While it is true that Eugene will never be mistaken for Hollywood, there have been numerous efforts to make worthwhile cinema in the Emerald Valley. But “Animal House” nostalgia aside, a new filmmaker is attempting to bring his vision of the city and its denizens to the big screen.
“Pizza Girl” is the planned title for a new feature-length film from fifth-year student Brian Murphy. Set in local pizza shops and other suburban hang-outs, the film will deal with a group of young people going through a transitional period in their lives.
“I’ve always wanted to make films,” he said. “With this project, I wanted to tackle something big.”
“Big” is a relative term, as Murphy is trying to put the production together while making due with scant resources. The film will be shot using inexpensive digital recording equipment and a volunteer cast and crew.
“I’ve saved up about $7,000 over the past few years from paychecks,” he said. “I also got some cash from friends and family. By the end of this I’m aiming for about a $10,000 budget.”
That amount doesn’t go a long way toward working out some of Murphy’s bigger ideas for the film.
“There is a car that is pivotal to the plot that we need to wreck at the end,” Murphy said. “We’ve been on the lookout for a cheap car that runs.”
Despite monetary troubles, Murphy and his collaborators have had good luck finding people to work on the film. After placing an advertisement in The Register-Guard, the filmmakers were flooded with responses, according to Murphy and his casting agent, sophomore Robb Norton.
“I was surprised by the initial response,” Norton said. “Since then, we’ve narrowed it down to 40 people.”
Acting hopefuls are not the only people looking to work with Murphy and company.
“We get people calling up and saying ‘Hey, I can do makeup?” Murphy said. “It’s been a really surprising outpouring of interest.”
Even with so much support for “Pizza Girl,” the filmmakers still have to find ways to cut corners. To that end, Murphy has enlisted the help of his roommate, fifth-year student Frank Pokorny, to make the props and various tools necessary for shooting the film.
“The key is doing it yourself rather than buying ready-made parts,” Pokorny said. “It’s a real two-by-four, nuts-and-bolts approach. I recently put together a dolly out of skateboard wheels, using PVC pipe as track.”
With rehearsals set to begin next week and filming planned for mid-March, Murphy said he is looking ahead to what will happen once the film is finished.
“I’m hoping for a premier at the Bijou Art Cinemas,” he said. “After that, I’m going to be sending it out to film festivals. Most of them have a $25-$30 entrance fee, so I’m going to have to save up another stack of money.”
Until then, Murphy and his collaborators are concentrating on getting the film made and are looking forward to the work ahead.
“It’s exciting to be involved in a project where everyone is working for the same goal, but at the same time doing their own thing,” Pokorny said.