Although the town of Hanover is not easily confused with Hollywood, Calif., the independent film "Brief Reunion" (2011) was exclusively filmed in the Upper Valley this summer and will include several scenes that were shot at Dartmouth, according to "Brief Reunion" producer Ben Silberfarb '90.
Written and directed by John Daschbach, the film is a psychological thriller that tells the story of a middle-aged man who reconnects with an old friend through a social networking site, only to see his life slowly dismantled through their rekindled relationship, Silberfarb said in an interview with The Dartmouth.
The idea for the film was developed a year and a half ago, when Daschbach contacted former high-school classmate Silberfarb over Facebook with an idea for a new project. The duo's friendship dates back to their time as students at Hanover High School, where both developed a love for film and dreamed of one day making a movie together, Silberfarb said.
"It was very much based on timing and us reconnecting at the right time," he said. "[Daschbach] was the writer-director and really the creative impulse behind this film and I was interested in making a feature film. [The film] was also an interesting mix of a good, well-written screenplay within the reach of low-budget independent production company."
The independent film format was appealing for the duo because it enabled them to complete a feature film without outside influence, Silberfarb said.
"You can go about it in a traditional way through a major Hollywood studio, but there is no guarantee you'll ever be able to make your film, so we wanted to just be able to do it," he said.
The scenic landscape of the Upper Valley was perfect setting for the film because it "provided a beautiful bucolic backdrop to all the sinister things going on," Silberfarb said.
New Hampshire and Vermont also provided practical benefits for the low-budget film, as neither state requires expensive filming permits, Silberfarb said. The movie is funded completely by family and friends, he said.
Although Silberfarb and Daschbach have an "intimate knowledge" of the area, working in Hanover and other locations throughout Vermont and New Hampshire was difficult for many members of the cast and crew, Silberfarb said.
"The largest difficulty was that the majority of the crew and cast came up from New York and [Los Angeles] and they landed in an area that didn't necessarily have 24/7 computer access and all the things they were used to," he said. "There was a little bit of culture shock, not so much in Hanover, but definitely in [Lyme, N.H.], where they couldn't just go around the block to get a sandwich."
Silberfarb said his experience as a theater major at the College played a tremendous role in his decision to pursue a career in film.
"Dartmouth definitely has had a huge influence on my direction and everything that I have done in the film industry," he said.
Silberfarb said former Dartmouth film professor Maurice Rapf who founded the College's film studies program along with current film professors Amy Lawrence and Bill Phillips, were "exceedingly helpful" in developing his passion for film.
"Brief Reunion" finished shooting at the end of July and is currently in post-production, a stage that consists mainly of "editing and sound-mixing," according to Silberfarb.
Silberfarb said the next step for the filmmakers will be to apply to both regional and national film festivals, including the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, which takes place annually in Utah.
Silberfarb said he hopes that if the film is accepted to a festival, the project will draw interest from film distribution companies to begin distribution to theaters and to other formats.
Residents of the Upper Valley can look forward to a local showing of "Brief Reunion" sometime in "mid-2011," Silberfarb said.
