from the Cleveland Jewish News
By: LILA HANFT Staff Reporter
Shaker Heights native Jeff Rosenberg and his partners in the production company Par-T-Com aren't letting any grass grow under their feet.
Last year, as students at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, they entered their short film "Detonate" in the "Best Film on Campus" contest held by MTVU (the cable-television network of MTV). A five-minute, rough-edged comedic musical, "Detonate" won, chosen by directors Joel Schumacher, Gus Van Sant and Allison Anders.
This year, Par-T-Com is aiming even higher. They spent the month of December in Athens and Columbus shooting "Relative Obscurity," a full-length feature film written and directed by Rosenberg. This time, they've got a bigger budget, better equipment, and some genuine Hollywood actors in starring roles: Larisa Oleynik ("10 Things I Hate About You"), Jack Kehler ("Fever Pitch," "The Big Lebowksi") and Owiso Odera, an award-winning Kenyan actor.
The rest of the cast and crew consists of OU students and graduates, including Par-T-Com principals John Swartz (producer), Devin Doyle (director of photography), and Cuyahoga Heights grad Spencer Houck (editor).
The production is funded through private equity investors, "many of whom are members of the Cleveland Jewish community," says Rosenberg.
"We wouldn't have been able to seek out investors and do a production of this scale without 'Detonate,' he says. "Winning the MTV award gave (the film) national attention," and Rosenberg had an award-winning product to show prospective investors that "we know how to make a movie."
As for the financing, all Rosenberg will say is that he has "a six-figure budget." The lion's share of the budget goes for equipment costs. "Detonate" had no budget; it was made on equipment that the Par-T-Com crew already owned. "On 'Detonate,' we spent maybe $3 on coffee," he laughs. But "Relative Obscurity" was filmed on a rented Sony CineAlta, the high-definition digital video camera used in the making of "Star Wars: Episode II."
Since its adoption by filmmakers like Wim Wenders and George Lucas, the CineAlta has become the camera of choice for independent filmmakers. It costs less than 35mm but yields comparably high-quality photography; thus, even independent filmmakers like Rosenberg can afford 35mm-quality images.
When MTV sent several members of Par-T-Com to last year's Sundance Film Festival, Rosenberg brought along the script for "Relative Obscurity," a multi-plot ensemble piece. The title comes from a quote from anti-colonialist writer Franz Fanon: "Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it."
"Relative Obscurity" is the story of seven students graduating from college and facing uncertain futures. These members of "Generation 'Why?'" must confront their lack of motivation and discover their own "missions," which they can then "fulfill or betray."
The script itself, which grew out of Rosenberg's senior thesis, is a manifestation of Fanon's quote. Rosenberg's goal is to create "an historically grounded" film that "tells honest stories about characters." In telling the story of these characters, Rosenberg hopes to say something definitive about his generation, living at a particular historical moment and facing problems that could only be happening right now.
At Sundance, Rosenberg was savvy enough to realize that a film like "Relative Obscurity" would not be easy to pitch to studios. Inspired in part by films like Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia" (1999), "Relative Obscurity" features complex plotlines and characters. The story "can't be summed up in one sentence," says Rosenberg.
"I thought about making the screenplay more marketable, but I decided to be true to myself and to let the project grow organically," says Rosenberg.
While not blockbuster material, "Relative Obscurity" is accessible. "There is clearly a market out there of people who will respond to this film," says Rosenberg.
Filming complete, the Par-T-Com crew goes into the long postproduction process. "Right now we're editing the film, and then we'll do color correction and post-audio work and score the film n there's still a lot of work to do."
The Par-T-Com crew wants the film ready for late summer or early fall, when all the prestigious film festivals have entry periods. Their aspirations include Sundance, Austin, Tribeca or Toronto, where many low-budget films have gotten their starts.
For Rosenberg and his friends, making "Relative Obscurity" is practice for the next big step n Hollywood. Rosenberg sees this year as his "chance to make a portfolio" before heading west. "I know when you go to the studios, you need to have something to showcase your work, a feature film with someone they recognize in it."