PROJECTSOF 2024
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good
Hostage to AI amid apocalyptic chaos, Eli, Eva, and four colleagues attempt to save the world.
An uneaten apple sits on a desk of the regional headquarters of (not Amazon) Nile.com where a
group of colleagues are introduced:
A. Main Characters – 6 Everyday Personality Archetypes
i. AJ: The Leader (white or mixed, early thirties, brilliant and arrogant (e
Miles Teller or Jesse Williams))
ii. ELI: The Good One (white or Jewish, late forties or early fifties, affable and
easy going (Paul Rudd or Robert Downey Jr.)
iii. EVA: The Clever One (mid 30s, white or mixed, strong (Blake Lively or
Zoe Kravitz))
iv. LEO: The Genius (Middle Eastern or Subcontinental, early forties,
introvert, (Tomer Capone or Rami Malek))
v. LILY: The Bad One (Mid 20s, Asian, or White, petite, fiery) (Tati Gabrielle
or Chloe Grace Moretz))
vi. JOHN: The Introvert (black man, early-thirties, beefy, no-bullshit (
Michael B. Jordan or Winston Duke)
The introduction is interrupted by the abrupt, unexpected, and shocking unraveling of
humankind.
In recent days, the UN Secretary General outed an American non-profit worker kidnapped by
ISIS, who then broadcast the worker being thrown from a building. The US retaliated by
destroying ISIS headquarters in Nigeria. The US strike against ISIS inadvertently killed a number
of Wagner fighters, and in response, Wagner provided ISIS with nuclear material absconded from Ukraine. ISIS outfitted a nuclear weapon onto the private jet of a Saudi sovereign wealth fund
representative, who inadvertently delivered the bomb to the annual shareholders meeting of
Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Nebraska, where it detonated upon landing.
FEMA announces the United States is uniquely prepared to meet the moment, as FEMA’s
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fully integrated with the AIs of the nation’s military and critical
infrastructure . FEMA’s AI mistakes a unique mutation bloom of Covid in Arizona as a bioweapon,
and alerts the Pentagon AI to attack China, its deciphered source. A cascade of algorithmic
reactions leads to all-out war. The FEMA AI locks down access to all egress, and the main
characters are trapped inside their work building, as the FEMA AI believes they need protection
from rotating sources of danger outside throughout the movie.
One-by-one, the circumstances of humankind’s downfall team up with the unique character of
each archetype to cause their death, until only two characters remain: EVA/the Clever One and
ELI/the Good One.
EVA/the Clever One, finds a way to stop and even reverse the apocalypse, but to do so the Good
One must die. Tortured by this dilemma, EVA considers letting the world end rather than be
responsible for the ELI’s death. ELI, the Good One, understands the gravity of the situation,
reflexively saying, “Oh god,” to which a bitter EVA snaps back that the situation has proven that
no god exists. Instantly, there is no sound, no wind, no violence, no shaking, all kinetic activity
abruptly stops, and the Good One turns to her saying, “But I’ve been here the whole time.”
Eli/God explains that he is having a “time out,” for the first time in a while regarding humanity,
which Eva/the Clever One quickly interprets as existential and defends humanity’s potential,
despite everything. The characters are then instantly returned to the movie’s critical moment,
and Eva, with surprise help from a character thought dead, saves the world.
The survivors banter with Eli/God as the credits begin and the camera pulls away. And away. And
away, stopping when it reaches a beefed-up international space station. Inside, mega-wattage
actor cameo astronauts observe the ravaged earth below. discussing – among themselves their
plans to restore the planet with the provisions stored there. The film ends with a close-up on the
(bitten) apple.
After the credits, the audience is finally shown the never-shown back story of John, who is
revealed to have previously been an arms dealer in Nigeria (suspiciously dealing in bioweapons),
who had recently transitioned to cyberweapons and was hired by a mysterious consortium to
develop the very machine sought after to save the world in the movie. It is revealed that he is
the one who told Eva/the Clever One the secret password she needed in the end to save the world.
Monte was born in 1977 to a Guatemalan immigrant mother and a blue-collar Texan father who were both divorced and met at a singles party in Twin Peaks, San Francisco. He grew up in the rural hills near Napa, California, leaving at 18 to acquire a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College, and then a law degree from Harvard and a master’s degree in real estate from NYU.
He has been an attorney in Manhattan for the last 22 years, where he has his own practice and lives with his husband and two sons on the Upper West Side.
This is the first draft of anything creative I have written since high school. The response to the film has been humbling and disorienting to say the least, surpassed only by the joy felt creating it.
