An impudent con artist damned to go to hell compete in a purgatorial reality TV show for another chance at life.
'Estate of Purgatory' is a comedy short framed as a reality television short. The story follows Elias, a smug and pessimistic scammer who keeps others at arm’s length and believes himself to be the greatest. He tries to lie, cheat, and steal his way through the game, but is forced to reflect on his character when he is betrayed by his "showmance".
Why this now? Why not now? We are in the second resurgence of the reality TV genre. I have always been a big fan of the genre and I want to combine that with my passion for storytelling to both poke fun at and show my appreciation for it. I love reality TV because it puts people together that otherwise would never meet an interact. It also forces them into desperate and morally complex situations that leave you wondering you would do. So if you are a fan of reality TV or mockumentaries, this story may resonate with you.
The film explores the idea of what makes a bad person bad and whether or not they can be redeemed. Do some people deserve a second chance or should they literally go burn in hell? All delivered in a whimsical and comedic tone. The themes are deep themes regarding morality, but let's add some of that reality TV melodrama to it.
Lastly, I just want to have fun and make something that I can enjoy. The work you do for yourself is for the pure enjoyment of creating. And I feel like I put more of myself on the screen when I create something that is just for me. I have dedicated so much of my time and life and energy doing things on the behalf of others, but now it is time to get what is mine. My first short I made my freshman year of undergrad was a reality TV short and I want to close my graduate film student journey with a reality TV short.
Eric Vazquez
Writer/Director
Eric Vazquez is a writer, director, and editor from Louisville, Kentucky. He tells a wide array of stories and does not limit himself to any one genre or style. He just wants to do his own thing and have fun doing it, while (hopefully) being pleasing to his audience. He aims to increase and inspire the number of Latinos both in front of and behind the camera. In film, Latinos represented just 5.2% of lead actors and 5.1% of co-lead/ensemble actors. Only 3.5% of screenwriters and 2.6% of directors were Latino. Eric strives to inspire other Latino artists to pursue their craft and make a space for themselves in the industry.
Billy Givens-Jensen
Producer
Billy Givens-Jensen is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and producer. With an unwavering passion for the cinematic arts, he has dedicated himself to crafting compelling narratives. His innovative films delve deep into the complexities of life, weaving together a rich tapestry of emotions, ideas, and perspectives through his unique approach to interdisciplinary storytelling.
Yiran Chen
Director of Photography
Yiran Chen got the National Scholarship and Sichuan University Comprehensive First Class Scholarship after graduating from Sichuan University with a top 1% radio and television major ranking. She majored in film studies and attended Columbia University on an exchange program in 2018. She is presently a student at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles studying cinematography after getting experience working at Enlight Film Co. in Beijing. Her films have received various awards at domestic and international film festivals, including the Hollywood Film Awards, New York Film Awards, Florence Film Awards, and Yu Tsung Cup Awards. She took part in the filming of multiple episodes for the Spicy Strawberry House Bilibili account, which has 130,000 followers. Since then, she has created and worked on a wide range of commercial advertising projects, including those for Lynk&Co Car, Ping An Real Estate, Joy Street Milk Tea, Coconut Island Independent Game, as well as influential film promotion projects for the Yuhang Traffic Group, Lin'an Agricultural and Commercial Bank, and Yuhang Dream Town Marathon.
We appreciate any support with our campaign! If you are not able to contribute and would like another way to be a part of this project, please spread the word to any and all who might be interested in this project.
If you have any questions, please email us at estateofpurgatory@gmail.com