The Bunker Street Film Co is raising funds for Planet 13, a sci-fi short that writer and director Joe Murdie said would explore the "complacency that humans have" towards planet Earth.
Set on a fictional planet in 2093, the film will follow two characters struggling to survive in a world rapidly deteriorating as a consequence of humanity’s expansion.
A cinematographer who honed his skills working on news, documentaries and broadcast television, Murdie said the project reflected a long-held desire to break into fictional storytelling.
"We made a short in January this year which has been around some festivals and done pretty well," he said.
Filmed in a day with one lead actor, Murdie’s debut narrative short WALK won Best Aotearoa Project at the Vision Feast Film Festival, in Auckland, earlier this year.
Murdie said although Planet 13 would be more ambitious, it was still a predominantly "character-driven piece".
"It’s sci-fi because it’s on another planet, but it doesn’t have classical sci-fi tropes. It is a drama piece about two people."
He credited the likes of Dune, Blade Runner and The Book of Eli as influencing the film’s visual style.
Bunker Street is aiming to raise $25,000 via crowdfunding, with principle photography scheduled to take place in February next year.
On the question of how the crew would transform the Central Otago landscape into that of a dying planet, Murdie said the task was "easier than you think".
"I guess that’s part of the reason why we’re trying to shoot in the peak of the heat ... a lot of the areas will be brown and dry.
"We’ve got a few really particular locations that are all Central Otago based but ... don’t look like they’re from Central Otago, don’t even look like they’re from Earth, but they are."
Murdie encouraged anyone interested in the project to visit their website, share the word, or consider donating.
REGAN.HARRIS@alliedpress.co.nz
