The short, ‘ Day he learnt to fly’, came from my experiences of growing up in Indian society in the 90s, where kids and adults alike were under tremendous pressure for hitting the targets laid out for them, even before they were born. The newer, the Millennial generation is obliviously far more different. My generation had to struggle to escape out of those rules and regulations and to create our own paths. In that sense the film is biographical.
Zack, in the film – represents this generation… depressed, passionless and tired at a very young age. The film is basically filled with Metaphors – running, the fountain, the beach, flying of the kite, doing random things to shake things up, etc. There is a constant sound of ticking clock, alarms and things that are essential for the day to day race spread out throughout the edit.
This film was a year one masters project shot in the year 2011. The film is shot in 4 days in Griffith park, Venice beach and my friends’ apartments.
CAST –
Zack : CHRISTOPHER SAWTELLE
Bob : STEPHEN CARDWELL
Young Zack : COLIN TOMAS
Coach : ERIC BOCHNIARZ
Mother : KELLY GITTER
Grandfather : JAY EDWARD
Jenny : CORLEY HENDERSON
Twenty-four year old Zack struggles to break the chains of conformity until he reluctantly agrees to go under the wing of a homeless man who claims to have a guideline to genuine liberty.