Stars and planets align for No. Brunswick filmmaker

Ariel Frenkel, of North Brunswick, will screen his film “Pluto” at the N.J.International Film Festival at Rutgers University on June 5. NORTH BRUNSWICK — A township native will be showing his feature film at the New Jersey International Film Festival June 5.

Ariel Frenkel, 25, will be screening “Pluto,” a film he wrote, directed, produced and stars in.

According to the film’s website, the film is based around Paul “Pluto” Strauss, who spends his days interfering with the lives of strangers. He has nothing better to do with his time and wealth, so he escapes his own unhappiness in pursuit of something more entertaining. Although he’s not harassing people he’s never met, he spends his time inconveniencing and often embarrassing those closest to him. When Olivia, a girl from his past, re-enters his life, Pluto finally must acknowledge the weight of his lies and the consequences they bring.

“Pluto’s story began in a bar where a local musician was playing. I thought about what would happen if I were to lie to him and tell him that I could represent his talents and help his career. I obviously recognized the wrong in doing something like that, but it became interesting to me to think of what would push a person to follow through with such an activity,” Frenkel said. “We as a society seem to be so fascinated with reality TV and the idea of entertainment at the expense of others, so it didn’t seem too farfetched to believe that someone would do this for their own satisfaction.”

Frenkel said that many people in their 20s are struggling to figure out who they are and what life holds for them. He also said the story focuses on the impact of parenting and how poor relationships can re- ally affect someone’s behavior and lifestyle.

“To feel lost or alone is not something people have trouble relating to, even if the story is told in a light and quirky fashion,” Frenkel explained.

The script was finalized after a year of rewrites, constructive criticism and a reading in Frenkel’s apartment. Several months of preproduction, casting actors, finding locations, designing costumes, and hiring a cinematographer, lighting crew, sound technician and makeup artist ensued.

Filming took 19 days in various New Jersey locations with eight major roles and 53 supporting actors; the editing process took another year.

At the end of two years, “Pluto” is now ready for public viewing.

“When the movie was finished, I was extremely excited and proud. However, I recognized that all the hard work had just begun, and that while I had a finished product, someone still needed to buy it and hopefully like it,” he said. “Being accepted into the NJ International Film Festival was a great feeling; there is nothing like validation from strangers. Your friends and family will always tell you that you’re great, that they love what you do, and while they may be sincere, it’s hard for them to be objective. When it comes from someone who owes you nothing, it’s an extremely rewarding experience. To know that someone you don’t know enjoyed your work means that you must have done something right.”

The Astoria, Queens, N.Y., resident has worked hard to achieve this recognition. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from Montclair State University, after performing in every musical and drama with theAlchemist Theatre Company while at North Brunswick Township High School. An avid movie fan, he began to educate himself on the set of short films, commercials, and Web series that he acted in after college.

He won the Kennedy Center Irene Ryan Acting Competition in college at both the regional and national levels, the only Montclair student to have done so.

He also formed the New Jersey-based theater company StrangeDog and the production company FireCracker Chicken Films, which produced “Pluto.”

However, Frenkel said that the upcoming film festival is an achievement he has not yet matched. “Pluto” will be screened Sunday, June 5, at 7 p.m. at Rutgers University, 105 Voorhees Hall, Hamilton Street, New Brunswick. There is a short film that will be screened before it and a question-and-answer session to follow. Tickets are $10.

“This is putting myself out there in a way that is more vulnerable than anything else I’ve ever done. It’s terrifying but totally worth it. It’s given me the confidence [for] several other projects of my own, including aWeb series I recently released, as well as several other films, a TV pilot and a musical that I have already begun working on,” he said.

Frenkel’s short-term goals are to have “Pluto” accepted at other film festivals and possibly to be distributed on DVD. Long term, he plans to continue his artistic endeavors as well as his acting career.

More information is available at www.njfilmfest.com, www.MeetPluto.com or www.AriFrenkel.com. Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@gmnews.com.