Trust the Process
Zoé exists between starkly contrasting realms: the glittering facade of the virtual world and the raw, unfiltered reality. In the digital sphere, she shines as a celebrated influencer, while in the tangible world, she is an immigrant actress confronting the harsh truths of life and self. Zoé’s journey through these opposing landscapes is a relentless pursuit of the elusive essence of true happiness
This short film is particularly special to me because it addresses immigration and the emotions that come with it. I wanted to explore how depression and loneliness can arise in people who, at first glance, seem to have no reason to feel this way. It is a study of internal and psychological problems that are often overlooked in favor of more visible and tangible explanations.
As a director, I am passionate about telling stories from a female and feminist perspective, addressing psychological and social conflicts that affect both women and the LGBT community. I hope this film resonates with the audience and opens a dialogue about the complexity of human emotions and the immigration experience.
Dark Addiction
This documentary tells the story of people addicted to pornography, their history and consequences in a journey that hits rock bottom of addiction, and their rehabilitation battle to get out of it. For the first time a documentary talks about the physical needs of the human being; a scientific approach to what happens in the human brain and the needs of his soul. A journey back in time from the first alerts in the 60s and the consequences of this addiction to post-pandemic times.
Whitey On The Run
What happens while Whitey Bulger is on the run?
No one who finds him is safe.
Donald Watson is a seasoned stage and film actor/producer/director and president of Auburn Productions. His “Whitey” web series is an award-winner for his direction, producing and acting, notably for Best Web Series at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, among others. He also received awards for his short film adaptation of the acclaimed poem, “Let There Be Peace”.
He recently appeared in Jorge Ameer’s 2023 award-winning mind-bender, “Altered Perceptions”; he wrote, produced, directed and stars in Auburn’s latest film “To Grieve or Not to Grieve”, as a widower trying to move on. He appeared with Jason Clark in “Chappaquiddick” and stars in Auburn’s award-winning short “Memory Lane” as a father with dementia. He performed in the comedy feature “Motorvation”, the series “L.A. Macabre” and more. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1144423/
I was 9 years old when I met Whitey Bulger. It was during the “Irish gang wars” in Boston, mostly Sommerville and Charlestown—the town where I lived. One night, after I finished selling papers and shining shoes in the bars, my older brother was walking me up Bunker Hill Street. A couple blocks from home, we stopped where four guys were standing outside a club next to an idling car. The car was noisy and my brother, a teenager who was good with cars, offered to fix the rattle, but they blew him off. I hit one of them up for a shine, and he said, “Get the f* out of here”. I guess I insulted the guy because I later learned he was always impeccable. I still remember his face and the chilling way he looked when he said it. I’ll never forget it. That was Whitey.
Years later, I met his brother a few times. He was a state senator who said, “call me Billy.” His work didn’t mean he was totally straight, but he didn’t go to jail either. And a friend of mine met Whitey as well. Which goes to say, if you come out of Charlestown, next to Southie, we always have more stories to tell. That encounter affected me, and I followed news about his crimes and life. I knew I’d play him one day. WHITEY ON THE RUN is the second project in which I’ve portrayed him in my career. I hope you enjoy it.
Waiting For Margot
While getting ready for a date, Martin gets a surprise visit from his own anxiety. Things go downhill quickly.
Told through the inner voices of a high-functioning anxious man, this film examines the eye-opening anxiety surrounding even the most straightforward daily events.
Chris Barber is a filmmaker, location scout-manager, and award-winning sound designer residing in Portland, OR. He made his first short film in the 3rd grade, and has been making them ever since. When he was 24, he produced and directed a feature film entitled “Love Sick” which premiered at the Kenworthy Theater in Moscow, ID in 2006. Since moving to Portland in 2007, Chris has worked in animation, live action, and visual effects with a focus on location scouting/management as well as sound design for several features and short films. He has also played percussion since the 3rd grade, specializing in hitting random objects just to see just what they sound like.
Waiting For Margot is a 100% solo short film that kept me quite occupied for a year and a half during the pandemic. It pushed me in a variety of ways; creatively, technically, and emotionally. Margot not only helped me learn all the little things that go into the making of a film, but helped me confront some of the powerful feelings stemming from the uncertainty of life over the past three years. Making this movie was a trip inward; I’m finally ready to put it out there.
Women and Roads. The Way to Yourself. Mallorca.
Three women Russian and Ukranian origine in one car travel around the island with a camera in search of real stories. There are 24 heroines in their film. Women from 20 countries come to one beautiful island to live, to create and to love. Their journey gives hope that all difficulties can be overcome, and there is a place on earth where people from different cultures, nationalities, religions can find themselves. Mallorca is like the big and kind heart of the world.
Kristina Kretova was born in 1981 in Leningrad.
She writes books-bestsellers for childгen and teenagers, which are included in the lists of libraries and become prize winners.
ln 2021, Kristina Kretova publisbed the book “Antifragile: women in the history of Russia”, the continuation of the idea of which was partly а film-rally, shot together with Anna Kameneva about the women of the Baikal region. Thus the project “Women and roads. The way to yourself” was born.
ln 2022 the directors shot а film already оn Ladoga. And in 2023 filming took place in Uzbekistan.
