An interview with SOC faculty member, Geoff Thompson
(posted May 2, 2008)
By Jessica Kelly
As an instructor for the School of Communication, Geoff Thompson teaches audio and video production, as well as a number of other classes. But, he also keeps busy with a variety of communication-related activities outside the classroom. These activities include helping out with a new movie—“Wesley.” Thompson is also in his first season as the radio play-by-play voice of ECU Baseball, carried on the ISP Sports network (airing locally on 1070AM). In addition, he played a villain in the 2005 independent film, “Chicks 101” and also played a behind-the-scenes role in production.
You’re working on a new movie. What is it about?
The new movie is about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, the Wesleyan movement, and for whom numerous colleges and foundations have been named. It deals some with his ministry and religion, but mainly it deals with his personal journey — his demons and struggles, of which he had several. There was a good bit of blue-screen work, where a background in composited in digitally behind the actors, so postproduction on that project is taking awhile. I’m not involved in post-production, I was just brought in to make sure principal photography was completed (there were some issues that my producing partner and I had to fix).
What is the theme for the movie “Chicks 101”?
Believe it or not, the theme is one of redemption and healing our inner wound. Some people have looked at the title only (without viewing it) and declared it misogynistic. The truth is, it’s completely the opposite.
It’s about a guy (Louie) who’s only ever been good at one thing: meeting women. (His friend Noel) pays Louie to teach him how to meet women. Noel has such a transformation under Louie’s tutelage that Noel’s loser buddies want to learn as well, each paying $100/hour. Word spreads, the class grows, Louie’s making tons of cash…The class has grown so much (that) Louie and Noel get a room at the community center to hold it. Marla happens to teach “Feminism in the 20th Century” at the community center…Enter Roland (my character, the villain) who is skeptical. He questions if $100/hr is worth it, ends up challenging Louie to a bet: bed a woman of Roland’s choosing in 30 days. Of course, it’s Marla. If Louie can’t succeed, his credibility with his class will be lost, and his newfound source of income will be gone.
Where can people go to get more information about this movie or buy it?
It’s available on Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, etc. They can also go to www.chicks101movie.com and buy it from there, as well as view the trailer (in which I make an appearance as a platinum blonde). It’s PG-13.
How long did this movie take to make?
Pre-production took several months, between casting, scouting locations, raising the money, etc. We shot it in 19 days, which is unheard of for a feature that’s shot on film (as opposed to digital video). Post-production took a bit longer. Since we used our entire budget on production, we didn’t even have the money to get the film developed or processed. It took us four months to raise more money to even see a frame of the film. We were just thrilled it was (mostly) in focus. After that, we had a rough cut in about four months. Then we’d have to go raise more money to get further in the process, getting money to pay a composer for the score, opening animation and credits, etc. It was finally finished about two years after we started planning it.
Why should people go watch the new movie or Chicks 101?
“Chicks” is a very funny film with a good message. “Wesley” will have a good message. “Wesley” will also be gorgeous to look at. It’s a period piece, taking place in the 1700s. Our locations and costumes were fantastic!
What was your favorite part when working with the movie “Chicks 101”?
It was a TREMENDOUS learning experience. It was the first feature film I’d worked on, and I learned an incredible amount, from the whole production process to minutiae like dealing with actors and contracts.
What inspired you to pursue a movie career or acting? How did you get connected with “Chicks 101”?
I’m a ham, and I need an audience. Plus it’s cool to inhabit another persona for a while. I had always wanted to do voice-overs, which led to radio work. I started taking acting classes to improve my voice-over/radio work, ended up being cast in a couple plays and student films. After grad school and a couple radio jobs fell through, I moved to Wilmington to pursue acting, ended up getting the job here at ECU. Lovinder Gill, a former professor here, started at the same time I did. He had written a number of scripts, one of which had been made into a film the previous summer. Another script he’d written was called “Chicks 101.” We hit it off immediately, started talking about making a film together.
When did you start thinking seriously about acting?
I don’t know that I’ve ever thought too seriously about it, which annoys a friend of mine in LA who’s been trying to break into acting for over 10 years and hasn’t had much luck. It seemed like it’d be something I’d like to do, gave it a shot, and I’ve been able to do a little bit here and there. I did a couple local and regional TV commercials, and I played Blackbeard for two summers in an outdoor drama in Bath. But I think if I really wanted to do it seriously, I’d move to LA or NYC to pursue it, and I don’t see myself doing that anytime soon.
