Rooftop
 
DESCRIPTION In a day you do so many things, and there is no continuity, no cohesion between all the aspects except that you're going through it. There's no time, only moments. It's these moments which all contribute to an individual. Trying to give the living reality of the self a constant amount of daily attention is like trying to live simultaneously on two levels or in two different worlds. One gives one's mind, as before, to outer duties, but at the same time one remains alert for hints and signs, both in dreams and in external events, that the Self uses to symbolize it's intentions - the direction in which the life-stream is moving. In the midst of ordinary outer life, one is suddenly caught up in an exciting inner adventure; and because it is unique for each individual, it cannot be copied or stolen. DIRECTORS STATEMENT The idea of time can be thought of as the past present or future, or it can be thought of increments of time such as minutes and seconds. Time to me and in my film is interpreted differently by using time as an uncontrolled device creating the flow of the evolving story. By evolving, I do not mean that the story moves in consecutive order or in a particular sequence of events but rather an order of displaced time which controls the story rather than interprets it. My premise may be comprised of many different layers of symbolic intent, stylistic beats and movements that help to orchestrate the emotions for the audience. A drama with experimental qualities, not experimental to the extent, but rather a visual and audible narrative short composed of two lives lived simultaneously by two separate people. One which follows the order of life as perceived by him “in his situation”. And another life who really has no place in time since his instances repeat, but at different minutes and seconds within the story. Because in all reality does time matter when you are dead. “15 minutes to a timeless death” AWARDS AND SCREENINGS 2004 Worldfest, Special Remi Jury Award for Best Experimental Drama, ’15 Minute Death’, Houston, TX 2003 Canadian Golden Sheaf Award for Best Experimental Film CTV St. Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, MO, USA Raindance Film Festival, London, UK ’15 Minute Death’ Palm Springs Short Film Festival and Market, Palm Springs, CA, Female Eye Film Festival, Toronto, ON ’15 Minute Death’ KEY CREW Writer / Director: Jessie Wallace Cinematographer: Chris Sargent Production Design: Roslyn Kozak Music: Ryan Latham Editor: Jessie Wallace CAST Wife Bessie Gian Guy Jeff Gruich Guy’s Voice Todd Talbot The Man with Red Shoes P.J. Lazik Taxi Driver Wayne Catania Lady in Cardiac Arrest Bev Latham Morgue Orderly Bubba Hospital Orderly Roger Issa Nurse 1 Renee Lalonde Nurse 2 Janet Kompara’-Fritz Doctor Jeno Huber Doctor Martin Oliver Haegg Suit Angelo Stellato Lady Jill Fleishman PUBLICITY and PRESS ’15 Minute Death is a sharp non-linear look at two seemingly disparate lives. One is alive and the other is dead as the director so aptly puts it, does time really matter when you’re dead?’ – LA Coles, Director of The Female Eye Film Festival ‘Unity Filmmaker wins National Award, Jessie Wallace, a former Unity resident is making a name for herself in the Canadian film industry and she now has the hardware to prove it! Jessie has many great ideas for new films and future television shows, proving once again with her most recent film ’15 Minute Death’” – Dan Feser, The North West Herald May 22, 2003 (2 different segments) - CTV News, Jessie discusses the opportunities that the Golden Sheaf Awards brings to filmmakers in Canada.. Jessie accepts her GOLDEN SHEAF AWARD for best experimental film.
15 Minute Death
Released April 20, 2003