451 Vermont (Dad Movie)

In 1978, my dad moved into a two-bedroom Victorian apartment in San Francisco.

When this was made—26 years later—his rent there was just over 500 dollars.

He has collections of yardsticks, quilts, metal signs, slide viewers, egg baskets shaped

like chickens, whiskey pour spouts…all artistically, but meticulously, placed on every available surface.

I grew up knowing every last little thing in this apartment

and I always said I wanted to film him talking about his stuff.

I made this movie (with editor Ben Nussbaum, bless him) for dad’s 60th birthday.

 
My Dad moved into a two-bedroom Victorian apartment in San Francisco in 1978. When this was made, in 2004, his rent was just over 500 dollars. 25 years in, the apartment is full of his “collections.” Quilts, slide viewers, egg baskets shaped like chickens, postcards of the San Francisco Ferry Building, whiskey pour spouts, camping lanterns, yardsticks…all artistically, but meticulously, placed--and catalogued in his Palm Pilot, so he doesn’t buy the same thing twice. Dad’s a photographer, gourmet cook, auto mechanic, handyman, wine expert, Eagle Scout, fluent French speaker…they don’t make guys like him much anymore. Maybe that’s why when he sees stuff they don’t make much anymore, he buys it. As long as it’s under 50 bucks. See more work at cooperolson.com.
 
 
 

“Lemons” - 24 Hour Film Fest

The 24 Hour Film Fest is a blast.

About 7:00 Friday night, they email you your genre (we got Science Fiction),

the name & occupation of a character (Chris Whiffle, DJ)

a line of dialogue ("Where on Earth is your faith?") and a prop to use (a boat).

You have till FedEx leaves Monday morning to write, cast, shoot, edit, and finish your film.

And of course there are awards: "Lemons" won Best Screenplay in 2007.

Directed by Chuck Bennett

 
 
About 7:00 Friday night, the 48 Hour Film Fest emails you your genre (we got Science Fiction), the name & occupation of a character (Chris Whiffle, DJ) a line of dialogue ("Where on Earth is your faith?") and a prop (a boat). You have till FedEx leaves Monday morning to write, shoot, edit, and finish your film. And of course there are awards: "Lemons" won Best Screenplay in 2007. For more work go to cooperolson.com.