MARS

95 minutes
high definition animation
completion in early 2009

written and directed by GEOFF MARSLETT
produced by ANISH SAVJANI, ROBERT HOWELL, JAVIER BONAFONT
and GEOFF MARSLETT

This exciting project will be the first feature length film by director Geoff Marslett. Visually it picks up where "Bubblecraft" left off. Using hi-def video to capture real actors, then compositing them into a uniquely animated world created through digital rotoscoping, 3D animation, hand drawn 2D effects, and a unique animation process developed specifically for MARS by the director. The result is a new visual style that falls half way between reality and a graphic novel.

MARS is not a science fiction film, but a fictional film about science. The character driven story follows the first manned mission to the red planet, putting the events in the context of the new space race with Europe, the press reaction back home, the reality of long space flight, and the relationship between the two planets themselves. Life and love, human, alien and mechanical flourish along the way.

It is a subtle and realistic romantic comedy that forgoes simply slapstick or “punch-line” humor. Geoff wanted this story to show a romance blooming just like it would in everyday life. People fall in love quickly and sometimes awkwardly, and sometimes for the silliest of reasons. Adventures are as often accidents as they are designs, and laughs come from the very human responses to the events that unfold in a remarkable and historic journey to the red planet.

This fictional first manned mission to Mars let us put a very accessible romantic storyline into a strange and imaginative new world of exploration, discovery, and homage to the planet itself.

MARS features a talented cast of actors, musicians, and animators, including:
MARK DUPLASS (Humpday, The Puffy Chair, Baghead)
ZOE SIMPSON (Deadly Obsession, Maidenhead)
PAUL GORDON (Motorcycle, Gretchen)
CYNTHIA WATROS (LOST, The Drew Carey Show)
MICHAEL DOLAN (Biloxi Blues, Hamburger Hill)
LIZA WEIL (The Gilmore Girls, Little Fish Strange Pond)
JAMES KOCHALKA (musician and comic artist)
HOWE GELB (Giant Sand)
KINKY FRIEDMAN (musician, politician, actor, and TV personality)

as well as appearances by Don Hertzfeldt, Nicole Atkins, Jonna Juul-Hansen, Charissa Allen, Jerm Pollet, and Garry Peters.

With a sountrack written by Howe Gelb and including performances by Howe, Giant Sand, Neko Case, Victoria Williams, Jason Lytle, Kristen Hersh, John Convertino, Bill Elm, Mark Smoot, Winston Watson, and more.

Animation by SWERVE PICTURES and SELF ASSEMBLY FILMS.

We plan to premiere the film in the very near future, as well as posting a trailer here soon.
Please check back in the next few weeks for details on how you can see MARS.

For press inquiries, you can email us directly
info(at)swervepictures.com
please make sure to put "PRESS REQUEST" in the subject line.

in the meantime, here is a short article on the film's production:
POV magazine's coverage