Mojave Phone Booth

The film tells the stories of four people who are all connected through the Mojave phone booth. The stories are fictional, but the Mojave phone booth was actually in service in the Mojave National Preserve until 2000, when the National Parks Service removed it. After the phone number appeared on a website in the late 90's, people from all over the world would call the number and visit the phone booth, and it became a cult icon. In the film, the same person always calls the phone booth and provides informal therapy sessions for each of the four main characters. The film is excellent, with richly drawn characters and captivating stories. Great acting by all the cast, but especially Annabeth Gish and Christine Elise. This is one of those movies you want to go see again to catch all the details and connections between the stories that may have slipped by on the first viewing.

In a time where the corporations of the motion picture industry give the public rehashes of films already made, this film rises above the studio mentality and gives you something that is......original. Not only is the that, but it makes you think about the modes of communication that todays technology offer the public and how these modes have hindered true intimacy, as well as the comfortability (or lack thereof) that people have with intimacy. The stories in this film are gently insane, but only as insane as real life stories in real people's lives. The writing, is wonderful, the story is excellent, the editing is superb, and the acting is quite good.

I have been going over MPB in my mind on a fairly regular basis since I saw it at the FirstGlance Hollywood Film Fest and I again commend director/writer John Putch for really capturing in such a raw and gentle way the extremes of need and outreach. When I find myself actually believing that the guy is going to get rid of the alien bugs (on that wonderfully created zany, hopelessly neurotic woman), I know the casting and writing are doing their jobs very well. I also thought the "sane" half of the lesbian couple was amazing. Also, the scene where the real estate lie was revealed had such an unexpected punch to it. Every single actor was off the dial. Not one wrong note and hundreds of great choices. Having it on the outskirts of Vegas creates such a symbiosis between 2 emptiness-es, we realize there is nowhere to hide. We are all drowning in the wide open vacuum of our own disconnection, no matter how we try to dress it up. It is really a phenomenal indictment of what happens to the American Dreamer when the roots of the soul have atrophied and only the unnourished surface is left.

I'll leave it to others to discuss the plot, acting and photography other than to say that many of the shots in this movie could be printed and hung on your wall as art. The cinematography by Keith Duggan is spectacular. Well, I'll also say that the characters come across as real people- people that you feel you might actually have among your friends.

I saw this picture at the Sedona Film Festival. "What a great picture," I thought. After the showing, Jerry Rapp, the co-writer and co-producer came up to answer some questions. Then I was completely blown away. Some facts about the movie: 1) Shooting time? 18 days! 2) Number in crew? No more than 8 at a time, and that includes director/writers/ producers! Many of them did double duty. 3) Everyone drove themselves to and from the set or location. And, speaking of cars, the cars you see the actors driving in the movie are their own cars! 4) There was no up-front pay. However, gas money was provided along with food. All crew and talent are share holders in 50% of the film's grosses after the initial production budget is recouped. That is, after the budget is payed back, 50% of whatever the movie makes is split evenly between everyone involved. (I don't know who gets the other 50%. But, whoever it is, deserves it.) Shows what a dedicated group of professionals can accomplish if they work together.

The only other comment I'll make is to relieve the consternation someone else might have. The background music during the first episode was hauntingly familiar. During the Q&A I asked Jerry if it was original or came from another source. It was original but inspired by the 1974 Gene Hackman film, The Conversation. If you've seen that film, you'll know why it was haunting.

Keep your eye out for this picture and when it comes around, see it!

P.S., If you want to know what Jerry Rapp looks like, he's the flower delivery boy in the movie. I told you everybody did double duty in this movie.

Though I don't know the validity of the history of an actual "Mohave phone booth", the idea of a grass-roots internet site does remind me of the marketing plan for the Blair Witch Project. I saw "Mohave" at the 2007 Staten Island Film Festival and was a little disappointed that there was no Q&A afterward. Overall, this movie is of high professional quality from the acting, directing, sound, and editing...and of course producing. Definitely is of quality and ready for mass marketing. The only problem is this movie would have to be dumbed down to appeal to the masses. A must see if you want to watch a quality independent film. The magnetic tape, though...I didn't get it. Why wasn't there a Q&A in Staten Island???