‘My Name is Jerry’ to be released on DVD

By Lacy Fuller

Of the Ball State Daily News

Critically acclaimed and winner of several film awards, the Ball State produced independent movie, "My Name is Jerry," is being released on DVD today.

The movie is one of few independent films that have been released and distributed nationally.

It's an honor to just have been selected for distribution, Rodger Smith, producer of "My Name is Jerry" and director of the Institution for Digital Education and Entertainment at Ball State, said.

"To be selected for distribution means that "My Name is Jerry" was in the top 5 percent of last year's films," he said.

Production was good

The production of the film gives students a chance to do some hands-on work and not just sit in a classroom and be lectured.

"The production of the film is a demonstration of what this university is all about: Immersive learning," he said. "Ball State is committed to immersive learning."

"This really puts our program on the map," project manager for "My Name is Jerry," Emma Smith said.

Smith is part of an immersive learning class that is executing a marketing plan for the film.

"I signed for this advertising course," she said. "I just figured it would be a read-the-textbook-and-get-lectured course, but when I got to my first class I found out otherwise."

Smith said her class was split into two groups. While one does marketing for Chevrolet, her group is marketing "My Name is Jerry."

The marketing team for the movie has held several activities to promote the DVD release. They handed out stickers and pamphlets during the Homecoming game a couple of weeks ago.

"We are also holding a drawing for the members of the film's fan pages on Facebook and Twitter. The winner will win a gift card to Best Buy," Smith said.

Morgan Mead, director and original script writer for the film, started writing "My Name is Jerry" five years ago with Doug Jones in mind as the main character.

"I took the script to Ball State and it took me about three years to convince the university to help fund this film," Mead said.

Typically, it takes from the time of writing a script to the DVD release date three to four years.

"It didn't take too long to release ‘My Name is Jerry,'" Smith said. "We really wanted to approach the film professionally. Just editing the film took nine months. Every movie is its own industry. It works from the ground up."

"My Name is Jerry" has been recognized and won several awards at national and international film festivals; some include:

-- Route 66 Film Festival — Best Feature Comedy 2009

-- Accepted in the Tacoma Film Festival

-- Accepted in the Grand Rapids Film Festival