'Subject Set' To Begin Principal Photography In Northern California
January 30, 2007
Geoff Gray-Lee Directs Multicultural Cast In
Production of Ambitious Scope
A Subject Set motion picture short trilogy begins principal photography in the Bay Area immediately, under the direction of Geoff Gray-Lee, it was announced today by Gray-Lee, who is also writer and producer of the production.
Ambitious in scope, the production breaks new ground in educational movie-making by shooting the three titles in this “virtual experience” -- Alcohol At Wit's End (drama), Alcohol Bait & Switch (comedy) and Alcohol and Class Action (adventure) - not consecutively but concurrently, as one production.
Based on Geoffrey O’Driscoll Gray-Lee’s critically acclaimed and highly successful 1985 student film “The Subject of a Moment”, the Subject Set franchises are not yet cast.
The production is written and produced by Gray-Lee under Gray-Lee’s start-up banner WCEE.net. There are no other members of the behind-the-camera crew. Gray-Lee is director of photography, production designer, costume designer, and makeup and hair designer.
Visual effects will also be executed by Gray-Lee using a MacBookPro and off-the-shelf software supported by Apple ProCare. The official Subject Set website is WCEE.net.
Included in the DVD's release will be a teacher's guide that will include an appendix covering Gray-Lee's map, definition, and explanation of the development of human character that is the foundation for the trilogy. Following the DVD's release, the Subject Set will be novelized and released containing the same appendix. Gray-Lee said: "The idea of the Subject Set was developed out of the classical progress triad of thesis, antithesis, synthesis; then expanded to include the full range of emotional progression. Like Oliver, the initial Everyman in the Subject Set, humans learn intellectually and emotionally. It seemed to me that the best way to reach as many students as possible was to cover the material intellectually and emotionally, and use as much range in each as possible, with as much honesty as possible."
Gray-Lee said: "Shooting three thirty-minute network television-style series franchises simultaneously with a cast of, essentially, volunteers may seem an absurd proposition, but I know my limitations as a filmmaker, and will find actors who are capable and want to make the completed virtual experience deeply moving and mind-expanding, regardless of the audience.”
Gray-Lee said: "I have committed myself to this class of project since 1989, so it is hard to believe that I'm about to start shooting. I'm shooting three first-class scripts at the same time, and I'm editing on a state-of-the-art computer, so the opportunity and the work are worthy of respect. And I've devoted a large part of my life to understanding human character, so I owe it to myself, the material, the actors, and the audience to create a production with as much consistency as possible."
One of the lead characters is Oliver, a young urbanite who accepts a seemingly innocent invitation to a party and finds his experience suddenly thrust to the heart of the uncertain journey for all who know him to save their self-images from increasingly pervasive attack.
Other characters include social-host extraordinaire Grape Juice, Oliver's best friend.
We first meet Ralph, a character with multiple incarnations played by the same actor throughout the trilogy, as the star jock of Tom Joad High.
Grape Juice's girlfriend Kristen, the high school's sensible and insightful shoo-in for valedictorian.
Avery Mann, a maturing "nobody" who assumes Oliver's yoke of peer leader.
Lola, Oliver's girlfriend who cannot find her place in the world.
Ditto-Echo, an attitude-throwing high school dropout and one-time stooge for the rehabilitated king of juvenile hall, One-Face.
Businessman Mr. Powers, Oliver's father and fallen champion of the notion of self-image.
Teddy-B, an alarmist gangsta, despite his I.Q. of 130, whose goal is to impose his self-image on everyone.
Wrestling coach and logic teacher Mr. Dodgson, who uses Oliver's experience as a learning opportunity for all of his students.
Nameless, a partier and fellow student wrestler who is generous with peer-esteem and remains friends with Oliver throughout his "misfortune".
I.D., a surprisingly like-able little junior who possesses both wisdom and comic timing.
Big Head, a criminal felon and consistency freak, also with a high I.Q., who is one of the people who advises "the people who impose their will".
Yo-Yo, a wannabe rap artist who is unaware of, and unresponsive to, her surroundings.
Conceived in 2002, WCEE.net is positioning to be the educational entertainment industry's leader in curriculum-based motion picture production specializing in character education. WCEE.net will distribute worldwide via the internet to the junior high school, high school, driver-education, summer camp, hospital, and home video markets. The company, a sole proprietorship of Gray-Lee, is also developing in-house units for expanding distribution, marketing, licensing and merchandising.
Contact Info:
Geoff Gray-Lee
contact@WCEE.net
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