WHAT IS EYETEETH?
Eyeteeth is a feature film written and ready to be directed by Vince Nigito, produced by Manny Muñoz, and shot by Patsie Varkados, starring Jeremy Sabol, Lea Sabol, Melissa Egan, Tim Martin and Chris Roll.
Oh, did you mean, "What's an eyeteeth?" It's an expression about gaining experience that no one uses anymore, and in truth, it is a working title, because as much as the movie is about experience, for the characters, and those working on it, we also know that it's about a lot more than that.
THE STORY
Over the course of a night, Ed and Meagan, a young couple struggling with the idea that they are going to be parents soon, are entertained by Chris, Ed's older brother, who is back in town after a year away from home. Chris takes Ed and Meagan to see his friends, Greg and Jaynie, an older - but still young - couple, who have started a family under similar circumstances. While the whole thing is meant to be educational, it quickly becomes clear that Chris has ulterior motives.
The movie explores the ideas of connection and relationship, what it means to experience or to have experienced something, and why some people are much nicer or much meaner when they're alone than when they're in groups. It's a film with a lot to unpack, made to be worth unpacking.
THE IDEA
The movie is written to be low-maintenance. By keeping the scope relatively small, shooting at only a couple locations with only a couple actors, we can concentrate more closely on telling a meaningful story, so that - like the mustard seed - it can grow in the viewers' minds and hearts. Basically, by cutting out the frills, we can more assuredly make something that is good.
This is a method that has worked for countless great independent films in the past, like Clerks or Reservoir Dogs. Right now, it's easier than ever to make a great movie with a small budget. So while Clerks cost $27,000 to make and was shot on film, we can shoot something that looks just as good using digital cameras, and because we don't have to buy film or pay for lab fees, it will cost much, much less to make. And if we are able to raise that much, then we'll be able to do that much more.
THE BUDGET
Your contributions will go toward food, travel, the equipment we can't borrow, and expendables (hard drives, tapes, gels, paper, etc.). If we reach our goal, we will begin production immediately. If we surpass it, then we'll be able to look into paying the cast and crew for their time, which we'd really like to do. Every additional dollar will be up on the screen in some form.
THE PEOPLE
The Cast
Jeremy Sabol (Ed) has been acting in some capacity since he can remember - though his long term memory has never been the greatest. More recently, Jeremy has been in As You Like It at the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival, Antony and Cleopatra & Cyrano de Bergerac at PSF, Peter Pan at the Philip Coltoff Center in NYC and has appeared in several episodes of Forensic Files.
Lea Sabol (Meagan) has been involved in acting since she was small. Ranging from pageants to musicals, she continued to pursue her passion throughout high school and college where she was able to start working in film. She has been in several independent films such as Small Talk by Red Sauce Films and has also been an active member of community theatre where she starred in Urinetown. Lea is currently going to school for nursing and relative awesomeness.
Melissa Egan (Jaynie) spent three seasons in the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's Young Company. Credits include Playboy of the Western World (Sara Tansey), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Anne Page), and Robin Hood (Maid Marion). She has been featured in numerous short films by independent filmmakers in the Lehigh Valley. Melissa currently resides in Easton, PA.
Chris Roll (Greg) has starred in many DeSales short films, such as The Last 7 Minutes of Mark Thompson's Life, Realty, and Unsolved Mysteries. He is the co-creator and co-star of the web-series When Life Gives You Lemons. He is handsome.
The Crew
Manny Muñoz (Executive Producer) By day, is a Production Coordinator at a major network and has been working as an Assistant Editor, Editor and Associate Producer in Promos for the past 4 years. By night, he becomes a cookie and ice cream monster, devouring all sweets in sight.
Patsie Varkados (Director of Photography) is currently working towards an MFA in Filmmaking and Playwriting at the University of Ohio. Patsie's films have premiered in Film Festivals across the country, including winning a Festival Director's Award for Everything Is Grey at the 2012 Woods Hole Film Festival, dubbed one of the top 25 coolest film festivals by Ain't It Cool News.
Vince Nigito (Writer/Director) is a writer, improvisor, and filmmaker living in Chicago, IL. He grew up in the Lehigh Valley, and had been making movies with Jeremy Sabol since high school. He studied Television and Film at DeSales University, where he wrote and directed several short films, and met everyone else involved in this project.
Risks and challenges
The greatest challenge to our film, like any project, is working within the confines of a budget. A bigger budget allows for increased flexibility in planning and reduces the overall risk that comes from unforeseen production problems (i.e. scheduling conflicts, equipment failures, etc.)
We know that we can make this film by being strict with our budget and taking advantage of every second that we have on set. Additional funding will always make it easier to create the great product that we expect to make, but it isn't dependent on it.
In the event that we can't schedule a shoot as soon as we hope to (this winter), we'll use the time we have to plan a shoot as soon as it is feasible. Our goal is to shoot this movie about young couples while we still have hair.
And of course, there is always the risk of quality. Our goal isn't to just get enough footage to cut together a feature length movie, learn a few things, have some fun, and get a notch on our belts. Our goal is to make a film, to produce a final product that could stand next to any other film proudly. We wouldn't be asking for your support if we expected any less. In contributing to this film, you're contributing to something great.
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Funding period
- (19 days)