Nokia 'Direct & Project' Gala Screening Photos

Last year, Nokia found us to create a 1 minute short film using their brand-new HD cel-phone which eventually became Runaway featuring Connor Stanhope and Sierra Pitkin. A decent chunk of photos from the gala screening, at the Vancouver Art Gallery, have made their way onto our Flickr account. Click the photo above or right here to view them all.

Runaway Returns To It's Home, Nokia N8

It is a mere 2 days away from Nokia's "Direct & Project" gala screening event at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Part of the marketing hook of the phone, aside from the ability to Direct in 23.98 fps at 720p resolution, is the ability to Project the videos from the phone via HDMI.

"...So it's not just a clever name?" W.Campbell (c.1992)

You can click the photo above or here to view full resolution of the image above. Shortly after the screening Wednesday, we will be uploading Runaway to Youtube along with a nice amount of behind-the-scenes photos and a mini-making-of documentary cut from footage shot by Sylvia Soska from Twisted Twins Productions.

Juno Actress Sierra Pitkin In Nokia N8 Film 'Runaway'

It seems Nokia is quite happy to hear about the inclusion of Connor Stanhope in our Direct & Project film, Runaway - taking to their Twitter account with the news. So what better time than the present to reveal that another young star named Sierra Pitkin, who is best known for stealing every scene she was in, in the massively marketed/hyped indie-film Juno (shown above) will be acting as Connor's co-star. For more information on the Wednesday art gallery screening of the films, click here to visit the WOW/World Nokia event Facebook page.

Runaway: Nokia N8 Promotional Poster

Smallville's Connor Stanhope, Twisted Twins Join Nokia N8 Contest

With the Nokia N8 Direct & Project contest deadlines dwindling down and the gala screening approaching rapidly, we thought it best to begin the build-up. The contest, as mentioned, requires various kinds of visual artists found/selected by Nokia to create a 1 minute clip (narrative or visual) shot entirely on their N8 phone. The top 3 entries keep their promotional phone and the top film wins a large 46" HD television and corporate party favors!

Our entry is titled "Runaway" and features one of my new favorite actors Connor Stanhope, who regularly portrays young Lex Luthor on the Vancouver produced "Smallville." Connor is on an extremely short list of young actors with the ability to act circles around the majority of his adult counterparts. (His words, not mine.)

I will be directing, shooting and post-production for this with a story co-written with The Soska Sisters and featuring visual embellishments by Jeffrey Zablotny - re-assembling all our award winning fast-film team members from contests past. "Runaway", we realized shortly after it's creation, is an indirect homage to a comic strip which, clearly, remains as one of my biggest influences and favorite things ever.

Rules state that I'm not really allowed to post much else regarding my entry but: I am allowed to shamelessly promote the screening and their product...product liiike Nokia's latest cel-phone homerun: the Nokia N8? The Nokia N8 which features Carl Zeiss lenses (seen right) and shoots in crystal clear 720p HD! Nokia, of course, being the company putting on this "N8: Direct & Project" contest and screening (and by screening, I mean the Nokia screening on the 19th) at the Vancouver Art Gallery (generously rented out by Nokia.)

Nokia.

Despite my profession, I have not bought a television since the nineteen hundreds and am willing to do whatever it takes to play NHL 11 at home on a large, high definition television - out of respect and solidarity, I haven't even looked at my Blackberry since writing this.

Project Greenman Commercial

yesterday we shot a commercial for "project greenman" a cause founded by jeff arsenault which is represented by four young "agents for change" that deliver seeds all over the world. in their words:

Project Greenman will allow you to follow a tiny seed through its life cycle. Planting seeds and growing plants represent the continuation of life; a rebirth of our world and promise for tomorrow. We want you to be part of this future. When you become an "Agent for Change" you will have the chance to assist other members fulfilling a commitment to rejuvenate our Earth.

our agents were janette bundic, eric clark, megan mckinnon & connor stanhope, who some of you may recognize as the young lex luther on 'smallville.' the spot also features fortyfps's parents, maggie and chuck, who are celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary today. the finished spot should be appearing online within the next week.

click here and here to see a photos from shortly after the production had wrapped and project page has been created and uploaded here.

jeff has told us of several major places and people that will be involved in promoting this piece and the cause, including virgin's richard branson who is planning to promote the cause by taking seeds up on the first commercial space flight. here is a clip from ctv news: