This is the almost completed final draft of a short 7-minute film I directed in early May of 2007. The film stars Ivan Crasci and Anna Damergis, and features David Rice and Aaron Kwentus. It is the story of Attilio, an Italian man who immigrated to America after his wife died. He is now married to Melanie, but a strange REM sleep disorder is interfering with their relationship. As the two seek guidance from a psychologist, evidence of a past event comes out. Someone else, besides the dark Figure terrorizing Attilio’s dreams, is weighing on his mind. Filmed in high definition with the Panasonic HVX-200 in two full days of shooting, this story is the brainchild of Ryan Leith. Produced and directed by Jesse Springer of Forethought Pictures. Cinematography by Derek Hoffman. Assistant director, Caleb Griffin. Additional crew members, Chris Pogue, Chris Geukens. Music by Sigur Ros, used by permission. Special thanks to Dane Cook, Shelly Leith, Saddleback Church, Pennylane Productions, 413 Pictures, Jeff Webster, and the Cities of Irvine and Rancho Santa Margarita, California. If you like this story or the style in which it was created, let me know. I’d love to hear from you! For more information on Jesse Springer’s film production company, visit www.forethoughtpictures.com. For information on Jesse’s voiceover work, visit www.jcspringer.com.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Pedestrian Crossing (1948) British Public Information Films. Humorous road safety trailer on the correct use of pedestrian crossings, belisha beacons. Director: Michael Law Production Company: Public Relationship Films Sponsor: Central Office of Information for Ministry of Transport Road Safety and the Public: In 1951 there were two million cars registered on the roads of Britain, a figure that rose by 250 per cent over the next ten years. The rapid growth of car ownership in turn gave rise to government road safety campaigns. In 1934 pedestrian crossings consisting of parallel rows of studs and Belisha beacons were introduced to reduce the number of road accidents (Belisha beacons were orange globes on top of black and white posts). By the late 1940’s their initial success and awareness was waning. Research had shown that both pedestrians and drivers alike were ignoring the crossings. This short film alludes to the fact by showing how to safely cross the road. Allied to the public information campaign, in 1949 the Ministry of Transport experimented with different pedestrian crossing markings to help improve visibility. Red and white stripes, as well as the more familiar black and white, were considered at isolated experimental sites. By 1951 the black and white stripes, with Belisha beacons on either side of the road, were approved as ‘Zebra’ crossings; the first officially installed in Slough. A year later further “improvements” were made to pedestrian crossings and the …