Ever wondered what it would be like to live in a space station? Central Arkansas residents will have that chance this weekend.
After six years of production, the short film The Space Station will be shown at Market Street Cinema at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday night (June 7). The best part? It’s free.
The Space Station features local crew and local actors, and brands itself as a film fueled by Little Rock. Almost 200 volunteers helped work on the film, which started in a University of Central Arkansas film class with director Michael Sutterfield and producer Casey Kucera. Award-winning cinematographer Gabe Mayhan and assistant director Miles Miller are also involved in the film.
Sutterfield emphasized that “the heart of the film came from Little Rock and its people.” He was able to talk with us and answer a few questions about the film.
Q: What gave you the idea for the film and how were you able to get everyone else on board?
A: The Space Station is based on a short story written by a Little Rock native, Bernard Reed. He introduced me to the story and after reading it, I knew it would have to be my next film. Having a great story was why it was easy to get everyone involved with the film. The Arkansas community was very excited about putting this story onto the big screen and they went to great lengths to make it happen.
Q: You emphasized that the film is “fueled by Little Rock.” Why is it so important to incorporate the people of central Arkansas into your film?
A: We couldn’t have made this film without the support of the community. From the volunteers, to extras, location owners, media outlets and donors, people from all corners of our community came together to make this film happen. We all collaborated to make this movie.
Q: When did you first realize that your film could be a success, and what went into having six years of production?
A: It became clear that this movie would be thoroughly enjoyed when our talented actors and crew signed on to make this film happen. We had a decent budget and we were fortunate to be able to build some elaborate space station sets and have some wonderful props and wardrobes. Due to the expense of our production, once filming wrapped up we ran out of budget and we were forced to do the editing, sound, music and visual effects with very limited funds. This caused the post-production to stretch over a period of five years, with many volunteers donating their time and creative energy into finishing this film. I cannot express the amount of excitement and relief we all feel for finally finishing this movie.
Q: What would you say to someone who is on the fence about going Saturday to convince them that they need to see this film?
A: The film screening will be a lot of fun. It is one of the last screenings at the legendary Market Street Cinema and it’s completely free to get in. People who attend will get the chance to meet the key crew and cast who put this film together. It is a 30-minute film followed by a Q&A session.
Q: What do you see The Space Station’s legacy being five years from now? And where do you see you or your team being then, any other movies you already have planned?
A: We hope to have a great festival run and release. The film will always be near and dear to our hearts. It certainly was a learning experience for all of us. After our shoot five years ago, many people from our film crew, like Gabe Mayhan and Miles Miller, have gone on to film award-winning short films and are currently working on feature films. We have always hoped for this film to be a stepping stone for future projects and that is exactly what has happened. The professional relationships built during our production have and will continue on for many great films to come. Many of our crew members, including our producer Casey Kucera, have exciting film productions in the works.
Visit the film’s facebook or website for more information. The crew will also be accepting donations through crowdfunding website indigogo in order to submit the film into national film festivals. The film’s trailer can be seen in the video below.