MU alum set to release his first full-length film at Ragtag Cinema

by Lauren Schad, posted Nov. 20, 2009

To most, the MU campus may not look like a picturesque back lot for Paramount Pictures. But for filmmaker Brian Maurer, it provided the perfect set for his new film about college life. Maurer is set to release his first feature film, “Lit," on Dec. 2 at the Ragtag Cinema, in downtown Columbia.

The 27-year-old grew up in Blue Springs, Mo., and has been interested in film and theatre from a young age. Yet, he thought his life would take a path other than filmmaking.

“I thought that I was going to be an architect,” Maurer said. “In high school, I did spend a lot of my time with the band and theatre. It was only until I reached college that I realized that English was the right way to go for me.”

Brian Maurer directs a scene for his feature film “Lit” right outside of his office in Gentry Hall on the MU campus. (photo courtesy Brian Maurer)

He started at MU as a civil engineering major, but soon realized that major wasn’t for him and changed his major to English. Maurer graduated from MU in 2005 with his English degree.

Maurer became interested in film as a career his sophomore year of college. He was enrolled in several film classes, and after attempting to find a student organization that shared his passion, he created the Film Club of Mizzou, or FCMU, in the winter of 2003. The group, which is still active on campus, reviews independent and foreign films, and hosts discussion panels.
After starting the FCMU, Maurer was encouraged to start making his own films. He found that he had more fun working behind the scenes than performing in productions.

“I think it was through my discussions in my film courses and with the film club that I felt like it would be really fun to participate in making the film instead of performing in it,” Maurer said. “I think you can do a lot more emotionally with film than you can with theatre. So, I started working with my friend, Reid Lyle, who was also a filmmaker, and we decided to collaborate to produce several short films.”

Maurer is currently employed as an administrative assistant in Gentry Hall on campus. His job is to manage fiscal responsibilities of MU’s ExCEED project, or Extension Community Economic and Entrepreneurial Development. By engaging youth and developing businesses, the program is working on building more sustainable economies across the state of Missouri.

But, he has not left his passion for film behind. Maurer has made 15 short films, like “Revelations” and “Shooting Homemade H," before deciding to take his dream of film production a step further. "Revelations" is about a man who tries to join a gang but fails the initiation, and "Shooting Homemade H" is a short film about how to shoot a film.

“A full length film was the next logical step to making this a profession, you can only go so far with short films,” Maurer said.

Maurer started writing “Lit” in December of 2008. He got the idea for the script from his own college experiences. He was part of a leadership community called Wakonse, which is a learning community in Excellence Hall that encourages students to get to know their professors on a less formal basis.

“I wrote ‘Lit’ because as a student myself I knew many professors, and found that their lives weren’t any different than students,” Maurer said. “Professors have very similar lives to the students. And I hope the movie breaks down the professor/student barrier that always seems to exist.”

Maurer’s wife Kathleen was completely supportive of him taking on this film on his own. They were married in July of this year and were engaged when he began filming last winter.

“At first I thought ‘Oh brother!’” said Kathleen Maurer. “No, really, I was excited for him, taking on such a huge project. I knew with his communicative and artistic skills, he was bound to create something good.”

“Lit” is the story of a tenured professor, Samuel Kete, who made a scene at a board meeting and is punished by teaching an introductory literature course for undergraduate students. It describes Kete’s struggles in an effort to show students the deeper meaning of literature, while working at the same time to finish his recently deceased wife’s research. It also follows the life of Kete’s best friend, Carrey Wasse, through his extramarital affair. Wasse helps Kete through his teaching problems with witty banter and a weekly bowling date.

Making a full-length film on his own proved to be a true test of Maurer’s character.

“He was dedicated,” Kathleen Maurer said. “At times, things were a little discouraging, but it didn’t take much persuasion for him to keep going. I’m happy that he’s finally being recognized for his film interests.”

The production process became a family project for the Maurers. Kathleen helped her husband on set and after hours as well.

“I tried to help out by reading and editing the script,” she said. “I was also lucky enough to add input in the video editing process as well. I was just using my English major skills, trying to help as much as I could.”

After searching for a venue to play his movie, the Ragtag Cinema offered to present a one-time showing of the film at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 2. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6.50 for students.

“I feel as if I have accomplished a lot based on my experience. I didn’t go to film school. There are people that have $50,000 in debt and are at the same place that I am now,” said Brian Maurer.

For more information on the film, visit: www.doctorkete.com.

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