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But the state needs to build up its own base of talented filmmakers if it wants to succeed. The Governor’s Cup filmmaking competition is a chance for the state’s filmmakers to show what they can do, with a $5,000 prize and access to people and the supplies to do it.
One hundred scripts were submitted, and among the winners, one stands out: Tommy Tischler of Santa Fe. Tischler’s film, which is in Tischler is a graduate of NMSD, one of the highest regarded schools for the deaf in the nation. “I thought it was a good idea for a film, an excellent opportunity,” Tischler said through a sign-language interpreter.
Though he’s not built like a football player, Tischler was a manager of NMSD’s team.
“I know everything about football,” he said.
In November, Huizar took the school to its first six-man football state championship in 119 years against longtime rival San Jon High School. Instead of the traditional 11-man football squads, the state’s smaller schools run a faster-paced six-man game.
Because of the win, the NMSD earned the chance to put some of its players in a Tischler, 30, saw an opportunity for a film that would show how the team of longtime rivals would become friends and learn to communicate. Called, simply, “Coach Huizar,” the film chronicles some practices, team barbecues and the championship game.
“It’s such a cool story,” Tischler said. “We were worried about them being arch rivals, such rivals.” The team not only came together to beat the South All-Stars 73-34, but the players — both hearing and deaf — he said, have formed friendships that have transcended football.
“The best part wasn’t the trophy, but their lifelong friendships, the camaraderie,” he said.
Tischler graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the nation’s leading university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and the school that invented the football huddle in 1894. Because the players had to see the quarterback’s signs, they would form a circle around him to see him call the plays.
“I didn’t stay there (in Washington). I grew up in Santa Fe and wanted to come back,” he said. “And I bought a camera.”
His first camera, a simple digital video affair, came in handy during his aunt’s birthday. He filmed her 40th birthday party in South Dakota, and next thing Tischler knew, he was hooked on filmmaking.
“I just kept making movies and enrolled in the Santa Fe Community College,” he said. “It’s the greatest school in the world.”
Though Tischler won’t hear “Coach Huizar,” the film will have sound. He’s working with a mentor to edit the sound.
There will be captions, but for the hearing who don’t understand American Sign Language.
Tischler hopes that “Coach Huizar” is just the start of a long film career, and maybe, he said, he can inspire more “I want to make more movies with deaf actors,” he said. “There are a few. I want more. There are deaf actors. Let’s showcase those people to the world.”
You can see some of Tischler’s other films at MySpace.com/deafilm.
48 HOURS TO MAKE IT:
Teams get together and make four-to-seven-minute films that will be shown Tuesday at the KiMo Theatre. Screenings are at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are $9. Visit 48hourfilm.com for more. COMING SOON The film “The Burrowers” was approved for a state film loan. It’s a smaller-budget film that was loaned $7 million. The film stars TV actor and voice-over talent Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs from “SpongeBob SquarePants”). The film is about underground creatures that ravage an Old West town.
SHOOTING IN N.M.:
Several people reported seeing Gooding Jr. dancing Downtown last week. Apparently, he’s shorter in person than many expected.
SEND YOUR TIPS: If you know of a film shooting in the state, or are curious about one, e-mail film@abqjournal.com.
