Film Review: 'The Prank' Shows Enormous Potential of New Filmmaker
Short films are supposed to wet the appetite of moviegoers.
In a very short window, the filmmaker has to tell virtually a complete story and leave the audience wanting a full-length feature film.
New filmmaker Marcus Freeman does that and more in “The Prank,” a short film about a practical joke played on a classmate at the 15-year reunion of Joseph McBride High School.
Doug (Gregory Malonson) is that cat from high school that has not gotten over the wrongs done to him in the past.
He still has feelings for his high school sweetheart even though almost two decades have passed.
Furthermore, Doug still blames Kevin (Kedrin Birdwell) for breaking him and Dawn (Greta Jordan-Williams) up in high school.
While the rest of the class of McBride is eager to catch up and reminiscence on old times, Doug is out for revenge on Kevin.
He sets Kevin up with Francesca, a young “lady” with a controversial past.
Her metamorphosis makes her almost unrecognizable at the reunion.
However, before Kevin realizes the prank that has been played on him, a catastrophe erupts at the reunion that will make it impossible to correct an innocent joke.
“The Prank” is brilliant in its writing and its suspense.
Some filmmakers cannot set up a story and leave audiences on the edge of their seat after 120 minutes, and Freeman has managed to accomplish that feat in a mere 17 minutes.
The actors did a superb job with their performances, producing the type of emotion from audiences that veteran actors get paid the big bucks for.
Doug will be hated because of his childishness and pettiness, and people will have sympathy for Kevin and his predicament.
Unfortunately, some of the actors look a lot older than they would if they were only 15 years removed from high school.
Likewise, the reunion is held at a private home instead of a hotel or resort like many class reunions.
However, those minor details are due to circumstances not the brilliant talent of Freeman and his cast.
What Freeman is able to do with just 17 minutes and a small budget, makes one wonder what he could accomplish with a full-length feature and a big budget at his disposal.
The possibilities and promise of this new filmmaker has definitely wet the appetite of those who know his potential.
Article by Todd A. Smith - Regal Magazine
C47 HOUSTON - MARCUS FREEMAN DIRECTOR
C47Houston supports all of our Texas filmmakers. Whether you are making a short movie or a feature project, we enjoy taking the time to check out the movie, and, especially if there is a passion in the filmmaker to make a movie from the heart. We met this actor turned movie maker, some time back and several years ago. He has been in some outstanding projects directed by the likes of Corey Shields, Eric Harvey, Shanda Davis, Daniel Story, Franklin Anderson, Jon Keeyes, Greg Carter and Miranda Spigener just to name a few of the talented filmmakers. We have been following his acting career and we were happy to see that he took the leap to making his own motion picture venture, “The Prank”. This will be his directorial film. Currently, he is working to raise funds for his first feature movie. We were pleased that he has kept in contact with our magazine and equally pleased that he invited us to the screening of his short movie. C47Houston is thrilled to present a quick interview with Writer and Director Marcus Freeman.
C47Houston: Thank you Marcus for taking a little time to answer a few questions for our readers. You are an actor turning into a filmmaker and directing your own project “The Prank”, your first short movie and your first movie. Why have you decided to transition to making movies?
Mr. Freeman: I noticed that my peers where expanding into other areas of the business and I felt it was time to grow as an artist. No matter what I will always love acting but I also love to create. I wanted to tell stories from my point of view. I believe it’s not the story you tell but how you tell that story. I’ve always had a great imagination and it was time to put pen to pad and give my imagination a voice.
C47Houston: If I am correct, you also wrote “The Prank”. It’s actually a complicated story with several twists and turns. What was the hardest part about writing the screenplay? AND, was it based on fact or fiction?
Mr. Freeman: The Prank was unique for me because I always had this idea in my mind, “What would happen if a prank backfires?” “What does that look like?” I mulled it over for some time and one day I just spewed it out on paper. I guess that is my process, once the idea has been conceived, I let it marinate on my mind until I’m ready to give birth to it. That said it wasn’t challenging to write the screenplay. The hard part was getting it filmed. The story is fictional but some elements of the screenplay are from life experiences.
C47Houston: Everyone has his or her own interpretations of what the meaning of the story may be. As the writer, what was your personal message with regard to this movie?
Mr. Freeman: The overall theme is choices are important and there is a result to every choice we make. A grudge based on false information can lead to hurting, not only yourself but to others as well. I wanted to explore the consequences of human actions.
C47Houston: You were also the Executive Producer of the movie. As an executive producer and NOT a director or an actor, what are some of the things you learned (whether good or bad) about producing your first movie?
Mr. Freeman: I learned that the Executive Producer of a film is like a General Manager to a sports franchise. You want to hire people who can execute the job well. I believe having knowledgeable people on set will make for a smooth filmmaking process.
C47Houston: Okay what have you learned about being a “director”, as opposed to the executive producer?
Mr. Freeman: I’ve learned that that as a director, it’s better to be a thermometer than a thermostat. You can set the tone and adjust as needed.
C47Houston: In your opinion, what kind of director are you, tough and stern, easy going and relaxed or somewhere in between?
Mr. Freeman: I’ve always been a laid-back kind of guy so my temperament, as a director, is pretty much consistent and the same. I want work, especially on the set, to be fun and not necessarily a chore. People don’t realize that in making a movie there is a lot of hurry-up and waiting. I, personally, make sure there were healthy snacks (fruit and vegetables) available and between light changes actors were rehearsing.
C47Houston: This was your first directing gig. What are some of the things you learned about directing that you thought you knew but when in practiced you had to rethink your approach to directing?
Mr. Freeman: As a director I had to learn to pace myself. There were moments when I was in the “zone”. I felt my creative juices were flowing but I began to push for more when I didn’t need to. Directing, like acting, has a rhythm. If you’re off...you have to take a moment, stop and regroup. Thankfully my cinematographer and assistant director keep me on beat during filming.
