In 2004, Minute Made Productions (later to become neon reel Entertainment) undertook its first short film endeavor with “A Life of a Quarter” to enter Maryland U Create Film festival. Matzen had just enrolled at HCC as a graphic design major. With his passion for filmmaking clear in his mind, he gathered some friends, loved ones and supporters to embark on his first attempt at directing a film. A student by day and fast food assistant manager by night, he tapped his journal for ideas; something short and feasible. The result, “Life of a Quarter” left the pages of Matzen’s idea book and became tangible. This first film project features a-day-in-the-life of something you handle everyday; a quarter. As for cast, friends and loved ones are usually the most reliable source of acting talent anyone can get with a limited budget of virtually nothing. This short film features:

Jeremy Vermillion: Dude Homey
Robert Talbert*: Customer #1
Thaddeus Hoffman: Customer #2
Billy Minard: Young Boy
Sara Matzen: Dr. Malunie
Jennifer Rosensteel: Crazy Lady/ Make-up artist
Tom Donlon: The Bum
Alex Grove: Customer #3
Lexxy the dog: Dog
Matt Matzen: Dude’s co-worker

Location, Location, Location:

Time and time again location/ setting prove to be one of the largest and most key elements to filming. With neon reel’s budget set at just short of 50 dollars (enough for gas, beverages and a 20 pack of hot dogs with buns), finding a free location is a constant burden. “Life of a Quarter” caught a break when Matzen presented his idea to shoot a short film, surrounding a burger joint, to the owner of multiple McDonald’s franchises in the Hagerstown area. Mark Levine whole-heartedly agreed to allow neon reel and its team to shoot their short film in a 3-4 hour window during slow business hours. In addition, Levine allowed Matzen to use his manager title to arrange free food and beverages for the actors and crew. Without Levine’s support and admiration of an entrepreneurial spirit the beginning of this production company could have fallen flat before it took off the ground.

Levine only stipulated that Matzen not have the McDonald’s brand, merchandise, or name in any one of his shots. Unless you’ve never been to a McDonalds, The clown is everywhere and the McDonald’s name is smeared over every inch of that red and yellow marketing disaster. You will notice some angles aren’t perfect and the black and white distorts some images. In one particular shot an entrance sign had to be covered with large shipping paper, but with the film in black and white no one would even notice unless told to look for it.

Down and Dirty: homeless chic

The history of money, where it’s been before you and whose hands it’s passed through, isn’t on the forefront of anybody’s mind when exchanged for purchases. To aid with the cinematic presentation of ‘dirty money’ the final hands the quarter passes through are a homeless man’s hands for a cup of coffee. With the closing shooting date and no actor to play a homeless man, Matzen approached Tom Donlon in his graphic design class and pretty much said “I could see you as a bum, would you like a part in my film.” Donlon blankly stared for a few seconds before agreeing to play the part of our homeless man. The first stranger neon reel has approached to be an actor.

To create the gruff appearance of a homeless man, Jennifer Rosensteel did his make-up and some crew members dragged an overcoat we found at the Goodwill through mulch, dirt, mud, stomped on it, spit on it and finally smeared a rancid piece of chocolate peanut butter cake. Donlon’s acting talent perfectly matched his disheveled appearance to give a strong performance to end the film. His presence and energy are greatly appreciated. It should, also, be mentioned that a director is as good as his word and compromising that image can leave lasting impressions. Matzen never followed up on his promise to give Donlon a copy of the short film- something he deeply regrets today.

*Special thanks to Rob Talbert for being a part of this team from the beginning, from angry customer (“Life of a Quarter”) to the Fucker (3tards series/ Fucker’s Corner) and coming soon paranormal videographer (“an Hour Out”). Talbert has been with neon reel from the beginning and a major supporter of our work. Thank you.

Download a Life of a Quarter HERE