Woodstock Film Festival

Upstate Films I RHINEBECK
10/02/2010, 1:30PM

Bearsville Theater WOODSTOCK
10/03/2010, 4:45PM

Norman is a remarkable young man. With his mother dead and his father seriously ill but refusing treatment, Norman must take it upon himself to make life bearable.

Struggling with his own teenage angst and pressures, Norman is catapulted into a lie that affects others' perceptions of him and changes the way he views himself. Dan Byrd as Norman beautifully captures the struggles of the character, while retaining his idiosyncrasies and sense of humor that prevail throughout.

Jonathan Segal's film beautifully examines the strategies used by an adolescent to deal with circumstances and emotions that challenge one's sense of self. The film also explores first love, the relationship between a father and son, and themes of loneliness and abandonment.

A poignant and engaging film, "Norman" combines great pathos and sadness with moments of razor-sharp comedy, tenderness and fine performances that ensures it will stay in the memory of any viewer. (Jacob Brades)

BIO:
Jonathan Segal's film experience has been focused on directing, writing, and producing. He recently directed his second feature film, "Norman", a powerful coming of age drama centered around a self-aware and darkly funny teen who's just trying to handle his daily existence. The film stars the Academy Award nominated Richard Jenkins, Dan Byrd ("Cougar Town"), Emily VanCamp (ABC's "Brothers & Sisters"), and Adam Goldberg ("Saving Private Ryan"). "Norman" also features an original score and songs from acclaimed musician Andrew Bird.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Segal was invited to take part in a comprehensive internship program at Paramount Pictures where he had the unique opportunity to work in all departments of physical production, shadowing key studio directors on various television shows. After his time at Paramount, Segal directed the 20-minute short film "Ripple," starring Anthony Michael Hall, Marcia Cross, David Hyde Pierce, and Colm Meaney. "Ripple" premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to show at over twenty film festivals around the world.

He recently Executive Produced the short film "Despair" starring Bryce Dallas Howard with cinematographer Matthew Libatique. Segal has been a writer-for-hire on several indies, and for such studios as 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, and New Line Cinema.

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