NEW: Can I buy "Begleiter" on DVD?

YES! A Special Edition DVD was released on December 4, 2008. This edition features the award-winning short film, plus three audio commentaries, a text commentary, the trailer, a behind-the-scenes montage, optional English captions for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and optional German subtitles translated by the film's star, Aleisha Russell.

Available exclusively through Amazon.com and CreateSpace.com.

NEW: Can I get a free copy?

If you worked on the film but did NOT get a copy of the Festival Edition, or if you contributed to the making of the Special Edition, or if you are press, please contact Dan. It is not possible to provide free upgrades from the original version or replacements of lost copies of the original version. Complimentary copies of the Special Edition, when warranted, may not include artwork.

What is "Begleiter?"

An award-winning, narrative short film.

How long is it?

Approximately 27 minutes.

27 minutes? Most of the shorts I see in festivals are 6 minutes. Are you insane?

A lot of shorts these days are nothing more than skits. They don't attempt to tell a fullly developed, 3-act story. Even at 6 minutes, many of them drag. However, the running times of the last 13 live-action shorts to win the Academy Award are: 31, 21, 27, 26, 40, 30, 35, 35, 30, 11, 26, 38, and 39.

What was "Begleiter" shot on?

Panasonic DVX-100A MiniDV, 24p.

When can I see it?

The next screening is at The Shops at Mauna Lani in Waikoloa, Hawaii as part of the Big Island Film Festival Summer Series, a special showcase of the festivals past award-winners! This series takes place on Friday, August 14, 2009, from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. Please check back here later or join the mailing list for information about future screenings in your area.

It previously screened in St. Paul, Minnesota; Anchorage, Alaska (where it won Best Short); Duncan, Oklahoma; Shawnee, Oklahoma; Delray Beach, Florida; St. Petersburg, Florida; Tampa, Florida; Akron, Ohio; Waikoloa, Hawaii (where it won Best Family Short); Honolulu, Hawaii; Malibu, California; San Francisco, California (at WonderCon); Queens, New York; Palm Springs, California; Oceanside, California; and at a special benefit showing in Kensington-Talmadge (San Diego).

Can I see it online anywhere?

You can see the trailer and some of the DVD's bonus content at YouTube.com/happythedogdvd. Feel free to leave comments.

Why did "Begleiter" premiere in Minnesota?

Begleiter was indirectly funded with Twin Cities money. The funds came from my severance package from when I was laid off at Fair Isaac, a Minneapolis-based corporation that had acquired the San Diego-based software company I was working at just prior to making the film.

How much did it cost?

Less than a year's tuition at USC.

How did you get Ken Osmond?

We spent about two months cold calling agents, managers and casting directors trying to cast that role. In the end, none of the other celebrities we talked to could play a convincing Eddie Haskell, so Ken got the part.

Where can I get a copy of Eddie Haskell's Guide To Beaver?

Sorry, but the book Ken Osmond is seen promoting in the movie is currently out-of-print. If you're looking for Beaver trivia, try "The Complete Unofficial Leave It To Beaver Trivia Encyclopedia" e-book by Marcus Tee.

Did you need special permission to film a nude scene on a public beach?

The film commission reviewed the script beforehand and never asked us how we planned to shoot that scene, so we didn't bring it up either. We shot it as early in the morning as possible so there wouldn't be a lot of people around. And John wants everyone to know that it was very cold.

Why is the film called "Begleiter?" What does "Begleiter" mean? I thought it was going to be called "Happy the Dog."

"Begleiter" is German for "companion." Its meaning is explained in the film. During production, it was often referred to as "Happy the Dog" (including on the slate), probably because us Americans couldn't pronounce "Begleiter." But the title was always Begleiter, except for one early draft of the script that was titled The Bagel Eater.

What was the inspiration for "Begleiter"?

The structure of the story was suggested, in part, by the classic 1987 German film Der Himmel über Berlin by Wim Wenders. As a variation on a theme, our version asks the question, "What if Damiel, the main character portrayed by Bruno Ganz in Wenders' version, were a dog instead of an angel?" Try to spot all the homages to Wenders' masterpiece in Begleiter.

Is the screenplay available online anywhere?

Yes. Click here to read a special annotaded version of the screenplay or download the pre-production and shooting drafts in PDF.

What's next for Dan Margules?

Click here to see writing samples and additional information about some of the projects I am working on or recently completed.