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 On a cool November evening, four men sit in a living room in Warrensburg, MO and discuss the goings-on of the past week. Thumbing through scripts and story ideas, they candidly discuss their opinions on each and narrow the search for the script that could become the next big project. These men are filmmakers. But not just any filmmakers - they are the Space Dolphins. And this is their story. In the Beginning… It all started in the rustic town of Troy, MO in 1999. High school junior Jeremy Gerstner had ideas and he was in search of kindred spirits. He met up with sophomore Kent Pollman in a speech class and they began to toss some ideas around. They had no goal in mind as they began to write. If it was entertaining, they’d get it down on paper. After a few months, they had an excess of ideas and were anxious to start on a project. Jeremy took command and began actively recruiting people to write a play with. Although many were supportive, only sophomore Flynn Smith and freshman Nolan Wall persevered through the writing process and in early 2000, the three students had completed Big Ship Titalicus. The play was passed around amongst friends and family with side-splitting reaction. With this promising start, there was more excitement toward the group. Wentzville native Joe Zoellner joined and the Space Dolphins were born. Hi-8 Hysteria With the core members in place, the group began writing again. Kent suggested that the group purchase a Hi-8 camera to bring some of their projects to fruition. Everyone was eager to film, so Kent went out and bought the camera himself. They agreed that over the next few months, each member would pay him back ¼ of the cost and the Hi-8 would, and did, become property of the group. The boys thought they needed a name and they eventually decided on the title “Space Dolphins,” which they borrowed from their own script of Big Ship Titalicus. Let the Film Roll… With the Hi-8 ready for action, the Space Dolphins began filming at a furious pace. One of the earliest films, The Chase, featured hilarious performances by Jeremy and Flynn. Along with an improvised script, great editing, and perfect comedic timing, the film was an instant classic and remains one of the most popular SD films to date. During filming, Flynn’s car nearly rolled down a hill. Thankfully, at the last second, it was miraculously saved from certain death. Fade To White was the next project - a somber story that used Pollman’s music to capture an emotional, thought-provoking atmosphere. After the initial showings of the film, the group took a sample of seven viewers and asked them what they thought the film was about: they got seven very different responses. The project had worked – each audience member had thought independently and came out with different positions on the film. As Pollman later stated, “We thought it was great to let the audience be unknowingly in control of what they were watching. To a certain extent, we try to do that with all of our films – keep the audience thinking and being active, rather than feeding them in-your-face entertainment like you see every day.” By this time, the Space Dolphins were developing new members and the team was growing quickly. The projects continued to pile up, but time was ticking towards the inevitable… Dolphins go to School By 2001, four Space Dolphins – Jeremy, Kent, Flynn & Joe – were away at college. The projects persisted, but as their time became more limited, the time spent filming became more creative and productive. They continued to film unremittingly and the film Late Project was the high point of that period. During filming, Gerstner and a camera were strapped into the back of a van by a plethora of seatbelts to film the wild driving scenes. Also during this time, Joe and Jeremy (who had been studying at Flo Valley) began using digital cameras and professional editing software to give their films a more polished look. After a long summer back in Troy, the Space Dolphins made a big decision… Warrensburg Ho! In the fall of 2002, Jeremy and Joe joined Kent and Flynn at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, MO. They hooked up with the local and campus TV stations and began work on new projects, both school-related and otherwise. Constant work on performances, writing and school has kept them very busy recently but they’re eager to begin work on the next big project… Space Dolphins Today Most recently, Jeremy has been reviewing scripts for the next Space Dolphin film. “We haven’t found the right one yet, but if all else fails, we’ve got plenty of ideas in store. A lot of our scripts call for technically demanding details that we just can’t handle with our current budget, but they’ll be waiting when we’re ready for them.” Some new ideas have been floating around, such as animations ManBat and Another Day In Fairytale Land. Also, a sketch comedy/talk show is also in the works which would probably air on the CCN (Campus Cable Network). A nearly complete comedy script, Average Dead, is at the center of the most recent Space Dolphin discussions. The Legacy, the Future… At the end of the day, the Space Dolphins would like to be known for “good filmmaking, comedic and otherwise”. Whether the subject is fantasy, mystery, action, comedy, or all of the above, they are determined to break from the norm and provide thought-provoking entertainment. As Gerstner said, “The Space Dolphins are a family. We’re a network of people who enjoy filmmaking, writing and just being around each other. The SD family is enormous, and we’re always looking for new friends.” 
Contact Information: Space Dolphin Pictures (c/o Jeremy Gerstner) - Dustin Wall |
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