Experiencing Interruptions?

Runner

A modern retelling of the parable of the lost son using original language. Two sisters deal with their father's wealth in diverse ways - one with duty, the other with excess. Their father must run to save them both.

  • Greg Batiansila
    Director
  • Greg Batiansila
    Writer
  • Greg Batiansila
    Producer
  • Teia Batiansila
    Producer
  • Timothy J. Barnes
    Key Cast
  • Caitlin Aussprung
    Key Cast
  • Sherrick Robinson
    Key Cast
  • Siara Reed
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    39 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 21, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    1080p Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Freedom Film Festival
    New Orleans, LA
    December 29, 2015
    Best Modern Retelling Of A Bible Story
  • INDIEFest Film Awards
    LaJolla, CA
    Award of Merit:Christian
  • Los Angeles Film Review Independent Film Awards
    Los Angeles, CA
    March 31, 2016
    Bronze Award Winner
Director Biography - Greg Batiansila

Greg Batiansila is a writer, director and producer who has worked in and around filmmaking for over twenty years. His work as an overachieving production assistant led to work as an overachieving location scout, which allowed him lots of time on commercial sets.

Greg’s father, the son of a Filipino from tiny Bantayan Island in the province of Cebu, Philippines, grew up in housing projects in the shadow of Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans. Greg's mother fled American aggression in World War II and ultimately escaped communist East Germany to West Germany before immigrating to the United States.

Even when he wasn’t on sets, Greg was writing. He wrote plays, short stories, a book on spec. He wrote articles, movie reviews, and scripts, feature scripts, shorts, spec scripts for a publishing house, radio commercials, tv ads.

Greg found himself back on sets, this time as a principle at an ad agency. He wrote and directed videos of all kinds for clients of all sorts, from GE Healthcare to AirStrip to Fiserv. Whether it was a parody of “The Office,” animated product videos, talking head videos…product videos shot on location all around the United States, Greg wrote, produced and worked on all of them.

Through that time, he was able to work with some brilliant cinematographers, animators, and behind-the-scenes experts, all of whom helped him gain confidence for his foray into independent narrative storytelling. Runner was shot with cameras borrowed from Greg’s friends.

In 2010, Greg’s youngest daughter passed away before her second birthday. On the day of her funeral, his father died. Those events spurred him to strive earnestly to tell stories and work tirelessly to create beauty in a world that needs it.

Working with a tight-knit repertory of actors, he created, wrote and produced three seasons of a web series entitled “Leaving Eden” that gathered around 50,000 views a drama selection at ITVFest, amongst other critical praise.

Three members of that repertory – Caitlin Aussprung, Scott Prox, and Teia Batiansila – are parts of the cast and crew for Runner.

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Director Statement

• The film was shot using Panasonic GH3 and GH4 cameras on a number of magnificent locations across Southeastern Wisconsin.

• The film was not shot contiguously – shooting paused for weeks – so that viewers would feel as if time had passed through the telling of the story.

• The filmmakers decided very early on to shoot it in 2:35 widescreen to capture a more cinematic feel, and to capture the sense of space and distance throughout the film. Decisions were made early to use depth of field in shots and capture emotion as actors performed on a wider stage.

• The cast was warned early into their first meetings that all were to study and reflect pure running form. Running, as The Father says, is “who we are.” It was critical that everyone looked at ease running.

• Using the FilmConvert Pro plugin and a variety of LUTs, the storytellers added film grain and a variety of grading schemes to help shift viewers through an interrupted time frame.

• The film features music written by Sia and performed by YouTube sensation Kina Grannis; Christian star J.J. Heller, and featuring Harrison Storm, a 23 year old singer-songwriter from Australia
• Additional music is provided by Jackson Williams, who Greg befriended while seeking music his web series “Leaving Eden.”