PLANET X
An extreme policy is enforced when a foreign planet with a umbilical cord appears from nowhere. The incident baffles communities and an international science expedition begins. Rumours spread that the umbilical cord is using up earth's supplies. Many believe that politicians and news corporations have hijacked the story and are using it as propaganda to promote the planet. This new breed of neocolonialism, leads to mass hysteria, confusion and conflict, which gives birth to a bleak state.
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ROHIT GILLDirectorThe HALLYNG
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ROHIT GILLWriterThe HALLYNG
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ROHIT GILLProducerBILLY, HONEST MEN
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NEERJA NAIKKey CastSOLD, HACKNEY'S FINEST, LIFE GOES ON
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LAWRENCE MCGRANDLES JnrKey CastEASTENDERS
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SIMON PURDEYKey CastTHE UNBEATABLES
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VALMIKE RAMPERSADKey CastOPEN SECRETS, THE EXQUISITE CONTINENT, LOSING ISAIAH,RADIO MARY, SCANDALOUS
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DANNY NUTTKey CastCAPTAIN PHILLIPS, POSTCODE, LUMINAL, VELVET GOLDMINE
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ALIYA MD ARISKey CastMADE IN CHELSEA
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JORDAN CLARKEKey CastRUSH, LIFE OF CRIME
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STEVE RAFTERSound DesignerBURLESQUE FAIRY TALES, ALMOST A LEGEND, THE INTERROGATION OF LEO AND LISA
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JAMES MORRISOriginal ScoreRUSSIAN ROULETTE,DIRECTIONLESS,DINNER AND A MOVIE
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:7 minutes 3 seconds
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Completion Date:February 23, 2015
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Production Budget:100 GBP
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16.9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
After finishing my first degree in visual communication, I worked in theatre and spent ten years working in the field of visual effects. Working on television programmes, commercials, title sequences and features like Harry Potter and United 93.
As a London Film School graduate, I have produced and directed 35mm shorts, including a project for The National Gallery. I currently work as a freelance film-maker and recently finished a promo for RDX SPORTS, representing Ruqsana Begum, British and European Boxing champion.
I wanted to make a high concept movie on a show string budget, a punk version of a Roland Emmerich movie. The seed for Planet X came from concepts based on Lovecraftian influences and Gaia theory. I imagined, what if earth was able to reproduce an alien planet? Complication arise when politicians and news corporations make their own fabricated beliefs about the planet. The writing process allowed me to delve further into my inner fears from my childhood and explore xenophobic themes through the world of current affairs; explore news which are seen by many as propaganda vehicles, selling us stories of threat through over exaggerated and distorted information. The film explores satire, home-grown terrorism, symbolism, allegory and human behaviour.
The film had a budget of £100, no crew, shot throughout the U.K. over a six month period, with the support of actors/non actors, few stock images, using open sourced and affordable software.