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Written and Directed by Katherine Clark & Produced by Kenneth Detterline
Starring CHRISTOPHER WALDRON, INDRA ANDRESHAK, and ROSE SENGENBERGER
Beta Persei follows the character Gene Withersby: planetarium operator, pin-up+alien collage artist, and confused psychopath, into a downward spiral. After the death of his domineering mother, he hires Kitty, an escort, to fill a void as his star-gazing companion.
As his relationship with Kitty unfolds, Gene is haunted by his mother, whose voice is the narration of the planetarium programs, followed by increasingly strange depictions of stars. They venture into the Andromeda galaxy, relating tales of screaming constellations as they collide. They journey into the myth of Perseus, echoing tales of beheading.
Gene further blends reality with myth as Beta Persei, the demon star and the eye of Medusa, comes to the forefront. His relationship with Kitty grows increasingly intimate, but he must once again face a prospect of abandonment. Will he choose to establish a true connection, or will he allow Beta Persei to consume him, void of any payoff?
ABOUT US
KATHERINE CLARK (writer, director, art-film enthusiast) & KENNETH DETTERLINE (producer and cult sci-fi/horror enthusiast) are teaming up with director of photography SCOTT SUMMERS, production designer ALAINA MOORE, vfx artist KEITH PULLMAN, and graphics artist JUSTIN BENZEL to make Beta Persei come to life. Additionally, we have an amazing cast:
About the Cast
Chris Waldron is a Florida native where he studied Theatre and Criminology at Florida State University. Having lived in Chicago four years now, Chris is an artistic associate of Tympanic Theatre Co. and is currently working on their next production, Sandalwood.
Indra Andreshak is an Ohio native and is currently studying acting at Columbia College Chicago.
Rose Sengenberger earned her BFA in Dramaturgy at Carnegie Mellon University, studied abroad at the Drama Centre London and (somewhat) recently moved to Chicago to pursue acting. Her proudest theatrical moment to date was writing and performing in an adaptation of Neil Gaiman's short story October in the Chair at Cleveland Public Theatre. When she's not acting, Rose is a writer, on-demand storyteller, and critically-acclaimed aunt.
LOCATIONS (+"Gallery" tab)
WHY DONATE?
We
are creating Beta Persei on behalf of our MFA thesis requirements and
intend to submit it to major international and domestic festivals, as
well as smaller grassroots and underground festivals in Chicago upon
completion, expected in May. The budget will meet $10,000 and will go towards:
Food for our amazing cast and crew.
Transportation for equipment and for crew to and from our planetarium.
Hard drives
Costumes and Design
Blood effects- Things get tricky when x-acto knives are involved.
Music - We hope to bring on some amazing musicians to do some original soundscape composing.
Festival Fees
Location Fees
As for you, of course you'll have our gratitude. Also, you get a chance to help out with a cool film and an opportunity to make an idea come to life. And obviously, check out the perks. We sincerely appreciate everyone's help.
DID WE MENTION IT'S OUR MFA THESIS?
It's our MFA thesis film at Columbia College Chicago. And it's an exciting project, portraying an unlikely protagonist with more problems than the rest of us, working through issues of loneliness and abandonment, dealing with loss in all the wrong ways. Throw in some mythology, femme, fanboy, and Hollywood-culture critique. There you have it.
FILM DATES//LOCATION
We have locked our three locations in Northern Indiana. We'll be shooting from December 13-18.