Film: Self-Help!

In May, 2005, Bean Lake Productions started shooting a feature film called "Self Help!", a comedy that follows the journey of an office cubicle designer, Banks Brockmore, who quits his job to become the world's next great motivational speaker. As a vehicle to his greatness, the hapless character creates a reality TV show called Rock More! with Banks Brockmore!, and has his roomate create a supporting website dispite his utter lack of web design skills. The website address for the "show" is banksbrockmore.com. Check it out! I act in the role of "Crank Crankerson", a football-loving red-neck.

More Regarding What It's About: Brian Culp, Director, gives this synoposis: He’s insanely jealous of Tony Robbins and Dr. Phil. He wears a fake moustache in an effort to look more “pedagogic,” even though he has no idea what that word means. And he’s obsessed with a single pursuit: becoming a darling of the motivational-speaking circuit. He is Banks Brockmore!, and he’s just figured out what will propel his Junior Varsity career into the Big Leagues: a reality TV show, based on his own, well, “unusual,” motivational techniques. (And yes, Banks both a) signs his name with an exclamation point, and b) quotes himself with “flexed fingers” in the air.) Banks then risks it all - his house, career, the last shreds of his self-respect – and soon hits the road with a tiny film crew in search of contestants. Fortunately, there are lots to choose from. After all, as Banks himself says in his (self-published) book, “There’s Something Wrong With You, Too!!” But Banks’ “contestants” aren’t quite as receptive as hoped, and before long the show is in real trouble. But in subverting Banks’ last remaining hope for the show, Sonny Futz, a jealous husband of one of Banks' "contestants" unwittingly sets Banks on a course towards his greatest triumph. Now just one question remains: should Banks accept his ironic offer of wealth and fame? Self Help! is a comedy that skewers two staples of a modern television diet: reality TV and the self-help industry. In doing so, it also subtly and humorously examines what Thoreau described as humanity’s struggle against “lives of quiet desperation. For more information about Bean Lake Productions, their website is www.beanlake.com.