Harry J. Gittes is flipping through his 1958 copy of the Index yearbook reminiscing about his years at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.

One thousand students were enrolled at the University and tuition cost him about $50, says Gittes, calling from his home on Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles.

Gittes, now 66, is the same age as Warren Schmidt, the character in “About Schmidt,” the film he produced.

Gittes, a producer currently based at Columbia Pictures, says this is the first time he has been able to apply his major of sociology and minor of psychology to work.

“This has been the first time that my major in college has become useful,” he says while laughing.

Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) is a retired insurance actuary who feels his life is thoroughly unimpressive. His wife Helen (June Squibb) dies suddenly after 42 years of marriage, and he races through the Midwest in a Winnebago to prevent his daughter Jeannie (Hope Davis) from marrying a waterbed salesman (Dermot Multoney).

“I was the only one committed to the project that was the same age as Schmidt,” says Gittes.

Directed by Alexander Payne, 41, who also made 1996’s “Citizen Ruth” and 1999’s “Election,” “About Schmidt” has received both critical praise and commercial success.

Entertainment Weekly’s Lisa Schwarzbaum named it the best movie of the year and called it “personal moviemaking at its most accomplished.” So far, the film has grossed more than $40 million at the box office.

Not bad for a man who was washing dishes in the SDT sorority house during his years at UMass.

Unlike Schmidt, however, Gittes, who lived in Baker, Greenough and later in TEP fraternity house, says his turn as producer in “About Schmidt” is a career high.

Asked how he became producer, Gittes answers, “I got in that position because someone gave me the book called “About Schmidt,” and I read it and thought this would be good for Jack. Jack read it and said, ‘This would be good for me.’ And I got Alexander Payne on it, and he said ‘Yes, I would be interested in developing it.’ It’s really Alexander Payne’s movie.”

Gittes, who is a long-time friend of Nicholson’s, has worked on several projects with the actor. In fact, Gittes is the namesake for one of Nicholson’s most memorable characters – Jake Gittes in 1974’s “Chinatown.”

“When I go home to his house, sometimes there’s people like Mick Jagger there,” says Gittes.

“I think for Jack it’s one of the top five performances of his career and that says a lot,” he says.

Critics think so too. Nicholson won best dramatic actor at the Golden Globe Awards, and the film received the screenwriting award for Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor’s adaptation of Louis Begley’s novel, among other awards from respected film critics’ circles.

Oscar buzz has also been mounting for “About Schmidt,” especially for Nicholson’s performance.

If Nicholson earns another Academy Award nomination on Feb. 11, he will become the only leading man ever to be nominated 12 times.

Insiders also expect Payne and Taylor to receive a nomination for best-adapted screenplay and Kathy Bates to receive a nod for best supporting actress.

Gittes started his career as a photographer and advertising copywriter in New York and experienced “a natural progression into movies.” As a photographer, he shot such then-promising stars as Jack Nicholson, Elliott Gould and Liza Minnelli. He also shot album covers and acts at The Bitter End Rock Club in Greenwich Village, which included such performers as Woody Allen, Louise Lasser, Cass Elliot and Bill Cosby.

Gittes went to Los Angeles in 1970 to produce the TV pilot for Bill Cosby’s animated series “Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert,” which proved to be his full-time entrance into film and television production. He went on to work at BBS where his feature credits included production designer and co-producer of “Drive He Said,” directed by Jack Nicholson.

As an independent producer, Gittes made such films as “Goin’ South,” starring and directed by Jack Nicholson; “Harry and Walter Go To New York,” directed by Mark Rydell; “Timerider,” directed by William Dear; “Little Nikita,” directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Sidney Poitier and River Phoenix; and “Breaking In,” written by John Sayles and directed by Bill Forsyth, which was the closing night feature of the 1989 New York Film Festival. He has also made movies for television including “Dangerous Company,” directed by Lamont Johnson and starring Beau Bridges, which Gittes executive produced. In addition, he was involved in the development of Alex Cox’s cult classic “Repo Man,” in which he maintains a partner interest.

Gittes was born in Brookline, Mass. and is married to entertainment attorney Christine Cuddy with whom he has two children, Michael, 15, and Julia, 13.