To My Great Chagrin:
The Unbelievable Story of Brother Theodore
Selected by The Museum of Modern Art in New York City for their Opening Night of the 2008 Documentary Series.
To My Great Chagrin is a most compelling and exhilarating account of the remarkable history and career of a man known as "Brother Theodore". Theodore´s television appearances spanned from Jack Paar to Johnny Carson to Merv Griffin to David Letterman. His diverse movie experiences joined him with Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, and Tom Hanks.
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The Los Angeles Daily News described Theodore as Boris Karloff, Salvadore Dali, and Nijinski all in one. To convey this unbelievable story, Sumerel and Rhodes have crafted an enthralling visual interpretation by weaving an array of rare audio and film archives in a most creative, poetic manner. Interviewed were over sixty Theodore admirers, friends, and colleagues, such as Woody Allen, Eric Bogosian, Penn & Teller, Harlan Ellison, and Dick Cavett among others. "Odd, beautiful, and disturbing" - Stefan Fitchner, programmer of the Filmkunstfest of Schwerin, Germany
RUNNING TIME: 72 minutes.
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Brother Theodore
Incidental
A lean, humorous tale that evolves from a non-conventional narrative form. A simple, common film technique is utilized to allow audiences to have the opportunity to actually feel as though they are a part of the film.
Only their willingness and imagination will limit the extent of their experience as a character within this witty, clever story about the evaluation of wants, needs, and purpose.
Spontaneous Corporate Reel
These ingenious works represent the array of creative resources and solutions that Spontaneous Productions has to offer for artistic and corporate endeavors.
Since 1990, award-winning producer Jeff Sumerel and Spontaneous Productions, have continued to test, refine, and prove their abilities and ideas. The result is a portfolio brimming with stage & screen productions, interactive art installations, puppetry theater and multi-disciplinary performances. These ingenious works represent the array of creative resources and solutions that Spontaneous Productions has to offer for artistic and corporate endeavors.
Vision Problems
"Vision Problems involves us in the stunning and witty transformation of the artist as whining individualist into the artist as a catalyst for the community ...leaving the viewer exhilarated at the possibilities and power of art." --Alfred Nordmann, Professor of Philosophy.
Most of us have been approached and engaged by the lure of credit cards. For us they are a means of acquiring various services and products; perhaps to fill a genuine need -- or perhaps an emotional void. Whatever the reason, the convenience and delusion of credit cards is virtually inescapable as we pursue "the pursuit of happiness".
The frenzy of that pursuit is humorously and poignantly represented in Vision Problems, as Jeff Sumerel gives a maniacal, engaging account of his struggle to finance artistic endeavors. Sumerel's candid performance with its amusing narrative touches an obsession that lies within many of us and reflects the challenge to balance passion and desire with common sense and responsibility.
RUNNING TIME: 20 minutes.
Power of Ignorance
Since 1990, award-winning producer Jeff Sumerel and Spontaneous Productions, have continued to test, refine, and prove their abilities and ideas.
He is known simply as Vaguen. He is a self-acclaimed Professor of Theoretical Existence and is known for discovering parallels between: brushing teeth and time travel; traffic jams and kinetic regeneration; spaghetti and the origin of the universe. He is also known as a cross between Carl Sagan, David Cooperfield, and a infomercial pitchman.
Using extensive unqualified research and dramatic hand gestures, Vaguen explores the significance of the insignificant. He dissects the known with the unknown. He makes the most of nothing. In short, Vaguen seeks to prove that common everyday activities are actually... mundane miracles.
Renowned theorists throughout the world have deemed Vaguen's combined knowledge of science and magic to be just shy of dangerous. Each episode of Power of Ignorance provides a wonderfully strange venue for Vaguen's bewildering technical expositions and vast ego. With pseudo-scientific flair, Vaguen attempts to uncover the many mysteries of the universe and we relish knowing he is indeed one of them.
RUNNING TIME: 10 minutes.
Bragging Rights
Since 1990, award-winning producer Jeff Sumerel and Spontaneous Productions, have continued to test, refine, and prove their abilities and ideas.
The 100th Carolina-Clemson football game in 2002 prompted director, Jeff Sumerel to consider how and why this rivalry had grown into THE South Carolina cultural event of the year. Sumerel knew he would need a kindred spirit with lots of S.C. historical sports experience to answer that question. He contacted producer, Chris White. The result is the first-ever feature-length motion picture about the Carolina-Clemson football rivalry; a moving, funny, educational – even surprising – living archive.
Evelyn Rosewater's Forlorn Beauty
Since 1990, award-winning producer Jeff Sumerel and Spontaneous Productions, have continued to test, refine, and prove their abilities and ideas.
A participatory feature-length comedy. A funny & inventive film from South Carolina's award-winning producer/director, Jeff Sumerel. Posing as Evelyn Rosewater, an elderly and eccentric Southern "lady", Sumerel takes us on a journey through Rosewater's past and present.
Seen through the striking, humorous visuals of videographer Bud Anderson; open-mindedness and a sense of adventure is required by the audience to enjoy this performance piece. All audience members get an activity book, with such puzzles as finding the pictured tray that doesn't contain "funeral food".
Evelyn's silliness is underscored by subtle commentary on the nature of the culture of the South, which has always celebrated eccentricity.
RUNNING TIME: 56 minutes
Kudzula
Since 1990, award-winning producer Jeff Sumerel and Spontaneous Productions, have continued to test, refine, and prove their abilities and ideas.
A bizarre and hilarious, one-of-a-kind performance that has been described as "Ed Wood meets Mystery Science Theater". Since 1961, Hollywood producer Roger Soreman has continually demonstrated how to overcome a lack of ability and talent with persistence and delusion. Throughout the years, each of Mr. Soreman's ill-fated, grandiose productions has put him a step closer to perfecting imperfection. Kudzula!, his most recent endeavor, is no exception.
At a low-rent dubbing studio, we see Roger in the eleventh hour of the post-production of Kudzula!. Once again, Roger is convinced this could be his masterpiece "with just a little tweaking". All he needs to do is dub the entire film with voices and sound effects. In one take. By himself. No actors, no Foley artists, no colleagues. No one. Roger stands alone in the dubbing studio facing his dilemma. For the first time ever he contemplates defeat. Then, just like in a Hollywood movie, an opportunity of a lifetime arises. An opportunity that is a wish of every filmmaker. An opportunity that presents Roger with the most challenging moment of his career.
With wild abandon, Roger seizes the moment and turns to meet his destiny. Will he become a success beyond his wildest delusions? Or become an historic benchmark in movie-making oblivion?
RUNNING TIME: 75 minutes
