Short films director and VFX artist Seth Larney aims to make his feature writing and directing debut on Subject 14, a futuristic sci-fi survival saga.
The film is set in 2067 when the Earth faces an oxygen crisis after deforestation and nuclear spills into the ocean. The protagonist Ethan Whyte boards a time-machine and embarks on a journey as humanity's last hope for survival.
The producer is Lisa Shaunessy, Larney’s partner in Chaotic Pictures. Michael Rymer, currently working on the Deadline Gallipoli miniseries for Foxtel, will serve as EP after spending several years consulting on script, genre and methodology with Larney.
The project has received script and project development support from Screen Australia, Screen NSW, AFTRS and the Kenneth B Myer Award, Pixomondo Beijing, Arclight Films and Mushroom Pictures, which will distribute in Oz.
Denson Baker (untitled Jim Loach Film, Paper Planes) will lens the film, with Oscar-nominated editor Luke Doolan (Miracle Fish, Animal Kingdom) cutting and John Dietz (The Hunger Games, Terminator Salvation) supervising the visual effects.
Maura Fay Casting’s Marianne Jade is casting the film, which is due to shoot next year.
Larney directed the shorts The Clearing and Roman’s Ark and worked in visual effects and post production on Superman Returns; Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Currently he is directing the documentary series Hipsters for Foxtel's Studio.
The producers have launched a crowd-funding campaign on Pozible aiming to raise $100,000. Donors will get the chance to take part in an online game world that will serve as a prequel to the movie.
They will create the stories that lead to the film and help name characters, places and iterations of the time machine. Rachel Storey is the transmedia producer.
The money raised will go towards the special effects and creating the videos and x-media resources that donors will receive as rewards. The project was one of five selected for the Mission: Pozible campaign supporting films with ground breaking vision.
Thomas Mai, Mission: Pozible consultant on Subject 14, said, “This is about creator to consumer without so many middle men and what's exciting about that is really connecting with your audience along the way and getting to know who they are and what they want.”