After two and a half years, and a year and half of a complicated immigration I have at last landed as a permanent resident in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I have already made a few contacts in “The Peg”, and I am looking forward to making many more.
I was very lucky to have been able to make a short movie before I left Las Vegas for the Winnipeg Film Group’s “90 Second Quickie” Film Contest with the help of my very capable cohorts over at The Ruse Films.
Works in school aside, this was my directorial debut. The story of “Powerless” was something I had originally thought of four or five years ago after reading Ingmar Bergman’s autobiography ‘The Magic Lantern’. There is an excerpt in his book that speaks of how the tone of everything changes when the power goes out, a concept that resonates with me to this day. Originally, what would later become “Powerless” was part of an anthology project I was working on about different stories that play out when an apartment building’s power goes out.
When I saw that the Winnipeg Film Group was holding a 90 second film festival, I knew that was my chance to show filmmakers in Winnipeg some of my chops. At first I was hard pressed for a story to tell in 90 seconds. After a long, later night phone conversation with my creative counterpart Langley West (who is in pre-production for an awesome movie in Bellingham, Washington about Southern Illinois’ Robin Hood called “(But) Never a Good One“), I was determined not to go to bed until I had a story. I looked through old notebooks of stories not yet told, and the “apartment story” as it is tentatively known jumped out at me. Thus “Powerless” was born.
I was so incredibly lucky that my friends were able to help me out in shooting, acting, recording sound, lending equipment, and most importantly giving me a few hours out of their busy schedule on a weeknight (with work the next morning). I am extremely glad that they not only helped me out, but that we were able to shoot something like we’ve done so many times in the past one last time before I left for good. I am eternally grateful to the following people.
Eugene Dela Cruz
Dean Pizzoferrato
Colton Rybus
Corey Surrat
Mercedes Wright
Felicia Villas
The timing of all of this couldn’t be more perfect. A 90 second film festival in Winnipeg that would occur right as was to arrive in would be the perfect opportunity to show what I can do. Not only am I anticipating seeing my movie on the big screen at the Winnipeg Film Groups’ Cinematheque theater (or theatre, as it were), but meeting other local filmmakers.
If I may channel Rick Mercer, should you find yourself in Winnipeg on July 27th, why not stop by the Cinematheque at 7pm and catch some short movies made by some great local filmmakers!
-Zach
