(This is part 2 of an interview with "Dumbstruck" director Mark Goffman. You can read part one here.)
Though he managed to hold on to his gear, Goffman wasn’t quite able to master the art of ventriloquism despite spending time with the pros. “Lindsay and I tried it, but we just don’t have it,” says Goffman. “It’s a real gift. First of all, you have to be a stand-up comic because you’re getting up on stage with an inanimate object, and you’re trying to make people laugh. And then, on top of that, both your hands are moving—your left hand controls the arms, your right hand is doing everything from body movement to making the ears wiggle. While all of this is going on, the lips have to be in sync with what you’re saying. It’s like you’re playing a fine musical instrument. And none of that matters unless you’re funny and you have a good act.”
When post-production was completed, Goffman submitted Dumbstruck to the 2010 Palm Springs Film Festival. He was delighted when it became one of only two documentaries to be chosen exclusively through the submission process, and he and Lindsay were stunned when it sold out. More importantly, it was a hit with audience members, including Mike McClellan, a head buyer for Landmark Theaters, who snatched up the theatrical rights. Dumbstruck went on to screen at a variety of fests, including the 2010 Atlanta Film Festival.
“When we tell people we’re doing a film on ventriloquism, it’s kind of a head-scratcher,” says Goffman. “They’re like, ‘Why?’ But once they see the film, they start to understand why. It’s this microcosm for anyone who has a dream and who’s aspiring to express themselves and follow their passion.”
For Goffman, seeing his movie on the big screen is a dream come true. After graduating from Emory with degrees in economics and philosophy, he moved to Belgium for two years, then went to the Kennedy School of Government, after which he thought he might become a speechwriter. But then he fell in love with The West Wing. “It just blew me away,” says Goffman. “Here’s a fictional show that captures all the aspirations in Washington and is so well written with fascinating characters. I sat down to right an episode, and I got extremely lucky that the producers of the show read it. I got to meet with Aaron Sorkin and wound up being hired to write on The West Wing. I’ve loved every moment since.”
In addition to his gig on The West Wing, Goffman worked as a writer and producer on Law & Order: SVU. Surprisingly, he says Chris Meloni, who plays the ultimate bad-ass, is actually a crack-up on set. “He can be goofy and really funny, always making people laugh between takes,” says Goffman.
Asked if he agrees that hip-hop legend and SVU cast member Ice-T has more memorable one-liners per minute of screen time than any other actor on TV, Goffman laughs: “Ice-T is amazing to work with. He is like this burst of energy. I shot an episode with him in Harlem. He’s almost like a philosopher of types. He just loves to talk about everything, from the show to life to his past. Some of his dialogue he comes up with and some is scripted, but he definitely goes over his scenes and talks through them with you and tries to figure out how he can make the most of every scene he’s in.”
Goffman is currently writing for USA’s smash hit White Collar, a job that he loves. It was during breaks from working on his various TV projects that he managed to finish off Dumbstruck. And now, 15 months after its premiere in Palm Springs, he’s excited to be back in Atlanta—both for the movie’s debut and the opportunity to grab some barbecue, which he tells me—in between sandwich bites—is tough to come by in Los Angeles.
He also reveals that Atlanta moviegoers can look forward to an extra treat when Dumbstruck eventually comes out on DVD: footage of Atlanta resident Willie Brown, a “funny and phenomenally talented” gospel ventriloquist who performs in churches. Though the Brown storyline didn’t make the final cut of Dumbstruck, footage of his act will be included among the DVD’s bonus features.
Moving forward, Goffman is excited about continuing to work on White Collar, and he’s eager to direct a scripted feature film project in the future. For the short term, though, he’s got slightly smaller aspirations that any Atlanta resident can relate to: grabbing some late night eats at The Majestic.
"Dumbstruck," directed by Mark Goffman, is currently playing in Atlanta at Midtown’s Landmark Art Cinema.
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