Writer/director Anthony Flessas has a vision. Flessas showed his short film “Jumper” at the 4th Annual Memphis International Film Festival. “Jumper” is the middle part of a trilogy that director Flessas intends to work together into a feature, and tells the story of a young man on the edge, literally. Tommy (Tyler Farrell) stands on a ledge deciding whether or not to jump. How and why he got to this point is the heart of this short film. Tommy’s dilemma is internal. Who is he? Where is he going? What the hell is life all about? These questions are important to director Flessas. The ledge is a metaphor for Tommy’s internal struggle. Flessas desires to translate the reality of human struggle through the medium of film.

Mr. Flessas is gay. Some of the characters in his film are gay. However, this is not a ‘gay film.’ Flessas asked me if I wanted to know “Why Gay films suck?” He pointed out that you have AIDS dramas or romantic comedies where the gay character is the comic relief.” In Flessas’ work, the characters are regular human beings struggling through their day to day of life. If they are gay, they’re gay. If they are straight, they’re straight. No big deal. Just like life. Of course, it is a big deal. I told him that I had a subversive idea. What if the final shot of the movie “Speed” had Keanu Reeve’s character going home after everything that had happened and kissed his gay lover saying, “You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had.” The point being that in many movies the character’s sexuality plays no importance. No major studio would ever pull a stunt like that but it would definitely generate conversation. Even with the advances toward tolerance and understanding, there are still folks like Matthew Shepard being nailed to fences. But for a lot of folk, like Tommy, they are more interested in discovering who they are and where they fit in than worrying about being crucified by redneck bigots in Wyoming, I’m a straight male. I found “Jumper” to be a breath of fresh air. The film gave me a view into a world alien to me. I was pleased to discover that things in that world weren’t very different from what I know.

Mr. Flessas spoke with me about the long-term project, of which “Jumper” is just one part. He is currently in postproduction of the first part of the ‘trilogy,’ “Silence of Mind.” “The third segment can’t stand on its own. It’s called “Return to Innocence” and consists of five scenes. It takes place seven months after “Jumper.” The newest film, “Silence of Mind” is a feature length project and can stand on its own. It is a prequel that takes place five months prior to “Jumper.” It was written to tie into “Jumper” and was shot with that in mind. Everything is in the can. “Jumper” was not shot to be part of a bigger film. It may be tough to cut together. This is a story of redemption. There is a ring found in the first film that becomes a connecting symbol of hope by the end of the story once all three are cut together into the film ‘Conscious Dreams’.”

I asked Mr. Flessas about whether he feared that his films might not reach a mainstream audience. “Sure I want to reach a large audience. I once spoke to Todd Verow. He’s been called the Spielberg of digital movies. He said he once had a screening for three people. Don’t worry about the size of the audience. If you move those three people, you’ve done your job.” Mr. Flessas told me that Verow’s words reminded him why he makes movies. It is about passion. I asked him about compromise. Mr. Flessas would like make the jump from the world of indie filmmaking to Hollywood.

“Too much compromise is a big problem in Hollywood right now. Everything is watered down. People want films with plot, character and story as opposed to flash and bang. That’s why we’ve had the digital revolution. It has picked up where Hollywood dropped the ball. There’s a movie called “The Cure.” An indie filmmaker filled 129 minutes with three people in one room. It held me! When it was over, I wanted more. We watch the news to see faces. To see humanity. How they feel, how they got there. This is what I look for. Film is the greatest medium, the closest thing we have recreating our own experience. If they are written and portrayed right, characters speak to us like friends. Look at “The Matrix.” They lost the characters in the second film. “Episode one.” The characters were two-dimensional. It was all flash. “Lord of the Rings” has flash, but it also has characters. We care about their journey. Peter Jackson broke every rule in Hollywood and made a billion dollars. He has a character driven film that is over three hours long. People go to see it over and over because of the characters, not the flash and bang.”

Mr. Flessas’s company SP Pictures has a motto: “Changes.” He explains that this means one should be willing to throw your foundations away because tomorrow you may learn something new.” I found this to be refreshing. Plato said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” I’m grateful there are artists like Anthony Flessas out there examining our world and recreating it on film for our enjoyment and enlightenment. Mr. Flessas’s website is www.sppictures.com. Look for part two of his trilogy “Silence of Mind” early next year. If we are lucky we will be looking forward to many new films by this fresh voice.

JUMPER REVIEW (2 ½ Stars)
Directed by Anthony Flessas
Written by Anthony Flessas and Tyler Farrell

I once went on a weekend retreat called “Emmaus.” At that retreat I was taught the meaning of the phrase “don’t anticipate.” Unfortunately, I don’t always remember that lesson. Case in point, the short film “Jumper.” One of my favorite films of the 1950s was “The 14 Hours” with Richard Basehart. It dealt with a man standing on a ledge contemplating suicide. It is a taut little drama. At the 4th Annual Memphis International Film Festival, I saw the notice for Anthony Flessas’ short film “Jumper.” The press release reminded me of “The 14 Hours.” I saw the film and was disappointed. I saw the film again and realized that I had taken my own expectations into the movie and sabotaged the experience. Don’t anticipate!

The ledge on which Tommy (Tyler Ferrall) stands is a metaphorical one. Tommy is a twenty-something young man trying to decide who he is and where he is going. His confusion is apparent in an early scene in which Tommy is having sex. As the scene starts, Tommy is straddled by a young woman. By the time the scene ends, we see that Tommy is actually playing catch for his male lover. Tommy’s journey leads him to an unexpected encounter and eventual acceptance of who he is.

“Jumper” stands by itself, but is anticipated to be part of a feature film by director Flessas. The DVD has a screener for the second segment, “Silence of Mind.” Tell the truth, I liked the trailer for the prequel segment more than “Jumper” itself. In the plus column, “Jumper” deals with serious issues is a straightforward manner. Mr. Flessas knows how to tell a story with images. His cast avoids many problems inherent in the plot. Director Flessas told me that Tommy was neither straight nor gay at the beginning of the film. He is searching. I didn’t really get that from the film itself. Maybe because it was a short film and there were time constraints, I didn’t feel that Tommy had that much conflict. What I got out of the film was Tommy finding the courage to accept that he was gay and come out of the closet. Tyler Farrell is quite good in the part. Mr. Farrell does take you into the world of a confused young man. He isn’t always likable, but hey, who is? Maybe as a straight male, I’m not the right person to analyze “Jumper.” As a filmgoer, I appreciated this view into a world alien to me.

In some ways I feel bad making negative comments about “Jumper” because the issues that bothered me are going to be addressed when director Flessas completes the feature film of which “Jumper” will be a part. “Jumper” leaves you wanting to know more about Tommy’s inner conflicts. How he got where he is, where he may be going. Standing alone, “Jumper” raises these questions, answers some and leaves a void as to the others. This aspect left me wanting. When I spoke with Mr. Flessas about his work, I was happy to hear that these issues will be addressed when he finally assembles his feature.

Rusty White