C47Houston: As a first time director, with a short film under your belt, as it were, and looking at the entire process of filmmaking from an objective point of view, what is the one most important aspect of the process AND, do you think you that aspect was achieved or could have been improved?
Mr. Freeman: I think pre-production is the most important aspect of filmmaking. I’m very analytical and I have stage manager background from theatre so I want to prepare for every moment on set. I want to make sure I have room to adjust, if something didn’t work out. During rehearsals, I use a camcorder to film scenes and watched them and reviewed them to ensure that I am conveying the story I wrote. Pre-production helps me achieved my goals on-set because I have a guideline to follow and fall back on if needed. Did I achieve my goals planned out during pre-production? I think I did but I’m always learning new things.
C47Houston: What is next for “The Prank?
Mr. Freeman: Eventually, I want to make this short movie into a feature motion picture. I’ve been actively networking and seeking investors for the project. “The Prank” (the short movie) was submitted to over 10 festivals, but so far, we are still waiting to hear from the selection committees. Our production company is selling the movie online and through self-marketing via our website.
C47Houston: What is next for Marcus Freeman besides “The Prank: the Feature Movie”?
Mr. Freeman: I wrote another short film called “At the Right Time” which I plan to shoot sometime next month in November. Also, I’m writing a stage play called “The Robinson’s Lottery” that I will produce next year, 2016. And, of course, being the artist that I am, I am always collaborating with other artists on their projects.
C47Houston: Thank you for your time Marcus and congratulations on stepping up to the plate to start making movies. You have dabbled into making your own movie (a short movie) as a director. You have experienced something that only a very few people will ever do. You have achieved, progressed and have had some discouraging moments, these are the things that make us better and we learn from our mistakes. If you could pass along some advice about filmmaking what would you say?
Mr. Freeman: The best advice I can give to anyone is that you HAVE to believe in yourself. It’s a tough journey as an artist so there are going to be days where you will have to dust yourself off and get back at it. But, you have to believe in yourself
Faith, Intuition and Support
The Bible verses James 2:14-17 state, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked or destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also by faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Filmmaker Marcus Freeman has the work ethic to match his faith and as a result has produced and directed a short film entitled “The Prank,” which has a universal theme of deception, grudges and guilt through his tireless fundraising efforts via social media and church involvement.
“It’s like this is a key to this door versus I need someone to build a whole door for me,” Freeman explained about his completed short film. “I’m already at the door. I have product. I have a film. I have something. I have a message. I have a good script. Now, it’s taking that next step of someone seeing it…”
“The Prank” will be seen soon throughout the film festival circuit, and Freeman hopes his upcoming “dramedy” will catch the interest of other financial backers who will help get this film to the next level, possibly even a feature-length film.
“The Prank” centers on a group of high school classmates who reunite for their 15-year class reunion. Almost instantly, the group of friends realizes something is amiss about their get-together and they are soon caught in an elaborate scheme of deception, the rehashing of old wounds and guilt trips.
Freeman’s film debut enters the scene at a time when Hollywood is very receptive to films, especially dramedies, with predominately Black casts, and the filmmaker sees that reality as both a positive and a negative.
The success of dramedies like the Tyler Perry films and the “Think Like a Man” franchise has shown the universal appeal of films with predominately Black casts, but the success of those films sets the bar very high for those filmmakers coming behind producers like Perry and Will Packer.
Furthermore, despite the universal appeal of many films with predominately Black casts and crews, many get the unfair label of being regarded as a “Black film,” which could unfortunately adversely affect its box office success and financial backing.
Freeman wants audiences, backers and others to not label “The Prank” as a Black film because at the end of the day it should not matter who is in the film, only that you leave the theater praising the film.
“I think what’s interesting about ‘The Prank’ is that, one, it’s universal,” Freeman said. “Everybody can relate to it. A lot of people may not know or be familiar with the movie ‘The Big Chill.’ Maybe something closer to them is more like ‘The Best Man,’ but it’s not like that. It’s like ‘The Big Chill’ meets ‘Snapped.’ So, you got these two different genres coming together and they clash. And who can’t relate to deception, grudges and guilt? That’s so universal.”
Likewise, who cannot relate to someone who had a dream and used faith to get him or her close to the finish line of fulfillment?
His road to becoming a filmmaker did not require rocket science as he put it, just faith in Jesus Christ, intuition as an artist and family support.
Those same three elements also helped him rise from an artist with a dream to a respected actor, writer, producer and director thanks to his illustrious performing career at venues like the Ensemble Theater in Houston.
Working as an actor helps him because some of the best directors have an acting background, which helps them better communicate with their talent.
One actor that has helped in his development as a filmmaker and actor is Charnele Brown who starred as Kim Reese on the popular off shoot of “The Cosby Show” “A Different World” from 1988 to 1993.
Brown believes Freeman is unique as a director because “he’s an actor’s director. He can relate to the actor being one himself.”
Despite the popularity of Black dramedies at the box office, Brown does not want “The Prank” to separate itself from the pack. She believes that it is important that the audience is familiar with the story, and it’s the filmmaker’s job to keep them engaged throughout the story.
The veteran actress is very impressed with Freeman’s process with “The Prank,” but that process is not finished.
The process will be complete with the help of financial backers, the people who desire positive images from Hollywood and are willing to support it; the people who combine believe or faith with works like Abraham in the Bible.
James 2:21-22 states, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
Freeman is hoping that his faith and works coupled with the faith and works of other can make his dream perfect.
To learn more about “The Prank” or to become involved, click here or contact Freeman at 713-635-9592.
New Filmmaker Uses Faith, Intuition to Realize Dreams