Anna Kameneva was also born in 1981 in Leningrad.
ln 2004 she graduated from the Faculty of Philology of SPbSU, after she received а second higher education at the Faculty of Law of SPbSU. For 10 years she managed а magazine, while in parallel doing business, including PR and event. 3 years ago she returned to songwriting & directing videos for children.
ln 2021, together with Kristina, she filmed her first documentary “Women and Roads. Way to yourself. Baikal” and founded eponymous joint project and А&К Production company.
Both directors live and work in Russia, Spain, Israel and UAE.
Kristina Kretova
The shooting of the film gave us an amazing sense of community of women from absolutely all corners of the planet, the feeling that everything has already been and will still be in everyone’s life. In the knowledge of the world and other people, we get to know ourselves, allow ourselves to live, make mistakes and be ourselves.
Anna Kameneva
Through the diversity of women’s faces and their destinies, as well as through the dynamics of road travel, we reveal the diversity and beauty of our planet.
When Kristina and I were filming our first film on Lake Baikal, our synergy in working on the project itself led to a decision – the film has two directors who mutually understand and complement each other. This, in part, continues the good intentions and goals of our films.
In the process of filming, I “fell in love” with each of our heroines, “admired” each filming location, savored every moment of the trip and work. Real people and their stories. But realism can also be different. And this is the choice of the director, which facet of our diverse and largely imperfect world to show and highlight in his film. Kristina and I chose inspiration, the beauty of the human soul, but honest, without embellishment. Because of this, our films are “alive”, they give ground for reflection, they even give someone hope and faith in their abilities.”
Coney Island Cousins
Two distant cousins reunite in Coney island, but their night out is interrupted when they encounter a dead body with deep pockets which could forever change their lives.
Al Padilla is a filmmaker based in New York who started his career working as a lighting technician on popular shows such as Sopranos and 30 Rock, among many others. Al went on to direct a short titled, Blind Wingman, which was selected at the Cannes Film Festival. He also wrote and directed a feature titled, Best Man in the Dark which garnered the Best Film Award at the Rincon Film Festival. Al continues to write screenplays and is presently releasing a crime-comedy feature titled, Coney Island Cousins.
Striving to include diversity in independent films.
The Soldiers (Mother Ukraine—Layers of War)
This short film is based upon news articles and interviews of the people immersed in a horrific war and includes soldiers from both sides. It begins with a little boy at a train station who is waiting with his mother to get out of the war zone. He misses his father who enlisted in the battle and speaks to his imaginary friend for comfort. We then hear from the soldiers who find themselves entangled in a web of rage, doubt and fear.
An eclectic playwright with roots as a journalist, Linda strives to create situations thwarting alienation in her audience. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she launched her writing career as a reporter for ‘Newsday’ when she graduated from New York University. Immersing herself in theatre and film for several years, she raised her son singly, rescued four dogs, and taught high school English before receiving her Master of Arts in NYU’s Educational Theatre in Music and Performing Arts Professions.
She wrote over 20 plays and films, many of which she directed from New York to Los Angeles. She was positively reviewed by The Los Angeles Times for her comedy drama, ‘Prime Rib Wedding.’ The Tampa Bay Times wrote a feature article on Ms. Pallotta. She wrote and directed a short film for Orange TV, ‘Envirokids’ in Orlando for the county’s EPA as she taught theatre at Valencia College. She later was adjunct professor at CUNY’s Baruch College in NYC.
Ms. Pallotta was recently thrice selected winner in the IndieFEST FilmAward Festival and 8 times selected a semi-finalist in international film festivals for her short and full length screenplays. She is published in the international journal ‘Literature Today’ as well as ‘Fresh Words.’ During the pandemic, Linda was chosen to be a finalist in the women’s festival of playwrights in New York City’s Crossways Theatre. The playwright volunteers at Red Door Community (formerly Gilda’s Club) for those challenged by cancer, leading an improvisational workshop for both children and adults. She is a member of the Dramatist Guild.
The purpose of my life is to create situations that others can identify with within their own lives, to make my audiences feel less alone. If, through my words, I can make life better for some, to share experiences in order to make others happier, then my goal to thwart alienation will be completed. Hopefully my words will .reverberate and help those who need clarification towards what they’re feeling. Creating a tear, a smile, a retort or a belly laugh makes me know my audience is feeling my words. If my words “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted,” I will be an artist, for only then will I have embroidered a live tapestry called film.
Awakenings
During the Pandemic and as we seek humanity everyday in our lives. Awakening of the soul is what will unite us and rise above all the madness of the world. This short video with my poetry has been produced during the pandemic and is dedicated to all humanity and those that lost their loved ones without saying goodbye.
