Pop Quiz: Danny Gevirtz ’16
Danny Gevirtz ’16
A Life Like a Movie
Danny Gevirtz ’16 began making YouTube videos as a way to share knowledge with others and build an audience for his passion projects. By the end of 2020, independent filmmaking was his full-time career. His first feature film, I Think I’m Sick, was released on June 7 after an impressive nine-festival run. The movie — a dark comedy about a high school senior redoing his final year after an attempted suicide — won eight of its 11 award nominations, including Best International Feature and Best Narrative Feature.
In which historic cinema house did the film make its big-screen debut?
- Campus Theatre, Lewisburg
- TCL Chinese Theatre, Los Angeles
- Music Box Theatre, Chicago
- Keswick Theatre, Glenside, Pa.
Featuring Bucknellian cast members and myriad references to Gevirtz’s experiences as a Bucknell sprinter, the film was first screened at the Campus Theatre in April 2023 for members of the men’s and women’s track and field teams.
Of the nine festivals that featured the film, which was the most memorable?
- San Francisco Independent Film Festival
- New York Film Week
- Philadelphia Film Festival
- Manchester Film Festival
“Manchester tops the list,” says Gevirtz. “Winning Best International Feature at a festival where our film was sold out was pretty special.”
Which Bucknellian gave the best performance in the film?
- Tia Tardy ’21
- Sean Conway ’20
- Richard “Coach A” Alexander ’03
All of the above. “Making movies is difficult, especially when you’re working on a feature film,” Gevirtz says. “It’s important to work with people that you love to be around.” I Think I’m Sick stars Tia Tardy ’21 (who won a best actress accolade at the Garden State Film Festival), with Sean Conway ’20 in a supporting role. Bucknell track and field coach Richard Alexander ’03 delivers an authentic portrayal of the coach in the movie.
Photo: courtesy of Danny Gevirtz ’16
Danny Gevirtz ’16, who studied markets, innovation & design at Bucknell, got his start in filmmaking during a summer internship with rapper, comedian and actor Lil Dicky (whom you might recognize from FX’s DAVE).
What films inspire your work?
- Dystopian action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road
- Classic fantasies like Star Wars
- Star-studded blockbusters like Barbie
- Sad realism underscored with humor like Manchester by the Sea
“I like movies where life happens,” he says. “In I Think I’m Sick, there are a lot of scenes that you just have to sit through and be uncomfortable, and a lot of moments where you’re unsure if you should be laughing or not. That’s very intentional. I think it’s the best way to get your message across — by showing real, little moments of life.”
What is the primary message you want people to take from your film?
“There are so many people who participate in these races because it gives them a real sense of fulfillment,” he says. “It feels good to be on a team that makes that possible.”
I Think I’m Sick is unrated and intended for adult audiences. It contains mature themes about mental health and suicide, strong language, brief nudity and crude humor.
See for Yourself
Check out a collection of Danny Gevirtz ’16’s work — plus, advice for filmmakers