Turn a corner in Los Angeles, and it is hard not to find a
starving actor, struggling filmmaker or unpublished writer. But for
student filmmakers Darren Guttenberg and Jared Fryer, the Hollywood
struggle has just become a small burden easily overcome.
Technically, neither second-year Guttenberg nor first-year Fryer
is currently studying film at UCLA, as the extremely selective
program only accepts applicants at the end of their sophomore year.
But for these motivated undergraduates, studying film has become
less a matter of attending lectures and critiquing films than
actually creating art.
“So many people, including myself at times, have thought
film is something you work up to, that, “˜One day I’ll
be a filmmaker,'” said Fryer. “But it
shouldn’t be that way.”
Instead, these aspiring filmmakers have abandoned the
“aspiring” and trudged straight toward the
filmmaking.
Fryer met Guttenberg through an obscure family connection, and
the rest is history, “a match made in heaven,” joked
Fryer.
Both have a deep-rooted interest in film. Fryer originally aimed
to be an actor. In high school, he was an award-winning theater
actor, director and playwright. His interest in theater spawned an
even greater interest in film, which he considers a more flexible
and creative medium that allows him to create something out of
nothing.
After running out of “Star Wars” scared as a child,
Guttenberg knew he wanted to make films.
“For (“˜Star Wars’) to have that kind of power
over me was amazing and life-altering and I wanted to be able to do
that myself ““ to really affect people,” said
Guttenberg.
He got his first camera when he was 9 years old and put every
dollar he earned from then on toward feeding his passion. He
constantly made movies, learned what he could, and then made
more.
After high school, through a series of fortunate events,
Guttenberg met screenwriter Alex Shelby. They, along with two other
filmmakers, founded a production company then called “Four
Guys and a Camera.” After reading one of Shelby’s
scripts, Guttenberg suggested that they actually shoot the film
““ Shelby’s first.
Approximately a year later, the joint-venture, now known as
Square-One Productions, is 60 percent finished with principal
photography for Shelby’s L.A.-based feature film “The
Waiting Room,” directed by Guttenberg. Fryer, who became
involved with the project over the summer, is director of
photography.
“The Waiting Room” is expected for DVD release and
is being monitored by several television networks. The partners of
Square-One Productions, along with a few independent investors
(such as Guttenberg’s father), fronted the film’s small
undisclosed budget.
But budget has not been an obstacle. In fact, the filmmakers are
preparing a documentary on how to create a professional-looking
film for little money. So far, they have been successful. Shooting
is on schedule and on budget.
“(They are) two beautiful human beings with a bright
future ahead of them,” said sound designer and partner
Fernando Gironas. “They both bring a fresh approach to
filmmaking and I call it the “˜Sky is the Limit’
approach ““ something this town needs a bit more
of.”
Guttenberg and Fryer are currently founding an organization
based on such an idea, that all someone needs is “a camera
and a dream,” according to Guttenberg. The tentatively titled
UCLA Filmmakers Society will connect UCLA and USC students and give
them an open forum to exchange ideas.
“I want to more than anything bridge the gap between the
two schools and make the realization to other people that these are
the people we are going to end up working with. We could create
some fantastic relationships,” said Guttenberg.
Currently, every weekend involves several 12-or-more-hour days
of shooting film. And Guttenberg has no reservations.
“I hope to have no free weekends between now and
infinity,” he said.
Turn the corner and two student filmmakers are living their
dream.
“If you have a dream, you should be able to do it,”
said Guttenberg. With enough hard work, enough effort, enough
25-hour days, you can really pull it off.”