Straight to legitimacy

Ana Barredo’s real job is a DVD project manager for Image Entertainment. Her other jobs include writing, directing and producing her video debut “A Real Job,” a romantic comedy about a 38-year-old video store employee and the sparks that fly between him and a customer.

“I started writing the script and I pretty much followed the rule, which was write about something that you know. In 1998, the only thing I knew about was the video world because I worked in a video store for a good three to four years, so I wrote about that,” said Barredo, who graduated from UCLA with a degree in psychology in 1998.

The ultra-low-budget movie was made for about $10,000, most of which came directly from Barredo’s credit cards. Shot on digital video, “A Real Job” was released and is now available exclusively on video and DVD.

“I wanted to shoot this on film because it would have been easier for me to sell it and get a theatrical distribution,” Barredo said. “However, financially it was impossible. So I did it the way I could afford to do, which was to shoot it on video, and I think it turned out as well as I could have possibly made it.”

Barredo’s efforts have been rewarded with glowing reviews and selection for the 2001 New York Independent Film and Video Festival and the 2001 Ashland Film Festival in Oregon. The movie is also eligible for a Video Premiere Awards nomination. The VPAs are the Oscars of movies that have debuted on video rather than in theaters.

“Studios also do direct-to-video so we are still competing with the major studios like Universal, MGM, Warner, New Line – you name it, we are competing with them,” Barredo said. “But it feels good to be a part of that and to actually have a shot at it.”

With such a low budget, there is no marketing frenzy to help this movie find an audience. According to Barredo, the news is spreading through word of mouth.

Having a direct-to-video release does not necessarily equal a setback for moviemakers. Like “A Real Job,” video premiere movies can be made for less money, and they also allow for more creative control as seen with Barredo’s credits as director and writer.

“I think there are more straight-to-video movies coming out now than ever before. Because of digital video, it’s made movie-making a lot more accessible to people like me, who aren’t backed up by major financial backers who have millions of dollars to put into a movie,” said Barredo.

Barredo is not the only one receiving praise for her work. Lead actors Paul Kolsby, who plays the video store employee, and Sharon Repass, his love interest, are also in the running for nominations.

Like former video store clerks Quentin Tarantino and “Clerks” filmmaker Kevin Smith, working in a video store proved to be a great source of inspiration for Barredo, who has created genuine characters that appeal to film buffs like herself. Her only previous film training was at UCLA, where Barredo’s electives consisted mainly of film classes.

Having achieved acclaim for “A Real Job,” Barredo continues to work on other projects, hoping to make a career out of what started as work at a video store.

“The competition, especially in this town, is very tough,” Barredo said. “I always take things a day at a time. I never thought that my first movie would ever get this far, so who knows?”