The Oracle

Issue date: 2/23/10 Section: Entertainment

Senior Matt Cici, co-writer and director of Lambent Fuse, a film which began as a summer collaborative research project in 2009.

In a film market saturated by blockbusters with production budgets reaching into the millions and crews in the hundreds, it's sometimes hard to imagine a movie being made in any other way. But Hamline senior Matt Cici is trying to take a different route by co-writing and directing his own low budget, independent film Lambent Fuse - scheduled to shoot in June.

Cici said the idea for the screenplay was first proposed to him in March 2008 by St. Thomas student David Marketon.

"His older brother and I used to make short films during high school, maybe that's how he caught the film bug," Marketon wrote.

Cici said Marketon developed a broad concept as well as one detailed scene, and asked him if he wanted to help develop the narrative further. Cici agreed, and with the help of a collaborative research grant from Hamline, the two did the bulk of the writing last summer. 

At first, Cici said he and Marketon only intended to create a script and sell it, but as they became more involved in the process they changed their minds, deciding also to try their luck at actually making it into a film.

"I got too attached," Cici said, explaining his choice to go ahead with directing the movie.

Though the two now feel the script is ready to be put on camera, this was not always the case. Marketon described early difficulties they faced.

"I would say the biggest challenge was getting all the stories to blend well together," he wrote.

Another problem came with deciding on the right title.

"We couldn't really find [a name] that fit the story," Cici said.

But as time went on, a workable narrative began to emerge. In the final product, Cici stressed that he and Marketon emphasized developing a broad set of characters.

According to Marketon, character diversity is important in making the story distinctive.

"[The film] is unique because it blends so many elements," he said.

Cici agreed, stating the overall narrative is formed by intertwining character relations.

"It's a character-driven story," Cici said.
"We've set it up in a structure that's non-linear … because we're dealing with six [characters]."

Due to trademark concerns, Cici said he could not yet give specific details about the film's plot, but he did offer a comparison that might give people an idea about what to expect.

"It's a drama … about choices," he said. "Think Pulp Fiction meets Crash." 

Now with the screenplay written, Cici said he must focus his attention on preparing for the shoot.  
  
With this in mind, according to a promotional email, he has assembled a shooting crew consisting of three actors, an audio engineer/producer and Marketon as another producer. The small size reflects Cici's broader goal to control expenses.

"You gotta think realistically," Cici said. "There's a huge monetary weight on the production of the film … We have to find equipment … [and] set up shooting schedules. We have a lot to do." 
   
Part of the project, Cici said, has been funded with the $2,500 grant he received from Hamline for his collaborative research. Beyond this, Cici plans to draw from his personal savings. And though none of the numbers are exact, Cici did provide a rough estimate.

"We could try to fit a budget for about $10,000," he said.

And this, he admits is not much. But, Cici added, that a low budget does bring some benefits. Most importantly, he stressed that the people working with him are truly committed to the idea of producing sincere work, instead of just a product that will sell.

"[We're] all doing it because [we] believe in it," he said.

For Marketon, this kind of commitment has made working with Cici enjoyable.

"Matt is good to work with. He is very passionate about what he does, as am I," Marketon wrote.

As the shoot nears, Cici said he also hopes to rely on the local arts community culture - many of whose members are in similar financial straights - for donations and other help.

"I really would like to tap into the artist community … in Minnesota," he said. "There's a lot of talent here."

He said he is particularly interested in collaborating with local musicians in using their songs to help promote the film. This, he said, would be great for exposure on both ends.

"We can provide something for them, and they can help us out," Cici said.

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