by Jim.


Andrew Gurland. The Man. The Myth.

Never heard of him? You will soon. Some months ago, while browsing the titles of the most popular shorts on ifilm, I caught a title that grabbed my attention as much as I suppose it was meant to :

Black People Hate Me, And They Hate My Glasses

Gurland, listed as the film's co-writer, also stars as a somewhat manic New York waiter, telling a small crowd of listeners of the repeated abuse of his specs - all at the hands of a supposed conspiracy engineered by a vengeful black man. For some, the film is too manic, too disjointed, but while anyone might object to the techniques used to tell the story, there's plenty to be noted about the film's success - even as of today, it still ranks as one of the top viewed films at ifilm.

Black People is not Gurland's first effort - to his credit on the imdb Black People marks his third film, after the documentaries Screwed (1996) and Frat House (1998). Somewhere in the mix comes Gramaglia (2000), for which Gurland takes co-director credit, a pseudo documentary about a love letter gone wrong. Today Gurland is doing post production on his first feature, Cheaters (2001), which follows the antics of a group of high school friends committed to helping each other cheat their way to graduation. It also has Mary Tyler Moore, and a budget.

The road traveled by Gurland to this point wouldn't be that which a writer/director travels without a little anguish, and here it's wise to note the controversy stirred up by Frat House, for which Gurland and co-director Todd Phillips shared a Grand Jury documentary prize at 1998's Sundance Film Festival. Participants in the documentary allege that certain scenes were staged, a charge that both Phillips and Gurland staunchly deny. It's probable that we may never know the truth, but either way, Gurland can be cast as a skillful showman able to ply his trade to a somewhat malleable audience.

I recently caught up with Gurland through email, and fired off ten questions. What I had hoped for was a somewhat informative glance into the mind of a filmmaker who has recently climbed the biggest step in ones career. What I got was...

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Jim: What infected you with the filmmaking bug?

Andrew Gurland: I had anal sex with a Hatian grip.


Was there ever a day or an event which made you pause and consider giving up the pursuit of a career in film and what did you do to get past that moment?

When I was in the middle of making Frat House and we lost our access with the brothers, it was definitely a dark period for me. However, after Blossom (one of the brothers) went into his 'roid rage and slapped me upside the head, I knew we had hit the jackpot.


What is your formal education in film? (do you think attending film school is necessary or even desirable for aspiring directors?)

I attended NYU Film School as an undergrad. I recommend film school, or any other means of immersing one's self into a filmmmaking community. I still work with a lot of the people I went to school with.


What is you favorite film and why?

I like the one where Tonya Harding gets married and fucks a redneck.


I read somewhere (maybe Shift) that it cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $50,000 to make Black People Hate Me - knowing the production of Black People to be relatively minimal (simple set-ups, no FX), why did you choose film over DV?

I think it it's a mistake to shoot DV just because it's cheaper than film. When you decide to go in that direction you're inviting the audience to process your story in a certain way. Video often suggests the realism of documentary or the intimacy of home movies. Those were things that we wanted to avoid. Furtermore, film offers a richer color pallate, which is extremely helpful when your doing comedy.


You're doing post on your first feature Cheaters -- what are the lessons you've learned that you wish you knew before making the film?

Do not get emotionally involved with your assistant. It will only invite heartache.


What book do you think every aspiring filmmaker should read?

The Bible (everything up to Jesus).


All the feel-good "I am an artiste!" posturing aside, does being a director really bring in the ladies? If not, what alternate career seems most promising from where you stand?

I am happily married. That said, there is a great deal of temptation. Especially when your assistant is really hot.


Split 100% between the following:
substance ___ superficial ___

Pass.


We're thinking of doing an annual "award" at Cheese and Whine - The Golden Pliers, for the figure in film most in need of having their head pulled out of their ass - who gets your vote for this past year and why?

I would not commit my personal hatred to print for fear of legal retribution.


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