Plymouth grad Starr ventures into the world of film making

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs
PLYMOUTH - Plymouth grad Matt Starr has been busy on the set.

Several films featuring Starr have been making the film festival circuit, and a film he recently directed will hopefully be released later this year. Starr was in the film "Caleb's Gift" directed by Robert Bates which was recently screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival and had a part in John David Hartfield's film "Homecoming" that will be released soon.

Starr's own film "Neitzsche Ate Here" is also in the final stages of production and hopefully will be out before the end of the year.

"It started out as a one act play by Roy C. Berkowitz that we performed around Ohio and it was really warmly received everywhere we played it," said Starr who directed actors Gail Griffith and Bruce Jacklin in the stage play. "We were sitting around after the performance one night and Gail said 'Wouldn't this make a great short film?'. We contacted the playwright who has been incredibly supportive and great to work with and that's where it started."

The story brings to light the inner conflicts between two very different strangers who share common vulnerabilities. Cheryl, a sarcastic street-wise waitress, and Paul, an esteemed attorney from Washington D.C. collide in a run-down diner outside of Manassas. Both face their trepidations about each other and themselves as an event upsets their world.

"It's a story of forgiveness and not revenge which is what really drew me to it," said Starr. "We have a lot of stories about revenge these days and a story of redemption really attracted me. It has a message that sometimes wounds heal only when after they've deepened."

Starr would like to work on another project soon with the same team.

"I really hope this is just to first project for all of us," he said. "I hope that maybe this time next year we can be working on a feature film. From day one all these folks together there was just a great creative energy that was really positive."

"Directing is fun but I really think if I had to choose I prefer acting. I really like being able to relate to humanity through the character that I'm playing - giving him a background working with a director, getting a chance to connect through that character."

See the trailer and other information on the film "Neitzsche Ate Here" at the website http://www.neitzschefilm.org/ or on Facebook by searching "Neitzsche Film".