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The Oracle of Bellwoods

Ray, a discontented pest exterminator and retired helicopter pilot, meets an oracle in Trinity Bellwoods park, who promises to divulge his fortune. Yet, in exchange for this series of visions, Ray must procure a number of obscure offerings for the Gods, catapulting him into a quest studded with nefarious characters, who are key to uncovering his potentially perilous future.

  • Lee Piazza
    Director
  • Lee Piazza
    Writer
  • Lee Piazza
    Producer
  • Lee Piazza as Ray
    Key Cast
  • Jessica Popeski as Luna
    Key Cast
  • Matt Rubel as The Oracle
    Key Cast
  • Randal Ball as Joe Rotando
    Key Cast
  • Josh Mover as Frank Jimmy
    Key Cast
  • Nate Prier as Dale
    Key Cast
  • Emily Smits as Lesley Lanegan
    Key Cast
  • Ben Reinhartz as Larry Laidlaw
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 54 minutes 43 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 17, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Lee Piazza

Lee Piazza is the founder of Motel Genius Productions. "The Oracle of Bellwoods" is his debut release. He wrote, directed, edited, scored, produced and starred in the series.

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Director Statement

I wrote "The Oracle of Bellwoods" while living in a sweltering, low-ceilinged basement apartment. This apartment also happened to have a severe rat infestation. My partner (Jessica Popeski, who plays Luna) and I were, needless to say, in contact with several pest exterminators during this period. This is where Ray the Pest Man, the main character, came from.

During this period, I was also struggling with a day job that I wasn't happy with, a predicament that both Ray and Luna find themselves in (not to mention many independent artists).

The rest of the story was spawned from that starting point. A huge fan of absurdist comedy, I sought to dress up that struggle with an outlandish plot, enormous characters and offbeat dialogue. I've attempted to create a world somewhat detached from reality, but not excessively. The characters in this series are exaggerated versions of people that definitely exist, all regarding fairly low stakes situations as tremendously high stakes.

This series is as DIY as it possibly could be. My gear consisted of a camera, a shotgun mic, two tripods and four lamps bought from Honest Ed's in Toronto. The cast was paid in beer and wine. The show was filmed throughout Toronto and offers many glimpses of the city through parks, cafes, hair salons, side streets and bars. Its soundtrack features some of the most relevant bands from the city, including Holy Gasp, The Nursery, Das Rad and Zoo Owl. The participation of so many people in what was essentially a zero budget production is a testament to the strength of the Toronto artistic community.

Over and Out,

Lee Piazza (Motel Genius)
-Director, Writer, Editor, Score Composer, Producer and Lead Actor in "The Oracle of Bellwoods"