Keith Schwalenberg & Ross McBride

If you are interested in film, remember these names: Keith Schwalenberg and Ross McBride. They are two young and talented filmmakers from Connecticut who will soon be popular names in Hollywood. Last night they were on hand for the east coast premiere of their latest creation, Evidence, shown at Cinestudio in Trinity College in Hartford.

Evidence is a short film (28 min.) that captures the frightening events experienced by a police officer and a cameraman during one night of routine duty. The film is based on the popular technique of COPS, and other similar television shows, that document the daily events of police officers. But, as Keith mentioned in a Q&A session following the screening, most Reality TV shows portray an edited version of actual events in which some scenes are cut out to present an image and a story that has been predetermined by the studio. Reality TV often fails to show the audience what really happened but instead shows an artificially created, marketable version of real events. This motivated Keith and Ross to make a film that would provide footage of events that is normally omitted from so-called “reality” shows.

Although an attentive viewer will recognize that Evidence is scripted, it conveys a very real sense of being genuine documentary footage. This effect is the result of the most remarkable feature of this film: it is all one take! The entire 28-minute film is one continuous shot from a single camera. There are no breaks, no cut footage, no jumps from one scene to another or from one time to another, and no switching from one camera’s perspective to another. Considering the logistical difficulties that this presents, it is an amazing accomplishment that the film is able to maintain a storyline that is coherent, well paced, dramatic, and suspenseful. It is an impressive work of art.

Keith, 21, and Ross, 19, went to school together in Hartford and then moved out to Los Angeles to pursue careers in film. Keith is the quintessential director who oversees all aspects of a film’s development – from formulating the initial idea with friends to coordinating the details of filming to attracting investors for future projects. Ross is a very talented writer whose easy-going demeanor is a complementary fit with Keith’s drive to succeed. Evidence is the second film that they have collaborated on – they worked together to create GunPlay in 2006 – and i expect that they will work together on many more projects. Keith, Ross, and some of their friends have formed Cinescape, a production group that will likely breed many successful projects in the years to come.

For their next project, Keith and Ross plan to make a feature film about Quarter Midget racing – to be filmed at the Silver City raceway in Meriden, CT. Meanwhile, they will be submitting Evidence to film festivals across the country. Look for it at Sundance!