Brian Dietzen: Congratulations
Talented actor Brian Dietzen best known for his recurring role as ‘Jimmy Palmer’ on the hit TV show NCIS has been busy promoting his new film Congratulations, a relationship movie, which he wrote with Abby Miller, Juan Cardarelli and Eric Levy. The film examines the turmoil between a couple when it becomes obvious they have opposing views on marriage. It stars Dietzen as marriage proponent Jim Riley, Abby Miller (It’s Not You, It’s Me), Debra Jo Rupp (That ‘70s Show) and Kevin Rankin (Friday Night Lights).
Dietzen who made his screen debut in 2003 with Grammy-winning songstress Kelly Clarkson in From Justin to Kelly, graduated with a BFA, majoring in acting from the University of Colorado at Boulder. His theatre work includes a two year stint with The Colorado Shakespeare Festival and later contemporary works like Equus and Same Time, Next Year. After making the inevitable move to LA, Dietzen got a part in the WB series My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, and won critical acclaim in the stage production of The Oldest Man in Showbiz.
IFQ’s Briege McGarrity enjoyed chatting with this hardworking actor and hearing more about the genesis of his film and juggling life as an actor and happily married father of two. Congratulations premiered at the Austin Film Festival and screened at the LA Indie Festival, The New Filmmakers of Los Angeles and Vail Film Festival to packed audiences. With a theatrical run possibly in the cards, it looks like Dietzen has achieved well-deserved success with his new indie film.
Independent Film Quarterly (IFQ): Congratulations on writing and starring in Congratulations! Tell me a bit about the catalyst for your feature film about modern marriage.
Brian Dietzen (BD): When Abby Miller and I began writing these two characters, we decided to focus on what we knew. I’m married with two kids, while Abby is in a happy relationship without being married. We decided to have these two archetypes (one who values marriage, one who decidedly does not) clash. At the time, Prop 8 was in the news, as it still is, and we thought that it would be interesting to have these two characters trying to define what marriage is for themselves. It was a cool twist to have the concept of marriage tear two people a part instead of bring them closer together.
IFQ: Coming up with a film that audiences actually care about is half the battle when making a film, and I believe you nailed it with Congratulations! How have audience reactions been so far?
BD: The reaction to this film has been spectacular. Really beyond what any of the four of us expected. It’s interesting, because it’s a difficult concept to sell to an audience: yet another relationship drama. But when we’ve gotten the butts in the seats at over a dozen film festivals so far, we’ve had amazing feedback, and people really want to support the film.
IFQ: What were some of the challenges of shooting the film and were you pleased with how your film translated from script to screen?
BD: The inherent challenges of shooting a film on a very small budget were there, but we worked past them pretty well. As soon as Abby and I started rewriting with our directors, Eric Levy and Juan Cardarelli, we formed a pretty great creative core that served us well during shooting. We’d worked on the script so intensely for so long that we always had those shared experiences to fall back on when the going got tough during shooting. It was great to have everyone on the same page. I was very happy with how much our cast brought to this script. Kevin Rankin, Debra Jo Rupp, Terryn Westbrook and Blaise Miller really brought their A games, and elevated what we’d written. We were very blessed with this cast.
IFQ: Agreed. Your chemistry with Bridget was very believable. How was the casting and cowriting process?BD: It was cool to get the opportunity to write with Abby, Eric and Juan together because it enabled Abby and I to rehearse for months before we shot a single frame. In fact, whenever we were stuck on a scene, Abby and I would act it out, regardless of which characters were in it. So Abby played pretty much every female character during the writing process, and I did the same with the guys’ roles. Those months of prep really served us well during shooting. We knew the script well to say the least!
IFQ: The film has a way of getting you thinking about your life and examining love and marriage. Was that one of your goals when choosing this topic?
BD: Yes! We wanted people to walk away examining their own relationships and asking themselves who they identified with. It’s been interesting. At certain screenings, we’ve had decidedly “pro-Bridget” audiences who can’t believe how much of a calloused asshole Jim is, and in other screenings, we’ll have people saying “why didn’t Bridget say yes? They’re so good together”. It’s been a cool litmus test, and has spurred more than a few conversations.
IFQ: Yes, Jim was a tad uptight for free spirited Bridget. Like your character are you normally the type to make plans for the future?!
BD: Yup. Like I said, Abby and I wrote from what we knew! I actually had a plan to have a kid before I turned 30. And I did! I’ve got two kids now, and I’m very happily married, and it’s all a part of my master plan. 🙂
IFQ: Tell me how you partnered up with Juan Cardarelli and Eric Levy?
BD: Abby and I met them when we were interviewing directors. A few friends of ours, Todd Luoto and Mike Mohan recommended them, and we hit it off well. When we met, they said that they wanted to work on the film, but only if they could rewrite the whole thing with us. Make it a true collaboration. It worked very well for us. A cool process and they definitely helped give the film a stronger structure.
IFQ: How has interest been from distributors?
BD: We are distributing the film with Film Buff in July through VOD and digital. We hope to have a TV deal shortly thereafter.
IFQ: In terms of your acting career, how did you get your start?
BD: Theater. I grew up in Colorado, went to CU at Boulder for theater, and did a few years for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival before moving out to LA. My agent in Denver (Patty Kingsbaker, the best agent ever) had an agent from LA see me in Waiting For Godot, and he invited me out to Los Angeles for pilot season. I had a few rough patches, but I’ve been very blessed to be working consistently.
IFQ: Is it very different acting in an indie movie as opposed to a TV series?
BD: The work process is absolutely different. When you are telling a 90 minute story with a character who has a massive arc, you go on a different journey than when you play a character for a 42 minute story who essentially remains unchanged by the end of each story (which is to say, the character must get back to “square one” before the end of the show, so we can tell another story next week!) And while the work process is certainly different from a multi-million dollar TV show to a low-budget indie, the exploration of character should remain the same. It’s all about finding the truth in the moments on the page. Funny moments, heartbreaking moments, it doesn’t matter. Finding the truth is essential to make an audience believe you.
IFQ: Congrats on being a series regular on NCIS – 8 years on the same show is a great achievement. Is it a challenge to learn the fast-talking scripts?
BD: Not so much anymore, but then again, I don’t have to spew out the info like Pauley Perrette or David McCallum! We each get our numbers called on that show, and have to step up to have certain episodes that test us, and I always look forward to those opportunities. The show has been a wonderful experience, and I’ve loved working there. Really a tremendous group of people.