This wide screen 35mm short film was designed to run during previews of coming attractions in movie theatres. Filmmaker Tom Lenard's objective was to design the approach in such a fashion as to have the audience believe what they were watching was a preview of an upcoming motion-picture and thus, be more likely to catch their attention rather than if they recognized the film as a public service announcement right away...This 35mm film ran on 250 movie-theatre screens in Alabama.
This science fiction film was Tom Lenard's first 35mm film designed and released to move theatres. Tom filmed this project with 35mm Arriflex BL Camera package.
NOTE: The young people were positioned on top of several 8' tall x 10'x 10' staging platforms inside the main coliseum at Auburn University. A forklift then was used to lift a real voting booth up to help enhance the effect of the voting booth rising from the ground. The dry ice and fog helped blend the platform with the background. Many large rolls of black background paper was used as the background and they were taped together and held up by many large C-stands. Before they were hoisted up into place, thousands of small holes were punched into the black paper so back lights could create a subtle effect of stars in the background....The scene where the young people then turn around and are washed in light and a blast of wind was filmed on the coliseum floor, as was the scene where one of the young girls move forward and into the mockup booth along with the wind blowing and fog billowing about her. It was sooooo hot in the Coliseum that one of the most refreshing moments was when those scenes were filmed because of how that fast moving air from the wind machines felt so wonderfully cold to everyone. The production took just about all night to capture and then wrap the equipment from the coliseum. I recall us finishing at about 5am that morning. Set-in time had been the evening before around 4-5pm or so.
TRIVIA: Tom Lenard was well ahead of the curve when it came to diversity. Notice, the diversity in the group of young people represented. Since this project was filmed in June of 1984, the young people casted were students of Auburn University. They are now, well into their mid 40's.
Filmed in Auburn and Opelika, Alabama in September of 1984.
PRODUCTION CREW:
Tom C. Lenard, Producer, Director/DP
Bob Cooley, First AD
Tom Causland, 2nd AD, EFX Props & Key Grip
Mike Davis, Original music and sound efx
John Suhr, Voice Over Talent
Philip Gowan, Production Assistant
(DP- Director of Photography, AD=Assistant Director)
VOICE-OVER: John Suhr. John is out of Columbus, Georgia. He has performed numerous voice-overs and performed as a fine actor on-screen and proved extremely valuable as a sounding board to Tom Lenard on many of his films over a period of about twenty years. John and Tom Lenard would spend countless hours and hours over coffee talking about the projects and dreaming their dreams about the films they wish to develop. A wonderful professional collaboration. John had own his own advertising firm in Columbus Georgia for many many years in the late 60s and 70s. Currently, John is in charge of graphics for a creative team that creates national newspapers Auto Dealer ADs.
MUSIC: The incredible music bed and background effects were created by Mike Davis who worked with Tom Lenard at the time and later ended up being the Keyboard player for Dolly Pardon and traveled with her band.
Filmmaker Tom Lenard
(Producer, Director/DP-Editor)
Copyright, 1984 All Rights Reserved
(note: DP=Director of Photography)
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Did you by chance, read the added "text" to the right of the video display above? Just click on (more info) to read about the production...
Added: February 24, 2008 (More info)
This wide screen 35mm short film was designed t...
Filmmakertom 3 years ago
It just happened to be one of the days she told me about it, again. I decided to search it up on you tube for fun. And pop, it was the second result.
VMKStarfirerobin 3 years ago
What were you searching for on youtube when you happened upon the voting film?
Hearing from you about seeing this for the first on youtube, makes the effort of placing these film efforts on youtube most worthwhile!
I have a couple of production stills she might be interested in... Tom
Filmmakertom 3 years ago
Can do, Tom. My mom would love to hear about this. And she'll probably think she is 'hip' because she is on youtube. ;) It's a very well done by the way. She told me about this commercial a million times before me even seeing this too.
VMKStarfirerobin 3 years ago
It was great working with them back in June of 1984. Can't believe it's been that long ago...The message works even today! (24 years ago!~)
Tell them I said hello...Tom.
Filmmakertom 3 years ago
Omg. That's my mom O.o In the orange shirt and the brown hair. I can't believe it. And my uncle is even in there too.
VMKStarfirerobin 3 years ago