The Mark
Tensions rise as a female human attempts keep the identity of an Android refugee hidden from the rest of her camp.
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Loren BlazekDirectorDo You Beleive in Magic?
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Loren BlazekWriter
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Loren BlazekProducer
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Johnny GilliganKey Cast"David"
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Angelina AlcalaKey Cast"Sasha"
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Saskia BaurKey Cast"Emma"
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Sergio DiazKey Cast"Cyman (Android 1)"
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Ryan WilliamsKey Cast"Android 2"
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Project Type:Short, Student
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Genres:Sci-Fi, Suspense, dystopian, drama, thriller, Chamber Piece
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Runtime:23 minutes 8 seconds
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Completion Date:April 25, 2020
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Production Budget:1,500 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:Yes
Loren Blazek is a 17 year old filmmaker from Santa Cruz, California. He has been making videos and short films since he was 10. More recently, he has become engaged in more “professional" filmmaking endeavors – starting with promotional video jobs and culminating in his attendance at the highly selective UCLA Digital Filmmaking Institute. At UCLA, Loren directed his first film with a full crew, the short comedy “Do You Believe in Magic?”, which received selection at multiple film festivals from Los Angeles to Pennsylvania. He has most recently gone on to write and direct his upcoming short film "The Mark".
His greatest filmmaking inspiration is Stanley Kubrick, and his favorite contemporary director is Alfonso Cuaron. His favorite films are 2001: A Space Odyssey and Children of Men. He aspires to a future career in filmmaking, and hopes to someday write and direct feature length films.
I originally had the idea for this film last summer when we were practice pitching concepts for films at the UCLA Digital Filmmaking Summer Institute. I then wrote the first draft of "The Mark" over the course of that summer.
One of the things I believe films are best at is when they act as vessels for compassion. At its core this film is about looking at the relationship between people (or groups) who view each other as different. I wanted to examine frailties I believe we as people suffer due to our prejudices and dogmas, as well as the role I believe compassion plays in this relationship - The possibility of hope.
The inspiration for this film originally came from me wanting to write something that I felt had some relevance to the divisive times we live in; the times I've grown up in and observed - Particularly with issues regarding political polarization, dogma, xenophobia and immigration. My hope was to explore and better understand these ideas, and how I see them manifest themselves in our society.
Facing all the challenges of limited time and budget that most small Indie films experience was tough, but I couldn't feel more fortunate to come out the other side having completed this film. I hope that my passion as a filmmaker comes through every frame.