By Angela Marshall
Stiepleman, a 1999 South Side High School graduate, and a group of friends he's made while attending New York University's Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, plan to make a movie this summer. It's the story of one family's obsession with reaching the stars. Three generations of the impassioned Barliman Von Braun family have dreamed of building a rocket ship that would take them into space. After a glimpse at past failures, which resulted in death and disillusion, a father and son give it one final try.
Stiepleman describes the script of "Rocket Science," written by his good friend Alex Vassilopoulos, as "stunningly beautiful." The two have been making movies together since they started film school. But this one is different. The challenge of building a rocket and actually making it look like it has lifted off is monumental, especially considering that the film's budget is dependent on donations. The pair are thankful that Fuji has come through with a donation of film, and they've found a company that will develop it for less than the normal cost.
With a lofty dream, literally, Stiepleman, a co-producer and other members of the production team flew to Nebraska earlier this month to scout locations and audition potential cast members. They came back with an admiration for the good people they found there and a renewed determination to make the film happen.
Now they need a 15-foot rocket. Stiepleman's family has OKed the use of its backyard for construction, but the group still needs donations of scrap metal, wiring, piping, conduit and anything else that might help make the ship look realistic. They'd also be happy to hear from engineers or other volunteers who think they could help get the job done.
The plan is to build the rocket in three sections so it can be taken apart for the drive to Nebraska and then reassembled there. Filming will take place in July.
Stiepleman doesn't underestimate the amount of work he and his colleagues will face, saying it's the biggest project he's ever heard of at NYU. He calls it "a small tale of epic proportions."
Vassilopoulos will direct. His sister, Allegra, is an executive producer, and Matt Yeager is a co-producer. Allegra Vassilopoulos, a Columbia graduate working on Wall Street as a developer of risk-management systems, acts as the voice of reason, helping to shape the men's creative ideas into a viable project. Yeager has produced a number of films.
Stiepleman works as the assistant director of production for the film school and continues to attend school part-time. He has written, directed and designed numerous short films with Alex Vassilopoulos. In 2002, Stiepleman was a quarterfinalist for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' prestigious Nichold Fellowship. He said filmmaking combines "all the things in the world I love."
The filmmakers were impressed with the hospitality they received in North Platte, Neb. Allegra Vassilopoulos said she sent one e-mail to the Chamber of Commerce asking for help and was overwhelmed by the responses from hotels, catering companies and other businesses. While Yeager and Stiepleman were off scouting locations, a local theater let Allegra Vassilopoulos hold auditions. She managed to cast two of the movie's leads and other roles.
North Platte was made famous by a book about area residents who cheered some 5,000 servicemen and women a day during World War II. The volunteers would gather at the train station with cakes, sandwiches, magazines and more to give out during the 10- or 15-minute whistle stops the trains made there.
"It's still exactly the same," said Allegra Vassilopoulos of the residents' continued desire to help others.
Anyone with materials to donate for the rocket is asked to call Stiepleman at (917) 817-4206. For general donations, checks can be sent to Allegra Vassilopoulos, 629 East 5th St., Apt. 1, New York, NY 10009.
