What would you do if you were trapped in a spaceship for seventeen years, unable to return to a destroyed planet earth, with no place in site to call home? Would you succumb to hopelessness, accept what is, or choose to believe in a better future? Three French astronauts grapple with this very dilemma in, En Avant, a sci-fi film written, directed, and produced by Paul McEvoy.
#ArpaFIlmFestival Centerpiece Film screening
On November 14 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, prepare for a mind-blowing sci-fi adventure in, En Avant, as you live through the lives of three astronauts, stuck inside their ship, who have come to terms with the state of mankind, but have yet to come to terms with how they should go on. In seven years time, they have seen planet Earth destroyed by two meteors (despite the best efforts of the world’s super powers to save the planet with nuclear missiles), and millions of space-bound PODS filled with the remainder of humanity, drifting through space, hoping to find a new home.
After seven years, it is an absurd life for the astronauts. Their ship was not moving, the captain remained secluded in his cabin, all while endless questions ripped through their minds: “What are we waiting for?” … What should we do?” … and “What’s the point of hoping to move on?” They are the only remaining life, existing in an insurmountable reality that is compounded by overwhelming thoughts. En Avant reveals a gripping struggle with willpower and the tug of war between hope and hopelessness.
Michael Ashjian, Arpa International Film Festival Director said, “For our film Festival, we believe it is paramount that we have a strong centerpiece film that gives filmgoers a memorable Saturday night. En Avant is an exciting sci-fi adventure with surprising moments of humor. We are excited to have programmed this feature as our centerpiece film.” Just like the Opening Night and Closing Night / Awards Ceremony tickets, the Centerpiece program is one of the fastest selling tickets at the Arpa International Film Festival. Priced at $45, a Centerpiece program ticket includes the screening of En Avant, a question and answer discussion with the director, and a private reception with a live band, Mediterranean fare and wine.
About director Paul McEvoy
McEvoy is an Irish animator, who relocated to Hollywood. For the past two decades, he worked in the storytelling business on such projects as: Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, and later directed Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness. Surrounded by talented artists and working on movies with impressive budgets, it was inevitable that McEvoy would be bitten by the filmmaking bug and create his own film, En Avant.
The making of En Avant
What originally was to be a short movie, shot in the back yard of an East Lost Angeles home, became a feature length sci-fi film. The making of En Avant is reminiscent of early independent filmmaking. A tiny budget of almost $35,000. A two-week shooting schedule (one weekend on and the other off) that allowed for new sets to be built. A reliance on industry friends to help create the CG models of the ship and handle other special effects needs. A conglomeration of risks like building the set before writing the script, and casting close friends who are nonactors in the three lead astronaut roles. And voila, two years later McEvoy’s film was finished. En Avant is a priceless triumph of imagination and an incredible force of will.
Written by Sharon Swainson
Communications & Content Development
2015 Arpa International Film Festival