FREE – $5 (sliding scale, donation at the door)
Film Trailer: https://youtu.be/
Film synopsis:
The Special People, directed by: Erica Schreiner/ Running time: 2 hours, silent with English subtitles
In a dark humor vein, the sci-fi experimental art film, The Special People asks you to consider the hypnotic state induced by smart technology and human desire for freedom and authenticity. The audience goes through a hero’s journey while bathing in sparkling storybook sets, an eerie combination of VHS nostalgia and foreboding dilemmas. The Special People will play at CCBC for one night only, followed by a Q&A with the director.
The citizens of a pink forest stare into iridescent cubes and cannot look away. Apple, Bird and Violet manage to break their trance, and indulge in philosophical conversation. They question why they are free while the others are not. They had their voices removed when they were babies so they learn to communicate telepathically. They experience the sensuality of fruit and each other in The Forest, but soon feel it is not enough. The Special People decide to embark on a journey to bring the other citizens of The Forest back to consciousness by attempting to destroy the master cube, guarded by The Overlords. On this journey, the three get separated and Apple must continue the journey alone. She encounters many of The Obstacles along the way and learns if she is to free the citizens of The Forest, she’ll have to sacrifice her life.
Erica Schreiner wrote, directed, and stars in The Special People. She single handedly built elaborate, colorful and sparkling sets in her apartment where she filmed the feature on her VHS camera. This avant garde art film is reminiscent of 1960s experimental cinema like that of Kenneth Anger or Jack Smith. The other actors in this film are her friends. The Special People was produced by Alex Norelli and is a silent film with a musical score by Johnny Dydo of The Johns.
Erica Schreiner is a New York based video and performance artist. The Special People is her second feature film. Erica has presented her work extensively throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to video, she works in the mediums of writing and performance.
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