C H O I C E S The Movie

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  The Making of CHOICES

  Director
         Genie Joseph

  Director of Photography
        Michael Bacon

  Actor Bios

  Opening Credits

  Closing Credits

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It's the small CHOICES in life that make the difference

Synopsis

The story opens with Vicky desperately running. Running away from her past, her present and her future. Running away from Luke, her lover, a passionate but violent man. “Our relationship began with love” Vicky says,“it just didn’t end that way.” It ended in the worst way imaginable. In a drunken rage Luke has just thrown her over a balcony.

Vicky runs to her friend Gabe, who has loved her since high school. In the back of her mind she has always wondered how a life with Gabe might have been. Badly bruised and shaken, she begins to recount the story of what happened that fateful night. “I don’t know why I went back upstairs,” Vicky tearfully recalls. Gabe listens in horror as Vicky tells him what happened when she finally snapped.

During a sensual moment, she strangles Luke with a red silk tie. In an instant she is both free and trapped at the same time.

Just as she finishes telling Gabe this story the police bang on the door. Barefoot and handcuffed, she is led away into the night. From her prison cell, she reflects on how it was the small choices she has made that have had the biggest impact on all of their lives. She writes to Gabe saying, "I wish I had chosen you."




The Making of CHOICES...



CHOICES was shot entirely on location on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, with an all volunteer local cast and crew. Equipment and production services were donated. The budget for the 20-minute digital video is under $2,500. -- this is less than many commercials spend on catering.

It was shot in six days - over a one-year period. It took approximately two hundred hours of computer editing to complete this rough-cut version.

CHOICES is based on a true story. The original idea is inspired from events that happened in the life of the lead actress. She has said that this movie was born from the worst experience of her life, and through the process of making the movie, it has become the best experience of her life. This movie was both a creative exploration as well as a cathartic journey. It has truly been a healing journey for Leigh Ann Kinghorn, who works as a salesgirl in an upscale clothing store in Waikiki. In fact, the lives of everyone deeply involved in this movie have changed as a result of the year-long journey of dedication. Since everyone involved in the movie has full time jobs, this movie was shot on Holidays and edited on evenings and weekends. It has truly been a labor of love.




Genie Joseph, Director



GENIE JOSEPH (Director/Screenwriter/Supervising Editor/Art Director/Music Supervisor) is making her return to dramatic video with CHOICES. Previously, in New York and Montreal, Genie has directed two feature films. Her movies have played in theaters, on Cable TV and released on video. SPOOKIES (Sony Distributors) which she Directed, co-wrote and edited, made it to Variety's Top 50 list, and won International awards in The Paris Film Festival of Science Fiction and Fantasy Films. Genie was a former Producer and Director at KITV, the ABC affiliate in Honolulu. She has written seven screenplays which have been produced by independent film makers. She teaches Screenwriting and Television Production at 'Olelo. She is currently writing a book about her experiences making low-budget movies.




Michael Bacon, Director of Photography



MICHAEL BACON (Director of Photography/Editor/Production Manager) Mike is the production manager at Pacific Focus. Working for five years in stock photography at Pacific Stock, helped him to develop his visual sense. He is one of Hawaii's up and coming cinematographers and was able to hone his skills during the shooting of Choices. He has a non-linear editing system which has taken over his small apartment. It is here that Choices was edited. He enjoys giving media interns a chance to break into the business by assisting on commercials and independent productions. Mike eats, drinks and sleeps digital video.




Actor's Bio's



Leigh Ann Kinghorn: Leigh Ann Kinghorn plays Vicky (Vicky)

...has starred in several short films. Choices, Off Stage and Bad Karma. She also had smaller parts in the feature film, A Boy a Girl and a Dead Cat.. She has been in several original theater productions for The Actors Group. She has been in several industrials and commercials.








Hans Saito: Hans Saito plays Luke (Luke)

... has appeared in several feature films including Legacy, Honeymoon in Vegas, Good-Bye Paradise. For television he has had roles on One West Waikiki, Jake and the Fatman, Atlantis. He is a tenth degree black belt, a surfer, canoe paddler, Lomi Lomi Healer and plays guitar.










George Russell: George Russell plays Gabe (Gabe)

...speaks Japanese, a skill that comes in very helpful when he assists as a crew person on Japanese TV commercials and film projects. He spent five months on Molokai working on the production of The Father Damien Story. His acting career began in high school and was recently in TAG's production of Glengarry Glen Ross. A short film he directed, Billy Gets a Job, premiered at the 1999 Ohina Showcase.








CHOICES -- Opening Titles:



Starring:

  • LEIGH ANN KINGHORN
  • HANS SAITO
  • GEORGE RUSSELL

Executive Producers:

  • GENIE JOSEPH
  • MICHAEL BACON

Associate Producers:

  • EPIPHANY FILMS
  • VISIONARY IMAGES

Director of Photography:

  • MICHAEL BACON

Supervising Editor:

  • GENIE JOSEPH
Editor:
  • MICHAEL BACON
Music:
  • M.R. WOLFIE
Screenplay:
  • GENIE JOSEPH
              &
  • LEIGH ANN KINGHORN
Director:
  • GENIE JOSEPH




CHOICES - End Titles:



Dedication:

Every fifteen seconds an act of domestic violence occurs.

This video is dedicated to the hope that at the first encounter of abuse, more people will seek help - and will choose to live without violence.

CAST

Vicky:      LEIGH ANN KINGHORN

Luke:      HANS SAITO

Gabe:     GEORGE RUSSELL


Detective:     CHAZZ MANN

Detective:     THOMAS KAAIAI

Seargent:     WANDA CRAIG

ACO:      VICTORIA JACOBO




Director of Photography:

MICHAEL BACON

Cameraman:

JEFF KATTS

Stedicam:

DAVE ZAK
JOE WILHELM

Gaffer:

MICHAEL BACON

Best Girl:

LINA ENGSTROM

Grips:

GREG HOUTZ
JERRY CARTER
MATT STROMER
JOHN CHANCE HARRINGTON

Production Asst.

ANTHONY SAITO
BETTY SANCHEZ

Art Director:

ANGELINA JOSEPH

Stunt Coordinator:

HANS SAITO

Stunt Driver: MATTHEW (Wahoo!) GRAY

Catering:

TANYA LUTALI
ANTONIA LUTALI
NANCY KANESHIRO

Supervising Editor:

GENIE JOSEPH

Editor:

MICHAEL BACON

Post Production Facilities:

MIKE BACON PRODUCTIONS

SPECIAL THANKS:

Pacific Focus
Korrin & Jerry Carter
Betty Sanchez
Todd Kelly
Love Life Radio Network
Matthew Gray
Dave Winston Barge
State of Hawaii Dept of Public Safety
Ted Sakai, Director
Warden, John Kellam
Captian Malcolm Lee
Seargent Wanda Craig
ACO Victoria Jacobo
The Women of WCCC, Kailua Hawaii




CHOICES: Copyright 2000 - Genie Joseph
All Rights Reserved

© 2000 CHOICES, The Movie | CHOICES@LoveLife.com}