Jay Jennings
Encyclopedia
Jay Robert Jennings is an American independent film
maker, and author
. He has directed two feature films,
Loanshark
(1999) and Hell To Pay (2011), as well as, an assortment of short films and documentaries. Jennings uses handheld cameras and cinéma vérité
techniques, shooting his films among old Hollywood buildings and streets.
and then attended film courses at Columbia College Hollywood
, UCLA, and the American Film Institute
.
, directs
, produces
, and composes the music for his films. He uses digital movie cameras and adds a grainy film look during the editing process. He shoots low-budget films, mostly without permits in a style called guerrilla filmmaking
. Film columnist David Del Valle
referred to Jennings as a "maverick filmmaker."
In 1999, Jennings directed his first feature Loanshark, a drama which the Los Angeles Times
considered the "Best Bet" for film when it premiered at the Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard
. Loanshark also screened at several film festival
s in 2000, including Silver Lake
, South by Southwest
, Santa Monica
, and Melbourne Underground
. The film depicts the stressful life of a ruthless loan shark
who drives around the streets of Hollywood looking for people who owe him money.
Jennings directed Tortured Soul (2002), a short film about a guilt-ridden father who tries to recover after the drowning death of his young son. The film was an official selection at the Silver Lake Film Festival.
In 2005, Jennings directed The Weird Museum, a documentary
about a circus-like freak show
which was located in Hollywood for many years. The documentary was shot just weeks before the museum closed in 1995 and is believed to be the only existing footage of the exhibits. The film screened at the TromaDance
Film Festival.
Jennings directed his second feature Hell To Pay in 2011 which was a loose remake
of Loanshark. The film tells the story of a debt collector with a penchant for violence who dares to cross his boss.
historian
, with an emphasis on Knott's Berry Farm
. In the summer of 2009, he wrote the book, Knott's Berry Farm: The Early Years, which was published by Arcadia Publishing
and features hundreds of rare photographs that haven't been widely circulated. The book goes into great detail in describing the history of Knott's Berry Farm and Ghost Town, including its attractions, shops, street performers, and founder, Walter Knott
. As of 2006, Jennings has been curator of The Knott's Berry Farm Museum, home to the largest collection of vintage
Knott's memorabilia in the United States
. A copy of his book is housed in the Library of Congress
.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
maker, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He has directed two feature films,
Loanshark
Loanshark (film)
Loanshark is a 1999 black-and-white American drama film written and directed by Jay Jennings. The film is a notable forerunner in the digital filmmaking movement.-Plot:...
(1999) and Hell To Pay (2011), as well as, an assortment of short films and documentaries. Jennings uses handheld cameras and cinéma vérité
Cinéma vérité
Cinéma vérité is a style of documentary filmmaking, combining naturalistic techniques with stylized cinematic devices of editing and camerawork, staged set-ups, and the use of the camera to provoke subjects. It is also known for taking a provocative stance toward its topics.There are subtle yet...
techniques, shooting his films among old Hollywood buildings and streets.
Early life
Jennings was born in Hollywood, California. He grew up making Super-8 movies and screening them for friends and family. He graduated from Beverly Hills High SchoolBeverly Hills High School
Beverly Hills High School is the only major public high school in Beverly Hills, California. Beverly is part of the Beverly Hills Unified School District and located on on the west side of Beverly Hills, at the...
and then attended film courses at Columbia College Hollywood
Columbia College Hollywood
Columbia College Hollywood is a film school located in Tarzana, California, USA. It is approved by the State of California to offer degrees, and is an associate institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design...
, UCLA, and the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
.
Career
Jennings writesScreenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, directs
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, produces
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and composes the music for his films. He uses digital movie cameras and adds a grainy film look during the editing process. He shoots low-budget films, mostly without permits in a style called guerrilla filmmaking
Guerrilla filmmaking
Guerrilla filmmaking refers to a form of independent filmmaking characterized by low budgets, skeleton crews, and simple props using whatever is available...
. Film columnist David Del Valle
David Del Valle
David Del Valle is a journalist, columnist, film historian, radio and television commentator on the horror/science-fiction/cult and fantasy film genres.-Career:...
referred to Jennings as a "maverick filmmaker."
In 1999, Jennings directed his first feature Loanshark, a drama which the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
considered the "Best Bet" for film when it premiered at the Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
. Loanshark also screened at several film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
s in 2000, including Silver Lake
Silver Lake Film Festival
Silver Lake Film Festival ran from 2000 to 2007. It was a 501 nonprofit organization established to provide a showcase for cutting-edge independent film, music, digital, and other arts in Los Angeles, California. The Festival was held annually at various venues throughout Los Angeles’ Eastside,...
, South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, Santa Monica
Santa Monica Film Festival
The Santa Monica Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Santa Monica, California, United States.- History :After a brief break the Santa Monica Film Festival was re-established in 2007 by a Santa Monica based non-profit. The Santa Monica Film Festival is now scheduled for August...
, and Melbourne Underground
Melbourne Underground Film Festival
The Melbourne Underground Film Festival was formed out of disagreements over the content and running of the Melbourne International Film Festival...
. The film depicts the stressful life of a ruthless loan shark
Loan shark
A loan shark is a person or body that offers unsecured loans at illegally high interest rates to individuals, often enforcing repayment by blackmail or threats of violence....
who drives around the streets of Hollywood looking for people who owe him money.
Jennings directed Tortured Soul (2002), a short film about a guilt-ridden father who tries to recover after the drowning death of his young son. The film was an official selection at the Silver Lake Film Festival.
In 2005, Jennings directed The Weird Museum, a documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
about a circus-like freak show
Freak show
A freak show is an exhibition of biological rarities, referred to as "freaks of nature". Typical features would be physically unusual humans, such as those uncommonly large or small, those with both male and female secondary sexual characteristics, people with other extraordinary diseases and...
which was located in Hollywood for many years. The documentary was shot just weeks before the museum closed in 1995 and is believed to be the only existing footage of the exhibits. The film screened at the TromaDance
TromaDance
The TromaDance Film Festival is a free annual independent film festival organized by Troma Entertainment. Founded in 1999, TromaDance was originally held in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, operating concurrently alongside the Sundance Film Festival in order to showcase an independent...
Film Festival.
Jennings directed his second feature Hell To Pay in 2011 which was a loose remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of Loanshark. The film tells the story of a debt collector with a penchant for violence who dares to cross his boss.
Author
Jennings is also an amusement parkAmusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, with an emphasis on Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
. In the summer of 2009, he wrote the book, Knott's Berry Farm: The Early Years, which was published by Arcadia Publishing
Arcadia Publishing
Arcadia Publishing is an American publisher of local history.-History:It was founded in Dover, New Hampshire in 1993 by United Kingdom-based Tempus Publishing, but became independent in 2004....
and features hundreds of rare photographs that haven't been widely circulated. The book goes into great detail in describing the history of Knott's Berry Farm and Ghost Town, including its attractions, shops, street performers, and founder, Walter Knott
Walter Knott
Walter Marvin Knott was an American farmer who created the Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in California....
. As of 2006, Jennings has been curator of The Knott's Berry Farm Museum, home to the largest collection of vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
Knott's memorabilia in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A copy of his book is housed in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
.