Code 8

Code 8

Code 8 film poster
Directed by Jeff Chan
Produced by
Written by
  • Jeff Chan
  • Chris Paré
Starring
Music by Ryan Taubert
Cinematography Alex Disenhof
Edited by Skinner
Distributed by YouTube
Release dates
  • March 22, 2016 (2016-03-22) (Internet)
Running time
 10 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Code 8 is a 2016 short sci-fi action film directed by Jeff Chan and written by Chan and Chris Paré. Starring Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell and Sung Kang, the film is expected to be expanded into a feature length project to shoot during 2017 for release in October of that year.[1] The film is a futuristic vision taking place in a world where 4% of the population are born with some type of supernatural ability. Instead of being billionaire superheroes, most ‘specials’ live in poverty and resort to crime, forcing the police to become more militarized.

Plot

Sometime in the future 4% of the earth's population have developed special abilities, but are treated like pariahs and forced by circumstance to live in poverty. The term "special" had become a pejorative and those with abilities are treated poorly by those without. In Lincoln City, Taylor Reed (Robbie Amell), a young man with special powers, struggles to find work as a day laborer. After a dispute over he and his friend Freddie (Aaron Abrams) being shorted in their pay after completing work, Taylor finds himself in a confrontation with police officer Alex Park (Sung Kang) and the many autonomous robot drones backing up the officer.

Reception

Gizmodo wrote that "The Mysterious Code 8 Film Is An Intriguing Crowdfunding Teaser",[2] and praised the film in writing it "definitely leaves the audience wanting to see what happens next, and it really looks like’s something that Neill Blomkamp would have directed: robotic police officers, some pretty overt political themes, and so forth. We’re certainly interested in seeing where this goes."[2]

Cast

  • Robbie Amell as Taylor Reed
  • Sung Kang as Officer Alex Park
  • Aaron Abrams as Freddie Berko
  • Stephen Amell as Drone Pilot
  • Chad Donella as Dixon
  • Peter Huang as Drone Pilot 3
  • Alfred Rubin Thompson as Big Joe
  • Al Marchesi as Fire Guy
  • Christine Pagulayan as Reporter
  • Patrice Henry as Dispatch 1
  • Phyllis Politowicz as Grandma
  • Tonya Dodds Sinisac as Dispatch 3
  • Ryan Freer as Drone Pilot 4
  • Jack Horan as Justin Reed
  • Jeff Sinisac as Drone Pilot 2

Production

History

On March 22, 2016, Robbie and Stephen Amell premiered a 10-minute short film as a teaser for a full-length feature.[3] While releasing the short, the Amells simultaneously started an Indiegogo campaign in order to fund the full-length feature.[4] With their target being $200,000 the film was funded less than 48 hours, and continues to grow,[5][6] having exceeded $1,500,000 in a month.[1] Both the Amells expressed that by going with the crowdfunding route, they can keep the creative control to themselves.[7] Some of the perks to donating to Code 8 included digital copies of both versions of the film, exclusive merchandise, producing credits and some quality time with the Amells.[4] On April 9, 2016, Robbie Amell teased in a Facebook Q&A video that actor Victor Garber had expressed his interest in joining the film.[8] On April 14th director Jeff Chan made a post about the short film on the social media & -news aggregator site reddit where he also answered questions in a mini-AMA.[9]

Planned feature film

Due to scheduling conflicts, Stephen Amell was not able to star in the short film, however he did voice a police drone. He has confirmed that he will star in the feature.[10] The short film was self-financed as well as calling in favors from friends and family.[11] Production is slated to begin February 2017, and is projected to wrap in May 2017.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Code 8 - a film from Robbie & Stephen Amell". Indiegogo.com. Accessed April 2016.
  2. 1 2 Liptak, Andrew (28 March 2016). "The Mysterious Code 8 Film Is An Intriguing Crowdfunding Teaser". Gizmodo. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Code 8 - Short Film [2016]. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 – via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 3 "Code 8 - a film from Robbie & Stephen Amell". Indiegogo.com. Accessed April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Jen O". Twitter. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Robbie Amell on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  7. ↑ Dominic Patten. "'Arrow' & 'Flash' Villain Crowdfund Superpowers Pic With 'Fast & Furious' Actor". Deadline.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Robbie Amell - Facebook". Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "I directed a short film [Code 8] that is a more grounded and human take on the superpower genre. No costumes. No destroyed skyscrapers. Hope you dig it!". reddit.com. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Code 8 - Indiegogo Campaign Video. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Furdyk, Brent (March 24, 2016). "Stephen and Robbie Amell To Star In First Film Together — With Your Help". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

Further reading

External links

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