First World (film)
| First World | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Adam Starr |
| Written by | Mark Lund |
| Starring |
Angelina Spicer Jeffrey Phillips Zebulun Huling Lindy Nettleton Marianne Phinney |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 25 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
First World is a 2007 independent science fiction short film written and produced by Mark Lund and directed by Adam Starr. This 25 minute short has bypassed the traditional film festival circuit and has been distributed primarily at science fiction conventions in the United States, Japan, Australia and Great Britain.[1][2][3] The short is based on a feature length screenplay of the same name and was primarily produced as a promotional tool to secure production of the long version of the story.[4]
Plot
In the early 1960s NASA discovered a vast and advanced civilization on the Moon with their first space probes. While this civilization was able to shield itself from all Earth-based visual detection devices, U.S. President John F. Kennedy's speech from 1961 that declared the intent to "Put a man on the Moon and return him safely to the Earth" was not designed as a space race with the Soviet Union, but to secretly establish contact with this newly discovered civilization. This discovery was classified and false images from the Moon were transmitted during all the Apollo missions. When the Earth mission of this new civilization was discovered, political forces demanded that President Richard Nixon end manned missions to the Moon in 1972. First World commences in the year 2018 when the Chinese government announces it is making its first manned mission to the Moon within 24 hours. What does this civilization represent? Why was it covered up? Who knows about its existence? What is their mission? And what lengths will some go to protect Earth and our way of life?[5]
Production
Mark Lund wrote the original screenplay for First World in early 2006 when he served as a judge on Skating with Celebrities. The short was produced entirely in Massachusetts in the fall of that year with post production finishing in February 2007.[6] Archive footage from President Kennedy and President Ronald Reagan is used in the production.
Cast
- Angelina Spicer as Secretary of State Elisabeth Seward
- Jeffrey Phillips as President Robert Anderson
- Zebulun Huling as Cedric
- Lindy Nettleton as Prime Minister Allison Colby
- Mark Lund as Steven Johnson
- Marianne Phinney as Susan Anderson
- Michael Coppola as Secret Service Agent
- Gregg Creeden as Chief of Staff
- Steven Dennis as Secret Service Agent
- Kristi Drake as Aide to the Prime Minister
Distribution
According to IMDB, the short has screened at a total of twenty one science-fiction conventions between 2007-2009.[7] On November 10, 2008 First World was the only science fiction film that screened in India at The First Ever National Discussion on Science Fiction.[8] On March 24, 2009, First World was released on DVD through IndieFlix.[9] On May 13, 2009, First World debuted on Hulu.[10]
Soundtrack
The music was originally scored by Epinero.