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Film Info

Description:

After his trial is made the subject of a media circus, Azura finds himself on Death Row, locked in the same cell with one of his “fans” – Noah. Coming from different generations, Azura and Noah immediately enter a philosophical conflict. As they divulge their pasts, the two vehemently debate the merits and influence of God, coincidence, and divine punishment on the fate of their lives. Tensions rise between both men, and as no guards stand to monitor their cell, neither one is completely averse to violence as a means to resolve this altercation… 

Who is Brian Gallagher?

Brian Gallagher is an emerging screenwriter and editor from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Brian has been writing scripts since high school and in college has written several shorts, both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to editing done for his coursework, Brian has also edited videos for Temple Smash, a sketch comedy group on Temple’s campus. During his spare time, he has written and edited video essays posted to YouTube, the latest of which accumulated over 37,000 views in six months.

Why Is He Making This Film?

This film was inspired by personal anxieties I had at age sixteen once I realized after a decade of Catholic school that Jesus was not my cup of tea. Originally, one page of this script was written as a brief writing exercise during my senior year of English class – a restriction which would intrinsically force the film to pose difficult questions rather than definitive answers. As a result, the film is bound to generate questions in the minds of both apostates and believers alike, instilling the same introspection and quandaries I faced as a teenager.

The world feels much different about God than it did even two decades ago. Recently at a Phoebe Bridgers concert, between songs, the artist said, “Believing in nothing is stupid, but God isn’t real.” Immediately, thousands of people erupted into a roar of applause. While that second clause may be shocking, I think it would be wise to not forget the first part of her quote: “Believing in nothing is stupid…”

I think this speaks to a broader human sentiment; even those who don’t believe in God find the idea of being alone in this universe terrifying. In creating this film, I hope to better expound upon the concept of belief – to ask religious people if their beliefs make sense to them, and ask non-religious people if they are truly comfortable with the absence of all beliefs.

Who are These Characters?

Azura – Azura is a handsome 28 year old man who had “his whole life ahead of him” until his wife and child were killed. With his future gone, Azura appears irritable, impatient, and impulsive. With nothing left, there are few boundaries he won’t consider crossing; there are almost no ethical lines he respects. Additionally, as a younger man, he is far more disillusioned with religion than the older folks around him.

Noah – Noah is an unkempt, greasy, long-white haired old man who has “seen it all”. Having already lived through the majority of his natural life, Noah finds humor in his predicament. For a man who is about to die, he is remarkably calm – although in his case, he believes this is but the start of a new beginning. His composure allows him to play the witty, wisdom-bearing old man, acting as the antithesis of the main character.

How will this film look?

“Hunger” (dir. Steve McQueen)

This still represents how the cell should feel. The cell should have stark lighting, dynamically opposing the two leads side-by-side.

(The Dark Knight – dir. Christopher Nolan)

While the set may not be perhaps as grandiose, the bank is certainly meant to feel less stark compared to the cell. It should be a more evenly lit setting, with more hope, feeling less dour.

(Late Night Snack – dir. Brigg Bloomquist)

This ad has the right look for the kitchen at night. While there is still some color, the room feels somewhat dim and ominous. The room feels a little too pristine, suggesting something may be awry out of frame.

Press Materials

Contact:

inacellfilm@gmail.com

Editing Reel