KISS ME GOODBYE
SYNOPSIS
Lux (Kieron MacLeod) is a religious martyr, a dangerous disposition to have within a dystopian world where religion has been outlawed. His avid belief in a higher power has led him to a gruesome fate - public humiliation, torture, and likely death. Will the Judge (Dan Bisbee) take pity on him? Throughout Kiss Me Goodbye, Lux puts forth an incredible display of defiance and passion, exactly the traits feared most by elites of the State who believe fully in outlawing independent thought. A sound society is a cohesive one, or so the State would like to have us believe.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
In a world run by technology and all things digital, I decided to take a step back from it all. Since the early 2000s, almost all productions have been engulfed by the digital craze and slowly we have pushed the founder of cinema itself, celluloid, to a slow crawl. While technology will definitely never disappear, I realized ‘Kiss Me Goodbye’ provided the perfect opportunity to further my fascination for celluloid in the cinematic experience.
‘Kiss Me Goodbye’ takes place in a period that engages feelings of the past, present, and future. It’s a film about society, the human condition, and where we are potentially heading. It’s a film that has a voice in today’s topics of concern and is worth talking about. Whether you are a believer in any form of religion or wear the badge of being an atheist, you will have something to say about freedom of expression. In some ways, it feels like the world is hindered of expressions, like religion, to pacify the wills of a ruling class. On the other hand, we have become more and more self-motivated and independent through technologies like social media. Some question: Will the freedom to express one’s religion exist in 20 years? With the growing will to contain and pacify the masses, will the next step for the American government be to outlaw all forms of expression deemed dangerous to its goal of ultimate suppression?
It’s hard to say what religion means to the masses in the 21st Century, but it is a form of expression that is as human as the next. ‘Kiss Me Goodbye’ is my attempt to pose these questions from different perspectives, without playing favorites. Instead, ‘Kiss Me Goodbye’ merely presents a train of events.
This film will take you to a place where religion is on the fringe of existence. You will observe it in its final moments. While writing and directing the project, I felt like there was a discussion that could take place… once again, to pose a question: How much is your freedom worth?
CAST
Lux - Kieron MacLeod
The Judge - Dan Bisbee
The Girl - Adrianne Knapp
The Guest - Curtis Thomas
CREW
Executive Producers - Ian Burkland, Brendan Sweeney, Zack Eritz
Producers - Molly Duerig, Bill Eritz, Ashley Kinser
Associate Producers - Ryan Austin, David Majcher
Director - Brendan Sweeney
Writers - Zack Eritz, Brendan Sweeney
Assistant Director - Zack Eritz
Cinematographer - Stefano Ceccarelli
1st AC - Angelo Re
2nd AC - Troy Bogdan
Assistant to Camera Dept - Brennan Maine
Gaffer - Bob Wenrich
Grip & Electric Swings - Ellis Lapiana, Trey Duplain, Zack Hoey, Eric Koval, Nick Losinno, Nikki Manteris
Sound Recordist- David Majcher, John Guinane
Boom Operator - David Majcher
Unit Production Manager - Molly Duerig
Script Supervisor - Kevin Hejna
Art Director - Ryan Austin
Set Designer - Nikki Moriello
Set Decorator - Ryan Austin
Set Construction - David A. Majcher
Key Hair & Makeup Artist - Bri Mattise
Makeup Artist - Olivia Dixon
Costumer - Judith Hironimus
Still Photographer - Bill Eritz
Editor - David Cherry
Post Sound Editor - Chris Bell
Additional Post Sound Editor - David Cherry
Music Editor - Chris Bell
Composer - Benjamin Squires
Colorist - Colorlab
Graphic Designers - Kasey Sweeney, Sonny Carlson
Production Assistant - Megan Bonus, Jack Davis, Julia Englert, Eva Fine, Brennan Maine, Dina Masar, Christian Para, Carrie Shoberg
FESTIVAL SELECTION AND ACCOLADES
2016 Buffalo International Film Festival Official Selection
2016 Charlotte Film Festival Official Selection
2016 IndustryBOOST Competition Finalist Selection
2017 Blackbird Film Festival Official Selection
2017 Blackbird Film Festival Best Cinema Director Nomination
2017 Blackbird Film Festival Best Cinematographer Nomination