Futile Attraction
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{For|the American sitcom episode|Futile Attraction (Dream On){{!}}"Futile Attraction" (Dream On)}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Futile Attraction
| image = Futile Attraction 2004.jpg
| writer = Mark Prebble, Benedict Reid
| starring = Peter Rutherford
Danielle Mason
Alistair Browning
Glenda Tuaine
Michelle Ang
| director = Mark Prebble
| producer =
| music = Jonathan Kennerley
| cinematography = Mathew Knight
| distributor = Twilight Productions Ltd.
| released = {{Film date|2004|12|15|United States|2005|06|28|New Zealand|df=y}}
| runtime = 82 minutes
| country = New Zealand
| language = English
| budget = $33,000{{cite news | last = Reed | first = Lucy | title = Internet aid means Mark's movie is made | work = Waikato Times | date = 2006-01-28}}
}}
Futile Attraction is a 2004 New Zealand film directed by Mark Prebble. It is an anti-romantic comedy filmed in mockumentary style. The movie attracted media attention for the fact that it was the first New Zealand feature film, and one of the first films internationally, to be crowd-funded through internet donations.
Plot
A film crew are making a Reality TV show about a couple brought together by a dating agency. However, the couple are so incompatible that the crew must manipulate the relationship to get the footage they need for the show.
Randal (Peter Rutherford) is a telemarketer with a passion for telephones who has never quite broken away from his controlling mother; Germaine (Danielle Mason) is an activist who agrees to be filmed in order to publicise the threat a new dam poses to her favourite stream. During the filming, presenter Dudley (Alistair Browning), who is willing to do anything to get himself looking good on camera, clashes with Anne (Glenda Tuaine), who prefers to ignore their boss's ever-changing scripting instructions in preference to a more objective look at the reality of the relationship.
Production
With limited resources available, the writers chose the mockumentary format for its combination of low budget requirements and comedic possibilities.{{cite web |last=Utichi |first=Joe |title=Exclusive interview with director Mark Prebble - Futile Attraction |work=FilmFocus.Co.UK |date=2004-06-21 |url=http://www.filmfocus.co.uk/lookat.asp?FilmbaseID=71&FeatureID=6 |accessdate=2007-08-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927221239/http://www.filmfocus.co.uk/lookat.asp?FilmbaseID=71&FeatureID=6 |archivedate=2007-09-27 }}
The movie was filmed in 2002 over 13 days. However, due to budgetary constraints, post-production took two-and-a-half years.{{Cite journal | title = Digital Filmmaking: Futile fruition | journal = Onfilm | date = 1 July 2005 | id = ONFILM0020050727e1710001b }} Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement appear in cameos.
The ground-breaking fundraising campaign started in early 2004. Having been rejected for funding by the New Zealand Film Commission, Prebble set up a website called www.MakeMarksMovie.com to raise money internationally. This internet crowd-funding campaign succeeded, despite taking place prior to kickstarter existing or Facebook being widely used. In addition to the money raised in this way, he received numerous offers in kind, from post-production services to poster design and band music.{{Cite journal | last = Kember | first = Olivia | title = Aaand, action! | journal = The Listener | volume = 194 | issue = 3347 | date = July 3–9, 2004 | url = http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3347/features/2208/aaand_action.html }}
Distribution
Futile Attraction had a short cinema season in New Zealand followed by a DVD release by Arkles Entertainment. Internationally it was released by Echelon Entertainment. It can be streamed for free, along with a short making-of documentary, at [https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/futile-attraction-2005 NZ On Screen]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.makemarksmovie.com/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070801005328/http://www.makemarksmovie.com/ |date=1 August 2007 }}
- [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_entertainment_story_skin/478293%3fformat=html One News interview]
- {{IMDb title|0414998|Futile Attraction}}
Category:Reality television series parodies