Florida filmmakers release controversial short film responding to oxycodone epidemic
Sarasota, Florida (PRWEB) July 01, 2014 -- In an effort to bring a local drug epidemic to global attention, Sarasota-based filmmakers raised $20,000 to produce a 20 minute short involving oxycodone.
After running the festival circuit, the film is now streaming online in its entirety: http://www.norealthanyouare.com.
Shot on location in Sarasota, Florida, the short film's narrative is a fictional drama. The story centers on a teenage girl who develops a prescription drug addiction as she struggles to live up to her family’s pioneer legacy.
The true story of Brandi Meshad, an 18 year old Sarasota girl who died from an opiate overdose in 2011, led writer/director Vincent Dale to break the silence about oxycodone in Florida. Dale's investigation of his hometown's history and present-day drug problem yielded what he considers "a wealth of narrative inspiration.”
The Washington Post revealed in February that at one time "49 of the top 50 prescribers of opiates in the United States were located in Florida”, and that in the sunshine state, “more people die from [prescription narcotics] overdose than car crashes each year.”
In an aim to accurately depict oxycodone abuse, the creators of “No Real Than You Are” consulted with ex-addicts and families of opiate addicts. “It seemed as though everybody we knew was in some way affected by this drug,” says co-producer Van Jazmin, “It was no surprise that people came out of the woodwork to jump start a much needed discussion.”
The movie’s budget was 100% raised by crowd funding -- earning support from hundreds of local donors. “This would never have happened in LA,” said cinematographer Juan Sebastian Baron. “It was amazing how the community went out of their way to help the movie become a success."
After one year in the making, "No Real Than You Are" was met with a sold-out premiere at the 2014 Sarasota Film Festival. In May, the film received its first exposure overseas at the Cannes Film Festival as part of the Short Film Corner. It is also being released with French subtitles for an international audience. The French version can be found here: http://vimeo.com/93065590.
In addition, the original film score by Los Angeles based DJ/Producer Clinton VanSciver is available streaming online: http://soundcloud.com/norealthanyouarefilm.
According to the company's website, Correspondence Films is network of creatives making socially conscious cinema. Their next project, titled "Paris Love Conspiracy" deals with love and identity in a time of mass surveillance. The campaign is asking for support to create "a film by millennials for millennials--a commentary on our digital culture and its consequences and meaning." Their next Kickstarter campaign is now live: http://smarturl.it/parisloveconspiracy.
Van Jazmin, Correspondence Films, http://www.norealthanyouare.com, +1 941 536-3228, [email protected]
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