Screening of “American Movie”

Fri 22 Jun 2012, 6 pm
DOCLAB

From DOCLAB:

You are invited to the screening of “American Movie” by American filmmaker, Chris Smith. You’re behind on your child support, your phone’s being turned off, and you owe money to the IRS — what do you do? Make a movie! At least that’s what beleaguered Wisconsin filmmaker Mark Borchardt decided to do in the Sundance smash American Movie.

Documentary director Chris Smith and producer Sarah Price followed Borchardt for two years as he struggled to complete a 35-minute direct-market thriller filmcalled Coven, with $3,000 borrowed from his semi-senile uncle and the loyal support of his unflappably affable guitar-playing best friend, Mike Schank.

The result is a poignant and often hilarious character study of a charismatic all-American underdog, who makes up in drive and vision what he lacks in talent. Interviews with Borchardt’s skeptical family and friends are combined with scenes of sparsely attended production meetings, no-budget film shoots, and camp-outs in the editing room with the kids.

Guaranteed to touch a nerve in anyone who has ever aspired to make films, American Movie is an offbeat, sometimes sad, but ultimately inspirational tribute to pursuing one’s dreams.

Languages: The film is in English with Vietnamese subtitle.

Free entrance. The screening is non-profit and aims for studies and research only.

If you’re interested in getting news, announcements from DOCLAB for its activities, workshops, and schedule of film screenings, etc., please email us at [email protected] to subscribe to DOCLAB news.