The Campus Chronicle

Volume 3, No. 41
October 24, 2003

Joel Fendelman’s documentary “Writing Through,” featuring local poet RenaZance, has been accepted into the student competition at the Savannah Film Festival Oct. 25 - Nov. 1.

Documentary about local poet among student entries

By Hannah Pittard

Film and television senior Joel Fendelman said he is especially excited about this year’s film festival. His short film, “Writing Through,” has been accepted into the student competition of the Savannah Film Festival. Shot in April 2003, the six-minute documentary features local Savannah poet RenaZance and his outlook on work, love and life.

“I first saw RenaZance at an open mic night at the Gallery Espresso,” Fendelman said. “He engulfed the whole audience. That was just the beginning, because then he started performing.” Six months later, Fendelman directed a short film called “The Box,” which was a visual interpretation of a poem written and performed by RenaZance. “This piece was actually very well received,” Fendelman said. “It has been traveling the world through the film festival circuit at such festivals as Cannes, Artfest in Slovakia and Dances with Films in California.”

The quarter after shooting “The Box,” Fendelman registered for a class called “Directing the Documentary,” taught by film and television professor Stephen May. “I knew right away I wanted to do my final project based around RenaZance,” Fendelman said. “I called him … and six months later, here we are.”

Fendelman said he worked an estimated 200 hours on “Writing Through,” and he did it without a crew. “It was just me and Ren working on it,” he said. “I remember waking up six different mornings to try to get the sunrise a certain way, but by the final cut of the movie, I didn’t even use it. It’s all about letting go, living in the present moment.”

Although Fendelman has attended several other film festivals, he admits to taking special pride in being a part of the Savannah Film Festival. “I really feel this one is my festival,” he said. “The way it is put together really makes it personable … It has been a real goal for me to get a film in it.”

Fendelman, who has written and performed a few poems of his own since meeting and getting to know RenaZance, has no immediate plans for the future, but he does have a few wishes. “The next best thing would be an eccentric producer sees ‘Writing Through’ and decides I am the man to direct his film that takes place in Thailand over the course of the next seven months. I would also settle for an award, a grant or even just a ‘Hey, man, I really enjoyed the film.’”