Film studies student calls ‘Putzel’ a worthwhile watch

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Alliance teams with Rhode Island Film Festival
to show independent film
Alliance teams with Rhode Island Film Festival to show independent film

Film director Rick MoorePROVIDENCE – I was privileged to attend the recent viewing of “Putzel,” an independent film produced by a talented duo: Rick Moore and Jason Chaet.

This film screening, hosted by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island JCC in conjunction with the Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF), and others like it offers movie buffs the opportunities to see independent films that may never be released nationally. These “indie” films typically have a record of featuring provocative stories, narratives and beautiful cinematography. “Puztel” did not disappoint on any of these factors.

The film, with an entertaining plot and delivery, portrays an important universal theme – that of stepping out of one’s boundaries and finding one’s true self. The story is about Walter, played by Jack T. Carpenter, who is nicknamed “Putzel” because of his insecurities and stupid behavior. The nickname is derived from the Yiddish word “putz.”

Walter seems to have his life figured out. In fact, he has a “40-year plan,” which includes running his uncle’s fish market. However, everything changes when he learns that his uncle, portrayed by John Pankow, is having an affair with a woman named Sally, played by Melanie Lynskey. Walter tries to convince Sally to leave his uncle alone, only to find out that he, too, may have feelings for her.

While trying to win the girl of his dreams, he begins to find new things about himself along the journey and questions what he truly wants for his future. The film is all about finding one’s true passion and stepping away from one’s insecurities.

Scriptwriter Rick Moore is ingenious – he uses a technique that makes viewers laugh one minute and then cry the next.

Moore spoke briefly about his creation at the Thursday, Aug. 8 screening at the Alliance JCC. Although the film is not based on real events in his life, he said that all the characters seemed to represent a piece of him. In fact, after facing project rejection after project rejection, Moore and Chaet decided it was time to make something themselves.

“We were tired of waiting for someone else to say yes,” Moore explained.

The film, which took four years to make, had a budget of slightly less than $200,000, which Moore called “nothing” for an average Hollywood film budget.

However, it was the script that made way for its success. “The cast was paid the lowest possible wage allowed by the union,” said Moore. “They were very interested in the script.”

Films get wide distribution, if audiences state their preferences; movie distributors “listen to what you want,” said Moore.

Though parts of the movie are not “children-friendly,” I highly recommend it for teens and adults.

Seth Chitwood (sethchitwood@gmail.com or angelwoodpictures.com), a filmmaker from Barrington, is co-founder of the production company Angelwood Pictures. The recipient of the 2013 Best Director Award at the LA Web Series Festival, he is a film studies and theater performance major at Rhode Island College.