This ‘Victory’ ain’t so sweet: BHS grad seeks to show a bleak future in his second short film

Published 9:48 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Scott Blake has come a long way as a filmmaker since his first short, “The Surveyor,” garnered praise from audiences and critics.

He’s come a couple hundred years, actually.

While his first film made viewers reconsider what they thought they knew about the past through a bleak and realistic look at the old West, the subject of his intended next project is the future.

Head’s up, it’s also not very pretty.

“Victory” tells the story of an urban insurgency in the America of the very near future as a group of citizens fight their way through a “chain-reaction holocaust,” according to the official film description.

Just what exactly does that mean?

Blake’s been pretty tight-lipped about the specifics of what will hopefully be his next short film, saying only that it’s going to be the biggest and most elaborate production of his career so far.

“It’s a real kind of action/thriller if you will, but hopefully one that’s sort of about things that could come,” Blake said. “It’s a near future look at what happens when a city becomes violent.”

With a script, crew and most of the cast in place, Blake said, his main goal now is to raise the necessary funds to shoot the film. For that purpose, he has chosen to seek donations through the popular fundraising service kickstarter.com.

The project had 21 backers as of earlier in this week and, with a little over two weeks left in the campaign, had received nearly $7,000 in donations.

Blake’s goal, the amount he and his crew say they need to see the film through, is $35,000.

The amount, Blake admits, is “pretty pricey for a short film,” but is what he believes to be “the lowest amount possible” to do the story justice.

Shooting locations, Blake explained, will be much trickier in this film than in his last which was set primarily in the desert.

“Victory,” instead, is entirely urban-based and set to involve downtown Seattle streets and skyscrapers, which of course incurs all kinds of unforeseen expenses ranging from  required security by city police to additional insurance.

Making a short film, Blake explained, is truly a labor of love for both he and the rest of the cast and crew. Unlike marketing a feature film — even an independently made one — there really isn’t much of a market or financial return for you at the end of the process, which makes fundraising all the more important.

“Nobody really pays for a short film,” Blake explained. “Hopefully, it kind of leads to the next film. Hopefully, it generates enough interest to allow you to make a feature film.”

While success for Blake and his crew would mean more work and larger film productions, Blake has established several reward packages for those willing to donate funds to ensure the completion of the film ranging from $5 on up, with perks to match.

Rewards for various levels of contribution include personalized thank you emails, invitations to the film’s premiere screening event, digital and/or DVD copies of the finished film, movie posters, set access and (for $1,500) an “Associate Producer” credit and a role as a member of the Seattle SWAT team in one of the film’s biggest scenes.

It may all seem like a lot of money, but Blake said he and his producer are working diligently to save every penny possible throughout the proposed filming process.

“If I don’t reach my kickstarter goal, there is no way to make this film,” Blake wrote on the film’s fundraiser page. “This is a tricky short. Streets will have to be closed down, police presence will be required, lots of vehicle action, and skyscraper warfare. Fortunately, the producer, Chris Oliver, is a member of the Producers Guild of America, and his wealth of experience will help reduce the challenges and risks contained in the story. Moreover, the experienced team I’ve assembled will help make the best film possible in the face of any obstacles.”

Visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/511899458/victory-a-thrilling-short-film to see the completed trailer and to learn more about the contribution options and their corresponding rewards. The online campaign ends Sunday, Jan. 4.

Kickstarter campaign

What: BHS 2006 graduate Scott Blake’s proposed next film’s kickstarter.com fundraiser campaign.

When: Campaign ends in Sunday, Jan. 4.

Where: www.kickstarter.com/projects/511899458/victory-a-thrilling-short-film

Cost: Donation amounts which receive prizes and rewards from the filmmaker range from $5 up.