Weekly Kickstarter: Rockefeller by John P. Gelety, A Short Film
Blending history and science fiction is well-worn territory, and when it’s done well it can make for some of the most enjoyable and interesting stories around. Alternate history tales have even been spotlighted here in our weekly Kickstarter column before. But what happens when you turn the formula on its head a bit and drop a mysterious main character into a vast city, give him a weird quest, a completely anachronistic appearance, and a toy robot that can control minds? John Gelety explains, sorta:
Rockefeller is a short historical science fiction film about a strange, stoic man wandering through a city collecting different items that, on the surface, have no real connection to each other: A quart of motor oil, a sneaker, a train schedule, pieces of glass… Over time we come to learn what these items are for, who he is working for and why he seems compelled by an old picture he carries.
The Man himself is an amalgamation of different eras – big, modernist glasses, an old leather messenger bag; he records his progress into a 70’s-era dictation machine. He also has a tool he uses if people don’t give him what he wants: A little, tin toy robot that glows an ethereal blue that manipulates the people who stare at it into submission.
Rockefeller is a highly collaborative piece bringing together talented prop makers, costumers, cinematographers and actors [...] inspired by the broad world of alternate histories – a pedigree of divergent timeline stories like The Difference Engine by William Gibson & Bruce Sterling, the way Christopher Nolan used Nikola Tesla in the world of magic in The Prestige, and Seth Grahame-Smith’s the use of the eponymous traits of Abe Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.
Even cooler, you can begin to unravel the mystery of the Man by exploring the official website and interacting with the team on Twitter and Facebook. Diligent fans will uncover hints about the items the Man is collecting and the motivations of his employer. The team is even creating additional viral videos to complement the main film to flesh out backstory and maybe raise a few new questions.
The Project: Rockefeller, a short film
Creator: John P. Gelety
The Sweet Spot: Every donation level has some pretty sweet swag from the movie itself. $15 gets you a copy of the script signed by the creators and members of the cast and crew, and at the top end $250 or more gets you a trip to the set, a copy of the movie and a whole bunch of other goodness. There are only two more rewards available in the $250 bracket, so if you’re a big fan you may want to think about locking in your support early.
Funding Deadline: December 9th, 2011
More Info: You can hit the Kickstarter page for more updates on the project, and check out the main site or any of the official social media channels to get involved and start learning the secrets of Rockefeller right away.
Rockefeller on Twitter
Rockefeller on Facebook
Every Monday Geekadelphia features a Kickstarter created by locals. Check ‘em out and support our local geek scene. If you have a project that you’d like featured on site, contact geekadelphia@gmail.com
John,
This sounds GREAT, I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Dwayne