Experiencing Interruptions?

Fugitive Zero

An escaped convict discovers he's taking part in a live simulation where every moral decision determines his eligibility for parole.

Frankie and Derek are two men trapped in a warehouse who fight over a gun. In the struggle, the gun fires several times and leads to... Frankie waking up from the nightmare. He finds himself tied in a barn with fellow inmate, Casper, who plans to rape a young woman and use Frankie as the scapegoat. Unbeknownst to Frankie is the fact that Casper is acting within a live simulation designed to test a prisoner's moral behavior. He's under surveillance by a man named Baker, who runs the experimental parole to test if Frankie is reformed and eligible for parole. He's joined by Derek's mother, Victoria, who must approve of the parole if Frankie passes all of the moral tests. The story explores the choices Frankie makes that will lead to his redemption or imprisonment.

  • Joe Lam
    Director
  • Joe Lam
    Writer
  • Joe Lam
    Producer
  • Andrew Golubic
    Key Cast
    "Frankie Harris Jr."
    College Humor Originals, The Britishes
  • Brent Gutierrez
    Key Cast
    "Casper"
    Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones , NCIS
  • Georgina Elizabeth Okon
    Key Cast
    "Victoria Dawson"
    Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy
  • Patrick Zeller
    Key Cast
    "Baker Reynolds"
    No Reservations, Law & Order, All My Children
  • Corey Brill
    Key Cast
    "Ashton Merrick"
    The Walking Dead
  • Jeff Rolle Jr.
    Key Cast
    "Derek Dawson"
    Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.
  • Colin Campbell
    Key Cast
    "Morris"
    Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Everybody Hates Chris, Alias
  • Jessica DiGiovanni
    Key Cast
    "Mia"
    The Narcissists, Sleepwalkers, A Stand Up Guy
  • Alicia Kelly
    Key Cast
    "Liz"
    What We Can't Have
  • Matthew Gilmore
    Key Cast
    "Paul"
    The Goldbergs, The Stranger, Medical Police
  • Silvia Cam
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Caroline"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 42 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 9, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED Scarlett
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Joe Lam

As an 8x Award-Winning Filmmaker, Joe has produce/directed 200+ films, music videos, and documentaries. His feature screenplay, Fugitive Zero, won the award for Best Thriller at LA Film Awards in 2019. He’s also produced videos for The American Red Cross, United Way, and Rotary Club. Joe earned a BFA in Motion Pictures from the Academy of Art University.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My goal with this film was to present an alternative solution to our criminal justice system. I started by asking the question: What would happen if we secretly tested the morals of prisoners to determine whether or not they've changed? Does the truth of their character emerge from the actions they take? These questions formed the storyline for Fugitive Zero and I decided to tell it as an exciting thriller to make accessible to a wider audience. By doing so, I was able to combine two classic movies, "The Truman Show" and "The Fugitive", to weave a new and exciting film for today's audience. One that would spark debate on a new vision for the criminal justice system.