COUPLE GETS CREATIVE MOVIE SCREENED AT NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL.

Byline: ALEJANDRO GUZMAN Valley News Writer

West Hills creative couple and project partners Jarrod Rogen and Catherine Erlinger enjoyed watching their film project ``Unintended'' screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival back in April and still strive to make it in a tough industry.

Previously named Best Picture at the 2005 American Independent Film Expo, the 30-minute flick is a character-driven piece, something director/writer Rogen and co-producer Erlinger believe to be essential in successfully linking the audience to the film.

The film's main character, Brandon, is not happy with his life and is ready to drop out of school when he meets Annette, who teaches him the importance of following his own dreams.

``Mainly our goal is to create a piece with a strong character and strong emotions,'' Erlinger said.

Rogen says this is a critical attribute when a submitted film is being considered.

Another quality sought out in a film is the creation of a story path that people can relate to and understand.

The film festival is a true test of this ability.

Rogen also sees the screening as an important event because ``it is a wonderful venue to show self-expression.''

He looks at it as an opportunity to share something that touches people and believes it is the best compliment ever in getting exposure.

``We get to see how our work is perceived,'' said Rogen. ``It can strengthen us and give us constructive criticism.''

Erlinger agrees.

``The most rewarding thing is to watch the audience watch your film and see how they respond,'' Erlinger said.

Originally from Newport Beach, Rogen moved to the San Fernando Valley six years ago.

He attended school at Corona Del Mar High, where he says he was bitten by the acting bug immediately after his first play during his freshman year.

After that, he joined the drama program and stuck with it all through high school.

Rogen says he started writing as a form of self-expression, something he had not entirely found in acting.

And since he was not too busy as an actor, he saw another potential avenue in writing.

``A lack of work got me into writing screenplays; (I figured) why not start our own.''

He originally began writing novels, and had no interest in screenwriting.

He says it seemed boring at first, but he later found a unique challenge in it.

Erlinger is a West Hills native and went to Louisville High School.

She studied acting while going to Georgetown University, where she received her bachelor's degree in English.

It was during this time that she realized she missed the experience of creating plays.

Erlinger and Rogen met each other while taking an acting class with a private tutor in Studio City.

After finding they shared interests both professionally and personally, Erlinger says their working and personal relationships developed simultaneously.