Menu
‘North Putnam’ filmmaker gets introduction to community
It’s not exactly a new occurrence for DePauw University students to have the chance interact with renowned artists and thinkers.
However, it’s not every day an award-winning filmmaker comes to campus while also on the verge of starting a film about Putnam County.
That was the opportunity students had recently when director Joel Fendelman visited campus for a screening of his 2008 documentary “Man on Fire” and a subsequent workshop on the ethics of documentary filmmaking.
Not only was Fendelman invited to campus for the enrichment of the students, he also began doing preliminary work on “North Putnam,” the planned film about a year in the life of a rural Midwestern school and community.
The new film will be a departure from “Man on Fire.” Fendelman’s first film was about the reaction of the small town of Grand Saline, Texas, after a retired Methodist minister set himself on fire in reaction to the town’s history of racism.
Following a screening of “Man on Fire” Wednesday evening, Fendelman explained the difference in approach that he and producer James Chase Sanchez.
“With ‘Man on Fire,’ the format was interview based, I was asking questions and it was more formalized in a way,” Fendelman said. “With ‘North Putnam,’ it’s going to be an observational approach, which is not sitting down and being interviewed. We are going to try and film without breaking as much of that ‘fourth wall,’ but just observing what’s going on, whether it’s in a classroom or following a family or in the community.”
While he was in the community, Fendelman made his initial visit to all four North Putnam school buildings, which were devoid of students due to the COVID-19 quarantine, but was able to meet with faculty and staff.
“In some ways, it’s a portrait of the community, but in another way it’s seeing how all the aspects of the community play into each other,” Fendelman said. “Our theory is, you can’t have a great school system but a community where healthcare and poverty and lack of food exist. Everything is connected with everything.”
He was turned on to the idea by Beth Benedix, founder of The Castle and a DePauw University professor. After screening “Man on Fire” for one of her classes two years ago, Benedix set up a Zoom session for her students with Fendelman. At that time, she pitched him the idea.
“She pitched this idea and it was like, ‘Huh, that’s interesting. Let’s keep talking,’” Fendelman said. “So, two years later, we’re here and it’s just incredible.”
Benedix is now an executive producer of the upcoming film.
Fendelman will also be back in October to begin filming a sample reel of the film. To this point, funds have been raised within the community and through grants to fund the initial reel. With that in hand, the filmmakers will pitch the full idea to studios.