Alan Bennett

*** A big THANK YOU to everyone who has supported and contributed to the campaign! I've been blown away by the generosity that you have shown, I can't describe how much it means to me. I'm now looking forward to the production of The Machine and making a great short film that I can share with all of you. Thanks again! - Alan.***


The Machine is a short science fiction film being made in Melbourne, Australia. It's set in a suburban house and will have a low-fi, DIY production design. Two major influences for this production are the films Pi, and Primer - both are great examples of how to achieve a lot with a little.

The film centres around an experimental physicist, Cal, who has shunned his colleagues by conducting his research away from a recognised institution in order to delve deeper into his theories relating to parallel universes. The research has resulted in him building a machine that can transport him into other versions of himself in other universes.

But the work is consuming him to the point of obsession, and ultimately this is affecting his relationship with his partner Rachael. Rachael has supported Cal unconditionally over the years and still believes in him, but it is taking it's toll on her happiness. Cal has disengaged from the relationship and Rachael no longer feels the love that they had shared in the past.

Ultimately this is a story of two distinct elements that intertwine, the science fiction premise drives the plot while the relationship between Cal and Rachael is the emotional core of the film. At it's heart, this film is a love story about a man who has lost sight of what is truly important in life.

This film has been in my head for many years now and has been through many iterations to get to where it is now. The help of some good friends has helped sculpt the story into it's current form and it's far more refined than the chunk of clay I started with. This support and the support from my cast and crew are what makes a project like this possible. Film is a collaborative art form and filmmakers rely on the generosity and talent of those around them to bring their stories to life.

I can't wait to make this film, I love making films so much and luckily in my day job I get to help others make their films - but finding the time and resources to make my own can be more difficult.

If you like this campaign, please share on Facebook, Twitter or other social media. You can also sign up to the mailing list at www.themachineshortfilm.com

Cheers,
Alan.

The funds raised will go towards the production costs of making The Machine. These are:

- Camera gear: we are shooting on the wonderful Ikonoskop A-Cam DII and will be hiring a complete production kit including some very nice 16mm film lenses over the 3 days of shooting.
- Lighting: My Cinematographer is generously offering the use of his lighting kit equipment, however we will need to hire additional lighting.
- Art Department: the main character's lab where he works on The Machine will have to be created. Lots of technical looking devices will fill out the space and these will need to be sourced, along with lots of cables, books, stacks of paper, etc.
- Actors: the casting has yet to be completed (stay tuned), but we will be offering the actors payment for their time.
- A Bus: a pivotal scene takes place on a bus, so this will need to be hired.
- Miscellaneous expenses: there are always a hundred small things that need to be covered during shooting, this will also include a general contingency fund (no production should be without one!)

I would like to add that many people are providing there time/skills/effort free of charge or as a work exchange and a production like this would be impossible without this kind of generosity and support.

The biggest challenge for this project will be time management. Myself and the people who I'm collaborating with all have busy lives so finding enough time to really make this film shine is going to be difficult. I work as an assistant editor and will be stretching my time between two documentary films around the time of this production so it's going to be a tight squeeze.

On one of my earlier films, Deep Space Love (see above), I spent all day, every day for a month preparing for the shoot. Building sets, making props, organising cast and crew - it was crazy, but we got there in the end. In fact, I had a blast - I've never enjoyed myself more than when preparing for and shooting a film - I wish I could do it all the time!

This time, time is much more limited - luckily I'm older and wiser so she'll be right!