Storyline

Filmed in Berlin in 1981, Stage Fright has been described as "an essay" by its creator, Jon Jost. The film stars Jenny Newman as an aspiring actress. Outwardly calm and collected, Jenny's true self is unleashed when she assumes her stage character. It is then we learn that she has the potential to be a homicidal psycho-and she wastes little time acting on her impulses (at least, this is the generally accepted synopsis; Jon Jost is seldom this linear). Originally lensed in 16 millimeter, this largely adlibbed 75-minute character study was blown up to 35mm for theatrical exhbition.