A comedy about three long-lost brothers playing detectives in a live action role-playing mystery game in the Alaskan wilderness.
WHAT IS OUR FILM ABOUT?
Detective Detective Detective is a comedy about three brothers who spend a week in the Alaskan wilderness playing a live action role-playing (AKA – LARP) mystery game. All in their late 20’s/early 30’s, they’ve lost touch over the years — partially due to general “adulthood,” but also due to some past grievances that took root and allowed bitterness to set in.
Set against a majestic Alaskan backdrop, the brothers improvise their way through a mystery set up by a Game Master. They play detectives tasked with investigating the mysterious disappearance of world-renown, reclusive author, Adrian Belmont, who vanished while researching Inuit mythological creatures called Qalupaliks.
As the detectives are challenged with increasingly difficult puzzles within the game that take away their senses (vision, hearing, talking), they are forced to rely on one another, and find their real-world conflict coming out in the game’s world. In the end, in order to find the missing author, they must first find their missing brotherhood.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
I grew up in a household with three brothers. I’ve always been fascinated with the dynamics present in three brothers – the oldest, the middle, the baby. Each have their own unique experiences and points of view on what it means to “grow up.”
Now that we’re all adults, there isn’t much of a breakdown between “older” and “younger” anymore. Today we’re just best friends that don’t see each other enough. I see them, sure, but separately. How often do all three of us get together at the same time? Once a year if we’re really lucky. Maybe every two years it works out.
I think that’s terrible. And so I wrote this movie (with one of my brothers) about this very thing getting out of hand. It’s not based on us, by any means (we love each other and stay in touch), but it is based on the idea of brothers still needing to find time to play together, even as adults. Play is part of that sacred tradition of growing up. Play is holy. Play taught us to compete, to work together, and to respect each other — something we probably still need to practice today.
I can’t wait to make this movie. It doesn’t hurt that this film is about detectives and mystery and puzzles – three of my favorite things! I would kill to have a week set up for me like this one to play with my brothers. Luckily, I get to vicariously live through my actors. I know this movie will be a joy to make, and to watch. I hope you’ll agree.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Sincerely,
Justin Edwards
Director, Co-writer, Producer
STYLE & INFLUENCE
Stylistically, I hope to capture the raw emotion at play here, just below the surface of the fun of the game the brothers play. I like letting scenes breathe in wide shots with roving cameras and long takes. I love composing the wide shot, staging the characters to reinforce the story and their relationships. In addition, long takes let actors shine in their character’s truth by not cutting away merely to manufacture an emotion. Our shots will be highly-designed, beautifully-composed, and deliver storytelling images that drive the story home.
It will also be a joy to capture the beauty of Alaska, and to celebrate it as a key element of our mystery, not just as a backdrop, but for its mythic elements as well. The wide-open, epic nature of the landscape plays as a great metaphor for the emotional journey we take our brothers on, the adventure of finding reconciliation, and ultimately, renewing their brotherhood through forgiveness.
I would definitely say some key influences I draw upon for this project are Clue, Baghead, F/X, Bottle Rocket, The Game, Role Models, The Do-Deca-Pentathlon, Twin Peaks, The X-Files, Startropics (NES game), Myst (PC game), even M. Night’s The Village.
THE CAST
DDD will be a showcase for the talents of our wonderful cast. All three come from a rich improvisational comedy background. They impressed us with how in-tune they are with the geek culture of live action role-playing games, while at the same time providing an emotional depth and backstory to their characters. They will make you laugh, and maybe even cry, if you’re that kind of a movie-watcher.
THE CREW
DIRECTOR / CO-WRITER / PRODUCER – JUSTIN EDWARDS
Justin is an award-winning writer/director/producer. He directed his first feature film, Ready, Set, Bad!, in 2001, and his short film, Crutches, won “Best Film” at the Bowling Green State University Film Festival in 2003. Soon after this success, he founded Pseudobook Productions with his brother Michael and they have been storymaking ever since. In 2012, he was doubly-recognized for writing, producing, and composing the music for his thesis film at the American Film Institute, Come Back To Me. He garnered “Best Use of Music” from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the film was selected as a finalist for the BAFTA LA “Best Student Film” award. Last year, he directed Into The Cold (a music video for Genetic Engines), an episode of Paranormal World (a comedy web series on Funny Or Die), and recently wrapped a short film, Benjamin & Shoops, a short comedy heading to festivals soon.
CO-WRITER / COMPOSER – MICHAEL EDWARDS
Michael is a musician, writer, and educator based in Denver, Colorado. He has collaborated with Denver creatives to tell visual stories in a variety of formats, from marketing spots and ebooks to music videos and short films. In 2012, he composed original music for Zachary Ornitz’s documentary film Vaya A La Cumbre, and composed the score to the College Television Award-winning short Come Back To Me with his brother Justin, winning “Best Use of Music” for their work. Michael & Justin have been writing together their whole lives, most recently on The Pseudobook, a humorous collection of stories, essays, and non-sequiturs that was published as an ebook in the Apple iBooks store last year.
PRODUCER – LESLIE ANDREW RIDINGS
Leslie is an award-winning producer, director, and visual artist. He founded Black Noise Industries, a digital creative studio, in 2011, and produced six commercial spots for Torani’s new media advertising. In 2012, he produced and directed nine music videos for various L.A.-based bands, and produced the short film, Hollywood & Hammer, which took home “Best Comedy” at the Phoenix ComiCon and “Best Fantasy” at the Las Vegas Film Festival. He’s worked with Justin on dozens of productions since 2010.
DDD is a co-production between Pseudobook Productions & Black Noise Industries, building upon last year’s successful collaboration for the Genetic Engines’ Into The Cold music video.
