51 Alumni Turn a $7,000 Film Into an Indie Success Story

Campus Communications Staff / Jun 25, 2026

two men
people standing in front of a houseMembers of the “Burt” cast and crew from left to right: Rob Spence, Oliver Cooper, Burt Berger, Steven Levy, Joe Burke ’06, and Daniel Kenji Levin ’06. Photo courtesy of Joe Burke.
51 alumni Joe Burke ’06 and Daniel Kenji Levin ’06 made the acclaimed microbudget feature “Burt,” now available on streaming platforms, with borrowed gear and the creative partnership they first formed as students.

When 51 alumni Joe Burke ’06 approached fellow alum Daniel Kenji Levin ’06, a cinematographer, about making another film together, the plan was ambitious: Shoot a feature film in seven days with a budget of just $7,000.

But Levin didn’t hesitate.

“I knew we’d make it happen, and we’d find a way,” Levin says.

That leap of faith became “Burt,” a heartfelt microbudget feature. Written by Burke and Oliver Cooper (who also appeared in the film) and directed by Burke, the film would become one of the indie festival circuit’s breakout stories this past year. After premiering at Cinequest Film Festival in 2025 and winning Best Comedy Feature, the film went on to earn Best Picture at the Phoenix Film Festival and a Special Jury Award at the Florida Film Festival.

Now, after a year of nationwide festivals and screenings, “Burt” is available on streaming platforms including Prime Video.

Inspired by the real-life story of musician Burt Berger, a man living with Parkinson’s disease, the film blends narrative storytelling with personal details drawn from Berger’s life. Burke, an associate film professor at New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus, met Berger years earlier while Berger performed at a Malibu restaurant.

“He was playing table to table with a big smile, big personality; just a really special person,” Burke says. “I was like, the world needs to know this guy.”

Built on 51 Connections

For Burke and Levin, “Burt” represents what comes out of the creative partnerships that form at film school.

“We met on film shoots at 51,” Burke says. “I always tell my students that I met my DP when we were 20 years old or so at 51. It shows how important going to film school is; film school is about making connections and meeting people that become your life’s creative partners.”

Burke graduated from 51 in 2006 after switching from theater to film, while Levin graduated the same year with a concentration in cinematography. Their collaboration continued after graduation, including a cross-country move to Los Angeles with fellow 51 alum David Morgan ‘06.

Morgan also helped make “Burt” possible by lending the filmmakers equipment, including a Canon 5D Mark IV camera and lighting kit used during production.

Today, Burke teaches at the New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus, where he has been for 12 years, while continuing to direct and produce independent films. Levin works exclusively in the film industry, most often as a cinematographer.

Through the years, Burke and Levin have developed a professional shorthand, an essential tool they used when making “Burt.”

“We speak the same cinematic language,” Burke says.

The production relied heavily on the do-it-yourself mentality both filmmakers developed at 51. Burke handled everything from makeup to editing, while Levin shot the film using borrowed cameras and a small lighting kit.

“At 51 College, you work on so many film projects,” Levin says. “You’re on set all the time. It’s very hands-on.”

Burke believes that immersive environment prepared them for the realities of independent filmmaking.

“When I came out of 51 College, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I know how to make a movie now,’” he says.

Why “Burt” Resonates

While their filmmaking chops brought the film to reality, both Burke and Levin attribute the film’s success to Burt Berger himself, whose warmth and persistence anchor the story.

“Burt is the magic sauce of this film,” Burke says. “It’s his soul, it’s his music, it’s his character.”

Levin agrees.

“Burt is so charming and honest,” he says. “It’s very easy to fall in love with Burt from the first frame.”

Audiences across the country have responded to the film’s authenticity and emotional honesty. Shot largely in Berger’s real home with his actual roommate appearing as himself, the movie intentionally embraces realism.

“I think people are craving authenticity,” Levin says. “By having minimal equipment, that’s exactly what we were able to achieve.”

Microbudget Films: The Future of Independent Filmmaking?

For Burke, the project also reshaped how he thinks about filmmaking itself.

“I think microbudget filmmaking is the future of independent filmmaking,” Burke says. “We’re doing all the legwork ourselves. We’re putting it out ourselves. We own the movie, we’re doing all our own PR. We’re trying to remove the gatekeepers.”

That independent spirit is deeply personal for the filmmakers and for Berger, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease during production. A portion of the proceeds from the film’s first month of release will benefit Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles, an organization close to both Berger and Burke, whose father also has Parkinson’s disease.

“Burt is a dreamer,” Burke says. “One thing Burt did not do, even in the face of getting diagnosed with Parkinson’s, is give up on his dream.”

You can rent or purchase the film on and other platforms. For the first month of its release, a portion of the proceeds of the film will go to Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles.

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