Private Project

The Blue Marble - Pilot

At the Universal Soul Assignment office a soul, Charlie has been stuck on the Blue Marble line for eternity. A victim of red tape, he struggles to unravel the incomprehensible rules and regulations which have prevented him from fulfilling his destiny since the Big Bang.

  • Ralph Toporoff
    Director
    American Blue Note, Nothing Personal
  • Ralph Toporoff
    Writer
    Running Round Rio, Nothing Personal, Suckers
  • Ralph Toporoff
    Producer
    American Blue Note, Nothing Personal
  • John Pirkis
    Producer
  • John Pirkis
    Key Cast
    "Charlie"
    The Tick, Madame Secretary, Daredevil
  • Greg Cohan
    Key Cast
    "Mark"
    Strange Angel , NCIS- Los Angeles
  • Nelson Avidon
    Key Cast
    "Clerk Level 12/ 9 / 8"
    ReRUN, Motherless Brooklyn, 79 Parts
  • Sarah Street
    Key Cast
    "Ticket Agent"
    Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
  • Caroline Kinsolving
    Key Cast
    "Charley"
  • Stuart Williams
    Key Cast
    "THE MAN"
  • Project Type:
    Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 31, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    13,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED MX , 4.5K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Ralph Toporoff

RALPH TOPOROFF
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Producer/writer/director and cinematographer Ralph Toporoff career started in Europe, based in Paris, as a reportage photographer for Look magazine, Paris Match and Gente. Upon his return to the Untied States he became a member of the Motion Picture Cameraman’s Union as a Director of Photography and later a Director and member of DGA. Toporoff directed commercials for many years through his own company then produced and directed his own feature film “American Blue Note.” Released theatrically in the US by Columbia Pictures and abroad by Odyssey a division of Virgin Atlantic the film was a critical and financial success as well as a festival favorite. He’s continued to write, direct and produce full length narratives and shorts and presently created his first web-series THE BLUE MARBLE which he wrote, directed and produced.

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Director Statement

The Blue Marble was inspired in part by a visit to the DMV to have my license renewed. Even
though I had a scheduled appointment and an official confirmation letter stating the time and
place, I was informed the computers were down so they could not verify my appointment and I
would have to wait in a line that snaked out of the room. I showed my letter, with the seal of
the DMV, clearly stating the exact time and place. Wasn’t this validation enough? Apparently
not. If I did not wish to join the line, I could make a new appointment, but not actually at the
DMV. I’d have to leave the premises and call the office to reschedule. I joined the line and was
handed an additional form to fill out. The form was a repeat of all the information the DMV
already had but I was required to write down all the information again so they could replace the
information they had with the exact same information I was now writing down.
Annoying? Yes. Surprising? No! Is there anyone who hasn’t lived the nightmare of bureaucracy
making the simplest task impossibly difficult? Not on this planet. And then it occurred to me,
probably not on any other either. If ever there was a common thread, it had to be bureaucracy
on a universal scale.
The next day, I began to write The Blue Marble. As I sketched out the main character of
Charlie, I heard the voice of John Pirkis, a British actor I’d seen off Broadway and greatly
admired. Lucky for me, he responded to the material and agreed to play the role and act as
co-producer. We’ve completed only half of what’s been written. There are endless stories to
tell because bureaucracy never ends.