Only You Can Save Mankind The Movie

Only You Can Save Mankind is a low budget super 8mm film that is to be released in 2009. It is based on the book with the same title by Terry Pratchett. It is set in the Gulf War of the 1990's, and will be filmed in Hackney, East London. The principal cast is made up of children under the age of 16, in keeping with the story. The movie combines several movie making techniques, such as stop frame animation and 3D animation.

Adaption
The Movie is based on the novel Only You Can Save Mankind written by Terry Pratchett. The book is set in 1991, being published in 1992. The story is mainly about the protagonist, Johnny who is in 'Trying Times', whilst his parents are breaking up. This makes him very sensitive, and is sucked into a game that he is playing, Only You Can Save Mankind. The aliens in the game call for him to save them and get them past 'the border', where no humans can hurt them. He enlists the help of a friend of a friend, Kirsty, or Sigourney, as in Sigourney Weaver. In the end he saves the aliens and wakes up. It feels like a dream...but is it?

Super 8mm
The film is to be made on super 8mm, a dead film stock by modern standards. This gives the film a very welcoming and warm quality. Ektachrome 64T is the chosen stock, and orders will soon be made to Kodak. Some aspects are also to be digital; namely 3D animation, to be carried out on Maya 3D. Another advantage of 8mm is that the cameras are very small compared to 35mm or high quality digital formats and this makes it very easy to film in very compact areas. The crew are familiar with the format, having made many short films already, and testing is continuing.

Budget
The film is presently budgeted at £10,000, an incredible amount for a feature film in the modern world. The reason for this is that the film stock will only cost approx. £850, and most of the cast are volunteering. Another reason is that the locations are all in easy to recreate places, such as a bedroom, or a street. A large amount of the end amount has already been raised from private investors, family and friends.

Production
Only You Can Save Mankind entered preproduction in January 2006, and is about to enter filming as of January 2008. This may seem a long time, but only approx. 12 hours per week can be spent on it. Many scenes have already been filmed, but are to be remade as to be in keeping with the style (film stock, lighting etc.). In December 2007, production diaries were launched along with a new website to help people understand what is happening in the production.

Release
The film is scheduled to be released in mid 2009. A more precise date will be released in the near future. It is probable that the film will be premiered at the Rio Cinema in Dalston.

Timeline
January 2006-Conception, and start of contact with Terry Pratchett

May 2006-First draft of screenplay completed

August 2006-Contract signed with Terry Pratchett

September 2006-First casting sessions

January 2007-Second draft of screenplay completed

March 2007-Director wins the National Young Filmmakers Award in Leeds

September 2007-Final cast assembled

December 2007-New website launched with trailer and production diaries

January 2008-Filming starts

Links
The Only You Can Save Mankind The Movie Website-

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu