LA FOCUS - Gonna Party
Logline: In this music video a Nerd boy spots a sexy Nerd girl on the dance floor but he’s blocked by, of all club-heads, Chewbacca! Who will leave with the babe? Hilarious 50’s B-roll and a hard-driving beat reveals the Nerd in each of us, wanting to go Big Time.
Length: 4:05 minutes
Director: Jeremiah Kaufman
Producer: Jeremiah Kaufman, Norman Kaufman
Writer: Norman Kaufman
About the writer, director and producer: Jeremiah Kaufman is a musician and filmmaker who grew up in NJ. Today he travels the world producing Film and Music projects, as well as performing live shows internationally.
Norman Kaufman is from NYC and mainly writes Feature Films. He has written and produced 5 music videos with Jeremiah, one award winning, and two of his short-film scripts are also award winners.
Key cast: Jeremiah : Nerd boy, and Singing Drummer
Devin Dennis : Nerd Sexy, and just plain sexy Singer
LaDarius Thomas : DJ and Stage Dancer, Choreographer
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): All of the above.
Funders: Self-funded.
Made in association with: Alephtav and East Gate Development companies
Release date: June 3, 2016 at Dances With Films festival in LA.
Where can I watch it at the film festival or in the next month? June 3, 2016 at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood or on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xuTN_GVOmc
Congratulations! Why did you make your music video?
GONNA PARTY is a hard-driving song off Jeremiah’s full length self-titled CD. I wanted to produce a fun music video with no political or religious message, from one of the songs that might best promote the album to my fans.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Gonna Party is a unique song, electronic and rock, that makes you want to get up and dance. It captures snapshots, familiar symbols of American culture like Star Wars and Star Trek. And unlike most music videos that are “monotone,” that take place in a garage or on a rooftop, I like to use a storyline to represent and explore a song.
How do personal and universal themes work in your music video?
Gonna Party touches on the most basic human drive. Boy likes Girl, Boy is blocked from meeting Girl, Boy dances with Girl . . . and they connect. The additional challenge in this video is that Boy Nerd finally has his breakthrough moment, when the object of his affections Girl Nerd heats up . . . but he’s not sure what to do next. Everyone will recognize this dilemma and we present it in a humorous way. And that’s why the Nerd’s alter-ego kicks in at the finale.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
The script’s basic concept held up all the way. That is, the Boy Nerd and Girl Nerd on the dance floor are connected by their alter-egos in the band on stage, the drummer and the lead singer. In post-production we realized that we could also use a TV screen effectively as a retro portal to the Past, and by using quick edits, to connect the modern day rave to some iconic film parties of the past. Thus, we used B-Roll of 50’s and 60’s Rock-n-Roll and screen “idols” and “Horror” flicks.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We, as Producers, are very pleased with the overall effect and the deep resonance of the product. Most people that see it are pretty blown away from the impact. Some even call it risqué! But we think it’s pretty tame.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
A lot of the feedback we hear agrees with our feelings about Gonna Party. People get the humor in it and they like it! So we like that!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Gonna Party is the fourth music video we have Produced. Our fifth music video “Princess Bride” A Watchman’s Tale” is currently in post. We want to achieve a larger audience of fans for our Product as we intend to be in the movie business for the long haul. We try to make meaningful, enjoyable movies and are always seeking an audience to share the experience. But, we also feel ready to graduate from Indie and take up the mantle of the Mainstream scene.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We welcome any help, and partnerships for our big launch in June!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We want people to watch Gonna Party and say, Yeah, the music video can be more than a few images of the artist accompanying his song. It is a mini-movie unto itself, perhaps with a three-act structure. With story arc and a character arc that flows in the stream of one song, the song seemingly written for the purpose of enhancing the movie. Though in many cases the music video, like Gonna Party, is written after the song is produced.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Without spoiling the twist ending of Gonna Party, “Who gets Girl Nerd?” in the last scene!!
Would you like to add anything else?
Come out and watch this film! It’s gonna be a party!
What are the key creatives developing or working on now?
We just shot our fifth music video in Israel called, “Princess Bride: A Watchman’s Tale” set to another of Jeremiah’s songs, Princess Bride. It is a parable, a Knight’s tale of faith and honor, and a Princess being rescued. We shot on an ancient mountaintop, Mt. Arbel, near the Sea of Galilee using medieval period costuming and props.
We are also producing our first film short. We have a 20 page script called “Girl in a Coma” about a girl who drops a rave drug at a night club and goes unconscious. Look for it.