Midwestern filmmaker to premiere independent movie at Arlee
[May 21, 2025]
On Sunday, June 1, the Arlee will host a red carpet premiere for
More Myself than I, an hour-long film made by Illinois native & science
communicator Jonathan Wood, an Illinois State University alumnus. Doors
open at 5:30, and the movie begins at 6pm, with a Q&A to follow.
Admission is by donation, with funds going back to the filmmaker to help
offset the costs of making the movie and help fund future projects.
Jonathan grew up in the suburbs of Chicago wanting to know how things
work. This desire to understand led to interests in science,
behind-the-scenes making of documentaries on DVDs, and unclenching
desire to read everything. His interest in science led him to triple
majoring in physics, computational physics, and mathematics at Illinois
State University. While at ISU, he was afforded the opportunity to
explore film in a physics communication class taught by Dr. Allison
Harris where he developed physics education videos which sparked the
goal of one day solving the problem of making an original movie. He now
combines his career in physics with his hobby of film production in his
newest short films about the innerworkings of the fictional Oakview
State University Physics Department shot on and around the Purdue
University campus where he works as the assistant to the director of
physics and astronomy outreach, Dr. David Sederberg.
Synopsis: Meet the professors and students of Oakview State University’s
Department of Physics, the most brilliant minds that cannot figure out
what to do with themselves. Calculating a nitrogen vacancy’s spin orbit
coupling is a piece of cake for research assistant Kelly Curtis, but
what does she want to do after graduating? Now that’s a tough one. Maybe
her advisor, Dr. Will Baily, has the answer, he can write code in
Fortran as fluently as you speak English, but don’t ask him how to makes
friends out of the office. Maybe she can find an answer from the prickly
Dr. Toby O’Connor when he’s not alluding to classical literature in his
technical hydrodynamics publications. Is Physics Department Chair Dr.
Danile Bartlet really writing a romantic sci-fi western in his free
time?
[to top of second column]
|
Well, every department has its quirks and solving the theory of
everything is not all that it’s cracked up to be. Laugh at the
neurotic mishaps and cry at the humbling lows of Oakview State’s
most brilliant minds, just don’t ask them for any personal advice.
The film was shot on location at Purdue University and stars
Jonathan Wood along with fellow ISU alumnus Matt Donley, and
real-life physicists Adina Margineatu, Owen Odney, Raymond Glower,
Aleksey Mohov, Thomas Slamecka, August Bliese and David Sederberg.
Checkout their portrayer of academic life at the public premier at
the Arlee Theater. This event will be open to the general public.
About: The Arlee is located at 139 S. Main Street in Mason City, IL.
This volunteer-run organization features movies every weekend,
occasional concerts, and strives to be a platform to showcase
locally-made works as often as possible. Visit
www.arleetheater.com for
more information.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
