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(L-R) co-producer Sarah Price and director/producer
Chris Smith
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Director/producer Chris Smith and co-producer Sarah Price spent four years documenting Mark Borchardt's filmmaking dreams for American Movie. Borchardt wants to make Northwestern, an epic drama based on his own life growing up near Milwaukee. He hopes video sales of a low-budget horror movie he's finishing will provide the necessary funds.
Requisite interviews and footage of Borchardt's numerous production snafus provide much of the film's humbling humor. But Smith's and Price's efforts paid off with heartfelt storytelling.
Like Borchardt, Smith also calls the Midwest home. His first film, American Job (1995), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He's worked on numerous other films, including Michael Moore's 1998 documentary The Big One.
Smith's own heartland sensibility helped to portray Borchardt with respectful sensitivity. After the film ends, Borchardt's own life is just beginning.
Smith on keeping things respectful: "Neither Sarah or myself had any desire to make a film that was making fun of these people. There is no way I would spend four years making a film that wasn't a genuine or honest piece of work that I felt really good about."
Price on Borchardt's passion: "There is a distinction between somebody who decides that they want to make movies and people who are filmmakers. I feel that Mark is a filmmaker to the core. He's been doing this since he was 12. He's got a vision, a passion and an excitement for cinema."
Price on Borchardt's commitment: "People tend to give up the dreams as time ticks by, and Mark has never done that. Mark is 33 years old, and he's as motivated as ever. If Mark's films never get seen, he's still going to be making films on the northwest side of Milwaukee."
Smith on Borchardt's moviemaking: "Anyone who has a sense of artistry will look at Mark's work and think he has potential. Agnieszka Holland (veteran European filmmaker) came up to me and said, 'Your movie was good, but Coven, now that was a masterpiece.' "
