The Longshot Collective
by Theodore Matza
Theodore Matza
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The Longshot Collective
by Theodore Matza
Theodore Matza
Follow
A high school after-prom. A ruined weekend getaway. A couple revisiting their past. A practicing hypnotist. A befuddled wanderer. A self-destructive music troupe. A botanist gone berserk.
A high school after-prom. A ruined weekend getaway. A couple revisiting their past. A practicing hypnotist. A befuddled wanderer. A self-destructive music troupe. A botanist gone berserk.
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Story
Mission Statement
Stories connect us, and we’ve never needed to relate to one another more. Of course there are crucial political and social causes that currently need support. However, as a collective, we believe that both art and action are imperative right now.About The Project
Since March, students across the country have had to adjust to challenging new realities brought on by the pandemic. It's now almost September, and while our college campuses are reopening, nothing feels certain. As a result, we’ve had many long discussions about what it would mean to take a chance, and do something unfamiliar and new.
After three years of university, the seven of us are so grateful to have had an education that provided us with a strong foundation in visual storytelling. We were looking forward to practicing our skills while making our senior thesis films on campus. However, we know that if we choose to return to school, the scope of our projects would be understandably limited. Additionally, at any moment, our theses could get cancelled, and/or we could get sent home. Given that everything is different now, we’ve concluded that we could make our movies a bit differently as well, before returning to school in the Spring.
We have been presented with a rare and thrilling opportunity to forge our own creative path for the next three months, one molded by curiosity and collaboration. We have organized a residence in rural California where we will be shooting our very own independent anthology feature film.
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THE NARRATIVE
When all is said and done, we’ll have a 90-minute history of characters that have come, gone, and lived on this one street. Each of the seven members of our collective has conceived, written, and will be directing a short “episode.” While they all fall under the umbrella of dark comedy, they also represent an eclectic mix of genres, from the psychological thriller, to the mockumentary, even a musical!
What does each piece have in common? They all concern themselves with the unique sense of isolation and desire that we have experienced over the last several months. When woven together, they will invoke a sense of hope amid the turbulence. We’re hard at work in our virtual writer’s room unifying each piece around this sentiment.
Working in California for ten weeks will give us ample time to shoot each installment. Although the final product will be a unified work, the collection will showcase a wide range of tones, with each of our personal styles made apparent.
THE LOOK
Our team has taken particular visual inspiration from a range of independent films, many of which are set on the West Coast.
Clockwise from the top right: Magnolia (1999), Short Cuts (1993), Three Times (2005), and Wild at Heart (1990).
WHY NOW?
Those of you who know us are well aware of how much we love what we do, and therefore of just what a rare chance like this actually means. We all know that we’re living in a dark time, and that needs for financial support are vast and critical. So, we ask that if you choose to support us, please also consider contributing to these organizations:
MIDDLETOWN NORTH END ACTION TEAM : http://neatmiddletown.org/
BLACK ART FUTURES FUND : https://www.blackartfutures.org/donate/
KENOSHA PROTESTS FOR JACOB BLAKE MEDICAL SUPPLIES : https://www.gofundme.com/f/24630cakyo
JUSTICE FOR JACOB BLAKE : https://www.gofundme.com/f/justiceforjacobblake
MKE FREEDOM FUND : https://supportwomenshealth.salsalabs.org/mkefreedomfund/index.html
WE THE PEOPLE : https://petitions.com/whitehouse.gov/petition/justice-jacob-blake
ACTIVATION CO-OP FUND : https://activationresidency.com/co-op-fund
BTFA COLLECTIVE : https://linktr.ee/btfacollective
WILL IT BE SAFE?
We are well aware of and committed to taking the precautions necessary to keep ourselves and everyone around us safe. We will be inclusive and considerate in every choice that we make, from how we shoot our scripts to how we treat each other. This also includes everything from wearing masks anytime we’re in public spaces to submitting our absentee ballots before the November election. We come from a variety of backgrounds and are dedicated to bringing each of our perspectives to the fore. We will be parking our egos at the door, and pledge to be transparent with each other and with our contributors.
The most pressing challenge for any production right now is maintaining social distance between cast and crew. However, by quarantining together on location throughout this process, we will be able to safely get the job done with minimal health risk. We'll be staying in an isolated area, meaning that we will have a generous amount of space to utilize in our production.
Going back to school at a time like this poses a serious liability for students, faculty, staff, and larger campus communities. We are fortunate to have the option not to go back, and we hope this means we are helping to decrease potential risk for those with less flexibility. What other options do we have? There are few, if any, jobs available to us in lieu of an academic semester. That's why we've created our own.
