Effortless Perfection, a short film directed by Cal State LA Theatre Professor Stephen Rothman, is earning recognition on the film festival circuit. The film has received seven laurels from six film festivals. It was screened on May 11 at the Big Apple Film Festival in New York City, and is scheduled for a Sept. 14 screening at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood as part of the Indiewood Film Festival.
Written by Rothman’s longtime friend David Wasson, Effortless Perfection centers on an encounter between a man in his mid-70s and a woman in her 40s who meet under dangerous circumstances. Much of the film unfolds during a conversation between the two on a park bench as they form an unexpected connection that ultimately changes them both.
Rothman said the relationship at the center of the film resonated with him because of his work as an educator. He saw similarities between how the two characters affect each other, and how professors and students influence each other.
“I affect these lives, and they go on to do their thing,” Rothman said. “I continue to do mine, but something happened, and I’m affected by them.”
The film was produced for approximately $20,000. Rothman said part of his motivation for making the film was to demonstrate to students in Cal State LA’s Master of Fine Arts in Television, Film, and Theatre program that producing quality work does not necessarily require a large budget.
Rothman said the film was also an opportunity to put into practice what he teaches in the classroom and to demonstrate what filmmakers can accomplish with limited resources.
The film was shot in New York City under Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America contracts. Filming in Queens presented challenges, including school bells, children, and airplanes from nearby LaGuardia Airport. Changing weather and lighting conditions also affected the lengthy park sequence.
Rothman credited the film’s cast and crew with overcoming those challenges. He said the experience reinforced the importance of assembling talented collaborators when working with limited resources.
The experience also reinforced another lesson Rothman emphasizes with his students: Even strong cinematography and performances cannot compensate for a story that fails to connect with an audience.
“You could get the greatest shots in the world,” Rothman said. “But if the words don’t take you somewhere in a special way, you don’t have a film.”
Rothman spent much of his professional television career directing multicamera sitcoms before joining Cal State LA, where teaching has become a central part of his work. His career has included extensive work in theatre, including a Cal State LA and Deaf West Theatre co-production of David Mamet’s American Buffalo.
As he has grown older, Rothman said his approach to his career has shifted from pursuing the next professional milestone to focusing on the experience of creating meaningful work.
“I’m doing the work. I love the work,” said Rothman.
That perspective made the response to Effortless Perfection particularly unexpected.
“It’s blowing my mind,” Rothman said of the film’s festival recognition.
Rothman said he hopes audiences ultimately connect with the humanity at the center of the film and its portrayal of two people who come from different backgrounds but recognize when the other person needs help.
“We should all be there for each other, no matter what the cultural background is, no matter where we’re coming from,” Rothman said.
*Please note that this release is also published on the Cal State LA College of Arts and Letters webpage.
