Original Films
The Day the Villain Almost Won
My first film was scheduled to shoot over the summer months using members from my fifth-grade class for cast and crew. When they did not show up as scheduled I fired them all and replaced them with animals.
Blurp
Blurp was my second film – it was all about movie making and nothing to do with storytelling.
I wanted a classic countdown at the beginning of the film, so I copied one from a 16mm film at the public library. My dad let me use Mann Hall in the Medical Sciences building to film the film by using the projection booth and my 8mm camera.
I was intrigued with entire movies being shot on a Hollywood sound stage. Since a sound stage is just an empty space, the house basement worked perfectly to shoot Blurp. The challenge was creating an outdoor camping scene, a UFO, its interior and its pyrotechnic departure. Everything went reasonably well until the owner arrived home from his day job before the smoke cleared from several smoke bombs. We agreed that tomorrow’s torrential rainstorm scene should be moved outdoors to the backlot. Now if only the church hadn’t decided to mow their lawn during my epic rainstorm, I wouldn’t have faced the budget .shortfall of not being able to reshoot the scene.
The Men From Gumby
This film was a joint effort of three students in a high school film making class. Later on I was asked to step in as director and editor of the film.
Filmed in Rochester including a chase through the Mayo Clinic original Damon parking ramp, a phone booth in front of a church and then to Central Junior High School. The action continues with a gun shoot out while driving to the airport and then running into the passenger terminal with guns drawn.
Click here to read about film making.
Original Plays
The Purple Necked Black Bearded Blatch
This was my first play that I directed and performed in my basement theater.
Slowly the Wind Turns Green -OR- Iron Bananas Don’t Last Forever
This rather odd play was going to be presented as some form of animated figures but never got off the ground. Here are the rather strange character names:
Staring: Oshkafiddledeoglefarb Irvingschmitzelbottom Findleshmear
His lovely wife: Abercrombie Findleshmear
Their son: Egbert Findleshmear
Way, Way Down East
We performed this melodrama in the auditorium at the Rochester Public Library.
Additional Plays
- Plums
- Jonah: The World’s Greatest Miracle
- Light a Candle for the Season
- No Christmas!
- The Still Alarm
- The Fisherman and His Wife