(bright upbeat music) (dramatic suspenseful music) - Welcome back to another episode of "TVFilm".

I'm your host, Jermaine Wells.

TVFilm showcases the amazing talents of upstate New York media makers across all genres.

And I hope you're ready for the pair of films we've got for you today because they are outstanding.

Let's start with a film by Ryan Jenkins.

Ryan, along with producer Spencer Sherry, reached out to the magician, Eric Mead, a favorite guest of theirs on Penn and Teller's "Fool Us" to talk about a magic focused film that they were developing.

Well, Eric ended up flying out to the capital region to star in "Anomaly", a love letter to a completely singular art form and the feeling of childlike wonder it inspires in us when we witness something impossible.

Here we go.

(gentle foreboding music) (audience applauds) (audience cheers) (audience continues applauding) (audience whistling) (clock ticking) (loud clock ticking) (foreboding music) (door creaking) (piano keys chiming) (loud knocking) - Come in.

(door clicks) Ah, Mr. Weismann, my most dedicated fan.

- Please, Ted.

- As you wish.

To what do I owe the pleasure?

- Straight to it.

You're aware of who I am and who I represent?

- I think so.

- Simply put with the final show complete, we've been unable to determine exactly how the apparatus functions.

- I see.

And what exactly are you hoping to learn from me?

- Officially, my employer is interested in the method, scientific or otherwise, responsible for producing the illusion.

- Your employer?

Being the United States government?

- [Ted] Unofficially.

- And unofficially, Mr. Weismann, what is your purpose here?

- I don't think there's a method, scientific or otherwise, capable of producing the illusion.

- Ah, a true believer.

- Of sorts.

- I must admit I'm shocked that a government man is so eager to accept the existence of magic.

(clock ticking) - When I was a boy, the local drunk had a bit with a coin.

He'd show it to me.

Let me hold it.

It was normal in every way.

So he put the coin in my hand and I could feel it in my palm, (mysterious music) right until he told me to open my hand.

(mysterious music swells) I still remember exactly how that felt.

(mysterious music) - [Van Alden] And how did it feel, Mr. Weismann?

- Like there are things in the world beyond reason.

- Oh?

And when you figured out the secret, you became a blood thirsty, disillusioned, cynic?

- That's just it.

I never figured it out.

But nothing in 40 years of auditing the supernatural made me feel the way I felt staring at my empty hand as a boy, until tonight.

- I see not a cynic, a romantic doomed to watch the mystic reduced to explanation.

Undefeated champion of the material, hoping to be bested.

- You have proven to be quite the challenge.

- I'm flattered.

Shall we talk about it then?

Straight to it.

- The act.

- You were on stage.

You attended every night.

Did you not?

Despite my rules?

- An audience member can only be admitted once to a single show.

(chuckles) That's an interesting rule.

- Well, I can't have nosy Nellies, such as yourself, getting to the bottom of my methods, now can I?

- I don't think that's it at all.

You see a miracle once, you talk yourself out of it.

Luck and trickery explain it away.

But the same miracle performed consistently, well, there's just one word for that.

- And do miracles often fail?

I failed to produce your object, did I not?

- The object I described, yes.

- Ah-ha-ha, you tried to cheat, didn't you?

I chose to manipulate the situation to enhance my performance.

- What happened out there was impossible.

- The very definition of my duty on stage.

- (scoffs) You know while I do enjoy this performance, it's time we move beyond the playful banter.

- All business.

- You can explain it to me willingly or they'll send someone else, things will escalate.

- Ah, the ultimatum.

Quite timely.

All right, where shall we begin?

- The final act, in its entirety from the top.

(gentle foreboding music) (mysterious music) - My final trick is unique in every way to the customs of the magical arts.

It is magic borrowed from a time long before I took the stage.

The wardrobe of Agmar takes its name from a famous conjurer who was said to be able to produce any item truly desired by the asker.

He delighted many until a jealous ruler captured him and locked him in the wardrobe.

(wardrobe doors creaking) (audience murmuring) The ruler became obsessed, forcing Agmar to produce items day and night at his command.

And slowly Agmar became ill until the ruler could no longer bear to look upon his sickly face.

Agmar remained locked in the wardrobe, forced to do his magic from behind the curtain until his death.

Tonight, with the help of some audience volunteers and the spirit of Agmar, we'll try to replicate this famous illusion.

(gentle foreboding music) (footsteps plodding) Come ahead, please.

Yes.

Yes, welcome and please inspect the wardrobe.

(gentle foreboding music) Just an ordinary wardrobe, correct?

Wonderful.

And now I'd like each of you to imagine something of value to you, a memento or a keepsake.

The memory should be something simple, vivid and small.

Then each of you will step here with your back to the wardrobe and describe your object out loud.

You can then turn around and look, but do not touch your object.

Please.

And now we begin.

(mysterious music) (audience shouting indistinctly) (audience applauds) - The metal had been rubbed smooth in many places and it, it had this like stuttering when it ticked like its heart was weak too.

(mysterious music) (metal clinking) - Turn around!

