This week, we present a film that has been generating quite a bit of internet buzz over the last week, Jarrett Lee Conaway's film: TURBO
Plot summary:
TURBO is a high adrenaline short film in the tradition of The Karate Kid and Tron. It tells the story of Hugo Park (Justin Chon, Twilight) a misspent youth whose only outlet for angst is a 4D fighting videogame called “Super Turbo Arena”. When Pharaoh King (Jocko Sims, Crash the Series), the Michael Jordan of cyber-sports, announces a tournament to determine who will join his pro-team, Hugo sets his eyes on the prize. But, Hugo isn't the only gamer who wants fame and glory. If Hugo wants to win he's going to have to beat Shamus (David Lehre, Epic Movie), the all time Turbo champ at the local Pandemonium arcade, and Ruse Kapri, a feisty prep girl that knows how to win. Realizing he can't win on his skill alone, Hugo turns to his brother Tobias a former kick-boxer whose last match left him wheel-chair ridden. Together the two will mend old wounds and see if a washed up street fighter can teach a troubled teen how to become a virtual gladiator!
This short film has been the BFAM team’s labor of love for the last two years and we couldn’t have done it without our network of actors, stunt people, and technicians.
For years I’ve been a hardcore gamer. Fighting games are in my blood. I remember the first time I practiced the sweet science of pugilism with Little Mac in Punch Out. I remember Hadokening my friends into submission in a round of Street Fighter II, and Killer Instinct’s Ultra combos that lasted seemingly an eternity. Oh, the arguments my brother and I have gotten into over Soul Calibur were vicious!
So, when it came time to develop my thesis film for my MFA at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, I knew I wanted to combine my love of videogames, comics and anime into the most kickass film possible. Around that time, I was taking an exclusive motion capture performance class taught by Oscar winning director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Beowulf). I directed a short martial arts sequence for the course and my mind began to race on how I’d use the technology in a feature film. I began brainstorming a world where videogame players shared the limelight with the top sports stars. A world where teenagers hung out in Blade Runner-esque arcades; where the most skilled gamers would be discovered and rise to cyber-athlete stardom. And so TURBO the feature concept was born! But, I knew as much as I loved mo-cap, I just didn’t have the resources to make a film with it. So, I wrote a short film to be done in live action as a means to pitch the feature which will incorporate both.
As I entered pre-production, I teamed up with my friend Brent Strickland who had recently sold a spec for the Wonder Woman feature script and signed with ICM. For a year we turned my vision into a feature script that we are about to shop to major film studios.
Creating the world of TURBO has been an amazing journey and there’s much more to come.
This week we present an absolute gem in Constantin Pilavios’ Greek short film - What Is That?
Sentimental, touching and thoroughly brilliant. It shows that to make a good short, sometimes all you need is a heartfelt simple concept.
Plot summary:
A father and son sit on a park bench, when suddenly a sparrow lands in front of them.
Directed by: Constantin Pilavios Written by: Nikos & Constantin Pilavios Director of photgraphy: Zoe Manta Music by: Christos Triantafillou Sound by: Teo Babouris Mixed by: Kostas Varibobiotis Produced by: MovieTeller films
This week, Weekly Geekly presents – The Meter Mob, a short by James Spence.
Sadly, that is all we know about the film and indeed the director. We have searched the web both high and low to track down Mr. Spence and congratulate him on producing a very funny film indeed. Sadly we were unsuccessful.
So, Mr. Spence if you are reading this, we at Weekly Geekly salute you!
Plot summary:
Traffic wardens, you either hate them or really hate them! But perhaps after checking this short film, you might just smile a little when seeing one of the ‘meter mob’ out on patrol.
Warning - contains some strong language and traffic wardens
If you too would like your film featured on Indie Film Friday, please email us at fans@weeklygeekly.co.uk
You can also check out all the previous entries in Weekly Geekly's Indie Film Fridays here.
This week, Weekly Geekly proudly presents - An Act Of Revenge.
With action direction from ZeroGravity's Ken Quitugua and Sam Looc, An Act of Revenge is a short action thriller that gets right to the point; raw and explicit vengeance.
Plot summary:
One year ago Sam's brother, Alan, was murdered while attempting to leave behind a lifestyle he was no longer proud of. On the anniversary of his brother's death, Sam vows to settle the score with those responsible for Alan's untimely departure.
Part 1
Part 2
Here is a brief background from this awesome martial arts team:
ZeroGravity started with a few college students who had the love for martial arts. Every once in a while, we would get together and exchange ideas about what we had learned from our respective training halls. At the same time, we were huge fans of Hong Kong style martial arts movies. With the rising popularity of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, and many others, we observed their every movement, gestures, fighting concepts, and fighting styles. At some of the practices we began creating our own HK style choreography.
In late 2000 the members of ZG decided to make their first short film. Although the production was wrought with many difficulties, Title Pending was released online and the public reaction was very positive. Over the next two years ZG would produce several short films including Kid Gusto vs the Matrix, US vs HK, Title Pending 2 and the DAMN series.
After 2003, ZG began to branch out from the indie scene. The majority of the team relocated to Los Angeles. We proceeded to break into Hollywood and other parts of the entertainment industry, adding both professionals and new talent to our ranks. Although the short films we became infamous for are no longer the primary ambition of the team, several members in both ZG North and South continue to make indie shorts and features with other filmmakers.
The members of the team all pursue their own goals but continuously collaborate with each other, exchanging and experimenting like the original group. By heading in different directions we broaden our capabilities and strengthen the core of our experience. Having begun to establish a foothold in the industry, ZG will continue to both pursue professional work in Hollywood and break new ground in independent film.
ZeroGravity
For more information about the team, and to check out more of their amazing work, head on over to their official website: http://www.zgmain.com/main.html
If you too would like your film featured on Indie Film Friday, please email us at fans@weeklygeekly.co.uk
You can also check out all the previous entries in Weekly Geekly's Indie Film Fridays here.
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 5:13PM