Lost: Black Earth
Lost Black Earth
Lost:Black Earth is a science fiction action film that was filmed in 1999 for just a few thousand dollars and was the first movie for lots of the cast and crew working on it.
Story: Escaping a devastating assault on her space outpost, the N.O.H.A.Gen. scientist Myola Jackson (Marianthe Esse) finds herself uncontrollably drifting towards Earth in her damaged escape capsule.
Crashing on the shoreline of Austrasia, she awakens lost on a hostile in a post-apocalyptic world. Washed ashore, she is rescued by a Romid Warrior, Wez DeMillen (Jamie Wilson) and his son Gart (Dale DeSilva), who quickly discover the Kryslum aliens are in pursuit intent on her destruction.
To reach the safety of the coastal village of Dignity Bay, they embark on an epic journey through the broken landscape. They're joined by an eccentric hermit scientist recognized solely as Fergus (Peter Davies), who helps them rescue a Kryslum slave soldier they name José (Cameron Plant).
Collectively this band of misfits defeat the odds only to find that the folks of Dignity Bay are being held captive by the Kryslums. As it seems all hope is lost and chaos rules, they must battle through the final days of the black earth to allow a new dawn to rise.
so when will the next installment of black earth be produced?
Haha I think the likelihood is very slim unless someone else wants to take over the reigns ?
If another installment comes around I’m willing to help with Acting, Producing, Directing, and marketing just for the experience!
Picking up the conversation from January 9, 2016. Wasn’t the movie well received in 1999? From what I viewed, it was pretty good for a low budget. Leaves you wanting to watch the conclusion. So I guess I want to know how it was first marketed and what the viewers thought of it back then. I am assuming it was released to the general public? Or was it a Comic Con movie, or something along those lines?
And whatever happened to the actors? Also, did they not want to conclude the movie?
Hi Kelly, thanks for commenting 🙂
The movie had a very small festival release in 2004. Unfortunately because of it’s length and not being a 70+ minute feature, at the time, no distributor was interested in it. I tried the self publishing and marketing approach, selling DVD’s from the web site but this was a time before social networking and getting something noticed cost lots of advertising dollars I didn’t have. So it basically sat on a shelf. It was only when technology caught up that I have been able to release it on YouTube where it seems to have found an audience.
At the time, people thought it was an amazing achievement considering the crazy low budget. This was at the birth of digital technology in the film industry. I edited it on Final Cut version 1 and the effects were done in Commotion Pro (which no longer exists) because After Effects was still in a stage of figuring out what it was.
As for the actors, I have no real idea. I haven’t kept in touch with them. I know Peter Davies (Fergus) has a leather working business Earth Five and he makes some really great stuff. I know Jamie Wilson (Wez) has been doing some acting but has moved into directing a number of short films and releasing them on YouTube.
As for concluding the movie, it was never an option. Having not being able to sell this one, we could never raise the funds to make the sequels. Of course it’s a different world today with things like crowd funding 😀
HI I like the film, and I enjoyed reading about how the film worked for you with the help of Tuber’s. I’d like to screen the movie on my Fire TV channel, Movies Plus. Movies Plus is an advocate for Indie filmmakers, and I think it’s a perfect place for Indie projects like yours. Please contact me via email or on FB!
Sounds interesting Dean, I’ve sent you an email 🙂
My greatest advise is to you is to goto a local hobby shop and
get a screen printing kit for under $20.00.
One problem with Indie Directors/Producers from the Actor’s viewpoint (experienced) is your only promised copy and credit, maybe food, for your work. Then if it isn’t uploaded to somewhere like IMDb (at least a trailer) you don’t really have the credit (if it isn’t shown somewhere with your name on the credits). Then, I’d they don’t produce it, but can it, no copy either. And all the food I’ve gotten when appropriate-sucks big time, like soggy old cold Taco Bell! Beware Indie Actors! Directors and Producers, don’t promise what you might not be able to fulfill and use people. As an Indie Actor, I’ve learned – do it for the love of your art – not the dreamed of perks and money,! I still love it, and will be going into Directing/Producing soon. I promise to always, always be FAIR to the Cast AND Crew! Else I won’t do it.
It is indeed a huge problem. Lost count of how many films I worked on and never got to see the end product. If my IMDB profile showed everything, there would easily be another hundred title credits on there. Doing it for the love is the only real reason to work at an indie level. I like to think I looked after my cast and crews over the years. And being a food lover, I always made sure the catering was great. It’s amazing how much happier, driven, focused and creative a set can be when there’s great food 🙂