|
|
Post by ThePit on Nov 20, 2004 3:13:06 GMT -5
Fate is the newest short film from Utopian Productions. It asks the question of how far would you go to save someone you love? The short will be screening in Hempstead NY on December 8th. Click here to watch the 30 second teaser trailer (in Quicktime).
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePit on Dec 14, 2004 5:50:09 GMT -5
Utopian Productions have released their latest short film, titled Fate. The 14 minute dramatic/sci-fi piece stars David Fumero ( One Life to Live) and Julie Cavaliere. How far would you go to save the woman you love? With just a touch, Sam (Fumero) has visions of people's deaths, an ability that he has tried his best to ignore his whole life. But after meeting Michelle (Cavaliere) and falling for her, Sam gets a vision he can't ignore. Click here to watch Fate (in WMV format - 28 MB) or click here for the official site of Utopian Productions.
|
|
|
|
Post by AJ on Dec 14, 2004 7:46:16 GMT -5
Nice enough film, but isn't it a bit too close to the Stephen King 'Dead Zone' concept?
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePit on Dec 15, 2004 10:10:42 GMT -5
Thanks for watching  The film's concept of seeing the future/death or changing the future has appeared in a lot of films (Dead Zone and The Terminator, among others). This was just my take on the material/ideas with a few homages to some of these other films. Anyhow, thanks a lot of viewing the site, I hope you ake a look at a few of my other pieces too. -RS |
|
|
|
Post by AJ on Dec 16, 2004 7:34:01 GMT -5
It's not really a problem, I was just remarking on the simularity to the 'Dead Zone' with the touch of a person triggering a mental image. The same thing was used more recently in 'Unbreakable'. I wouldn't say that 'Terminator' falls into this catagory, as its fore-knowledge is based on first-hand experience of events, with time-travel as the conduit for the information. I liked your film, it might be worthwhile trimming it down just a little during the main conversation, which seemed just a bit too long. Look forward to seeing your next movie. |
|
|
|
Post by sinshine on Dec 16, 2004 9:13:09 GMT -5
I have to disagree with what AJ says. I just checked out FATE (as well as a few other films on PIT'S website) and I have to say that the film reminds me much more of the Marisa Tomei film, Happy Accidents (albeit without the time traveling alien). I enjoyed the twist at the end of FATE, however, much more than the lead up. I too think it could be cut down just a bit (the film as well as the use of background music), however, it's still a really good watch. Although FATE seems to be the most well crafted of the films available for viewing on PIT's site, other shorts such as B.S. and 45 SECONDS TILL DEATH (where's the next chapter  ) are also fun. Take a look for yourselves! PIT...are you a Long Island native (seems that way from your shooting locations and 'special thanks' credits)? |
|
|
|
Post by AJ on Dec 16, 2004 13:05:02 GMT -5
Fair enough. Perhaps I missed something in 'Fate'?  I haven't seen, or heard of, 'Happy Accidents' but I shall try to catch up with it at some point. |
|
|
|
Post by sinshine on Dec 16, 2004 14:34:11 GMT -5
AJ...just to be forewarned...HAPPY ACCIDENTS is a bit of a 'chick flick'. It's focus is more on relationships than it's supernatural elements. I caught it on IFC a few weeks ago by accident (no pun intended) and it pleasently surprised me.
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePit on Dec 16, 2004 15:47:54 GMT -5
Sinshine, Thanks for the kind comments and recommendations I've never heard of 'Happy Accidents,' but I'll have to keep my eye out for it on IFC and hopefully somewhere to buy (who doesn't love Marisa Tomei). The sequel to '45 Seconds' has been filmed and edited, we're just trying to figure out the best way to post it (Quicktime/WMV/etc.). Hopefully we'll have it up by the end of next week, along with 'Bittersweet Romance,' which is by a first time Utopian director. 'Bittersweet' is one of those films that would be wrecked by describing it  Yup, you caught me, I am indeed a Long Island native. Although I have been moving back and forth between the Island, Queens and the City. Are you also from around the Island? Thanks again for checking out my site, I hope you continue to do so in the future AJ: Thanks My next big piece is a "modern film-noir" that I'm shooting on 16 mm. |
|
|
|
Post by sinshine on Dec 16, 2004 18:27:28 GMT -5
PIT,
Yup...in fact, I'm in the middle of moving back to my Nassau origins in the next few months (currently in Suffolk). I did a few years at Nassau a little while back and then finished up in Binghamton (an experimental film department).
