The Film
CDrivenWebPoster1
A video editor’s world is turned inside-out when he comes into possession of production footage showing that he is actually a character in an action thriller.
Character Driven, 20 min, HD, color, narrative, 2007
Written, directed, and edited by J. Victor Mahoney.
Produced by Renata Foucre.
Cinematography by Aaron Meister.
Music by Edward Spiegel.
Starring Alan Kaiser and Jennifer Erdmann.
Co-starring Kobi Eshun and Jinnifer Jacobs.
Screenings:
Signals International Short Film Festival, Colchester, England, October, 2007.
San Francisco Frozen Film Festival, San Francisco, CA, July, 2008.
KTEH Viedo-i, San Jose Public Television, January, 2008.
Like certain drawings by M. C. Escher, this film depicts, and involves its characters in, the process of its own production. Like the world we ourselves inhabit, it is riddled with paradoxes and contradictions.
narrative short, Character Driven, film editing, thriller, chase, parallel narrative, non-linear, parallel narrative, Escher, paradox
Filmmakers
Writer / Director
mahoney headshot
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, I make narrative fiction films - often with psychological themes - as well as portfolio videos for performers (actors, musicians, dancers, etc.). Also, I plan to branch out into documentary filmmaking soon. My filmmaking is rooted in a background in short story writing, a personal history spanning distinct cultures on three continents, lots of experience in performing and composing music, and a parallel career in Artificial Intelligence research. I have an MFA in Cinema (Film Directing / Production) from San Francisco State University.
Contact
films@jamesmahoney.com 650 814 1734
Producer
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Renata Foucre has been working as a freelance production coordinator and manager in corporate video and independent film, following three years in Post-Production. CHARACTER DRIVEN is the latest of several short student films that she has recently produced.
Contact
renata.foucre@gmail.com
Director of Photography
meister headshot
Aaron Meister received his B.A. in Film and Digital Media from the University of California Santa Cruz in 2002. In fall of 2004 he found himself back in school at San Francisco State University working on an M.F.A in Cinematography. There he has been able to constantly work on films and has shot a number of MFA student and professional works. His main niche is the dramatic narrative, but has been taking on some comedies and dramadies lately. Ultimately the genre isn’t as important to him as making quality work that helps push a story visually forward.
Contact
meister.aaron@gmail.com
Composer
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Edward Spiegel, composer, was a member of SF Bay Area alternative pop-bands Urban Tribe and Walkabout. He is currently working on a collection of abstract soundscapes and aural sculpture, tentatively titled "Explorations: A Noise Symphony."
Contact
edward@edwardspiegel.org
Cast
Alan Kaiser
Mark
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Alan Kaiser is a primarily bay area actor who has appeared in Regional Theatres including Berkeley Repertory and California Shakespeare Theatre, and a number of short and feature-length films, of which several have won awards. He writes as well, and has produced a short and feature, along with several short plays. His newest project is helping to create a self-sustaining new works (theatre) workshop in the bay area, as yet unnamed.
Contact
alankaiser13@yahoo.com
Jennifer Erdmann
Neige
erdmann headshot
Jennifer Erdmann is a San Francisco-based actress whose regional theatre credits include performances with San Jose Rep, TheatreWorks, Arizona Theatre Company, the Alliance Theatre, San Francisco Shakespeare, and Marin Shakespeare Company. She has appeared in numerous independent films and industrials, and she is also an accomplished singer and pianist.
Contact
Tonry Talent (415) 543-3797 mary@tonrytalent.com
Kobi Eshun
Cray
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Character Driven is Kobi Eshun's first acting role since he starred as a frankincense-bearing monarch in a satirical nativity production during the late 1960's. He ekes a humble living writing internet telecommunications software in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Contact
warmbody@e-kobi.com
Jinnifer Jacobs
Tamar
jacobs headshot
Jinnifer was born in San Francisco to loving, wonderful and interesting parents. In her early years, both of her parents were Astrologers, which led her to be fascinated with who people are and why they do the things they do. As a little girl, the first thing Jinnifer wanted to be when she "grew up" was an actress. The dream has never faded, even though she tried to talk herself out of it several times. She finally chose to be and do what she was meant to, and follow her heart and dreams.
Contact
Jinnifer@JinniferJacobs.com
Production Stills
CHARACTER DRIVEN was shot on location in San Francisco, in the Fillmore Shopping District, Bernal Heights, and on the SFSU sound stage.