Tapping Into Your Inner Kong

by John Priddy

We are proud to present the next Windy Wednesday film in our Windrider WinterFest series: “The Little Gorilla,” from writer/director Harry Kellerman. This highly acclaimed 12 minute family friendly film has won numerous awards, and audiences everywhere just love it.

“Kellerman deftly conjures the inner world and vision of a child
while offering ageless wisdom about facing yourself.”
– Director Monica Moreno, Angelus Student Film Festival

A Brief Synopsis:

“The Little Gorilla” is about a boy who must find the courage to climb a tall and scary jungle gym. Amid the shadows cast by looming New York City skyscrapers and an older brother who lacks faith, “the little gorilla” must unchain the King Kong within.

My Personal Reflections about this Film:

Harry Kellerman wrote, directed and composed the original score for this touching live-action drama about a young boy’s search for his inner hero. Kellerman’s exquisite film brings back a flood of good memories and reminds me that a “small,” simple story can often make the biggest impact. “The Little Gorilla” won the Priddy Brothers Triumph Award at the Angelus Film Festival in 2007, and has been the best-received film ever by audiences everywhere — wowing the crowds during our forums at Sundance and in Rome.

I can still picture the scene in the little village of Loppiano (in the Tuscan Hills near Florence, Italy), where I witnessed something I had never seen before at a screening. The audience was comprised of some 750 students speaking so many different languages we were unable to select a common tongue in which to sub-title the film!

“The Little Gorilla” rose perfectly to the occasion. With its blend of universal imagery, the world-famous New York City skyline, a momentous score and minimal dialogue, the film gripped everyone in the audience and allowed them to respond — personally and profoundly — to the story of a young boy faced with the prospect of scaling a scary jungle gym. The boy in the film adopts a mythic persona (his “inner King Kong”) to conquer his fears; the viewers undoubtedly were doing the same.  Kellerman’s exceptional narrative clarity carried the storyline … and the day.

As the credits rolled, the inspirational and pounding drum beats (composed and performed by Kellerman) lifted the audience to its feet in exuberate applause. Then … they began to dance. The audience seemed to find its own “Kong,” then danced away as the credits rolled.

Revisiting Kellerman’s triumphant tale, I am reminded that we are also living in an environment of fear and are in need of a way to transform that fear into confidence. Experts increasingly warn us that fear can drain an economy — and it makes sense if you consider the way many in our society are gripped by it.

Noted businessman Warren Buffet told CNBC that the economy has now changed the very culture of our nation, because fear is contagious. The New York Times says fear is rational, given our state of uncertainty over the current economy. Other media outlets continue to recycle messages of fear, minimizing and marginalizing any good news.

Thankfully, while cynics continue to cry for justice or toss blame around, many are speaking out, calling for renewed confidence — the flip-side of fear — to fuel change and reach beyond impediments to renewal. While fear causes cynics to react without much reflection, confidence inspires us to look beyond the problems of the day to discover what we crave deep in our souls … to see beauty, to hold onto hope, to build community, and to craft a better way forward.

Just like the film’s “little gorilla,” the path is taken one step (rung) at a time. We must find our inner Kong, face our fears, look to the heights before us … and climb.

Gee … I feel like dancing.

Biography: Writer/Director Harry Kellerman

Born and raised in New York City, Harry Kellerman studied dramatic arts at Brown University before receiving a master’s degree in Fine Arts from the prestigious Columbia University Film program with a concentration in screenwriting and directing, and a special interest in family film. Kellerman has made two award-winning shorts — both for family audiences — and is currently working with television producers at HBO Family and Nickelodeon. He hopes to write and direct movies in the family genre.

Winner of the 2007 Angelus Priddy Bros. Triumph Award, “The Little Gorilla” boasts a King Kong-sized list of additional accolades, with 20+ awards at more than 70 festivals including Best Short Film at AFI (American Film Institute).

Interview with Harry Kellerman

http://emol.org/film/archives/littlegorilla/index.html

** We are having streaming difficulties with “the Little Gorilla” and will post the film at a future date when the issues have been resolved. In the meantime, please enjoy the short film “A Sheep on a Roof.” **