Did you go to school around here?
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePit on Dec 16, 2004 19:09:52 GMT -5
Good old Hofstra University.
So, do you work with mainly experimental pieces? Have a link to a site? I'm always interested in checking out new stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by sinshine on Dec 16, 2004 22:52:37 GMT -5
I did while I was in college. I've tooled around with a few other shorts (mainly as a hobby...not serious productions) but am looking forward to putting something together this summer. In the meantime, I just continue to write and write. I work for myself as a digital editing consultant (Island Long Productions) editing weddings and promotional pieces mostly. It certainly doesn't have the same charm as editing something original and creative, but it allows me many advantages and benefits.
Have any other projects on the horizon? How large of a crew do you normally work with at Utopian Productions?
|
|
|
|
Post by ThePit on Dec 17, 2004 3:23:35 GMT -5
Weddings and promotional pieces, always a good way to fund more creative projects... and well have an apartment and live and all that stuff too For a while I went by the "3 man crew" motto, because when shooting digital, thats all you truely need. But as my projects have gotten bigger and bigger and I'm gotten more and more interest from outside sources, and in turn my crews have trippled in size (many good and BAD things with a huge crew). New projects you ask? LOL. We have a few... "Un-undead": A reverse zombie tale where teenage zombies are attacked and eaten by vicious humans. This piece is going to be a brisk 4 to 5 minutes. Script is completed and it has both a cast and crew, but will not be shooting until early March. "The Hard Way It Is" (Roger Stern 3): The script is finished and a crew has been assembled and is all go for shooting. Will likely shoot around the end of January. And our biggest film to date and my personal labor of love... "The Paw": A 13 page modern film-noir that focuses on a square-jawed detective as he hunts down the killer of a wealthy collector, whose most prized piece, a mummified monkey's paw, is missing. We'll be shooting at the end of January and early Feburary on 16 mm. Not only will The Paw be our biggest budgeted film, but already has a massive crew assembled. We also have a few other short pieces that we are developing, including a thriller ("Destiny"), a romantic comedy (C. Love) and two untitled action pieces. Do you write? We're always looking for new short pieces to film ;D |
|
|
|
Post by AJ on Dec 17, 2004 5:57:48 GMT -5
Good to hear your shooting 16mm on your next project, it makes a change for someone to be going with film rather than digital. I sold my arri and almost all of my other equipment, except for lights and sound gear, I'll be going HD (or HDV) for the next project. Best of luck with the noir. |
|
|
|
Post by sinshine on Dec 17, 2004 9:53:45 GMT -5
Un-UnDead...lol...that sounds like a funny premise ;D
The Paw...this must be inspired by the famous short story (The Monkey's Paw), no? My wife is an English teacher and she taught that story for the first time this year. The kids (10th graders) loved it! Sounds like you've already put alot of blood, sweat and tears into this one. Will it be a short or feature length? Posted on your site eventually or just for sale? Best of luck with it!
Yes, as I mentioned before, I write. Problem is that over the past ten years or so I have built up a sizable amount of stories to tell (which really isn't a problem...more of a blessing I guess). It's hard to focus on one at a time. Most I have started basic outlines and timelines for and some I have delved into a bit more. I guess my 'goal' is to finish up the stories and ideas that I have and continue to work as an editor in the meantime. When the time is right, I'd really like to clear my schedule for a month or two and hammer out a few shorts (or perhaps a feature length film). Whether that day will come or not, who knows. In the meantime, I'll let you know if I have a story or finished screenplay for Utopian Productions to mull over.
Quick question, before I forget again. It says on your site that FATE was shot on miniDV (if I remember correctly). Is that true? If so it's great quality (especially the exterior shots). Looked like film to me when I watched it.
|
|
) are also fun. Take a look for yourselves!
