Gloucester County Times - May 24, 2004

Local man takes steps toward 'reel' career

Monday, May 24, 2004
By Shawn Menzies

WASHINGTON TWP. -- His love of film began early in life for Michael Licisyn. The Washington Township High School graduate is now perfecting the craft of moviemaking as a film major at Rowan University.

But he won't be working at some typical non-paying internship over the summer. The 20-year-old will be promoting his films and production company around the Delaware Valley film festival circuit, with his latest short film "Prayers" set to be screened for best of category in the Youth Media Jam in Philadelphia this week.

Licisyn said his interest in filmmaking started when he was about 8 years old, admitting now possibly for the first time that he was the reason his parents went through several video cameras.

"When I was young, I was always interested in watching movies, I loved to play music, and I started acting in middle school, but the one stepping stone for me was when I watched Kevin Smith's movie 'Clerks,'" Licisyn said. "It was hilarious, and I thought if he is a Jersey guy who can make it, I can be a Jersey guy from the suburbs who makes it. I watched all of his movies and I became a huge Kevin Smith fan. His influence on me made me want to make movies."

After practicing with his parent's video camera at home, Licisyn signed up for a telecommunications course in high school. He would go on to produce the school's news program "Monthly Rewind" and conduct an interview with musician "Weird" Al Yankovic, which he noted as a highlight.

Now at Rowan University, he is making movies both on his own and with fellow film students.

Licisyn's two films, both shorts, are making the rounds and winning film festivals. He's also kept busy with Mixed Nuts Productions, the company he co-founded in 1997.

"I wrote it with Jeff Viens and we made the movie. We got some close friends to star in it," Licisyn said. "It was our take on relationships, and I have to admit nothing was happening. We wrote it as how we saw the dating scene. We were influenced by 'Chasing Amy' (also by Red Bank's Kevin Smith) and you can definitely see similarities, but 'The Single Guy' is still unique."

"The Single Guy" has won the "Homegrown Award for Best Student Film" at the Garden State Film Festival and will be featured in the upcoming Ocean City Film Festival.

His latest film, "Prayers," was another personal journey for Licisyn, who describes himself as an "extremely religious" Byzantine Catholic. "Prayers" is about religion, faith, and dealing with questions of strength, he said. His timing of a religious-themed film, though coincidental, couldn't have been better.

"The film had nothing to do with 'The Passion of the Christ.' I wrote 'Prayers' long before the movie was released," Licisyn said. "The film is about what I think every young person goes through, the crisis of questioning faith. I got through it when I was writing and making 'Prayers.' It's how I perceived my faith to be."

Licisyn admits that writing and filming "Prayers" was tough, adding that the personal and technical aspects of the movie were the hardest part.

"A lot of people tell me they have never seen me do anything like it before and that it was good, but at the same time the idea didn't flow too well with other people," Licisyn said. "I have a Jewish friend who didn't like it at all. I have friends who are atheist and agnostic. You have to see it from my standpoint, having a faith, and you get it or you don't."

"Prayers" won "Best Drama" at the Central Jersey Student Film Festival held in Jackson on May 17. The film will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday in Philadelphia's Prince Music Theater for the Philadelphia Youth Media Jam. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Licisyn said he doesn't know where he would be without support from his friends. At first his parents urged him to go to college and better his already top computer skills to become a computer engineer, but they have since lent their support to his film career.

He said he wrote in his senior biography that he wanted to one day stand on stage, thanking people while holding a golden bald man -- an Oscar.

Licisyn stepped out from behind the camera to play an extra in Kevin Smith's movie "Jersey Girl." On the set he got to meet the movie's star, Ben Affleck, as well as comedian George Carlin and director Smith.

Unlike some scenes filmed of Jennifer Lopez that ended up on the cutting room floor, Licisyn knows his part made the film. He plays one of many people who attend a play.

"You can see me for, like, three seconds," he said.

The budding filmmaker said he understands the business as best he can, realizing the toughness of the movie industry, but he plans to make some noise and changes.

"I really want to be one of the great American film directors," Licisyn said with conviction. "I want to bring Hollywood back to Philadelphia. ... I just want to be a famous director."