Genre: Sci-Fi, Action
As an apocalyptic asteroid heads to earth, a bereaved father hunts down his child’s killer; so dead or alive, his family is together to face the end.
CAST LIST:
Man: Peter-Mark Raphael
Ellie: Emily Weir
Narrator: Peter Nelson
Joe: Neil Bennett
Alice: Regan Brown
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your screenplay about?
LOGLINE: As an apocalyptic asteroid heads to earth, a bereaved father hunts down his child’s killer; so dead or alive, his family is together to face the end.
SHORT SYNOPSIS:
With a world-ending asteroid on the way to earth, Joe Bleeker, a Professor of Latin, digs huge holes in the woods. He tortures and later begs a wealthy older man, (a pedophile and murderer), to tell him where he buried the body of his young daughter, Tessie. With demise imminent, the only thing Joe cares about is being together, as a family, to face the end of the world – even if one of them is already dead and the others are on Skype.
WHAT TOGETHER IS REALLY ABOUT:
If the world is ending, then morals and norms might vanish and be replaced with an overpowering urge to fulfill the deepest, gnawing need. In Together, it is Professor Joe Bleeker’s overwhelming need to be with his family.
2. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Neo-Noir, Psychological Thriller, Dark Drama, Horror, End of The World
3. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
It’s cinematic, emotionally nuanced dark fairytale that plays upon every parents’ fear of the very worst of what can happen, to your child, to your family and to your marriage and puts that in an end of the world context.
I’m drawn to the beauty of filming at night to bring out the richness of the pathos with cinematography. I love sound, the different accents of; Joe’s Professorial Latin, Queen Elizabeth’s received pronunciation strained by the overwhelm of global death, the nihilism of the Prime Minister’s failure and the goading of the child killer, (who I haven’t deigned to give a name), all contrasting with the emotional pain and loss of Alice, Joe’s wife, Tessie’s mother and the sweet childish worry and glee of Ellie, the daughter who’s being brought up so far away in Australia that she’s absorbed the accent. It’s an aural note embodying the emotional and physical distance from her father’s perfect English diction.
There’s also subtext about global politicians utterly futile attempts creating a world of peace, and safety. I believe these are all great elements for a rich and textured film.
4. How would you describe this script in two words?
Dark. Visceral.
5. What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Kind Hearts and Coronets
6. How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I’ve been tinkering with it over a couple of months in between writing a dramedy feature.
7. How many stories have you written?
I’ve written five feature scripts and a short story that’s due to be published in a sci-fi anthology.
8. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Jimi Hendrix, All Along The Watchtower.
9. What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I wondered if I’d gone too far and wrestled with how far I could push it.
10. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Directing. I think this short is cinematic and visceral. I think you can see it and feel it.
11. You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
It’s a straightforward, well laid out and easy to navigate.
12. What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I’d heard good things about Wildsound and the feedback I received was far better than some I’d received from bigger competitions. Wildsound’s feedback was thoughtful, incisive and detailed.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Op: Mary Cox
Fantasy/Sci-Fi FILM & WRITING FESTIVAL 