It’s not every day that one encounters the chance to participate in a friend’s passion project (just look at my previous post on the subject concerning Mark Thimijan’s web series). It is even rarer for such opportunities to be self-reflexive, possibly even genre-defining culminations of career-long ambitions: nevertheless, such has been the case with my experience filming the forthcoming Fame-ish (2019), a love letter to anime fandom and a personal achievement for its creator Jeff Nimoy.

Emmy-winning writer, director, producer, and actor, Jeff is known fondly to countless anime fans for, among other things, his history with the Digimon franchise (for which he wore many hats, including those of adaptation, direction, and voice acting) and his iconic role as the gun-toting priest Nicholas D. Wolfwood from Trigun (1998). Like many other big names in the industry, he has also had his fair share of convention appearances, providing outreach to many admirers by way of special-interest panels and, of course, autograph sessions.

It was at one such event in Minneapolis, Minnesota that Jeff and I were able to meet in person for the first time circa 2016. After his generosity to Michael and me (and, again, to numerous fans) for narrating an installment of our web series Did You Know Anime? (2014–), I expressed my gratitude and, in so many words, told him to call upon us should he ever need a hand with any future projects: Little did I know that, not five minutes later, this is precisely what Jeff would end up doing! Even with an eclectic career as a script writer and voice director within anime—which therein alone includes juggernauts like Bleach (2004–2012) and Naruto (2002–2007)—and beyond in American television already under his belt, there remained a certain creative itch that Jeff was intent on scratching: he was looking to direct his very own feature-length movie.

Fast forward some two years later (after countless days, weeks, and months of planning), and I find myself traveling with Michael all the way to Madison, Wisconsin to meet Jeff and the rest of our motley crew. We were to attempt the nearly impossible: shooting the majority of footage for a feature-length film on location at a Marriott during an actual anime convention—a wonderfully rambunctious, boisterous event in which hundreds upon hundreds of enthusiastic fans of all things geeky take part, converging in one place for a weekend of revelry (in other words, the antithesis of a quiet, controlled set). Amazingly, with a dedicated cast and crew (comprised of seasoned veterans and up-and-coming talents), along with an extremely acquiescent convention staff and patient, helpful attendees (many of whom volunteered on the spot to be extras), the improbable was rendered feasible: eighty pages of script shot in under eighty-seven hours.

Starring Jeff himself as the eponymous lead, Fame-ish centers around a fictionalized version of actor Jeff Nimoy, whose retrospection on his own career—predicated primarily on anime localization—leaves him decidedly dissatisfied with his past achievements. With bills to pay, savings dwindling, and other work avenues drying up, Jeff finds himself somewhat reluctantly returning to anime after a serendipitous offer to be the guest of honor at a convention. To his surprise, he finds that the economics of the industry have changed a bit in the years since his heyday; his culture shock, combined with his own slightly self-destructive propensities (and run-of-the-mill bad luck), soon lead him into troubled waters which he must navigate—all while interacting with hotel guests, avoiding overly affectionate fan girls, and figuring out what he thinks he ought to get out of life. It promises to be humorous, awkward, exciting, and emotionally stirring all in one (a comic-con rom-com, if you will). Whether you’re a longtime patron of anime, or have no clue as to what goes on at comic-book conventions, you’ll want to catch this anecdotal, heartfelt tribute to the actors, producers, staffers, and, most importantly, the fans involved in anime fandom that make this particular niche of pop-culture appreciation possible.

Also starring Lex Lang, Nikki Boyer, and Brian Donovan as fictionalized renditions of themselves, along with the very talented newcomer Margo Graff, Fame-ish is set to premiere at Geek.Kon 13 in 2019 to commemorate the place where it was filmed (distribution thereafter to be determined). As a mere extra and occasional go-fer on this production with only a tangential hand in development, I wish to extend a special thank-you and congratulations to those who did the heavy lifting—Allison, Hannah, Misha, Rob, Jonathan, Lex, Nikki, Brian, Ric, and especially our Director of Photography Chris—as well as to Kyle and his awesome, hardworking staff (shout-out to Nate the Great). It was a pleasure to meet you all, and I count myself extraordinarily blessed to have been able to work together.

Last but not least, an extra special thanks to the producer of Fame-ish, the man who was charismatic enough to attract such an ensemble in the first place and crazy enough to believe he could pull off such an undertaking. You, Jeff, were the hub around which we spokes turned for this magical, chaotic weekend and, on more than one occasion, were the glue that held everything together. I will be forever honored that you thought of me as someone who could help you fulfill a lifelong dream. Thank you for inviting me to partake in this unforgettable adventure.

Here’s to Fame-ish, anime, and indie filmmaking! I can’t wait till the premiere to catch up with all my new friends and to see the fruits of everyone’s labor.

© 2018