Jared Hess wasn't sure what to anticipate when his debut feature film, a movie centered around a tall, Tater Tot-obsessed teenager, had its initial showing at the Sundance Film Festival .
Halfway into the initial showing of "Napoleon Dynamite," which was produced on a shoestring budget of $200,000 in his hometown of Preston, Idaho, the novice director observed with astonishment as attendees at the film festival erupted into cheers and applause for Napoleon. At that instant, he experienced an overwhelming sense of relief and exhilaration, as he had mentioned earlier to the press. Deseret News .
The welcoming response he received at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, significantly propelled his career forward. Two decades later, this has culminated in his involvement with "A Minecraft Movie."
The movie allegedly had a production cost of around $150 million and features a star-studded ensemble with Jack Black, Jason Momoa, and Jennifer Coolidge. It’s based on the most popular video game ever—more than 300 million copies have been sold worldwide according to reports. The Verge — The film has created a huge stir globally.
However, the director appears to bring the essence of indie filmmaking along with him — even when tackling a big-budget movie.
The quirky humor and distinctive personality of "Napoleon Dynamite" that captivated Sundance still shine through in "A Minecraft Movie," according to Hess.
‘Napoleon Dynamite’ meets Minecraft
Initial responses to "A Minecraft Movie" suggest the same consensus: It's unmistakably a Jared Hess production.
Hess... merges the essence of his 2004 smash 'Napoleon Dynamite' with the playfulness of thwack he has created a well-crafted comedy infused with his personal favorites, the Los Angeles Times wrote in a review.
Screen Rant Meanwhile, described it as "a video game adaptation infused with the spirit of Napoleon Dynamite."
This is partly due to the fact that, except for scenes set in the Overworld—the universe of "Minecraft"—the movie unfolds in the imaginary town of Chuglass, Idaho, which calls itself the “potato chip capital of America.” the Los Angeles Times .
In the town of Chuglass resides a former gamer known as Garrett "The Garbage Man" Garrison (portrayed by Momoa). He reached his peak in the '80s and now aims to relive the excitement of those golden years; this character bears some resemblance to Uncle Rico from "Napoleon Dynamite." The Washington Post notes.
The chance comes about when Garrett, together with a real estate agent called Dawn (played by Danielle Brooks from "The Color Purple") and new characters Natalie (portrayed by Emma Myers) and her teenage brother Henry (acted by Sebastian Hansen), get sucked into an alternative realm known as the Overworld via an enigmatic gateway.
In this construct of a world—where Tater Tots show up multiple times, as they do, The New York Times — The novice players of Minecraft encounter the seasoned builder Steve (played by Jack Black), who assists them in exploring uncharted territories, unleashing their imagination, and finding their path back to Chuglass.
“I inevitably find myself influenced by my background in Idaho,” said Hess, a graduate of BYU currently residing in Salt Lake City, speaking to the Deseret News. “Many elements from that will persist in my work regardless of what I do. Yes, definitely, viewers will sense considerable geekiness in this movie.”
With millions of enthusiasts, Minecraft has become "a part of global culture," according to Hess. This guarantees an inherent viewership for the movie.
However, even those who aren't familiar with Minecraft won't need to worry because they'll be drawn in by the cast — specifically an unlikely friendship developing between Momoa and Black.
“Their presence was unexpected but essential,” the director commented.
I simply can't escape the influence of growing up in Idaho. Many aspects of that background will persist in my work regardless of what I do. Indeed, you'll definitely sense a strong element of geekiness in this movie.
Director Jared Hess
The buddy relationship between Jack Black and Jason Momoa
Hess views Black as "a dear friend."
Nearly two decades ago, Black appeared in "Nacho Libre," which was the director's sequel to "Napoleon Dynamite." Since then, both have aspired to collaborate again but have struggled to synchronize their busy schedules.
It was truly miraculous how everything aligned for this project," Hess stated. "(Black) had always been an avid player of the game and is quite the gaming enthusiast personally. This activity serves as a bonding experience between him and his two boys.
