Filmmakers completed their production in a week's time at a budget of just $7,000. They plan to distribute the movie in theaters independently.
Joe Burke's Magical Indie Film "Burt": Unconventional Journey and the Pursuit of Authenticity
If you ask filmmaker Joe Burke about his microbudget indie film "Burt," he'll tell you it's all about the magic. That enchantment might stem from his days as a teenage magician performing tableside tricks at Outback Steakhouse in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio.
"I want to make people laugh, I want to make people cry," says Burke, 41, reminiscing about his days as a performer. "I love entertaining, and if I'm not doing it, I don't feel satisfied."
His second feature, "Burt," was shot over seven days for $7,000, but the project had been brewing for seven years by the time cameras rolled. The movie, made with longtime friend and collaborator Oliver Cooper, is a testament to heart and DIY resourcefulness, a method the duo seems to relish.
"Everything is so alive," Burke says of their DIY process, "the electricity of getting in there and finding these magical moments," ones that remind them of their roots, making movies in the backyard.
"Burt," which has its Los Angeles premiere at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills this weekend, doesn't have distribution yet. But Burke and Cooper are charting its path themselves.
Burke is jovial and gregarious, while Cooper, 35, is more laid-back - yet their friendship is evident. They became creative partners when Cooper's mother hired Burke to direct a video for her son's bar mitzvah. Years later, Cooper, who landed a role in the 2012 party movie "Project X" on his first audition, acted in the Prime Video series "Red Oaks" and played David Berkowitz in David Fincher’s "Mindhunter."
Despite pursuing their own career paths, Burke and Cooper are each other's favorite collaborators. In 2011, they shot their first feature, "Four Dogs," starring Cooper as Oliver (yes, they're in the realm of autofiction), an aimless aspiring actor. Like true indie filmmakers, they cast Cooper’s aunt, Rebecca Goldstein, who had never acted before, as Oliver’s aunt, and shot the film in her Encino home, where Cooper was living at the time.
Inspired by real people and their lives, the duo continues to capture authenticity in their films, as Cooper explains, "I just love characters - all the characters we've explored are people that are kind of forgotten, on the outskirts."
Burke believes that his interest in these characters can resonate with audiences. "If they're onscreen, people are going to be entertained by this person," he insists.
It had been more than a decade since "Four Dogs," and Burke was eager to make a second film, divided between teaching at the New York Film Academy campus in Burbank and making Instagram sketches and short films with Cooper.
Burke's eyes were drawn to Burt Berger, a late-60s musician he'd seen performing at the Old Place restaurant in Malibu. The folkish tunes and warm, quirky presence of Berger intrigued Burke. Coincidentally, Cooper had met Berger separately at an open mic at the Cahuenga General Store.
Clearly, they'd stumbled upon a real Los Angeles character in Berger, and they wanted to cast him in something. They decided to cast him for a small part in a short film in 2016. Berger stood out, and they even used one of his songs, "Improvin' On," for the film’s end.
Burke and Berger remained close, spending hours talking about Berger's life, his dreams, and their Hollywood ambitions. Burke was drawn to Berger's essence - his soul, his spirit, and his music. When Burke suggested a whole film about him, Berger was touched.
"I started to cry a little bit," Berger says, "because here I am, my dreams are slowly unfolding in front of me after all the years of pursuing them."
The plot revolves around Sammy (Cooper), who comes to L.A. looking for his estranged dad, Burt (Berger). Sammy's intentions aren't entirely virtuous, as Burt shares he has money from an inheritance stashed away. The final piece of the "Burt" puzzle was Steve Levy, Berger's roommate of a decade.
The DIY ethos of minimal budgets, non-professional actors, and autobiographical themes has always been central to Burke and Cooper. The black-and-white "Burt" is no exception. The film is unpretentious, filled with nuanced humor and surprising twists that hark back to classic indie films of the early '90s in its raw, low-key elegance.
While the future plans for "Burt" beyond the Los Angeles premiere remain unclear, one thing is certain: the filmmakers' passion for authenticity, their shared love for unique characters, and their persistence in pursuing their dreams have resulted in a captivating result that speaks to the heart.
### Additional Reading: * The Authentic Lives of Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce in "Brutalist" * The Visceral Reality of RaMell Ross's "Nickel Boys" * David Gordon Green's Impact on Indie Cinema: A Director's Journey
- Joe Burke and Oliver Cooper, both originating from Toledo, Ohio, met while performing at Outback Steakhouse, setting the stage for their future collaborations in the entertainment industry.
- Burke's second feature, "Burt," was filmed in California, specifically in Los Angeles, in fond remembrance of making movies in the backyard.
- The duo drew inspiration for their films from real people and their lives, focusing on characters often forgotten or on the outskirts, as Cooper explains.
- In the pursuit of authenticity, Burke and Cooper weren't afraid to use non-professional actors for their films, such as casting Cooper's aunt, Rebecca Goldstein, in their first feature, "Four Dogs."
- Burke's love for unique characters brought him to musicians like Burt Berger, whom he encountered at the Old Place restaurant in Malibu, embarking on another indie film project.
- The DIY spirit pervades the black-and-white "Burt," as it features minimal budgets, non-professional actors, and autobiographical themes, much like the duo's earlier works.
- In the realm of fashion-and-beauty, lifestyle, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, travel, movies-and-tv, and relationships, Burke and Cooper's authentic approach appeals to audiences, capturing their heart.
- Burke and Cooper show admirable persistence in chasing their dreams, from Burke teaching at the New York Film Academy to creating Instagram sketches and short films with Cooper.
- In the movie "Burt," Steve Levy, Berger's roommate of a decade, plays a significant role, completing the "Burt" puzzle.
- Some may find inspiration in Burke's journey and the magnetic charm of his work, as it's a tribute to the dogged pursuit of authenticity in an ever-evolving entertainment landscape populated by unique characters, just like each of us and our pets.
