Film finds tragic poetry in the average beer pong game
David Schlessinger
Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
harkens back to the Classical Age, the new student film's narration utilizes intricate rhymes with clever characterizations to give the audience a story of triumph, love and hope. Unlike an epic poem, the film's plot mainly revolves around a game of beer pong. But don't let that fool you into thinking that "The Beer Pong Trilogy," is just another crass, lowbrow comedy with an IQ equal to the average age of a college student. The film's premiere received a roaring ovation despite being bogged down by a few technical difficulties, and plans to release the film online are being made. Written, directed, starring and produced by Jeremy Cone '09 and with photography and filming by Brian Petchers '10, the film is split into three parts narrated by Cone, with few lines actually spoken by the actors. The narrator relates four characters
(including his own) engaged in a heated game of beer pong while their backgrounds and motivations are shown through a series of flashbacks.
A few side plots are delved into, which augment the main plot. Secondary characters dealing with a motley assortment of issues are added in to give an original, creative slant to the story. The narrator's brooding desire for accomplishment provides an overarching theme that makes the film feel whole. While the jokes handle the typical college banter one comes across in any party, it is the nature and context of their delivery that makes them genuinely funny. Although almost all of the actors have no lines, the acting is overall fairly good and the camera work is, for the most part, spot-on. Cone - whose other credits include "Facebook: The Musical," various plays and poetry - recalled being inspired by the time he lived with his friends during the summer. "What it would be like if I did care and was playing [beer pong] against kids who were so good. The reason [the dialogue] rhymes is because it elevates the story and raises the stakes, but also mirrors the famous 'Casey At The Bat" and the Paul Revere [poems]…. "I wrote [the script] in about a month and a half. Making the film took a month and a half. Luckily it was edited while [Brian Petchers and I] shot, since that took the longest amount of time. We had 15 hours of footage for a 40 minute movie," Cone said. Petchers' work has included a short murder-mystery and a foreign film. Both Cone and Petchers are working on various upcoming projects. If the opportunity ever shows, definitely try and check out "The Beer Pong Trilogy" for a tale of rambunctious deeds embellished by poetry.
(including his own) engaged in a heated game of beer pong while their backgrounds and motivations are shown through a series of flashbacks.
A few side plots are delved into, which augment the main plot. Secondary characters dealing with a motley assortment of issues are added in to give an original, creative slant to the story. The narrator's brooding desire for accomplishment provides an overarching theme that makes the film feel whole. While the jokes handle the typical college banter one comes across in any party, it is the nature and context of their delivery that makes them genuinely funny. Although almost all of the actors have no lines, the acting is overall fairly good and the camera work is, for the most part, spot-on. Cone - whose other credits include "Facebook: The Musical," various plays and poetry - recalled being inspired by the time he lived with his friends during the summer. "What it would be like if I did care and was playing [beer pong] against kids who were so good. The reason [the dialogue] rhymes is because it elevates the story and raises the stakes, but also mirrors the famous 'Casey At The Bat" and the Paul Revere [poems]…. "I wrote [the script] in about a month and a half. Making the film took a month and a half. Luckily it was edited while [Brian Petchers and I] shot, since that took the longest amount of time. We had 15 hours of footage for a 40 minute movie," Cone said. Petchers' work has included a short murder-mystery and a foreign film. Both Cone and Petchers are working on various upcoming projects. If the opportunity ever shows, definitely try and check out "The Beer Pong Trilogy" for a tale of rambunctious deeds embellished by poetry.
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