The director mentioned that Jack Black, known for "School of Rock," injected unparalleled levels of vigor and zeal into each day’s work on set—“I’d rank Jack Black among my top five athletes ever. This guy excels at everything he does; he’s incredibly fit.”
Hess was equally amazed by Black’s skill in recalling people’s names — according to him, hundreds of individuals were part of this movie’s production.
“Beyond his status as a top-notch comedian, he truly stands out as an exceptional person,” Hess stated.
Teaming up Black's vigor with Momoa, an action star famous for his roles in "Aquaman" and "Game of Thrones," was described by the director as "one of the funniest experiences I've had."
He has earned his reputation as the most muscular guy on Earth," he went on. "However, in this film, he plays an absolute dork and quite a vulnerable character. Despite all that strength, he turns out to be a real geek at core.
Beyond excelling as a top-tier comedian, he also shines as an outstanding individual. His vibrant presence permeates throughout the movie. Every moment he appears on screen leaves you thoroughly amused, rating nearly perfect entertainment.
Director Jared Hess regarding actor Jack Black
Moreover, there’s the comedic brilliance of Jennifer Coolidge, whom Hess mentioned can "improvise better than anybody on this planet."
“He mentioned they could have created an entire extended version featuring Jennifer Coolidge’s outtake scenes.”
Despite the various obstacles encountered during the production of "A Minecraft Movie" – including signing onto the project at the beginning of the pandemic and dealing with the actor’s strike – the primary challenge for the director was largely personal.
"I believe the main challenge for me was simply refraining from laughter during the scene," he stated.
How BYU Friends and Family Contributed to 'A Minecraft Movie'
When Hess joined "A Minecraft Movie," the project had already been in development for many years and had undergone an extensive process involving numerous potential directors and screenwriters.
He had also accumulated numerous years of pertinent experience on his résumé, mainly gained from engaging in the activity with his children.
Producing a film adaptation of a blockbuster franchise like Minecraft—a game without an inherent plot—might intimidate many directors. However, this presented a thrilling challenge for Hess.
It's an expansive universe, and every individual who engages with it infuses their personal creativity into it, weaving their own story within the worlds they build. This is what makes it incredibly enjoyable, and this concept was central to our film," explained the director. "Our characters all need to use their ingenuity just to make it through their journey.
This level of liberty enabled Hess to construct a narrative that respected the essence and layout of the game from scratch, all while weaving in his talent for offbeat storytelling as he progressed.
Hess often sought advice from his children, referring to them as a "lifeline" (his two eldest, who began playing the game during their elementary school days, are currently 21 and 19 years old).
His eldest son indeed dedicated some time on-location in New Zealand assisting with the set design and received recognition in the movie’s credits. Additionally, two of the director's offspring make brief appearances as background actors near the conclusion of the film. Furthermore, Hess lent his voice to the role of General Chungus due to being "quite budget-friendly."
The filmmaker also recruited a couple of his friends and fellow BYU alums, Hubbel Palmer and Chris Bowman, to help with the storyline. The two previously worked with him on the 2016 crime comedy “Masterminds” and, most recently, the animated short “ Ninety-Five Senses which earned Hess his first Academy Award nomination last year.
The visual effects supervisor for the movie, Dan Lemmon, who is also an alumnus of Brigham Young University, has previously worked on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Avatar." These projects significantly contributed to establishing New Zealand's reputation in filmmaking.
So far, "A Minecraft Movie" represents the longest production schedule that Hess has ever taken on; he completed post-production and arrived back home from New Zealand only a couple of weeks prior.
“It’s more of a marathon. That I have the stamina for it was good to know,” he said with a laugh. “That’s the thing about filmmaking; it’s hard and exhausting at times, but if you love it, it’s always going to be fun.”
In comparison to "Napoleon Dynamite," the production and budget for "Minecraft" were significantly larger, with a more star-studded cast. However, at their essence, Hess' approach to making these two films—separated by over 20 years—stayed fundamentally unchanged.
He mentioned, 'Your aim should be crafting a narrative with compelling characters who resonate with the audience and evoke support from them.'