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Genesis Antipode
By Matthew M. Foster | February 17, 2008
dir: J.R. Robinson, 15:00—The post apocalyptic sub-genre is a particularly fitting one for short film. Figure: With almost everyone dead, there’s not a whole lot going on. Most of the features taking place in these dim tomorrows could have their plots reduced to ten minutes. A majority of the run times are used up by guys in BDSM-gear driving dune buggies across ruined landscapes.
Genesis Antipode, produced, written, and directed by American J.R. Robinson in New Zealand, takes the post apocalyptic story to its character-driven basics. There’s a man and a woman, and the rest of the world is dead. Too bad she despises him. Told in two timelines, the human race is no more when the film begins. Jeffrey and Rebecca stay close to each other, outside of the city for fear of what may lie there. They had met before the fall of civilization, on a blind date. He was her intellectual superior, but in every other way, he lagged behind. Rebecca, an attractive, social woman, was repulsed by his inability to grasp even basic cultural norms. However Jeffrey, a dweebish scientist, thought things had gone swimmingly. He learns otherwise, and then everyone else dies.
This is one of the most compelling visions of a destroyed world you’ll find on film. It’s not exciting, but with believable acting and a far too believable situation, it sticks in your brain.
Genesis Antipode is both depressing and relaxing. Is there hope in its suggested future? That’s up to you to decide. It presents two people in the most awkward of situations and lets the audience imagine what they would do in their place.
Watch it online at: HYH Productions | MySpace TV
Where did the story for Genesis Antipode come from?
Genesis Antipode is essentially the story of a blind date gone bad…really, really bad. It’s the story of Rebecca and Jeffrey, two polar opposites who meet, have no connection, and then are forced to come to terms with each other when they become the last two survivors of a global apocalypse. It’s essentially a not-too-subtle play on the whole “not if you were the last man on earth” cliché.
Genesis Antipode did the festival rounds and now is posted online on your own film production website, Heulsaf-Yr-Haf Productions.
I made the move early on, actually while the short was still in festivals, mainly as a way of allowing friends and family to have access to it, plus to provide a quick and easy method of showcasing the film to my peers in the industry. Because it’s impossible to truly monitor how many people are seeing it, it’s hard to say what kind of exposure it’s gotten me, but I have received several festival requests and similar responses because someone has stumbled across it randomly. I think it’s a great tool to have open internet distribution for a short film, precisely because it affords people the opportunity to see my film who may not be able to see it in a festival or by some other means. Short films are about exposure, more than anything, and having this film online allows for that.
What do you think people at Apple (iTunes short film sales), AtomFilms, and other distributors need to do to meet the needs of filmmakers?
Ideally, I would love for Apple to make online distribution of shorts more accessible, and more open. I know dozens of very good short films that are unavailable anywhere, but would sell amazingly well if given the opportunity to be on Apple. It’s kind of silly, actually, considering the wealth of independently produced music on iTunes, that it’s so difficult for a filmmaker to upload and distribute their short film. It seems that, unless a film is deemed “marketable,” i.e. Oscar nominated or produced by celebrities, there’s not much opportunity for short filmmakers to distribute short films through Apple. I could go on and on, but I think there is a missed opportunity here, and I know of so many filmmakers who would deeply appreciate the opportunity to present their films through a central hub such as iTunes.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently enrolled in the MFA directing program at Chapman University, where I’ll be producing a number of shorts over the next few years. At the moment I’m in preproduction on a 5-minute dramatic piece, and am hoping to direct a 15-20 minute science fiction film over the summer.
Looking back, what’s stuck with you after making Genesis Antipode?
There is so much of this film that I hold a very strong personal attachment to, from the dead children on the playground, to Jeffrey’s “C-3PO walk,” but I think it’s ultimately the last few scenes, when the film reaches its dramatic payoff, and we see the desolation of the city around these two people, and realize that they are truly alone, that always hits me the hardest. I feel like I was really able to accomplish a solid climax to the film, and to do so in a way that truly emphasized the characters and their place in an absurd situation. I’m also extremely proud of the achievement my cast and crew were able to help me accomplish, producing a film that I’m very proud of with no money and in a very short period of time. More than anything, this film is a testament to them, and to the city of Wellington, which was so good to me in so many ways during my time there.
Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to represent my film on your site. It’s a film I hold very dear to my heart, and I deeply appreciate being able to share it with others whenever possible.
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genesis antipode
By admin | February 17, 2008
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