WWTW Interview: ‘Tenure’ writer/director Mike Million

The new-to-DVD comedy “Tenure” revisits what should be a shopworn genre – the college comedy.

Writer/director Mike Million manages to render college in a way we haven’t seen before, delivering a true sleeper despite a dearth of publicity.

WWTW reached out to Million to share his thoughts on the creation of his new film and how it echoed his own career struggles.

WWTW: The college comedy is a well established genre … but rarely do we see life from the professor’s point of view. Why were you drawn to tell Charlie’s story?

MM: Well first off, I’ve always loved college movies — everything from Animal House to Wonder Boys — so it was a genre that I wanted to explore. I also wanted to tell a story about a guy in his 30s who’s having a tough time figuring it all out — so it made sense to write something from the perspective of a professor. I like to tell people that “Tenure” is a mid-life-coming-of-age movie. It’s about a guy who just takes a little longer than most people to get his life and career on track. And that is partially autobiographical.

I grew up in Arlington, Va. (a D.C. suburb) with zero connections to the film industry. So I spent more than a few angst-ridden years wondering why all my friends had these great jobs while I spent my time loitering in coffee shops writing screenplays. I guess some of that angst made it into “Tenure.”

WWTW: How would you describe the humor in “Tenure,” and what comedy influences did you draw from while writing the screenplay?

MM: The word that comes up the most when I’m talking about the humor in “Tenure” is – absurd. I’m a huge fan of comedy that is based in realistic situations, but it’s just slightly off. And that is what I was striving for in “Tenure.”

Alexander Payne is a big influence of mine. He has the uncanny ability to create hilarious situations, but still somehow they are also very believable. “Election” was a movie that I definitely drew upon while writing “Tenure.” “Election” is also a skewed take on teachers — smart people doing stupid things — and I love that kind of humor. I also worked very hard to maintain a slightly restrained tone to the movie, and its humor. I didn’t want it to go too far over the top — mainly because I wanted the dramatic story lines to work as well.

WWTW: The main character in the film is adrift emotionally – but he’s not a loser. He’s a great teacher who’s kind to those around him. Talk about the creation of the character and what you were trying to achieve … and did Luke Wilson help shape Charlie?

MM: Luke gives a wonderfully quiet performance in “Tenure.” And I mean that as a huge compliment. Charlie is a fairly passive character — he’s even-keeled and likes to take it all in before making decisions. That can be difficult for an actor to portray, because often the action is going on all around him — he’s witnessing it rather than being a part of it. So Luke had to show a very gentle progression — and he did it with a glint of the eye here, a slight smile there, and a lot of exasperated sighs.

I like movies where the main character makes subtle changes in his or her life, rather than huge emotional shifts that are hard to believe. I think that’s more the way real life is. We don’t just change overnight. So that’s what I was striving for with “Tenure.” It takes a while for Charlie to make his change. And Luke’s performance reflects that.

Part II: Million discusses why his film went straight to DVD – and what it means for Hollywood at large.

(Photo: Top right – Writer/director Mike Million, whose latest film is “Tenure.” Bottom left: David Koechner and Luke Wilson play embattled professors in “Tenure.”)