Giuseppe Andrews
- 2003Trailer Town
- 2007Garbanzo Gas
- 1999Touch Me in the Morning
He gave up Hollywood acting to make dozens of features in a Ventura trailer park, starring his neighbours, for a few hundred dollars each.
Andrews was born Joey Murcia Jr. and grew up partly in trailer parks. A child role in a hair-product infomercial led to an acting career, with supporting parts in Independence Day, Pleasantville and American History X, and a lead in Adam Rifkin's Detroit Rock City (1999).
Tired of tightly managed studio shoots, he started directing with Touch Me in the Morning (1999). He and his father settled in a trailer park in Ventura, California, where he wrote, shot, edited and scored micro-budget features. His casts were neighbours, elderly residents, homeless men, recovering addicts and veterans, paid $75 or less a day.
Troma Entertainment released several of the films, including Trailer Town (2003). Garbanzo Gas (2007) was shot on a camcorder in two days for $1,000, and Rifkin filmed that shoot for the documentary Giuseppe Makes a Movie (2014). Critics have compared him to John Waters, Harmony Korine and the Kuchar brothers. In 2015 he withdrew from public view, leaving more than fifty films behind.
Films
Where to start with Giuseppe Andrews, in the order they were made. Runtimes are approximate.
Still from Touch Me in the Morning to come. Touch Me in the Morning
His first feature as director. Andrews plays a young man who sings to senior citizens and takes advice from Daddy Bill, played by his regular Bill Nowlin. Troma released it on DVD.
Trailer Town
Out-of-work comedians live in a trailer park, and one climbs onto his roof with a rifle after an eviction notice. Most of the cast were Andrews's neighbours. It premiered at the New York Underground Film Festival.
Garbanzo Gas
A cow, played by Vietnam Ron, wins a weekend at a motel and meets two suicidal friends. It was shot and edited in two days for $1,000.