- Turn around!

- Turn around!

- Turn around!

(watch ticking) (mysterious music swells) (foreboding music) - A talking GI Joe.

His dog tags had been ripped off.

You had to pull his shoelace to make him talk.

His uniform was stained and ripped.

(chuckles) He looked like he'd really seen battle.

(foreboding music) (cigarette sizzles) (foreboding music swells) (chaotic music) (person slowly clapping) (audience applauds) (foreboding music) (audience whistling) (audience cheers) (audience applauds) (audience shouting indistinctly) (audience cheers) That's as I remember.

But you haven't explained anything.

- It's all there, misdirection, some sleight of hand here and there.

All less glorious than you're imagining.

- No, I'm afraid that won't do.

I described a toy.

You produce a cigarette.

How did you know that's what I was thinking?

- Well, how many of our fathers smoked, really?

And if the toy was real, it certainly wasn't a vivid memory.

- The toy was rehearsed.

I tried to picture it, but all I could see were those Lucky Strikes.

Beating is one thing, but having a lit cigarette put out on your bare skin, that's vivid.

- How about another go?

One final test.

- Now?

- A private performance, you and me.

One last crack at solving it yourself.

(foreboding music) (electricity crackling) (light switches clanking) (foreboding music) And now, Mr. Weismann, please examine everything to your heart's content.

- Let's just get to it, huh?

- [Van Arden] Okay.

If you would.

(mysterious music) - No.

- As you wish.

(mysterious music) And now, Mr. Weismann, do you have an object in mind, a memory?

And no tricks this time.

(mysterious music) - My old baseball mitt.

Old, even when dad gave it to me.

It was almost white, it was so sun bleached and I remember the chipping leather would dirty my hand if I wore it too long.

Barely held together most nights we played catch.

(mysterious music swells) (mysterious music) (gentle mysterious music) (Ted chuckles) (mysterious music swells) (dramatic mysterious music) (dramatic mysterious music continues) (dramatic mysterious music continues) (dramatic mysterious music continues) (dramatic mysterious music fades) - Hi, I'm Ryan Jenkins and I'm the writer director of "Anomaly".

- I'm Spencer Sherry.

I'm the Producer and Editor of "Anomaly".

- Anomaly is a short film about a magic act that features an inexplicable trick that has attracted the attention of a government auditor.

So Eric Mead is one of the premier coin magicians, sleight of hand magicians in the world right now.

He had the look.

He's handsome, he's very sly and mischievous and on stage that's sort of his persona as well.

He has not an ego, but he knows he can perform these wild, wild tricks.

- His philosophy is that the most profound thing can come from the most simple object and so that is also reflected in the movie.

I think a little of that theme snuck into there as the design of the trick in the film.

It was really cool working with someone that's been in the entertainment industry for so long, but not in our particular discipline.

- And no tricks this time.

- The Upstate Film community is tremendous.

Playhouse Stage Company couldn't have been more welcoming and accommodating to us, letting us be in there.

They let us raid their storage for props.

We had to build out this magician's kind of lair and dressing room.

And so a lot of those trunks and props and things all came from the Playhouse Stage Company's stash.

We really love being and working up here because you have a community of people that are happy to support you and have the time and resources to be able to do that.

- Up next, we're going to watch "Be True To Your School", written and directed by Frank Harts and edited by Tony Grocki.

This film is a bold blend of Black comedy and drama spotlighting a young Haitian American genius, Ruby, who has superb academic prowess, but refuses to use her gifts.

Now, Frank originally wanted the Beach Boys song "Be True to Your School" for the end credits till he found out how much it would cost.

He decided instead to create an original and intimate arrangement of "Pomp and Circumstance" featuring vocals from Madeleine Le Du.

Let's check it out.

(person screaming) (weapon fire blasting) - Okay, don't talk, just relax.

Let's get her some water.

(weapon fire blasting) (helicopter blades whirring) Ruby.

You're okay.

Math saved my life.

As a military medic, couldn't treat every little cut and scrape.

Had to use mathematical models to triage patients and allocate resources based on the severity of injuries.

Likelihood- - You think so?

- [Friend] Yeah, he's kinda cute.

- [Martinez] Of survival and availability of medical personnel and supplies.

So if a leg got blown off in the middle of nowhere, you knew you had enough supplies left to keep them alive and get them to the closest hospital.

Ruby.

- Oh.

My apologies, Ms. Martinez.

- I don't need your apologies.

I need your attention.

- Copy that.

(student laughs) - Get outta my classroom.

- [Students] Oh.

- Whoa, whoa, why you gotta come at me like that?

- Miss Sandler, get out.

- Miss?

What is this "The Color Purple"?

(student laughs) This class is a joke.

I mean, who even uses dry-erase boards still?

- Oh, I see.

You think that just because you can solve a few complex equations, you have no further to go.

- A few?

- Kid, you haven't even seen the half of it.

Just because you can solve a few problems doesn't mean that you shouldn't still work hard every single day to develop yourself.

