By: MTN Reporter Olivia Cate
Writer and Director of CYFR, Mitchell Turner (left) and actor Mason Rich (right) discuss the scene right before shooting it. Photo taken by Olivia Cate
When it comes to developing a story, sometimes the inspiration comes to you when you least expect. For MTSU student Mitchell Turner that is how the idea for his military sci-fi short film, CYFR came to life.
“I was sitting at my desk one day, and I had a brief idea for a plot device: Someone can’t remember a very important piece of information when the stakes are life and death. I decided to build the rest of my narrative from this, constructing a ‘monster’ with features having to do with memory and then designing corresponding military protocol,” said Mitchell Turner.
The plot involves three members of a group called Containment Squad C who are on a routine patrol, but when a distress beacon is triggered in the nearby forest, they must band together to defeat a superhuman threat.
“There’s Dietrich: The nervous recruit who acts as an audience surrogate. Then there’s the Squad Lead: A natural leader who takes charge of the other characters. Lastly, Hertz: A sarcastic, cynical soldier who is jaded from years of service. The combination of these characters motivated the finer details of the film’s plot,” Turner said.
Turner has been involved in several projects at MTSU, but CYFR is his first short film he considers to be his most extensive in terms of narrative scope and production value.
“I think a lot of directing comes down to taking the time to plan out every aspect of the film. Having a blueprint laid out before shooting makes the process so much smoother during production and allows you to focus on creating a final product that is the most in line with the original creative vision,” Turner said.
“At the end of the day, I want to tell a compelling story that makes the audience feel invested in what is happening on screen. If I can accomplish that, I will be more than happy.”
CYFR is set to be released in December.
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