Incentives
$5
Hitchhiker
Receive a personalized thank-you letter from the cast and crew. $25
Amateur Botanist
A personalized thank-you, plus: receive copies of early storyboards and our weekly newsletter, brimming with behind-the-scenes footage / photos.$50
Rock Star
All of the above, plus some digital frames from the movie, demos of original songs used, and stickers!$100
Prom Royalty
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All of the above, plus a Longshot Collective T-Shirt.$250
Fortune Teller
All of the above, plus an original poster signed by the cast and crew.$500
Executive Producer
All of the above, plus a producer credit on the movie.$1,000
Studio Executive
Start coming up with a name for your production company. All of the above, plus an executive producer credit. The VERY FIRST title card of our film will have your name on it, front and center. "_______ Presents". -
Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$5
Hitchhiker
Receive a personalized thank-you letter from the cast and crew. $25
Amateur Botanist
A personalized thank-you, plus: receive copies of early storyboards and our weekly newsletter, brimming with behind-the-scenes footage / photos.$50
Rock Star
All of the above, plus some digital frames from the movie, demos of original songs used, and stickers!$100
Prom Royalty
All of the above, plus a Longshot Collective T-Shirt.$250
Fortune Teller
All of the above, plus an original poster signed by the cast and crew.$500
Executive Producer
All of the above, plus a producer credit on the movie.$1,000
Studio Executive
Start coming up with a name for your production company. All of the above, plus an executive producer credit. The VERY FIRST title card of our film will have your name on it, front and center. "_______ Presents". - Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
Alvaro Chavez (He/Him)
From : Ipswich, MA
School, Major : Wesleyan, Film Studies
4 Flicks to take on a Deserted Island : Cabaret, Volver, Lucía y Sexo, Scary Movie, Bridesmaids
I am a rising Senior at Wesleyan University and have spent most of my time on campus developing my experience as an actor. Theater has been an integral part of my learning as a filmmaker and great performances are the overlap between ALL of my favorite movies. I also have a particular interest in writing, and have performed my own comedic pieces on Wesleyan’s campus. I am beyond, BEYOND excited to work with this group of people, some of whom I know intimately, and others whose work I have admired from afar.
Theo Matza (He/Him)
From : New York, NY
School, Major : Wesleyan, Film Studies and English
4 Flicks to take on a Deserted Island : Harold and Maude, Before Sunset, Cinema Paradiso, Repo Man
I am a senior at Wesleyan University finishing up my degree in Film Studies and English. I have collaborated on award-winning short films, primarily serving as Director of Photography (shooting on both 16mm and digital formats) in addition to working in camera and lighting departments. I’m thrilled about playing my part in the exciting body of work that this group of talented people is about to produce.
Anna Yeo (She/Her)
From: Andover, MA
School, Major : Wesleyan, Film Studies and Economics
4 Flicks to take on a Deserted Island : Up, Life of Pi, Lilo & Stitch, Cast Away
I’m a rising senior at Wesleyan University studying Economics and Film Studies. At Wes, I’ve been able to experience filmmaking from a number of different perspectives, whether that be working on student films in various roles or interning with the University’s video production department. A lot of my personal creative pursuits have been in solo stop-motion and/or hand-drawn animation work, so I’m stoked to collaborate with this group of thoughtful and driven individuals in building a world and telling its stories.
Liza Gross (She/Her)
From : New York, NY
School, Major : Wesleyan, Film Studies
4 Flicks to take on a Deserted Island : Do the Right Thing, Y Tu Mamá También, 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Get Out
I am going into my senior year at Wesleyan University where I study Film and Anthropology. I became interested in film through the path of sketch comedy, stand-up, and storytelling, and started by making comedy shorts with my friends after school. My love for film has grown ever since, and is also fueled by my interest in writing, acting and character study/development. I love dark comedy, political satire and psychological thrillers. I cannot wait to collaborate with my outrageously creative and hard working friends this semester!
Sherwin Yu (He/Him)
From: Edison, NJ
School, Major : Wesleyan, Film Studies
4 Flicks to take on a Deserted Island : Princess Mononoke, Burning, Taipei Story, The Handmaiden
I am a senior at Wesleyan University who is majoring in Film Studies. I have had the opportunity to work on multiple short films in a variety of different capacities such as producer, assistant director, and production designer. Professionally, I have also worked at Oscilloscope Laboratories as a distribution intern. I am an avid film-lover and have been digging into a lot of East Asian cinema and 2D animated films recently. While I normally enjoy handling the logistical aspects of production, I am excited to pursue and involve myself more in creative development, directing, and acting through this project, in addition to collaborating with such talented peers.
Daniel Sorkin (He/Him)
From : New York, NY
School, Major : USC, Film Production
4 Flicks to take on a Deserted Island : Parasite, La Haine, Sorry to Bother You, Swiss Army Man
I am a rising senior in the Film Production program at the University of Southern California. At USC, I have had the opportunity to explore writing, directing, and producing through collaborations with other students. In my own work, I tend to gravitate towards surreal stories as well as dark comedy. I particularly enjoy developing story ideas in a group setting which is sure to be a key element of this project. I am extremely excited to devote the next several months to working with all of these amazing people on a project which combines all of our individual strengths and interests.
Caris Yeoman (She/Her)
From : Los Angeles, CA
School, Major : Wesleyan, Film Studies and Creative Writing
4 Flicks to take on a Deserted Island : Fish Tank, Chungking Express, Amelie, Singin’ in the Rain
I am a senior at Wesleyan University, where I have focused my studies around film, photography, and creative writing. I have also worked on various student films as cinematographer or as a crew member in the camera department. I have always been fascinated by the communal and collaborative nature of filmmaking, and this project represents a culmination of so many of my passions.
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