Day 22: David's List
Directed By: Travis Bockenstedt
Starring: Ted Leuck, Hollis Hanson-Pollock, Brandon Hosch, Jacqueline Schutte, and Hans Pregler
Released: 2012
Genre: Dramedy
My boss Justin S. helped to direct this movie.
Even Better Than Netflix!
When he's not posing, he's directing. Movies.
David's List is a 30 minute dramedy not accessible on Netflix. Its premiere tonight at the Palace Theatre in Waverly, Iowa, was met with roaring applause from Wartburg students and faculty. New communication arts faculty member Travis Bockenstedt and a team of five students taking an independent study endeavored the task of writing, casting, shooting, and producing the dramedy. They succeeded. One of those five persevering students is Justin Szykowny, aka The Owner of This Blog!
Le Plot
David's List is a story of college seniors making their last hurrah before tossing their graduation caps. Much loved David dies a third of the way through the film, leaving his three-item bucket list for his best friends to accomplish. Through completing the three tasks--watching a meteor shower atop Old Main, breaking into the W for a midnight swim, and taking a road trip--David's three best friends and odd-duck, lost cause friend Chad form an inseparable bond. How sweet, sappy, and well-executed.
Fact or Fiction?
'Ol Reliable
One aspect of David's List that has led me to a half-formed mental debate concerns its setting, Wartburg College.
The producers of the movie seemed to tamper with Wartburg slightly, leaving some aspects of the college the same, but changing others. How much did they twist reality to fit their movie? How important were the changes they made?
For instance, the building Old Main is still referred to as Old Main. But the W (Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center, technically) is dubbed "the rec center," a generic replacement title for something singularly Wartburg. Professor Bouzard is still Professor Bouzard, but his class is a leadership capstone rather than a religion class. The Wartburg squirrels still existed, but are ceramic (ha).
Call me a picky critic, but it just got me wondering. What purpose did it serve to make minor changes (like changing the name of the gym)?
David's List operates in some sort of Waverly-limbo for me (much like the Midworld experienced by Roland and his katet in the Dark Tower books), because it's almost the Wartburg I wake up to every morning. However, there are subtle differences--not enough to jar me off course, but enough to make me do a double-take.
The producers of the movie seemed to tamper with Wartburg slightly, leaving some aspects of the college the same, but changing others. How much did they twist reality to fit their movie? How important were the changes they made?
For instance, the building Old Main is still referred to as Old Main. But the W (Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center, technically) is dubbed "the rec center," a generic replacement title for something singularly Wartburg. Professor Bouzard is still Professor Bouzard, but his class is a leadership capstone rather than a religion class. The Wartburg squirrels still existed, but are ceramic (ha).
Call me a picky critic, but it just got me wondering. What purpose did it serve to make minor changes (like changing the name of the gym)?
David's List operates in some sort of Waverly-limbo for me (much like the Midworld experienced by Roland and his katet in the Dark Tower books), because it's almost the Wartburg I wake up to every morning. However, there are subtle differences--not enough to jar me off course, but enough to make me do a double-take.
9 Cool Things About David's List:
1. It was created completely by five college students!
2. It was conceived, written, filmed, and produced within three weeks!
3. It showcased the acting talent of Wartburg students, faculty, and staff!
4. The communication arts department got its hands on a DCLR camera, which shoots a pretty picture for all you techies.
5. The producers snuck plenty of jabs at Wartburg into the movie.
6. None of the principal actors are theater majors, and ALL of them did a great, convincing job. You won't be disappointed.
7. There are some awesome montage / panorama scenes.
8. My blog boss Justin S. directed a very large chunk, and he's got the magic touch when it comes to digital media.
9. You can watch it for FREE right NOW by indulging in one simple click!
2. It was conceived, written, filmed, and produced within three weeks!
3. It showcased the acting talent of Wartburg students, faculty, and staff!
4. The communication arts department got its hands on a DCLR camera, which shoots a pretty picture for all you techies.
5. The producers snuck plenty of jabs at Wartburg into the movie.
6. None of the principal actors are theater majors, and ALL of them did a great, convincing job. You won't be disappointed.
7. There are some awesome montage / panorama scenes.
8. My blog boss Justin S. directed a very large chunk, and he's got the magic touch when it comes to digital media.
9. You can watch it for FREE right NOW by indulging in one simple click!