The first minute or two of a Jim Jacob film is very confusing. In fact, if you don't catch on, the entire film could be quite confusing. But, if you are paying attention, it will start to dawn on you that you are watching a comedic genious at work. Jacob never gives his characters away. There is no winking at the camera. He leaves it up to the audience to discover the humor in his "instructional" films with titles like Basic Rules of Restaurant Etiquette, Introduction to Film Noir, and Guidelines for Public Speaking. Jim Jacob agreed to let me ask him a few questions about his films and his method, possibly shedding light on a career that has baffled some, and tickled others.

Where did you get the idea to make your "instructional" films?

I went to the Chicago Historical Society to see the film, The Gang’s All Here, and they showed one of the comedy instructional shorts by Robert Benchley with it.

What kind of response do your films usually get?

Quite a few people find them to be funny, but some people think I am trying to be serious.

How similar are you to the character, Jim Jacob we see in your videos?

There’s definitely an overlap.

Your films have a very distinct look. How do you design the shots?

I design the shots in collaboration with people I’ve worked with over the years. I have worked with several people with Televent Video Services -- Jeff Bass, Bill Steed, John Krupka, and Don Shannon. I have also worked with Jim Andre, who is an independent film producer.

How long is the shoot on your average film?

The average shoot of one of my films is about two hours, because I am using the equipment , studio, and services of the video production company, and I’m paying by the hour.

Have you acted in any films other than your own?

None. When I was younger, I used to be asked to appear in student films sometimes, but I was too hesitant to do it.

What have your experiences been with film festivals?

I really enjoy film festivals. I feel they are an adventure. The first festival to which I submitted one of my tapes called me and said that there was a controversy about it. The person I spoke to said these girls on the pre-screening committee had watched it and thought that it was a serious instructional film, however an unusually bad one. Then the screening committee had watched it, and felt that it was intended to be a sort of a parody.
At another festival, the judge wrote that he/she was having a very difficult time evaluating my tape. The person wrote, “This is either the worst film I have yet to review or it’s a work of absolute genius.” Another festival judge wrote, “ Steven Wright lobotomized presenting to the third grade. Metaphors ensconced in the mind. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest meets TV production.” Another judge wrote that the work was funny, but not intentionally so.
Of course, I’ve had lots of festival experiences in which I’ve felt my tapes were being seen in pretty much the way in which I intended them to be seen.

Has making your films become easier or harder over the years?

Making my tapes has become easier in the sense that I feel that now I sort of know what I am doing. However, sometimes I feel that it may be a little more difficult now to keep it fresh for myself and my audience. I guess this is natural, because at this point I have completed several tapes.

Walk us through a Jim Jacob film, from conception to finished product.

I will choose a subject somehow -- something which I feel has comic possibilities. Then I will begin writing notes and begin doing research. I read books on the subject and try to find anything in them which is funny or which I feel I can make funny by making slight changes in it. Then I write the script. I take my time doing this, sometime writing on buses and trains or at coffee places. I also like to write at this real peaceful place in Wisconsin. I write when I feel like it; if I’m not getting any decent ideas, I will just put the material aside and do something else. When the script’s ready, I’ll talk to the people I’m going to do the production with, and we’ll make a plan. Then we’ll shoot it. I’ll study the footage for a while, preferably at home, and then we’ll schedule an editing session, which usually only takes about an hour or two.

What can we expect next from you?

I’m not sure about my next project. I’m trying to see whether I can do something a little different from my other tapes. I’m thinking about sort of my own version of shows like America’s Funniest Home Videos. I hope that I can finish it this year.

To order tapes of Jim Jacob's films, please contact Mr. Jacob at JJmjacob@aol.com