2008 Woodie Awards
Hackler's Homage to Capra, Sr.
Sarah Bode
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Lifestyles
While the Cucalorus Film Festival usually focuses on completed films, this year they mixed things up. For Cucalorus 14, Dan Brawley and the crew at Cucalorus decided to have a "Work-In-Progress" section. This is for incomplete films submitted at various stages of the filmmaking process. One of the seven works in progress was UNCW film professor, Chip Hackler's latest project, "Two Hours in the Dark," which screened Nov. 12.
Hackler's title is the first reminder of film maker Frank Capra that is apparent. Capra used to say that by making a movie, you have the audience for two hours in the dark. The film's plot also holds a meaning in the title. Hackler's premise for the movie is the day after Capra sweeps the Oscars in 1934. "It Happened One Night" took home Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture. This would not happen again until Milos Forman's 1975 hit "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
"However, after this enormous accomplishment, Capra became very anxious about what to do next, fearful that his next film wouldn't live up to expectations," Hackler commented.
For the next six months, Capra forced himself to be ill, as he was not ready to live up to the expectations he had set for himself.
The film follows Capra through his "two hours in the dark," until he finally comes back into the light to make "Mr. Deeds Comes to Town." Hackler's film shows all the hardships Capra had to go through during his "illness." Capra turned away from his career, becoming frustrated and downtrodden. He also turned away from his family and friends, along with the two-year-old Frank Capra, Jr., who was a beloved addition to this establishment for a long time.
One of the scenes Hackler screened at Cucalorus was of Capra's friend Max bringing over an unidentified man. This man told Capra that he was wasting the talent God had given him. The encounter seemed to startle Capra into conscious world.
Hackler co-taught with Capra, Jr. while he was still alive. In one of the classes they taught together, Capra, Sr.'s films were a staple. This led to discussion about the man and Hackler became interested. He happened upon this story in Capra's autobiography and deemed that it was important. Soon, Hackler had made two research trips on behalf of his screenplay idea. One was to California, where he was able to stay in the bungalow that Capra would occasionally stay in while writing his screenplays. The other was to Connecticut, to the Frank Capra, Sr. archives.
In the production of his film, Hackler incorporated students and faculty of UNCW. Terry Linehan, Hackler's fellow film studies professor, co-produced the film.
"Many students have participated in the project," Hackler said.
Film Studies majors interned while we were shooting the film this summer, working alongside key film industry professionals. A computer sciences major designed a website for the film and a graphic arts class is working on the DVD box design." With about 300 majors in the FST department, there were plenty of able bodies to help Hackler out with filming this summer.
Since the film is still a work-in-progress, Hackler and his crew are now editing. They are working on the picture cutting and sound editing.
Hackler is hoping the 40-minute drama will be completed so it can premiere at Cucalorus 15.
Hackler's title is the first reminder of film maker Frank Capra that is apparent. Capra used to say that by making a movie, you have the audience for two hours in the dark. The film's plot also holds a meaning in the title. Hackler's premise for the movie is the day after Capra sweeps the Oscars in 1934. "It Happened One Night" took home Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Picture. This would not happen again until Milos Forman's 1975 hit "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
"However, after this enormous accomplishment, Capra became very anxious about what to do next, fearful that his next film wouldn't live up to expectations," Hackler commented.
For the next six months, Capra forced himself to be ill, as he was not ready to live up to the expectations he had set for himself.
The film follows Capra through his "two hours in the dark," until he finally comes back into the light to make "Mr. Deeds Comes to Town." Hackler's film shows all the hardships Capra had to go through during his "illness." Capra turned away from his career, becoming frustrated and downtrodden. He also turned away from his family and friends, along with the two-year-old Frank Capra, Jr., who was a beloved addition to this establishment for a long time.
One of the scenes Hackler screened at Cucalorus was of Capra's friend Max bringing over an unidentified man. This man told Capra that he was wasting the talent God had given him. The encounter seemed to startle Capra into conscious world.
Hackler co-taught with Capra, Jr. while he was still alive. In one of the classes they taught together, Capra, Sr.'s films were a staple. This led to discussion about the man and Hackler became interested. He happened upon this story in Capra's autobiography and deemed that it was important. Soon, Hackler had made two research trips on behalf of his screenplay idea. One was to California, where he was able to stay in the bungalow that Capra would occasionally stay in while writing his screenplays. The other was to Connecticut, to the Frank Capra, Sr. archives.
In the production of his film, Hackler incorporated students and faculty of UNCW. Terry Linehan, Hackler's fellow film studies professor, co-produced the film.
"Many students have participated in the project," Hackler said.
Film Studies majors interned while we were shooting the film this summer, working alongside key film industry professionals. A computer sciences major designed a website for the film and a graphic arts class is working on the DVD box design." With about 300 majors in the FST department, there were plenty of able bodies to help Hackler out with filming this summer.
Since the film is still a work-in-progress, Hackler and his crew are now editing. They are working on the picture cutting and sound editing.
Hackler is hoping the 40-minute drama will be completed so it can premiere at Cucalorus 15.
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