Neil or The Hummingbird Flaps Its Wings Over Honeysuckle in the Night
Set in a tough city in the world of film-noir, a hapless and meek young loner is misguided down a tragic path when he is deceived into seeking an urn for his recently deceased dog.
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Gregory ScamanDirector
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Benny GreenoWriter
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Gregory ScamanWriter
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Graham MilliganProducer
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Benny GreenoProducer
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Gregory ScamanProducer
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Benny GreenoKey Cast"Neil"
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Casey JamesKey Cast"Leibovitz"
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Neil CharlesworthKey Cast"Tony"
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Project Type:Feature
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Genres:Noir, Comedy, Suspense
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Runtime:2 hours 24 seconds
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Completion Date:September 18, 2023
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Production Budget:7,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Black & White and Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
Gregory Scaman was raised on a farm in Southern Ontario, Canada. There, he developed a love for films in the vein of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter. Sergio Leone's Spaghetti Westerns were an early aesthetic influence on him. He studied at the University of Guelph in Ontario, interested in pursuing a career in astrophysics. He instead honed his skills as a screenwriter, and became involved in improv comedy ensembles, wherein he met his future collaborator, Benny Greeno. In this time he developed an affection for the films of Alfred Hitchcock, Joel & Ethan Coen, Denis Villeneuve, and Rian Johnson. He began writing and directing his own short films. Upon their graduation, Scaman and Greeno moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, to pursue work in the film industry while continuing to create short films. Through this time, Scaman continued to write unsolicited screenplays. He worked at a lighting and grip rental warehouse in Vancouver through the writing and production of his first feature film, Neil or The Hummingbird Flaps Its Wings Over the Honeysuckle in the Night.
"Neil" is a film born out of a love and interest for the genre of film noir. Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock and the Coen Brothers were essential influences, with films like "Double Indemnity", "Psycho" and "The Man Who Wasn't There" being particularly referential. Lower budget film noirs like "Detour", "Too Late for Tears" and "Following" were also considered influential in its creation.
"Neil" is a film about a guy who is getting knocked down by life, when he's just doing his best. It's about loneliness and grief, and feeling lost. My hope is that audiences find it hilarious.