Two misguided fans kidnap their favorite musician with demands to hear his famous unreleased album.
Writer and Director Marcus Bratton’s Playing Dead brings us on an exciting ride through the world of bonding over music-loving and amateur kidnapping. Having worked in both the film and music world, Bratton brings his experience in both fields, a distinct storytelling style, and a uniquely comedic view of the world into the project.
Take a look at the below video to see previous works from Marcus Bratton and our DP Jose-Carlo Martinez.
THE STORY:
When enthusiastic buddies Calvin and Jeremy kidnap their favorite musician, the once cult-famous, now retired Roman Reeds, they have a simple ask. They just want to hear his famous unreleased album.
Not too big of a deal, right?
Well, it turns out said album doesn’t even exist.
No problem.
They’ll just keep Roman captive until he finishes recording it.
Playing Dead is upbeat, fast paced, and fun. If you’ve ever heard a song you loved so much you feel like it was made just for you, that it’s the perfect soundtrack for your life, then you’ll understand Playing Dead at its core.
THE STYLE:
Frantic, shaky, handheld camera juxtapose still, symmetrical shots as the story traverses between hectic and calm, setting both comedic tone and a feel of intensity and thrill.
The colors are vibrant, but the frame is dirty. The world feels imperfect, yet soulful.
The film takes place in the beautiful and mysterious Pacific Northwest, with filming happening in Washington State, where the shroud of the forest evokes a feeling of being hidden in plain sight. The deep greens, earthy umber, and steel blues of the landscape inspire the film’s color palette.
THE SOUND:
Playing Dead lives in the world of indie and alternative rock. Scenes propelled by upbeat drums, punchy baselines, and crunchy guitars bring fresh ideas to known and loved genres.
With an original soundtrack that will be released with the film, Playing Dead will live up to its promise of original music.
WHY SUPPORT PLAYING DEAD?:
Playing Dead is a 100% independent feature film, made up of a team of talented young filmmakers showcasing their skill, experience, and education on a large-scale project. With film being a medium and industry that so many find unattainable through traditional means, Playing Dead hopes to showcase that feature films can be made on smaller budgets, with small teams, in your very own state.
WHAT IS MY MONEY GOING TO?:
- Providing meals and transportation for cast and crew
- Space and equipment rentals
- Set dressing
- Costumes
- Distribution of the film
Thank you for taking the time to support Playing Dead and bringing this vision to life! Your support on every level, big or small, makes a major difference for our team.