It's, it's not just about being a great mathematician, it's about becoming a well-rounded human being too, Ruby.

- Yes, preach.

- There's no guarantee that you know how to solve under pressure.

In a classroom with fresh air, no life or death motivation to survive, it's impossible to gauge your true abilities.

- But I'm a genius.

- That does not give you the right to disrupt others and not apply yourself.

I will fail your ass.

(suspenseful music) (deeply inhaling) (Ruby coughs) - Ruby.

- Oh!

- [Martinez] Are you, are you?

Ruby?

Ruby?

Ruby?

(Ruby coughing) (gentle foreboding music) (equipment beeping) - Oh, hell no.

Not this again.

- What, Hippo?

- [Hippo] The damn oxygen machine shut off again.

- Oh.

(machine beeping) - [Hippo] It's okay.

(machine continues beeping) - Damn it.

I am not in the mood to solve any equations this week.

- You and me both.

(machine continues beeping) (foreboding music) I'm sorry, little sis, but you're gonna have to help us out here.

- Wha-what do you mean?

(coughs) - I mean, the only way to get this oxygen machine working is for you to solve these equations.

We can't do math to save our lives.

- Not an ounce.

- [Hippo] No pun intended.

- We didn't pay attention in school.

That's why we have survival jobs.

- Uh-oh, big pun.

Hit you with the big guns.

Thick tongue known to make a chick- (Ruby panting) Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Whoa, whoa.

- Hey, hey, hey.

Relax, sis.

You gonna need that air.

- I'm sorry, little sis, you're gonna have to help yourself.

You, you need to solve these equations so we can get the flow of oxygen going.

- What kind of ambulance is this?

- We know it's not ideal, (Ruby coughing) but it's the only way to save your life.

- Let's go, kid.

You can do it.

Find the value of P if 4P equals 92.

(machine beeping) (Ruby stuttering) - Nope.

- Oh, she's got dyscalculia.

- No?

- Yes, indeed.

- [Ruby] Wha-wha-what's dyscalculia?

- It means you got a road block in your brain and you can't do math, but I'm rooting for you.

- Simplify XK over 2X.

- K over two.

(bell chimes) - Yes.

- Okay, good.

Now remember, she has to keep solving the equations for the air to keep flowing.

- [Hippo] What is Z, if Z plus Y equals 2Y?

- Y.

(bell chimes) - Yes.

A woman is X years old.

How old was she Z-years ago?

- X minus Z.

(bell chimes) - Correct.

What is one third of an hour?

- 20 minutes!

- Straight line equation Y equals 5X minus two has a gradient of?

- Y.

- Has a gradient of?

- [Ruby] Six AB squared.

- Has a gradient of?

- 23.

- Straight line equation Y has a gradient of?

A gradient of?

A gradient of?

- Five.

- Has gradient, has a gradient of?

- 16.

- Has a gradient of?

Straight line equation Y.

- Ruby.

- 23.

Five.

- Has a gradient of?

- Wake up, sweetheart.

- [Hippo] Has a gradient of?

- Okay.

- What happened?

- [Martinez] Don't talk, just relax.

Let's get her some water.

You're okay.

You're okay.

("Pomp and Circumstance") (singer vocalizing) (singer continues vocalizing) (singer continues vocalizing) (singer continues vocalizing) (singer continues vocalizing) (singer continues vocalizing) (singer continues vocalizing) (singer continues vocalizing) (gentle clicking) (air whooshing) - [Magician] Shh!

(clapboard clacks) - Hey, I'm Frank Harts and the name of my film is "Be True To Your School".

"Be True To Your School" is a film about a young girl from the Bronx who ends up having to use her genius to, basically, live or die.

I was watching a YouTube video of these young Nigerian math geniuses.

The teacher would fire off these rapid math equations, pretty complex, and most of them would be able to answer the questions before he would even finish the question.

I said, you know what?

Why don't I just take one of these characters and put a person like that in the Bronx, New York?

My acting experience informs my writing and directing because I understand what the end product is gonna feel like in the hands and the mouths of actors on the set.

The good thing about the actors on "Be True to Your School" is that I had to give very little notes because I hired actors that I pretty much already knew and had been wanting to work with for a very long time.

It was more technical than anything, and I knew I could just let them go and play within a structure.

- [Ruby] Wha-wha-what's dyscalculia?

- It means you got a roadblock in your brain and you can't do math, but I'm rooting for you.

- Simplify XK over- - I'm a filmmaker because as an actor, usually I'm telling someone else's story.

But for my own original stories, I knew that filmmaking was the only way to get my stories from here onto the page and then to everyone else.

That's why I'm a filmmaker.

I got stories I wanna tell.

Don't know any other way to do it.

- Folks, I hate to break it to you, but that's all we have for today.

In the meantime, you can always check out wmht.org/tvfilm to learn more about this season's filmmakers and to watch films on demand.

And don't forget to connect with WMHT on social media and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Thanks for tuning in.

I'm Jermaine Wells and I'll be seeing you next week.

(dramatic upbeat music) - [Announcer] TVFilm is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State legislature.