Note : To have a better final product we've organized one more day of shooting, and for a best cinematography we are filming with a Red Gemini in 5K (the original idea was a Canon EOS 4K). For those two reasons and for the cost of the color graduating and the sound design the goal it was increased to 5.000€.

About the Project

The Red Death is a short film adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's story The masque of the Red Death.

The story takes place in an opulent mansion during a terrible global pandemic called "The Red Death."

Alexander, the owner of the rich estate, lives safely inside the mansion.

Our story is set nowadays, this contextualisation serves to emphasize the relation between Poe’s adaptation and the 2020 world-wide crisis.

Alexander, with the ones he describes as "the elite of the world", hosts a masquarade ball in his mansion to celebrate the 120th day of lockdown, but a mysterious and uninvited figure is hiding among the guests.

The screenplay unveils three additional main characters, more subplots and supplementary details surrounding the original story. Our goal was to create a new story while preserving the creepy atmosphere of the original tale.

An incredible location that fits all requirements will be presented in the next paragraph.

You're now embracing the Red Death.

Location & Moodboard

The location will be a 16th century mansion outside of Turin, in Borgo Cornalese .

The mansion’s rooms are perfect for the ambiance we want to recreate. 

The lighting will be different for each different room, the predominant color will change according to the specific situation.

Cast

Jacopo Crovella as Alexander

Jacopo Crovella is an Italian actor that graduated from the Scuola d'Arte drammatica Paolo Grassi in Milan.

He has participated in different theatre plays as protagonist and after his debut in the movie "Miele", Jacopo has acted in several TV series and movies such as "Non Uccidere", "Romanzo Famigliare" and "Una questione privata"

Elisa Muriale as Cloe

Elisa Muriale is an actress who graduated at the "Sergio Tofano school  di Torino" . Due to her theatrical education she started by working in different theatrical plays : "Turandot Opera", "A Chours Line" . She was the protagonist in two short films : "Sphere of Glass" & "Calma piatta" and has recently partecipated in different movies like "L'amore il sole e le altre Stelle" and "Non ho niente da perdere".

Martina Mascarello as Juliet

She  graduated at the "Accademia Internazionale di Teatro" and has partcipated at several theater masterclasses like : "Rehearsal Process" with J.Jasmine Davis and "Lost in traslation circus” with Annabel Carberry. She has acted in movies and tv series like : "Un’avventura", "Miss Thai" and being the main character in two short films "Lighting Silent" & "Il primo passo".

Federico Gariglio as Pierrot

He's a young italian actor who studied at DAMS (Turin) and then graduated at  Paolo Grassi school in Milan.

He started as theatrical actor winning the price "Hystrio Ugo Rofani" then he moves to the tv screen with some commercials : "Decathlon" & "Kinder" and plays in tv shows and movies like : "School Rocks" and "Felicissime Condoglianze".

Veronica Fiore as The Red Death

Veronica Fiore is a model, actress and dancer. She has been involved in the last movie by Peter Greenaway "Walking to Paris" and has played in several theater plays and web series.

The Troupe

Rodolfo De Maistre (director and screenwriter)

He is a young director from Turin who has covered all the roles related to directing during his film career. His most notable works include: "The King's Man", "Tigers" and "Dolce Roma".

Alberto Scisco (director and screenwriter)

He is a young screenwriter from Turin who has covered several roles in the film world, these range from location manager to production and director assistance. His major works include: "The King's Man", "El olvido que seremos" and "Walking to Paris".

Davide Marcone (director of photography)

He is a professional director of photography and camera operator. He holds the position of professor at the IED school of Turin and is a founding member of Filmika cooperative of film and audiovisual productions. Marcone has cultivated an extensive experience in the movie and TV series industry, some of his works include: "Giustizia per tutti", "Peopling the palaces", "Il Divo".

Mario Bonaventura (camera operator and director of photography)

He is a camera operator and video assist with different experiences in the audiovisual field. He has been involved in several films and TV series such as: "La strada di casa II", "Io sono Mia", "Se mi vuoi bene".

Francesca Cibischino (costume designer)

She is a costume designer. After graduating in movie's drammaturgy she has worked several years in the cinema industries, partecipating in interational movies such as : "Tigers", "El Olvido que seremos" and the Netflix movie "Murder Mistery".

Camilla Campanelli (first assistant director/Script supervisor)

She is a young screenwriter who works in cinema industries as assistant director. She's actually studiyng at Holden film school in Turin and has already directed two short films : "May Day" & "Newton". She has been involved as assistant director in "La Strada di casa II" and "Se mi vuoi bene".

Eleonora Rispoli (production coordinator)

She has started working in production department as production assistant in the tv series "Ognuno è Perfetto" and lately works in the international movie "The King's Man". Now she is production coordinator and has already been involved in "Giustizia per tutti" and some others Tv shows.

Emiliano Remelli (production manager)

He has held several production roles in many movie sets and TV series, including international work in: "The King's Man", "Tigers", e "Non Mentire". He was also the head of the short film project "Chez Moi".

Amedeo Sportoletti Baduel (production inspector)

After graduating in filmmaking at the Mohole school in Milan he's start working in cinema as production assistant. His major works are "Il Primo Re" and "Amori che non sanno stare al mondo".

Other Troupe

Stefano Crabolu - Focus Puller

Edoardo Bechis - Video Asssist

Irene Castrogiovanni - Steady Operator

Matteo Mari - Data Manager

Federico Conti - Editor

Ilaria Dixina - Make Up/Hair stylist

Ghazaal Lalav - Make Up/Hair stylist

Christian Peccolo - Gaffer

Filippo Montanari - Grip

Vittoria Battistotti - Costume assistant/Crowd Marshall

Davide Dilernia - Production Assistant

Riccardo D'amico - Additional First Assistant director

Andrea Fedele - Production Assistant/Facility

What we need to reach our goal

• Equipment (cameras, optics, drone, lights): art camera equipment, with all the relevant lenses, is a priority in the realization of a clean and impactful short film.Drone (Dji) for the establishment (one day rental).
• Props (Masks): the masks are all handmade and of valuable craftsmanship, especially the masks specifically tailored for the four leading actors of "The Red Death." Because of their quality we decided to introduce them in the crowdfunding contribution perks.
• Facilities :  food for the extras coffe for the troupe and a LOT of masks ang gloves (COVID) for everyone!

Thanks in advance to all of you guys who'll help us make this short film comes true!

The Red Death Production Team

Edited by : Alberto Scisco, Rodolfo de Maistre e Bruno di Meglio.