Sci-Fi Mid-length Short / Series Pilot
Terrorism and global pandemics have made destination travel a thing of the past. Virtual reality “Getaways” have become the only escape. Devon becomes addicted to the VR travel experience, believing that she is receiving a message from inside the system.
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DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Making "Twenty Minute Exotic Getaway" has been a long road, with a huge team of dreamers helping to create it. I began shooting in Belize in 2017 wanting to make a sci-fi with beautiful landscapes. As a nature lover and globetrotter, I wondered what would it be like if we could no longer travel? What happens when the natural world is completely depleted due to consumerism and global warming?
In a world where humans are so connected and technology allows for infinite possibilities we are a surprisingly lonely race. We are a diverse species and yet dramatically divided.
When the Covid pandemic stopped the world in its tracks, I was determined to safely finish our final days of shooting. With determination and careful planning we weathered through the many challenges and completed shooting the most ambitious days of our principle photography in August of 2020.
Though it has taken years to complete, our fan base has grown over time and the subject matter has become increasingly poignant. I am delighted to share this film experience with the world and this back-to-nature message.
“Five out of Five” by Screen Critix
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“What Twenty Minute Exotic Getaway does extremely well is create a convincing future landscape and populates it with characters who are flawed and complex. As the writer, director, and star Hollis Sherman-Pepe is the heart of this short and the main reason for its success. She will deserve all the praise, accolades, and success that will undoubtedly come her way.”
“For such a small budget and the length of time it took to make, 5 years according to our notes, Twenty Minute Exotic Getaway is a technical triumph. Director Sherman-Pepe, along with her visual effects designers and special-effects artists, creates the vision of a future that allows you to change your surroundings simply by touching them and yet they feel so familiar. Cinematographer Gabriel Gely’s shots are dazzling, especially the VR sections and the opening traveling shots in which we take a whistle-stop tour of a decaying city. The pacing is relentless, and the editing by Chris Chandler, Erin Perri, and Philip Perri creates an urgency that, by the end, leaves us wanting a twenty-minute break.”
by Jolly Moel
REVIEW:
“Great premise. I liked the juxtaposition of a world where it is too dangerous to travel, but technology itself is equally terrifying.”
- Dances With Films
take 2 indie review
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“The timeliness is unmistakable”
“I find that if I just think of a feeling, the AI takes me right where I need to be,” the actress’ contented delivery says that Devon has got escape down to a science.
“More importantly, the cinematic presentation by Gabriel Gely sets a tone appropriate for the science fiction. As the fauna gyrates and the clouds meander in at stop-motion speed, Devon appears to have been superimposed into a fantasy that would even have our imaginations falling short.”
by Rich Monetti
Bitpix TV review
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Hollis Sherman-Pepe’s short film gives us a look into a world that doesn’t seem quite so far-fetched given the events of recent history.
An introspective film about the connection between humanity and technology.
by Russ Pirozek
Credits
Director/Producer/Writer Hollis Sherman-Pepe Lead Editor/Producer Chris Chandler Composer Aaron Drake Director of Photography Gabriel Gely Post Producer/VFX Producer Kymberly Murphy Editors Erin Perri, Phil Perri Hollis Sherman-Pepe as Devon Beckwourth Quincy Chad as Lucas Beckwourth Lilly Moon as VR Fantasy Girl Petra Sprecher as Lola Abraham Justice as Massoud Joann Coleman as Nia (Actor credits continue at the bottom) Associate Producers Cory Reeder, Andrew Corcoran 1st ADs Rachel Pollock, Andrew Corcoran 2nd AD Andrew Uwatie 1st ACs Stephen J. Branagan, Dustin Malama, Brian Callaghan Drone Op Matthew Dutcher Drone Camera Op Michael Kretovics Still Photography Chloe Sherman-Pepe, Aleks Malczewski Gaffer Jason Juhl Gray Best Boy Electric Paul Monroe Key Grip Jason Brewer Sound Recordist Erik Goodrich, Edmond Smith Sound Design Joey Paul Re-Recording Mixer Stephen Tibbo Sound Editor Kunal Rajan Key Make-Up Kristin Andersson Wardrobe Stylist Lisa Beth Dokovna Seamstress Tiffany Bach Props Master George Robert Horning Props/Food Stylist Topher McDaniel Props Builder Jessee J. Clarkson GFX Artist Damien Nemire-Pepe Script Supervisor Aurea Lara Production Assistants Joseph Darby, Andrew Uwatie, Aleks Malczewski, Cassie Cummins, Rudy Mungaray, Strange Dave, Kevin Padilla, Clayton Prezkop, Kristal Nissalke VFX Ingenuity Studios: VFX Executive Producer Kieley Culbertson VFX Producer Anna Harari VFX Supervisors David Lebensfeld, Grant Miller CG Supervisor Jared Schwartz CG Artist Vanni Brighella, Marissa Caplan Animator Miguel Aznar Lead Compositor Daniel Kaczkowski Compositors Michael Armacost, Fernando Diaz, Connor Harris, Minhong He, Javier Markic, William Reges IV, Wei Zhou Art Director Alex Popkin Motion Graphics Designer Christian Klein Lead VFX Editor Chad Sigston VFX Editor Dylan Suchesk Colorist Max Drenchpohl Intro Title Andrew Soria Logo Design Nicole Ellingson Screen Printing Anthony Jefferson Poster Debbie Dot CCO Destinee Handly, Tommy Bacorn Craft Services Michelle Saizon, Nina's Kind Kitchen Animal Handler Lorenzo Hodges Portia McGroarty as Dirt Biker Aleks Malczewski as The Blind Man Andrew Uwatie as Seer Aryiel Hartman as Flower Friend Michael Hampton as Coffee Friend Mark Mintz as Tesla Rudy Mungaray as Voice of Dog - Spirit Guide Ruby as Dog or Spirit Guide Magenta Harley as Getaways Tub Destinee Handly as Office Employee Joseph Darby as Man on Street Vocalist Magenta Harley Additional Voices preformed by Baker Wiles, Bryan Steele, Kirsten Ajax, Cassie Cummins