closer because two students at Hopkins just made a feature.
Jeff Makes a Movie is pretty much what it promises to be, a film about senior Jeff Novich making a film. The project has been in the works for quite some time, but most of the filming happened in the spring of 2001, due to a large grant Jeff received from the Provost. Yes, that's right: The school funded this movie, and I'm sure they're very proud.
The film stars Jason Rosoff as Jeff Novich, a Film and Media and Physics double major at Hopkins who is about to graduate. granted he shows his final film project at the JHU film festival. Of course, in the movie, things go horribly wrong, and a JHU van runs over the only copy of the film. Now, with only five days before the fest, Jeff has to make a movie with whatever cast and crew he finds available - while trying to win over the girl of his dreams. Hilarity ensues.
The film was written by computer wizard extraordinaire Jesse Himmelstein, who also happens to be a character in the film. It is directed and edited by the real Jeff Novich, one disillusioned bum of The Big Shit fame. Jesse and Jeff have worked together on numerous projects. Their biggest success to date has to be The Big Shit, which painstakingly depicts one man's fight to, well, take a shit, while continuous obstacles get in the way.
Now, finally, after working on shorts and other small projects, Jeff's dream of a feature film is seen. With allusions to many movies and other pop culture icons, Jeff tells the story of himself. Some may say this is self-indulgent and keeps the audience at an arm's length. But those people said the same about P.T. Anderson.
Obviously the Hopkins student population didn't care. On the eve of Sept. 22, the crowd managed to overflow the Donovan Room in Gilman Hall. It was a zoo. People laughed, they cried, they smoked. But in the end, it's not about the money for Novich: It's all about the women. Maybe he'll keep a tally.
Hopkins lifestyle annoys many. Odds are, any random person will probably tell you they hate it here. Jeff tries to say the same thing, but after seeing this movie, he may be the only person on campus who is actually in love with the school. The whole film is very Hopkins-oriented. In fact, it might be hard for someone outside of Hopkins to really care about the movie or the characters.
Now, on a filmmaking standpoint, this film won't give you a new perspective on life, and it won't make you think. But then again, we can't all be Fellini. This may actually be a fresh look from a student filmmaker. So many NYU students and the like are pumping out lots of pretentious crap and then expecting the world to bow down before their artistic feet. You know who you are. Frankly, no one wants that. I really don't think some film geek has such a grasp on reality that he can take those liberties. There's only one Bergman; not even his son can compete.
But the question is, does Jeff Makes a Movie suffice? Being involved with the JHU film fest for a few years now, I've seen many bad submissions. Lots of them are films about the characters making movies. After the Clerks, Slacker and Swingers independent revolution, everyone thinks they can make a movie. Their lives are funny enough to be a movie, right? Wrong. Even Kevin Smith couldn't get it right after Clerks.
You know when you tell someone a story and it's so funny and they just don't get it? You say: "Had to be there" Well, most of these movies turn out that way. You just had to be there, whether it was on the set or during post-production or at the actual event. The only person who can relate to being Jeff Novich might just be Jeff Novich.
Don't get me wrong, there were many hearty laughs during the movie. The performance of Martin Marks playing Martin Marks was one of many highlights. I congratulate Jeff on a great achievement and hope he uses this as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Next time, stray a little from your own life and you will find a world of great stories. Keep reaching for that rainbow.
For more info or to watch the movie you can go to: http://www.jeffmakesamovie.com.
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