Published April 9, 2005

Dream is up on silver screen

Resident works for city by day while pursuing second career as a filmmaker; an experimental film is chosen for viewing at a festival in England.

By Mark R. Madler, The Leader

MEDIA DISTRICT WEST -- Translating a dream he once had onto film is now helping Jesse Levy achieve his dream of being a recognized filmmaker.

The 47-year-old Burbank resident's film "Red Lion" is attracting attention both here and abroad. The film has been chosen to be in the Filmstock International Film Festival in Luton, England in early June.

It will play in Hollywood later this month at an independent film project at CineSpace in Los Angeles.

The message of the film reflects Levy's following of Buddhism and how life can be transformed when one's inner resolve changes.

"After living this crummy life he decides he's going to change it by becoming a writer," Levy said of his protagonist. "It gives a positive message that you can change if you have determination."

The film has no dialogue and depicts dream sequences accompanied by a soundtrack performed by Levy.

Levy has been an actor, jazz singer and employee of Disney Interactive Software, although he is now working as a parking enforcement officer with the Burbank Police Department -- a job that provides Levy the financial security to follow his dream.

But his interest lies more with movie tickets than parking tickets.

His first film, "Stigmatza," a 30-minute comedy about a man whose bald spot resembles the Virgin Mary, came out in 2001.

"Red Lion," which Levy and co-producer Michael Immel finished in January, is in black and white, surrealistic and more experimental.

It was those qualities that appealed to Julianna Brannum, a programmer with IFP Los Angeles who chose the film for the nonprofit group's event on April 25.

"A big reason why I chose it was because I admire anyone who can take a dream sequence and translate it onto a screen," Brannum said. "It was exactly how I dreamed."

"Red Lion" actually started from a dream Levy had of a man waking up in a small room and having "weird things happen to him."

Although the IFP Los Angeles screening is only open to group members, Levy is still excited about it, he said.

"You want other filmmakers to see your work," he said. "I can't wait to get down there and see what kind of feedback it gets."

In June, Levy and Immel will travel to England where "Red Lion" will be shown as part of the Filmstock festival.

For more information on Levy's film, go to http://www.jlopen.com.