Never has a sleepy beach town looked so good. The production team Mint Films produced their longest film to date, “The Transition of Minor Skies,” a film about the clashing of familiar comfort with the possibility of change.
Written and directed by Jeff Griecci, the film follows the lives of Hunter and Dom (played by Ian Carlson and Parker Newton) in a sleepy beach town. It shows their everyday, monotonous routines in a town where change seldom visits.
It starts off rather humorously with the boys going through their routine activities; one funny scene shows them stealing a few dollars from the tip jar of a small convenience store, giving each other high fives, and then running away in slow motion having just done the most exciting thing they’re going to do all day.
Another funny scene shows Hunter and Dom going to the local video store and deliberating over what to rent, an activity they frequently do judging by their debate about renting Army of Darkness. Their conversation about which zombie movie has the best gore is interrupted by the movie store clerk who cruelly reveals how the special effects are done. Hunter and Dom looked as crushed as if they just found out Santa Claus is a myth.
The boys’ daily activities become more sad and serious as the film continues, until Dom runs into a girl at a bookstore (played by Sophie Hill) who changes the way he looks at himself and his life. This visiting girl, a traveling free spirit (who remains nameless throughout the film) gives Hunter and Dom a taste of life beyond their sleepy beach town.
The film is sad, funny, bittersweet and touching all at once. The clashing of the mysterious girl with the boring lives of Hunter and Dom subtly shows the familiar theme of the conflict of the familiar with the long for change, but in a unique, funny, and touching way. The scenery and cinematography are beautifully shot and meshes perfectly with the soothing soundtrack.
All three of the main actors truly become their characters. Sophie Hill points out that this is easier when you can relate to the character you are playing, which she could.
“My character is like this traveling girl who tries to remain kind of unattached to people. I feel that it takes a certain kind of person to travel different places and meet different people, because it’s hard make connections while still staying unattached,” says Hill. “I got the traveling bug when I was younger and spent a semester abroad, so I can definitely relate to my character.”
“The Transition of Minor Skies” is Mint Films’ longest film to date, at 55 minutes long. The cast and crew consist of a mix of Mint Film veterans as well as newcomers to the film scene, like Hill, as this was her very first film.
“It was interesting because the kids I worked with were pretty experienced. Both Parker and Ian had done theater and films before. It was really cool to work with such experienced people,” says Hill. “It opened up a whole new talent and hobby for me, and I want to do more in the future.”
Everyone in the cast and crew is extremely pleased with the way the film turned out. Hill attributes the success of the film to the people behind it, especially the gentlemen of Mint Films. She says her fondest memories of the film are the off-camera times they spent together.
“The best part of making the movie was hanging out with the guys,” says Hill. “They are all just hilarious and they are really free spirits.”
The first public Portland screening of “The Transition of Minor Skies” will be on May 20th at the SPACE Gallery in Portland. Some of the events at the screening include: DVD sales, Q&A with the cast and crew, and a bonus screening of Mint Films’ short documentary “Murphy’s Law.” For more information and updates about the screening visit “The Transition of Minor Skies” on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/thetransitionofminorskies.