an experimental neo-noir cyberpunk political techno-thriller short film about free energy and immortality
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This project will only be funded if at least $22,000 is pledged by .
About this project
STORY
What would happen if R&D engineers in a multinational consumer technology corporation headed by an ambitious founder CEO privately facing terminal cancer discovered a working ‘free energy’ circuit? If such a person with nothing to lose planned a surprise product release of historic proportions, would anyone try to stop it?
wiFree answers with a visually ambitious, philosophical near-future sci fi thriller interweaving conspiratorial tech noir tropes with lo-fi stylized cyberpunk and vaporwave inspired aesthetics. Major themes include chance, the unreality of mass media, surveillance, and legacy. This project aspires to prove ultra low budget experimental productions can achieve high concept storytelling engaged with pressing social, political, and ecological questions, even the philosophic theme of human mortality.
First and foremost a gripping story without a wasted scene or word, wiFree's script lucidly traces a relentless arc of interwoven plot developments in over 30 settings to reach a climatic conclusion. The completed version of this film will run about 30 minutes.
In terms of style our philosophy is why aim for realism when real life is already as real as it gets? As a self-taught VFX artist it seems way more fun and interesting to explore what this technology can do besides realism.
When it's finished we'll release it online for everyone to enjoy for free, so with a little help from all you excellent internet citizens we can definitely take this one to the next level!
INSPIRATION
Ever wonder what if humanity after all successfully transitions to a different kind of awesome future? Somewhere between here and there wiFree aims to plausibly resolve the attractiveness of the idea of free energy with political conspiracy theories about its suppression by nefarious forces.
The concept of free energy is not so remote in our world of abundant, mis-managed resources! What better way to explore these possibilities than a neo-noir sci-fi techno-thriller with gorgeous lo-fi graphics?
REWARDS
Production Blog + Project Updates
Only project backers will have access to new production blog content between the end of the Kickstarter campaign and the free online release, so if you'd like to see what goes on behind-the-scenes and keep up with developments in real-time just jump aboard at any level. Our team is entirely self-taught so DIY enthusiasts looking for inspiration may find it interesting.
Lenticular Postcards
Since holograms haven't quite arrived lenticular prints are still pretty damn cool! We'll select 4 ideal scenes and produce a series of 4x6 lenticular postcards featuring different 3D effects and animations. Depending on backer level you can receive one or two randomly selected postcards or collect the complete set.
In-film Creative Space
wiFree's story unfolds in a holograph saturated metropolis, mostly at night. There's still so much we can do to render the cityscape more beautifully by an order of magnitude, including a comprehensively re-organizing and upgrading the illuminated billboards. Wanna see your art, spirit animal or favorite food, or pretty much whatever you want* in the kaleidoscopic mix? Depending on backer level we'll work with an image, short animation, or even your interpretation of future fashion.
Newscasts
The script features several newscasts and we'll build a handful of virtual news studio sets and info-graphic packages to represent different networks. In each case headline tickers will crawl the screen referencing events unrelated to the main plot, a perfect opportunity to see your own self-fulfilling prophesies or coded messages in the future news. Personally delivering some scripted lines as a newscaster or pundit is also a possibility.
BUDGET
We DIY filmed the concept video on zero budget with laughably unprofessional equipment, which proves it can be done! but imposes some very noticeable quality limitations. Luckily using a green screen cuts down on many filming expenses but we'll definitely need a legit camera and a decent mic or two to take the project from jaggy compressed video and sub-optimal sound to the sort of pro quality images and audio needed to really do the film's aesthetic premise justice. After payment processing fees, taxes, and rewards fulfillment the remaining budget will go to production expenses including studio rental and food, storage media, lights, costumes, props, music licensing, modest compensation for key talent, film festival submissions and related travel expenses.
If the project overfunds we have some exciting stretch goals in mind to make wiFree even more ambitiously awesome with extra VFX help, specially commissioned music, artist collaborations, and additional scenes.
CAST & CREW
This project will be filmed in lovely Trinidad, Colorado. Our talented cast and crew includes personalities from the Southern Colorado Repertory Theater, the Trinidad State Junior College Theater and Communications Departments, the Savoy Hotel, and Denver Craigslist. Filming will split between a green screen studio in Trinidad's historic district and a television production facility on the TSJC campus. Trinidad's Amtrak stop connects directly to Los Angeles, Kansas City and Chicago, so if you end up visiting we definitely recommend the train as an adventurous and scenic way to arrive.
About Me
I learned 3D modeling in architecture school and worked as a freelance graphic and web designer before coordinating a popular film festival for several years and getting totally inspired to teach myself VFX and film editing so I could make the sort of far out, politically conscious movies I always hoped others would. What better way to improve ones skills than reaching for something crazy ambitious enough to leave no choice but total commitment?
Risks and challenges
Setting up to make this film has taken years of self-study and practice with green screen techniques and VFX software until finally one thing became clear: the time is now. There is still so much to learn but putting together the proof-of-concept video smoothed out the kinks in our filming and modeling --> compositing --> editing workflow, to a point of high confidence in the flexibility and expressive potential of the tools we'll use. The script is smart and compelling, our cast and crew possess an abundance of enthusiasm and talent, and a clear plan exists for every shot in the film, so we're working from a pretty solid foundation and things can only get way more awesome from here. There is definitely room for improvement in the quality of sound we're capturing but dedicating a portion of the budget to address this will do wonders.
Since we're aiming for stylized results every shot offers the creative challenge of an essentially blank canvas bound only by imagination and finite computing resources. We'll need to approach each scene with a mind to strike the ideal balance between achieving a spellbinding sense of place and keeping things economical in terms of processing. This will require strategy and experimentation and most likely take longer than our most optimistic estimates, but unflagging persistence always wins and our resolve to carry through is absolute, so no worries.
With your backing we'll pull off this ambitious project with aplomb and relate an epic story in epic style. Interesting times lay ahead and we definitely hope you'll join us to see how it all turns out!
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Funding period
- (33 days)