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just recorded is what makes movies so
special.
“In one real life story, they’re sort erf
offering more information than a
Hollywood movie,” he said. “And since
they’re their stories, you couldn’t find a
better actor to tell them.”
While die stories may be the proper
ty of the children, the process is all
Schmidt. What he did over two days in
Lincoln is basically a condensed version
of what Schmidt has become known for
in the independent film world. Through
his workshops he has become co-direc
tor, co-writer and co-producer of a num
ber of independent films. The reason
why his titles are shared is because each
film represents a collaboration of
between 5 to 10 people, including
Schmidt, who spontaneously write,
direct and produce a movie.
All in only 10 days and fbr only
$2500.
The idea itself seems so preposterous
that it’s hard to believe that these fantasy
camps for film buffs have actually been
responsible for some award-winning
fe i m
films, one of which, “Loneliness is
Soul,” will play at the Mary Riepma
Ross Film Theatre tonight at 7.
For Schmidt it’s all just a very simple
formula that combines a location, 5-10
excited and hardworking people, an idea
and $2,500. From there they write the
script, act, film and edit all at the same
time ova* the course of 10 days.
‘It’s a free-for-all, no doubt about it,”
he said. “But some people just wapna
jump in. They don’t wanna spend 4 years
in film school for a 10 minute film.”
This formula has teamed Schmidt up
with an eclectic array of individuals
including a dentist, security guard and an
opera singer all working on the same
film. It took place in Death Valley.
“We ended up in a town with 12 peo
ple and we used 10 of them in the
movie.”
For his projects Schmidt thrives, not
only on spontaneous energy, but also on
the creativity of those involved. That is
why the first thing he did when he met
with his latest collaborators at the Indian
Center was have diem write down then
best story.
“It shows them that they have gold
right there in front of their feet,” Schmidt
said. “No one ever thinks of doing that
for themselves.”
From there he took them through die
motions of making a movie. They read
everybody’s stories, essentially the
script, and became writers. They decided
on where to sit and what order to shoot in
and became directors. They signed a
copyright sheet and now share a percent
age in the film, making them producers
as well. Finally the group milled into
scattered seats at the Mary Riepma Ross
Film Theater and once again became
fans.
As their faces became larger than
they ever could have imagined die kids
laughed at each others’ monologues and
joked about being movie stars. Over the
course of the collaboration, stories were
told by a small group of die what could
become die next generation of filmmak
ers about everything from spirits and
hauntings to gang related stabbings and
having fun on the reservation.
By the end of the film each of the
children, or filmmakers at this point,
retained the bragging rights to having
been in a movie. Sure it wasn’t a starring
role opposite A1 Pacino, but it is some
thing to be remembered.
“Out of all the movies they’ve
ever seen, they’ve never seen one with
their friends or themselves in it,”
Schmidt siad “Suddenly they’re
somebody. It is a confidence
builder.
“If nothing else it’s a
Man teaches filmmakers
how to make big films
without big bank accounts
little piece of history in
their lives ...as
soon as they get
a VHS
copy.”
