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“What if I told you that everything you think
you know about the world is a lie?
What if I told you that history has never
been the story of humanity
and the earth has always belonged
to ... others.
Would you really want to know?”
--Maggie Levant
That’s the burning question asked in THE TESLA FILES — a sci-fi short drama by
screenwriter, director and storyteller Alan Wartes. The story-world of this
film looks and feels like the one we’ve always known, but Maggie Levant’s
search for the lost secrets of Nikola Tesla spins it on its axis until nothing
about reality seems as it once did.
This script is presently a finalist in the 2016 Nashville Film Festival Screenwriting Competition — along with another screenplay by Alan Wartes, a feature called THE BOTTLE BUSINESS. Winners will be announced April 22, 2016.
This film is a professional production — in ground-breaking
collaboration with the faculty and students of Western State Colorado
University in Gunnison, Colorado.
The script presents a wonderful opportunity for
actors, designers, editors, visual effects artists and composers to stretch the
limits of what is normally expected of a short film.
The team is preparing offers for name actors who —
with your generous help — will elevate THE TESLA FILES to a truly marvelous
level of excellence. Keep watching for that exciting announcement.
But wait, there's more!
This short film is a brief look at a much larger story — already developed for television. Alan has written a pilot episode that expands on this fascinating world.
That means when you contribute to this production you do more than back a short film. Your support could be instrumental in launching a television series as well.
Bottom line: We can’t wait to get started — and we invite you to join our
team with your support!
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Screenwriter — Director
ALAN WARTES is a true Renaissance Man — writer, award-winning journalist, producer, director, artist, musician, U.S. Army veteran — and graduate of Western State Colorado University. He has years of experience producing, directing and writing for stage and screen.
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Executive Producer
JACK LUCIDO, M.F.A., is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and Director of the Undergraduate Film Studies Program at Western State Colorado University. Jack's latest film WE DON'T HAZE recently won an award for excellence from the Broadcast Education Association.
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Producer
LAURA ANDERSON, is a writer, musician and staff member at Western State Colorado University.
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Production Designer
SCOTT LITTLE, M.F.A, is Director of Technical Theater at Western State Colorado University.
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Visual Effects Supervisor
TRAVIS DEJONG is a visual effects artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has contributed VFX art to several major motion pictures.
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CASTING on this film is underway! In the coming weeks we will announce some exciting news about who will play the complex characters in THE TESLA FILES.
Other team members (so far!):
ENID HOLDEN, Co-Executive Producer, Costumes
ISSA FORREST, Associate Producer
GARY OTTE, Director of Photography
COLE CLAASSEN, First Assistant Director
MELISSA MYSER, M.F.A., Editor, Post-Production Supervisor
KATHRYN BRINK, Casting Director
C.J. CONWAY, Sound Recordist, Post-production Sound
JOHN COWAN, Production Assistant
LEVI GILBERT, Production Assistant
MEG ANSTEENSEN, Production Assistant
COLE WADSWORTH, Production Assistant
KENDRA SHELDON, Production Assistant
PATRICK RING, Production Assistant
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All contributions to THE TESLA FILES are tax deductible! That's right, you will receive a tax deductible receipt within 60 days of the end of the funding campaign.
What we need:
Your contribution to THE TESLA FILES will be used to fund all phases of production:
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Casting
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Pre-production
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Production
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Post-production
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Promotion and screening
We are deeply committed to high standards of excellence every step of the way.
Challenges we face:
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We are excited to take on the task of capturing scenes for the film in such a way that allows for maximum creativity in executing the visual effects required.
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Building all the sets in the Studio Theater of Western State College presents both challenges and opportunities — both for the crew and for the students who will have a unique chance to work on a real-world production.
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Raising funds is always a challenge for the makers of short film — but the momentum and excitement surrounding this project continues to amaze us! Join us and become a part of that!
How else can you help?
Spread the word! When you see a post from us — SHARE IT.
Facebook, email, twitter, smoke signals, message in a bottle, interpretive dance — whatever it takes to let people know about this opportunity to support independent filmmaking in Colorado!
Thank you!
Short films like THE TESLA FILES simply don't get made without the incredible partnership, encouragement and support of people like you! The premiums we offer for your contribution are but a small token of our appreciation!
