press kit - endgame.ca

endgame
PICTURES
presents
A Bit of Rope
a film by michael lenic
1.78:1, 16 minutes, HDCAM
canada
2008
distributor/press contact:
michael lenic
endgame pictures
307 - 55 water street
vancouver, bc v6b1a1
604.219.2994
[email protected]
synopsis
Loosely based on the play ‘Waiting for Godot’ by Samuel Beckett and the work of actor’s
Ashleigh Rains and Michael Lenic, “A Bit of Rope” centers around two companions,
Seymour and Sophie, passing the time trying to kill themselves.
Seymour and Sophie meet every day and travel to a spot of no importance in the middle of
nowhere under a tree. Sophie pulls a gun on Seymour they wait for execution (pun intended)
to take place.
One day, in continuing with their futile routine, they arrive under the tree and a woman has
hanged herself. Seymour and Sophie have to reconcile someone else’s presence,
identification, boredom, and mortality with their own. They do what they only know how try
to kill themselves. Nothing happens.
Working in vivid wide angled high definition, director Lenic and DP Clara Roberts-Oss
explore a world of beautiful loneliness. This project is director/actor Michael Lenic’s and
actor Ashleigh Rains exploration of modern day existentialism
log line
Everyday, two companions, Seymour and Sophie, pass the time under a tree, trying to kill
themselves, always failing, always an excuse, and always putting it off till tomorrow. One
day, out of the blue in a seemingly lonely world someone else has beat them to it. They
adapt the best they know how.
307 - 55 water street vancouver bc v6b1a1 canada
604.219.2994
[email protected]
www.endgame.ca
2
biographies
michael lenic (writer/director/producer/‘seymour’)
Michael is a trained actor and director interested in the exploration of boredom, beauty, tragicomedy
and existentialism through film. “A Bit of Rope” is Michael Lenic’s first film but it is a continuation of his
studies and performances of modern theatre and Theatre of the Absurd.
Michael Lenic wrote, “A Bit of Rope” for his Master’s of Fine Arts thesis proposal for UCLA’s graduate
film program but daunted by the high cost and redundancy of graduate film school he decided to use
his ‘money for school’ to finance his first film.
Michael currently resides in Vancouver and is working on his next projects, a music video for his friend
and emerging artist, Sheanna James and a feature length script.
Selected acting credits:
A DOG’S BREAKFAST (2007), dir. David Hewlett
STARGATE SG-1 (2007), dir. Peter Deluise
clara roberts-oss (director of photography)
Clara Roberts-Oss started photographing her friends in high school. Always fascinated by capturing the human
process, film felt the natural progression. Instead of catching just a second in one's life, why not capture
minutes? Clara graduated from Hunter College film school in 2002. She has directed and shot: "Awoke" (2002)a surrealist piece of waking up, "Shivande"(2001)- a documentary about an artist who changes mediums, and is
currently working on a mockumentary entitled "Flush", about people and their relationships to their toilets. As a
cinematographer, Clara has shot, "Broken Shore" (2002), directed by Greg Cusumano and "A Kind of
Dream" (2003), directed by Danny Valez. She has also worked with AndersonGold Films, Inc. as second
camera person. Clara was delighted to get back into film and is thankful for having worked on "A Bit of Rope.”
sheanna james (composer)
Sheanna James recently released her first full length album, "Bicycle,” under the name Beau D'Greene.
Originally from Kamloops, BC, she currently lives in Vancouver and has both her BA(H) and Masters degree in
Theatre. This is her first composition for film.
lisa newell (production manager)
An aspiring filmmaker from Calgary Alberta, Lisa Newell has followed her passion for the arts from a young age.
Having an extensive background in theatre, she spent 5 years working toward and obtaining her Bachelor of
Fine Arts in directing theatre at the University of Calgary. Developing her skills by studying and working in the
many roles in film making, Lisa looks forward to pursuing her passions in the art.
307 - 55 water street vancouver bc v6b1a1 canada
604.219.2994
[email protected]
www.endgame.ca
3
cast
ashleigh rains (‘sophie’)
Ashleigh Rains has performed in numerous film, television, dance and theatre productions. She is a graduate of
the drama program at Queen’s University and has trained at several prestigious institutions including The
National Ballet School of Canada and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Selected feature film and television credits:
ROXY HUNTER AND THE MYTH OF THE MERMAID (2008), dir. Eleanor Lindo
MAYDAY (2007), dir. Ian Robertson
CATACOMBS (2007), dir. David Elliot
megan vincent (‘dead woman’)
While completing a degree in image arts at Ryerson Polytechnic University, Megan took part in an elective
acting class. It was this decision that helped to foster her love of acing and led her to pursue a career in the
field. Her first television appearance was in Ken Finklemen’s “More Tears.” She most recently appeared in the
film “Puck Hogs,” CBC’s “MVP,” and in the Lifetime Network’s “The House Next Door.”
307 - 55 water street vancouver bc v6b1a1 canada
604.219.2994
[email protected]
www.endgame.ca
4
credits
ashleigh rains michael lenic megan vincent cast
crew
director writer
producer
assistant producer
director of photography
production manager
composer
editor sound designer mixer
boom operator still photographer
makeup key grip/gaffer grip/best boy graphic artist sophie
seymour
dead woman
michael lenic
michael lenic
michael lenic
jenny westoby
clara roberts-oss
lisanewell
sheanna james
michael lenic
jay page
jay page
taylor milne
nicolas alary
vicky lee chan
christina lenic
xandra grayson
sally hutcheon
thanks
John and Geri Lenic, John G. Lenic,
Lorne Lapham S&R, Eleanor O’Connor and
Paramount Production Support,
Natalie Bussey, Christina Lenic,
Elsie Ponak, The Ponaks,
Jason Waterfall, Julie Robinson, Tristin Leffler,
and
Penny and Benny Anderlini
307 - 55 water street vancouver bc v6b1a1 canada
604.219.2994
[email protected]
www.endgame.ca
5
pictures
more stills/files at www.endgame.ca/abitofrope/pics
307 - 55 water street vancouver bc v6b1a1 canada
604.219.2994
[email protected]
www.endgame.ca
6
307 - 55 water street vancouver bc v6b1a1 canada
604.219.2994
[email protected]
www.endgame.ca
7
307 - 55 water street vancouver bc v6b1a1 canada
604.219.2994
[email protected]
www.endgame.ca
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