Keep an eye on Daniel Califf-Glick. The 25-year-old son of political activists may still be living with his parents in Bloomfield, but he's got quite a bit to show for it. His first feature-length film, "The Triumph of William Henry Harrison," a mockumentary in which we "learn" that William Henry Harrison faked his own death, will be featured in the New Jersey International Film Festival later this month. He snagged Newsweek columnist Jon Alter to pretend to be a Harrison expert in the film, and veteran actor Ed Asner to narrate it.
Separately, he made a real documentary on renewal energy with Montclair filmmaker Barbara Azzoli. And he's going on a mission to Cuba next month with the Pastors for Peace. Of course, he's bringing his camera.
Califf-Glick is a young man who's pretty smart at leveraging his connections -- and his luck. He was introduced to Alter by Azzoli. Later, he ran into Alter at a Mets game, and pitched the movie to him when Alter offered him a ride home. The Asner connection came through the director's parents, who knew him from liberal politics.
When a friend gave him the idea of making a mockumentary about a historical figure, Califf-Glick, a poli-sci major at Rutgers, where he graduated in 2005, immediately thought of the obscure William Henry Harrison. Most people, if they even recognize the ninth president's name, remember only two things: Tippecanoe, and that Harrison died one month into office.
Califf-Glick describes "The Triumph of William Henry Harrison" as part Ken Burns, part Christopher Guest. It's certainly silly. Most of it was filmed in Baristaville, and local viewers will recognized Jerry Lazar of the Glen Ridge-based improv troupe Lunatic Fringe, who plays the editor of the newspaper reporter who exposes the Harrison scandal. The film cost Califf-Glick $7,000 to make.
Even funnier is "Portrait of a Whig", an 18-minute spoof with comedian/actor Jamie Jackson reprising a minor character in "Triumph," Dick Driben, who reemerges in this short film as a write-in Whig Party candidate for Senate. The film includes some Borat-like interviews with real Baristaville voters on Election Day 2006. Much of it was shot at Watchung Plaza. Watch it here.
You can support Califf-Glick's mission to Cuba at a house party this coming Saturday night.
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Comments (10)
how come when spector jumped to the democratic party he had grown but 2 ny state dems jump to the republican party and its called a coup?
doesn't the non stop media bias against republicans bother any of the democrats? doesn't anyone yearn for those golden days of of yesteryear when the media actually tried to report news instead of propogating their own agendas?
Deb,
As soon as I saw that "Liberal politics" hot link. I knew you did it just to noodge the right wing frothing brigade on this site to chime in. Vi-ola! The Iceman cometh.
Well, Paz, speak up.
Iceman, I hate to say it, but you sound like a whiner. Remember what Phil Gramm said about whiners last fall. It didn't help McCain any.
Top whines of the season:
"How could the liberal press is SO biased? 710 AM radio and Fox News are both shining beacons of well-roundedness!!"
"How come most people don't believe Sonya is SUCH a nasty racist?"
"How come we tried to assassinate Obama's character with words like Liberal, Socialist, Communist, Moslem, Arab, Pal around with Terrorists, and so on, and it didn't work? He's STILL SO popular. It's not fair!!!!
(Glen Beck's new brainchild - call Obama a fascist!! That'll do it!)
Hey guys, you could have a lot more fun commenting on this if you'd watch either of the YouTube videos I link to -- especially "Portrait of a Whig."
The description of "Pastors For Peace"'s annual trips to Cuba is priceless. I recommend it to all who can recognize left-wing cant at its most absurd when they read it. And I'm sure young Califf-Glick (upon which I shall paraphrase Jimmy Breslin, to the effect that I too was brought up to distrust anyone who parts his or her surname in the middle) will prove their perfect chronicler this summer.
But there's an added element of hokiness in the picture of Califf-Glick. So pensive! So dedicated! So Comradely, perhaps! (Even if both Stalin and Moltov did that pose better.) All the better, I assume, so he can lecture one or both of the Castro brothers this summer on their opression of the campesinos.
Really, Debbie, you couldn't have found a better, anyway different picture, given that this one is on the level of mere agit-prop?
And that Jonathan Alter was somehow persuaded to add his own dubious bona fides to the kid's new project merely shows that this hopelessly self-infatuated (but conveniently local) windbag will lend his name to anything.
I can only imagine the hapless group of clucks who would actually support, either financially or emotionally, Califf-Glick's junket to Cuba, too.
answer me this Paz...on letterman last night he said that palin had the look of a 'slutty flight attendant"...has letterman ever made mention of hillary's dumpster butt or mannish appearance?
I don't know...I'm just askin'?
Well, cathar, you get the prize for being the only one to comment on the actual story. Thank you. As for the photo, he purposely went for a pompous pose - to fit with pseudo-serious mockumentary genre.
Iceman, it's somewhat likely that your preference would place Sarah Palin (and not Hilary Clinton) as the Secretary of State, and your parallel between these two ladies is somewhat questionable,
but, for your sake, let's imagine the possibilities:
Secretary of State Sarah Palin:
"Why don't all you Hebes and Ayrabs git along now like peas and carrots"
"Now Kim Jong Il, don't you be flirtin with me now!"
"Ahmedidinajawhatever, you need to gitchaself a new blazer"
"You Pakis have the cutest warheads on yer missiles!"
PS, Ice, how much time DO you spend looking at Secretary Clinton's behind? Your opinion suggests it may be a hobby of yours.
ICE....Hillary might have some junk in the trunk but it's what's skullside up that counts....Now don't you be givin' me a pain in the medulla, Ice, don't ya know.
DEB, too much time awastin' to click on links. I'm in my sleepin' room here in Cinn. for a few brief moments thru out the day. I just want to see my good ol' b'net neighbors blatter on about the end of all time now that the big O is in the D.C. hot seat....and they never fail to amuse me....PAZ @ WKRP