NOVEMBER 30 • 2023 | 69
that there is always time to
enjoy what you’re doing,” said
Grossman, whose film shows
him trying to put together a
standup routine for television
in one week’s time.
“So often, people think
if they’re not improving in
leaps and bounds then what’s
the point. Studies have shown
that just getting a little bit
better at something every
day can make you great over
time,” he said.
“The film is only showing
theatrically in Michigan. As
long as I don’t lose money,
I’d be open to going to other
states.”
Joining Grossman for
the Flint showing will
be Flint friends from his
youth who participated in
the movie making — Ben
Cain, actor; Mike Ramsdell,
producer; and Stephen Smith,
cinematographer. Martin
Jennings, Grossman and
Cain’s acting teacher from
Flint’s Central High School,
will moderate the session
after the film.
Grossman, 52, now lives
in California. His wife is
a recruiter in the fashion
industry, and they have two
teenagers who appeared in
the film as themselves. Their
home also was used in the
making of the movie.
Raised in a Conservative
household with a mom from
Israel, Grossman is active in
the organization Rebooting
Jewish Life, an arts and
culture nonprofit.
“My hope is that people
still love movies as much as I
do,” Grossman said. “I think
the communal experience of
going to see movies with a
group of people in the dark
at the same time lifts a type
of energy you don’t get at
home watching TV. I think
there’s something special
seeing movies together, and I
hope we get more movies in
theaters soon.”
Grossman, who wrote
and directed the coming-
of-age film Hickey, already
is thinking about the next
movie he would like to make,
and of special interest is one
with a Jewish theme.
“I spent some time at the
Yiddish Book Center in
Amherst, and we did a deep
dive into Yiddish literature,”
he said. “One of the stories I
discovered there really spoke
to me so I’m thinking about
how to turn it into a movie.
That might be my next
project.”
Details
Alex Grossman’s live introduction of That’s Funny can be
seen according to the dates below. Prices and details are
available at thatsfunnymovie.com.
Dec. 7: Capitol Theatre in Flint
Dec. 8: State Theater in Ann Arbor
Dec. 9: MJR Cinema in Troy
Dec. 10: Maple Art Theater in Bloomfield Hills
Dec. 11: Celebration Cinema! in Grand Rapids
Dec. 12: Goodrich Kalamazoo
Dec. 13: Farmington Civic Theater
Dec. 14: Goodrich Holland 7 in Goodrich
Alex
Grossman
BEN CAIN
ALEX GROSSMAN
Ben Cain,
Stephen Smith
(cinematographer),
Sean Goode (1st AC).