mostly nonfiction and bakersfield news | September 29th, 2009
Man Beaten Outside Of Bar Inspired To Make $50 Film
Myron Ward is nowhere near 6-feet, 8-inches tall. But that’s how big the guy was he said knocked him out in front of a local bar, an event that inspired him to make a $50 movie.
“Sometimes inspiration can just hit you in the face,” said Ward who wrote and directed “Who Hit Me?” (2009) a film based on the night he was drunk out of his wits and trash-talking outside of R.J.’s bar. “That made me reflect on myself, my life and what I was doing,” he said.
The ultra low budget comedy, which was shot in five days over a two-month period of time, follows the friendship of Ricky, a used car salesman played by Rickey Bird, and his best friend, Vinnie (played by Ward). When Ricky gets punched at a bar, Vinnie compromises their friendship by slamming the video on YouTube.
“Who Hit Me?” is as low budget a film as you can get. Ward considers the movie part of the recent mumblecore genre. Think ultra low budget improvised films like “Funny Ha Ha” (2002), “The Fluffy Chair” (2005), and “Beeswax” (2009).
Naturally suffering from poor lighting, poor sound and subpar acting even in comparison to mumblecore flicks, Ward nevertheless believes a film without financing can connect with an audience. He noted the film “Paranormal Activity” (2009) with its measly budget of $12,000 is currently stirring a positive audience reaction in the U.S. “It’s proving that audiences are just looking for great stories no matter the budget,” he said.
Ward is a believer in the underground Bakersfield film community’s power of working together. He used a low-end GSL 2 camera from Hectic Films “Phase Two” (2009), “Two Suit Killer” (2010), sound editing from Monte C. Wilson “Super Hustle” (2010), and the filming skills of Matt Kiely “Carte Blanche” (2009?).
While hoping the film gives him a little credibility and a starting point for his movie-making, Ward said he just wants to make thought-provoking, fun and entertaining films that touch people. “It’s only to build an audience base. I don’t plan on making money on the film, it’s a loss leader,” he admitted. “I just decided that if you want something, you just have to go after it. If you wait for the perfect time you’ll be waiting forever.”
As expected, Ward indicated the film’s micro budget didn’t stretch very far. “The 50 bucks was mostly spent on tapes, gas, snacks and a few beers,” he said of the film that looks hastily thrown together on a cutting room floor. Ward blames the film’s shaky scenes on the run-and-gun style of stealing shots around town during filming.
The plot itself doesn’t get very deep, unless you account for one scene where Vinnie says his philosophy of life is “X + You = Y.” Asked where he got the idea, Ward said, “The X + You = Y philosophy is something I picked up from a cheesy self-help book that kinda stuck. It’s basically stating that X is the scenario and Y is the outcome. You are the determining factor of what the outcome of your situation is gonna be.”
He said that people shouldn’t act like victims of their own life. “Determine what you want the outcome to be and work to make it happen,” he said, adding that’s how his life transformed from an embarrassing night at R.J’s into a film he can now laugh at with friends.
While much of the film wallows in the hopeless exploits of two Twentysomethings, there is a great line in the movie when Ricky hits rock bottom and sits drunk in a car. “I’m not hot, Vinnie,” he says. “I’m a … freckle-faced, red-headed asshole stuck in Bakersfield. What … did I do with my life?”
Now Ward plans on showing the film where he can. He has a Sept.29 college screening at the CSUB dorms (Not a public viewing), and an Oct. 29 showing at the Black Student Union on the campus of CSUMB. He said he plans on touring more with the film and eventually having it available online.
Ward, who said he spent some time at ABC/Disney in Burbank with its broadcast and publicity department, said he’s also working on an adaptation, participating in screenwriting competitions, and more teaming up with local filmmakers to make low budget horror and comedy movies.
Related site: “Who Hit Me?” comedy trailer
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4 Responses for “Man Beaten Outside Of Bar Inspired To Make $50 Film”
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I was hoping to come here to find a headline which read. Who hit Josh Robinson and why is the Bakersfield media sweeping it under the rug?
I wrote a controversial commentary on that which was discussed on ESPN Radio.
That's interesting. I wish him a lot of luck in his endeavors…
I'm not 6'8", just 6'4". Sheesh, gotta keep his pride and make me sound like a monster. That's why I bitch-slapped him the first time.