"Canvassers" premieres as a huge success

On December 5, 2008, "Canvassers" premiered in the Fitzwater Center's television studio to a sold-out audience of over 100 people. 100 DVDs were sold, and talk of the film's success circulated throughout campus.

Now, after the premiere of "Canvassers," the guys of Googly Films and Jonesi Production have been hard at work preparing for every major film festival in the United States. Directors Jeff Cornell and Justin Martell say they have their work cut out for them, but are excited about where this film can take them. The directors are currently in heavy negotiation with record companies to obtain festival rights to copyrighted music used in the film. Cornell and Martell plan to enter the film into the Rhode Island film festival first, and then every other film festival in the country.

Martell says the movie is roughly based on his own experiences as a canvasser over the summer. "It's a political comedy that combines my experience working as a political activist, being actively involved in the primary elections, and working as a canvasser."

The film "Canvassers" is about The New England Environmental Preservation Group(NEEPG) and its mission to save the Sunderland Spring Planarian Flatworm from the evil Ireba Corporation, which is polluting a river where the flatworms live, causing their extinction. The NEEPG has one goal, and one goal only: to save the flatworm. The members of the group go door-to-door everyday to raise money and awareness for their cause. In the film the main characters Gary and Rich work as canvassers together for one day to save the Sunderland Spring Planarian. The movie follows the characters through their day of unforgettable experiences.

Friends on campus and family back home viewed the film, as well as several people in the movie industry. Martell says the film has been viewed and reviewed favorably by people in this tough industry and currently sits on the desk of MGM Studios. Cornell believes their film has a great chance because nothing like this has been done before. He believes this original idea has the potential to be a very successful big screen film. Cornell and Martell are currently proposing the original storyline hoping a big corporation will adapt it into a big screen film. Martell says "Canvassers" has commercial potential and marketing appeal, which could put it up with hit comedy films such as "Superbad" and "Pineapple Express."

Martell and Cornell are grateful for the support the campus has given them throughout their college career. Being seniors, both Cornell and Martell have had their fair share of advice and wanted to share some advice with other student filmmakers. Cornell said, "The most important thing you need is passion. It comes down to whether or not you have the passion to follow up on it, to sit in the suite hours and hours, rather than going out with your friends. Because this is the stuff we want to do when we get out of here."

Martell said, "The resources are here, you have to have the drive."