Feeling validated

Up-and-coming Burbank filmmaker Kurt Kuenne has re-created the romantic musical comedy by incorporating black and white film stock with an original gospel-Dixieland score. But the filmmaking process for “Validation” has been equal parts inventiveness and turn of good luck, he said.

Kuenne’s short film was selected to compete at the Los Angeles Shorts Festival and will be shown at 7:45 p.m. Sept. 8 at the AMC Burbank Town Center 6. It will showcase Kuenne’s new spin on old elements of romance and comedy in his film about a parking attendant who validates parking tickets, gives real-life validation and falls in love with a girl who can’t smile.

The black and white element of “Validation” sets it apart from the 1,300 films submitted, said Nadia Ahmane, public relations volunteer for the L.A. Shorts Festival, which runs from Sept. 5 to 17.

“I think that [‘Validation’ is] one of the short films that represents the spirit of the festival because the director is from Burbank,” she said. “It’s the kind of film we like to show during the film festival. I think it’s courageous to make a film in black and white today and it’s a short film that is very, very touching and a musical [that is] funny, inventive and a positive short film.”

In addition to making his mark with the revival of black and white film stock, Kuenne created his Dixieland-inspired scores in advance for hassle-free filming.

“[The music is] upbeat and energetic and [involves] a chorus of people,” he said. “All the music was written before we shot anything. I’ve fallen into liking recording and editing it in later. You’re always asking people to imagine what it’s going to be like, but it’s one less step to ask people to imagine.”

Since the film’s main character is so optimistic, choosing gospel music was a natural choice, Kuenne said.

“If there is a banjo playing, it’s hard not to smile and the whole movie is about smiling,” he said.

“The movie is about someone being so positive so that’s what naturally came to mind.”

Co-producer Dave Kuhr said he found Kuenne’s key song “Smile” really engaging.

“It’s just really sweet,” Kuhr said. “And the film itself is really sweet. Kurt has a really great eye for romantic comedies.”

“Validation,” which is part two in a four-part series, has received national recognition including best narrative short at the Cleveland Film Festival, best short comedy at the Breckinridge Film Festival and best short film at the Gen Art Film Festival. However, the best award of all came in the form of financial aid, Kuenne said.

The funding for “Validation” came unexpectedly at the Breckinridge Film Festival three years ago when showing part one of the series, “Rent-a-Person.”

“It was really serendipitous,” he said.

“I was actually at the Breckinridge Film Festival three years ago and was doing Q&A; and I said I didn’t know how I was going to pay for it, but when I got home that day there was a message on my answering machine from this couple out in Missouri . . . They said, ‘We really like what you’re doing and we’ll give you the money, no strings attached.’”

Launa and Danny Boston funded nearly $15,000 for “Validation” and another $15,000 for “The Phone Book,” which is the fourth film in the series, Kuenne said.

“I kept telling them, ‘You’ll most likely never see your money again,’” he said. “But maybe some day it’ll make its money back.”

Revenue was never the motivation in “Validation,” Kuhr said. “For short films, we’re not expecting to make money,” he said.

“Being able to produce something is so exhilarating and the final product is so thrilling. It’s a thrilling feeling to have knowing that people are enjoying what you’re putting out there. That’s really what it’s all about.”

Though Kuenne gave himself multiple responsibilities for the film, he enjoyed the process of creating “Validation,” he said.

“At the time, I was thinking ‘Oh God, this is too much for one person,’” Kuenne said.

“But the whole point was to have fun [and] we had a good time.” The L.A. Shorts Festival will also showcase several filmmakers from Glendale, including Philip Bloom’s short, “Cold;” and Brian Lo Schiavo and Robyn Yannoulos’ short, “Africa Parting.”