1. Features Page 15
Joseph Kluge Takes the Lead on Set and in the Classroom
By Eileen Interiano
Psychics, reincarnation and game shows are all in Joseph Kluge’s fu-
ture and perhaps, professor of the year.
The 55-year-old adjunct film professor and finalist for professor of the
year at Adelphi University is currently working on selling two TV show pitches.
“They are two-reality shows, one of which involves a New Age game
show about psychics, reincarnation, and the power crystal,” said Kluge who
recently learned he’s a finalist for Adelphi’s adjunct professor of the year award.
“The second is a dark comedy game show that is a variation of “The Gong
Show” meets queen for a day in scope or purview but not directly in any way
for obvious reasons.”
Before transitioning into a popular professor at Adelphi, Kluge worked
on well-known films as a second assistant director, assistant location manager
and production assistant. Films that included “The Addams Family”, “True Col-
ors” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. He worked as a second assistant director to
co-producer Frank Capra III on “Murder by Numbers” starring Sandra Bullock
and Ryan Gosling.
“ Joe Kluge’s work ethic is impeccable,” said colleague Frank Capra
III. “He has the natural ability to understand the process of what it takes to
make a motion picture and the dynamics of dealing with a cast and crew. He has
a keen sense to adapt to any situation in a positive manner.”
Kluge has various experiences in teaching in both the film sets and
classrooms. For example, he has taught English as a second language to an
anti-poverty action group in Pacoima, California named Meet Each Need with
Dignity or MEND. As part of being an assistant director, he has worked
with young actors explaining call sheets, showing them who the directors were,
what an eye line was and where to stand. In “The Addams Family”, he worked
very closely with Christina Ricci and Jimmy Workman.
Kluge is a part of the Directors Guild of America and a member of the
Producers Guild of America. He has his own side projects, which he works on
when he is not teaching or attending his wife’s music shows. He is constantly
rewriting the scripts and story lines, especially for the two current television
shows that he is working on selling. “Joe’s previous work is outstanding, en-
gaging and comes from the heart of storytelling,” said Frank Capra III, who has
watched his previous film works.
“The show is always about the idea,” said Kluge. “The film business is
about content.”
Also, Kluge had his franchise advertising logo for Warner Brothers
published and used across the country. “What’s mean and green and stealing lit-
tle hearts this Christmas? Why it’s the Grinch of course!” was the logo he wrote
for “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”.
His shift from working in the
filmmaking industry to teaching began
when he returned home from California
to take care of his family members in
hospice. While taking care of them, he
took classes at Adelphi and received a
Master’s degree in adolescent teaching.
He found it renewing and it reminded
him of his love for filmmaking.
At Adelphi, Kluge has taught
the course Art of Film and video for
seven years now. In addition, he is a
member of the Faculty Center for Pro-
fessional Excellence. He works closely
with other professors on furthering the
use of Moodle, a school website appli-
cation. Kluge wants to incorporate more
motion pictures into the application.
“If there was a popularity
contest between the professors in the
department he would win,” said col-
league Terrence Ross, associate profes-
sor of communications. “The students
love him, he is fun and he cares about
them. Joe manages to show it in very
dramatic ways that attract students. He
is an inspiring professor he knows his field inside and out, in both a scholarly
level and a professional level”.
“Professor Kluge teaches his students with a passion that drives them to
become the next future generation of film makers,” said Frank Capra III.
Kluge enjoys working as a professor and said that he tries to treat his
students as if they were in a set with him. Even though he enjoys working as a
professor, he still misses working on sets despite of the long days. “You have to
love the excitement of the creation and then seeing it on the screen,” said Kluge.
“Even if your name is the last name before the curtain closes, it is still a great
feeling of accomplishment.”
Kluge says that work is never really work for him because he loves
what he does. He likes to show students movies that they wouldn’t normally
watch on their own. Movies like “Birth of a Nation” or “Citizen Kane” that
exposes students into the horizons and provokes them. “College and great film-
making is about provoking you and making you think,” said Kluge.
In order to succeed, Kluge believes that you have to be persistent, tena-
cious, have no shame and be prolific. “You must have no shame,” said Kluge.
“Pursue your dream and if you make a mistake, don’t be embarrassed. If the
critics bad talk you, listen and learn. Learn to be better but have no shame.
Don’t let anyone drag you down, keep going forward, keep positive and keep
your heart light.”
Photographer:
Tom
Campbell