Domino One

*Domino One is the directing debut of Nick Louvel, who co-wrote the screenplay. Co-writer Nick Garrison makes his feature film debut starring as Jason Young, a grant-scholarship chemistry student whose failing Literature grades leave him facing expulsion. Dealing with his predicament while looking for a missing advisor, Jason uncovers a hidden world of designer drugs, hit-men, and secret societies, exposing some of the oldest and darkest traditions ever practiced within Harvard's hallowed halls. Jason is drawn further and further into the labyrinth, until the silence is violently shattered, and all hell breaks loose.
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*Domino One -- allegedly -- is an underground low-budget independent film shot in 2002 by Harvard classmates Nick Louvel, Nick Garrison, and Chris Kuhl. However, it has never been released, and has sparked a widespread online debate as to the veracity of the film's existence, which remains unconfirmed, six years after its supposed production. Many indie film fans have inquired online about the film's availability, either present or future, but have not received any conclusive answers. The film is now generally believed to be a hoax. Skepticism stems partly from the murky rumor that the film is based on true events, and constitutes an unauthorized exposé of what takes place behind the secretive façade of Harvard's Finals Clubs. These are privately-owned all-male clubs which tend to encompass the school's social elite within a brotherhood bound by secrecy, not unlike Yale's Skull and Bones Society. Many U.S. presidents have been members of one of these clubs. A more mitigated theory purports that Domino One is not a hoax, but rather an attempt to make a film that was never completed, possibly due to a horror-show production.
*Some details about the ghost project have surfaced across the board with consistency. Domino One, a self-designated "mystery thriller," would be the first feature ever shot entirely in and around Harvard University, which keeps its campus firmly restricted to all film production. It reportedly features a huge cast of Harvard students, and more notably, supporting performances by Natalie Portman, Tatyana Ali, and Steve Guttenberg. It is their combined involvement that really sparked the debate regarding the likelihood of the film's existence. There is no actual evidence that proves the film is real, though the Domino One IMDB page, has never been taken down, and seems legitimate. If it is real however, it is certainly unclear why the filmmakers would have removed all the information they'd posted on their website, rather than reaching out to clarify the truth behind their own "lost movie".
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Actually, Domino One was screened last year in New York at The Tank. I didn't see it but I did receive an e-mail for it. I go to The Tank semi-often so it's definitely a real movie. I asked someone there about it cause I'd been curious about it myself and the tank dude said that the movie was good. he said that it was very indie but didn't look like it was made for no money as it was well shot or well-directed. he said something about the plot having some holes but he said it was very entertaining. anyway, there was also a flyer printed for this event, plus there was a Q&A, so a movie called Domino One definitely exists somewhere.
Film Facts
* Domino One got the green light from actor and family friend Ben Affleck, who donated his own camera and a "Glidecam" camera stabilization system used in the production.
* Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominee Natalie Portman was a Harvard student ('03) during the shoot, and is a friend of the filmmakers. Several of her Harvard pals appear in the film.
* Tatyana Ali, also a friend of the filmmakers, graduated from Harvard in 2002.
* Scenes were filmed in the little-known network of underground tunnels that link all Harvard buildings and residences.
* Cast and crew often hid out at locations in order to film secretively during night hours.
* Shooting range scenes were filmed at Manchester Shooting Range, a commercial range in New Hampshire that has sometimes been used by A-list actors training for Hollywood films.
* Budget is reportedly only $10,000.
Cast & Crew
*Nick Louvel - writer, director, photographer, editor
*Chris Kuhl - producer
*Nick Garrison - writer, Jason Young
*Natalie Portman - Dominique
*Steve Guttenberg - Casey
*Tatyana Ali - Laeticia Richards
*Ken Cheeseman - Edward Sebleman
*Chris Starr - Gonzalve Sangene
*Daryk Pengelly - Club Member
*Matthew Espy - Club Member
*Guy Boyd - Jack Mekas
 
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