John Weaver and Michael Bowling are creating and filming a six-episode student-run internet web series named “Contrast”. Weaver, an acting and TV film major at Southeast Missouri State University, and Bowling, a recent graduate of Southeast, came up with the idea for “Contrast” in the spring of 2016.
Bowling describes “Contrast” as a science fiction crime drama series centered around espionage, mystery, thrills and suspense. A promotional trailer was just released on their Facebook page. In the trailer, Weaver plays a character named Blake with a split personality named Sevro. He explained there are multiple main characters throughout story and each character’s name contain a split meaning behind it.
Weaver and Bowling met through college and became roommates. They both liked to write stories and eventually started writing one for film.
“Contrast” started out as a very small script, less than 15 pages, but over time transitioned into something more,” Weaver said.
Originally scheduled as a short film for the 2016 Fault Line Film Festival, Weaver and Bowling missed the deadline due to time constraints.
After missing the festival, Weaver needed a director. Weaver posted position openings to a Facebook page he was a member of called “Semo Conservatory Film Group.” Thomas Roslen, a TV and film major, saw the casting calls. Roslen originally wanted to act in the film but found that too challenging and was instead approached by Weaver to direct.
“When I wrote out the screen direction for it, I thought, ‘Here is all of the artistic reasons I’m doing certain shots,’ but it becomes very hard to do,” Roslen said. “But while the more you’re on set, it becomes easier. That’s all I really want to do is make it look awesome.”
Filming locations vary due to weather and permission to film in certain places. Weaver said normally the crew doesn’t know where they are filming until the day before. Since the film is mainly student-run, they don’t have a set budget and no one gets paid. Bowling mentioned that most of the time, the actors let them film inside their house or apartment. “It’s a back and forth struggle to find a location,” Weaver said.
“Contrast” does have scenic shots, too. The riverwalk in downtown Cape Girardeau and the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge have been used in scenes.
“We do want people to recognize that this film is from Cape, the same place where Gone Girl was filmed,” Bowling said.
Filming for the series takes place on weekends due to crew schedules. Weaver said a normal day of shooting starts at 8 a.m. and usually doesn’t end until 11 p.m. Weaver also said that the hardest thing about the entire project is getting his crew’s schedules together.
While Roslen directs the film, Bowling operates the camera and produces while Weaver acts and produces. Other actors, a boom operator and other miscellaneous crew hands are a part of the production team as well. Weaver’s good friend Drake Perry, who has a audio engineer degree from Southwestern Illinois College, is creating music for the film. Bowling said all crew members have creative input.
Weaver and Bowling said the goal is to release three episodes by mid to late April because they are trying to get a table at this year’s Cape Comic Con. They must be finished filming by the end of the spring 2017 semester since some of their actors are graduating and leaving. They hope to have all episodes released by this summer.
Once ready, the web series will air on the group’s Facebook page called “Contrast Series.” Weaver said plans are being made for a website and YouTube page.
Bowling, Weaver and Roslen are very appreciative of everyone’s efforts and have had many praises toward their crew members on this project.
“Honestly, I think why this project is going to work out so well is because all of us on the crew have gotten really close over the process and we all have the same sense of humor too. It’s really fun being on set,” Weaver said.
“It’s a work of love and teamwork,” Bowling said. “We’re a family now.”
