Indie filmmaker Dui Jarrod gave University students an advanced screening of his first feature film Tuesday night in the Student Union, but the film was not the only message students received.
“When you’re going for something that you really, really want, you’re not going to get the resources from random people that meet you here and there; it’s going to come from people that’s already in your circle,” Jarrod said.
The University alumus contacted Chaundra Allen, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, commonly known as OMA, to ask her if he could bring his film, “Lesson Before Love,” to the University and share his story with students.
“The thing about a lot of students who were here during that time is that they were just very eager to be involved and be engaged and just learn from each other, and I’m not necessarily saying that doesn’t happen now, but I think it was a very special time here at LSU and I think Dui was definitely a part of that,” Allen said.
The film follows the lives of four singles leading unfulfilling lives as they struggle to not only find love, but to also find themselves. Jarrod said it took him two and a half years to find the money for the budget, and told students the costs of the film were “what it would cost using a small Sudan.”
Jarrod said they paid people to use their locations in film, and that he learned how to be resourceful from the experience. Jarrod said many aspects of the film came from his life, and told students that among the four leading characters, he identified with Alexis, Janae and Eric the most.
“Janae, what her boyfriend did to her is what I did to my ex-girlfriend which is probably my karma and why I’m still single,” he said.
For three years, Jarrod was one of the few male cheerleaders of color at the University, and although the University didn’t offer a film degree when he was here, he said he “had to make due in order to do what he really wanted.” Jarrod said he thanks Allen and OMA for their assistance in “making him a man.”
There was a crowd of more than 20 students present, something that Jarrod said he was happy about as he kept the audience laughing with stories ranging from his time working at places like UPS to his endeavors as a filmmaker.
“I think this screening with you guys could possibly be the best screening we ever had,” said Jarrod to a laughing audience.
The crowd of students applauded his film, and many like Ashley Jackson, a theater junior, asked him questions afterward.
“I love the acting, I loved the idea and the concept of it and I loved the fact that it kind of related to what he went through. I Iiked that, and I felt really connected to the film,” said Jackson.
Joining Jarrod was Kenneth Brown Jr. of New Orleans, the actor who played Eric in the film. Brown said he has stood by Jarrod ever since the alumni gave him his first leading role, and told students how one of the moments he could never forget was when Jarrod helped him develop his acting.
“He was like ‘Look dude, you’re good, you’re really good, but it’s like you’re digging into this box of goodies that you have and you’re just relying on that, but you’re not digging into the character,” said Brown.
Jarrod spent time networking with Jackson minutes after the film and Q&A. Jackson said she’s always been fascinated with film and hopes to become a casting director one day.
“A lot of times people, universities, your teachers, they influence you in ways that you really can’t identify now. All of you probably appreciate going to LSU, of course it’s a great experience being here and hanging out in Tigerland, but you don’t realize how impactful it is until you’re away from the university,” Jarrod said.
The film will be released in theaters this October.
