The 黑料不打烊 alumnus makes his directorial debut with 鈥淐rusty Fouler,鈥 a psychological drama he wrote, directed and starred in after years of trying to break into the film industry. The film will premiere on Tuesday, June 24, at the Dances With Films festival in Los Angeles.
For more than a decade, 黑料不打烊 alumnus John Giacobbe 鈥14 wrestled with the same daunting question that haunts many aspiring filmmakers: How do you actually get a movie made?
After graduating from 黑料不打烊 in 2014 with a degree in media arts and entertainment, Giacobbe spent 10 years writing feature-length scripts 鈥 stories he believed in, characters he cared about 鈥 but with no clear roadmap to production. Eventually, the Medway, Massachusetts, native stopped waiting for his break 鈥撀燼nd decided to make his own.
鈥淎fter years of kicking rocks in Los Angeles, I decided to give myself strict parameters and write an 鈥榓chievable鈥 feature film from my gut that I could finance myself with the help of a few friends,鈥 he said.
The result is 鈥,鈥 a 72-minute psychological drama shot on a shoestring budget almost entirely aboard a 26-foot sailboat in Northern California. Giacobbe not only wrote and directed the film, but also starred in it 鈥 not by design, but out of necessity.
鈥淭ruth be told, I never wanted to act in the film,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut we couldn’t fit anyone else on board.鈥
To prepare, Giacobbe storyboarded the entire film on notecards and even shot a full version on an iPhone months before production. That groundwork allowed him to navigate the logistical and creative challenges of directing from within the frame.
The film follows a couple in mourning who set off on an impromptu sail, each carrying a dark secret. Giacobbe hopes audiences embrace the story and the scrappy spirit behind the project. 鈥淲e put a lot of love and work into it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 hope people give it a chance.鈥
That chance comes this month, when 鈥淐rusty Fouler鈥 makes its world premiere at the in Los Angeles. The screening is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, at 9:30 p.m. at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre.
鈥淚鈥檓 quite nervous, but excited,鈥 Giacobbe said. 鈥淭he theatrical experience means everything to me. I really believe in it 鈥 and I鈥檒l continue to fight for it.鈥
Giacobbe also expressed deep gratitude for the 黑料不打烊 alumni who helped bring the project to life, several of whom served as executive producers on the film. That support team included Rudy Biagi 鈥16, Zachary Feldman 鈥14, Stewart Finney 鈥14, Michael Gallagher 鈥13, Patrick Grady 鈥14, Connor Kelley 鈥14, Andrew Koch 鈥14, Adam Miller 鈥17, Roger Miller 鈥15, Luke Raffa 鈥15, Erich Schwer 鈥15 and Kevin Werner 鈥14.
