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The best part about writing for Marginalia is that I get to let a lot of things off my chest. Sometimes I get so focused on what I’m doing I forget that I’m not the only one pursuing a degree in film

I’m surrounded by a group of talented filmmakers dedicated to sharing their voices. I was thinking you’d probably like to hear from them too, so I decided to do a series of simple interviews of my classmate. Now I know I’m not an amazing journalist like Chloe, but I did get these guys to open up, even if it was just a crack. I sat down with Jerrod Howe and here’s how (pun intended) it went.

So can you give me your name?
Jarrod Howe.

Why are you interested in film?
I would say as long as I can remember I’ve loved storytelling, and I think film is the first interaction that I had with storytelling that I can recall. I played sports and got involved with outdoor activities, but I think sitting in front of the television or going to a theater and watching a movie in a theater and actually having an experience in a dark room with a bunch of people you don’t know and just connecting with the subject matter and with the story was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I like film because of that.

Why did you choose to come to Columbia?
It was a long process. I came here originally to study comedy in Chicago at the Second City. I am not a performer, so I looked around after having completed the program. I looked around for something to do with my writing ability. Columbia had the graduate program for the MFA in writing and directing [now called Screen Directing]. I was drawn to the opportunity specifically because of storytelling and the connection with my earlier experiences in the film.

Can you describe your favorite movie scene?
My favorite movie scene, there so many, but the one that sticks out to me the most right now is in Kill Bill 2 when Uma Thurman’s character, I think the movie just opened up with her in a casket, she’s buried in the desert someplace and she flicks the match and she’s in the pinewood box and she introduces the 1 inch punch from her time training at the shaolin temple. It was amazing how she got out of the box.

And if you could only make one movie, what would the title be?
A Decent Cup of Coffee