Preston High graduate strikes gold with debut of 'Napoleon Dynamite'

   If you ran into Jared Hess on the street, you'd probably think he looks like a typical 24-year-old. But on the streets of Park City, the Preston High graduate is quickly becoming one of the most sought after directors at the Sundance Film Festival.
   Hess's first feature film, "Napoleon Dynamite" is blowing away critics and filmgoers at Sundance, something that slightly overwhelms the young filmmaker.
   "Being the pessimist that I am, especially after being part of something for so long, you tend to lose touch of what you actually have until someone who has nothing to do with you or the film watches it and responds to it. Then you know what you really have. The response we've received has been astounding so far."
   The story behind the film all began a few years ago when Hess was on his LDS mission.
   "On my mission in Chicago we met this person on the street, he actually called us over and just wanted to talk to some church people," Hess says. "We introduced ourselves and he told us his name was Napoleon Dynamite. I thought that was the coolest name I'd ever heard in my life. That's where the name of the film came from."
   After returning home, Hess enrolled in Brigham Young University's film school, a place where he not only learned the art of filmmaking, but also met many of the people who helped put together "Napoleon Dynamite" - including his co-writer, his wife Jerusha.
   Though many couples wouldn't be able to work so closely, Hess says writing the screenplay with his wife was a positive and fun experience.
   "Writing the screenplay with Jerusha was good. Creatively we are very different, but that resulted in something better than if I had done it all on my own," Hess says. "You will always have disagreements when you are collaborating creatively, but ultimately it works out for the best."
   The film "Napoleon Dynamite" was inspired and grew out of the short film "Peluca," which Hess had at the 2003 Slam Dance Film Festival. "Peluca" received many positive reviews and Hess was able to get the financial backing to put together his first full-length film.
   "I went to school with one of our producers, Jeremy Coon. We had worked on the short film together and we wanted to do a feature based on the characters from the short. The audience response from the short film was great, and from that we were able to get the financing to do a feature," Hess says.
   Like his short, "Peluca," Hess's feature film is based on the people and the community he knew growing up in southeast Idaho, something Hess said he knew had to be part of the film if he was going to make it the right way.
   Not only is the story "Napoleon Dynamite" set in Preston, but Hess, the cast and crew traveled there for a 22-day shoot in July 2003.
   "I went to high school in Preston, and my family is still up there," Hess says. "I wrote the script specifically with the town and the location in mind. It's such a unique, fun place that I knew I had to make a movie there."
   Of course, there would be no "Napoleon Dynamite" without the star of the film. Jon Heder, 26, was just a little known film student at BYU - until now. As the ultimate geek at Preston High, Heder plays the part of Napoleon perfectly and audiences - and his director - agree.
   "I met Jon at BYU, we had a few film classes together," Hess says. "I just knew he could play this character. I knew that he could pull it off with remarkable authenticity - and audiences seem to think so too.
   "He's pretty excited about everything that's going on. It's pretty much a whirlwind for him right now. But he totally deserves every bit of exposure that he's getting right now."
   As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hess says his faith plays a role in how he does his work. He adds that he isn't interested in making box office blockbusters that would go against what he believes, and he would really rather do stories that appeal to his creativity.
   "My faith absolutely plays a role in my filmmaking. The things that I believe certainly affect how I work and what I create. The content in the work that I do reflects that," he says.
   It seems like Hess is about to be everywhere, and he seems ready and willing to take the steps to make "Napoleon Dynamite" a big success. And it seems Hess's story won't end with this film; he is already at work on another comedy feature film, and there is also a possibility for a TV series.
   But this week, Hess and his cast and crew are rejoicing in the fact that their little film about a very big geek is grabbing the attention of some important people at the nation's most important film festival.
   "We're ecstatic about having the film purchased for distribution. It's exciting to know there will be an audience throughout the U.S. who will get to enjoy the world of 'Napoleon Dynamite.'"
   According to Hess, there are plans for a free screening in Preston, to thank those who worked so hard to help make the film possible.
   "My family and friends up in Preston are very excited," he says. "The whole community was just amazing in contributing to the film, and we are hoping to have a screening there within the next few months."
   Hess, who now resides in Salt Lake City with Jerusha and their son Elliot, says he will definitely make it up to the screening in Preston to show his support for the community.
   "Napoleon Dynamite" is competing in the Dramatic Feature Film category at Sundance. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Park City on Saturday.