Filmed Locally - Gerson Reflects on Art Career, Working with Smart on Don Barry

By Matthew Avitabile

POTTER HOLLOW — Barry Gerson has had a long and interesting career as an artist, including working with former Mountain Eagle author Paul Smart. An old friend, Gerson discussed his writing with Smart and was invited to work on Smart’s take on Don Quixote, Don Barry.

He described shooting the film in Mexico, especially with his experience as a filmmaker.

“I am a filmmaker. I make films. I don’t make narrative films.”

He described his films as “more or less abstract” and as “moving paintings.”

Being on the other side of the camera is unusual but a great experience, Gerson said.

“I thought a lot about what an actor goes through to create a part. And then I used those ideas and thoughts for my character in the film,” Gerson said. The film included elements about him as an artist, including showing his artworks.

“Now there’s this film about me in which I play myself,” he said. Gerson described Don Barry as a “wonderful film” and a “major breakthrough” in dealing with narrative.

“It’s not strictly a narrative film.”

It includes music, art, dance, documentary elements, and more to work “beautifully.”

Gerson described the use of dance as showing the undercurrents within the film.

At showings, he said that people see him as the star of the movie while he sees himself as an artist.

“So I play along with that.”

Gerson said that Smart was “terrific” in producing the film. The two share an interest in “expressing intuition,” Gerson said. Smart took into consideration that Gerson is not a professional actor.

His favorite experience was speaking at several of the showings speaking about “our placement in the universe.” Gerson said that he said that he could “go on all night” and one audience member said that he wished Gerson had.

He’d like to be in another film, said Gerson.

“It’s an experience,” he said. He added that he loved learning about filmmaking from the other side of the camera.

“One never knows,” he said.

Gerson also discussed his latest book, Elixir of Life. The book is about his experiences using red, green, and blue therapy lights to treat himself for “serious maladies” including prostate issues. He said that he has a history of similar treatments that has helped with varicose veins and increasing his creativity.

“I’m an artist and a healer,” he said.

Gerson said that he hopes to publicize his treatment through the book, which is available now.