Hess said he has no expectations regarding the possible success of his new film, though he was as surprised as anyone when "Napoleon Dynamite" wound up becoming such a huge hit. "When we were working on the film, we were sure we would be the only ones who saw it — or wanted to see it."

Instead, of course, the feature wound up getting into the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. "That was the thrill of a lifetime for me, but the movie had a life of its own and just kept getting bigger. I'm a little surprised it isn't still going." (Ironically, an earlier, shorter version titled "Peluca" played at the competing Slamdance Film Festival in 2003.)

A fan of classic underdog stories, Hess calls himself a devotee of the Coen brothers, especially their 1987 comedy "Raising Arizona." He also says he hopes to make either a Western or a science-fiction film someday.

And, of course, he would like to finish up his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University — since his studies were cut short because of "Napoleon Dynamite's" runaway success. "I regretted having to do that. And besides, I'd like to be a good role model to my kids."

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com