The experimentally-scored science fiction short film, ZELLEN, began lensing in early September. Written and directed by Michael Verderber, the dystopian project features Kylie McIntosh as RIGGS, a woman living in an oppressive world in an attempt to acquire an item of mysterious purpose.

The film is slated for an official September 3, 2019 release date on YouTube. The film is can be watched below:

Cast and crew for the film include Katherine Orozco-Verderber, Amber Badger, Josue Villarreal, Julio Martinez, Zulema Villarreal, and others. Full cast and crew info will be posted soon.

Set to the backdrop of electronic music, noise, and ambience, the film is a radical departure from previously filmed Zero Untitled projects. Filming will be done sporadically throughout September and aiming towards an October release, online. Any special premieres will be announced.

Zero Untitled presents

“Zellen: A Soundscape”

“Zellen” is a sci-fi short developed around the score. The music came first and then the film was conceptualized from the music and sound effects. In essence, it was scored in reverse more like a music video. The primary purpose of the film is to experiment with the score, audio SFX, and the aural qualities developed from a bounty of synthesizers and experimental music equipment.

Plot: Riggs is trekking through a dystopian society in search of a zellen, an object of questionable purpose. She is constantly being followed by the city’s Patrol; dangerous law enforcement that hide their own secrets.

Run Time: 8 min, 36 seconds

Writer/Director/Score: Michael Verderber

Cast:

RIGGS – Kylie McIntosh

EMMA – Liz Gribbon McCoullough

PATROL LEADER – Mike McCoullough,

PATROL GUARD – Katherine Orozco-Verderber

SVENJA – Ryann Haese

CHILD –  Addison Akin

LEOPOLD – O’Ryan White

Director of Photography: Katherine Orozco-Verderber

Senior Editor: Josue Villarreal

Tracks:

DJ Oringe “Blotty Ambience” (0:07)

DJ Oringe “Siren Feedback GenX” (1:10)

DJ Oringe “Oscil-lots” (1:33)

Verderber “Dissonant Progression” (2:45)

Verderber “Soundskape Heartbeat” (3:41)

Verderber “The Holding” (3:58)

DJ Oringe “The Tearing of Life” (5:16)

DJ Oringe “Leader Death Rattle” (5:16)

Verderber “The Holding” (5:22)

Verderber “Leopold Comes to Life” (6:42)

Verderber “A Life for Leopold” (7:03)

DJ Oringe “Esrever Ni” (7:35)

Crew: Amber Badger, Liz Gribbon McCoullough, Josue Villarreal, Gabriel Ruiz, Julio Martinez, Zulema Villarreal, Robert Trujillo, Andrea Lorin

Thanks: The Flower Box (Kingsville, TX), Shane Davis at The Green Jay, and Lena-Sofia Plesnar

Note: the film was released on Sept. 3, 2019 as a test preview for the crew and remained posted. The film’s official release date is still Sept. 4, 2019.

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