Directed by Jeff Chan Music by Ryan Taubert Director Jeff Chan Distributed by YouTube | Written by Jeff Chan
Chris Paré Edited by Skinner Running time 10 minutes Cinematography Alex Disenhof | |
 | ||
Starring Robbie Amell
Sung Kang
Aaron Abrams
Stephen Amell
Chad Donella Release date March 22, 2016 (2016-03-22) (Internet) Produced by Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell, Jeff Chan, Chris Pare, Art Chong Cast Stephen Amell, Robbie Amell, Sung Kang, Aaron Abrams, Chad Donella Similar Black Mountain Side, The Duff, Babysitters Beware, The Suffering, Lake Eerie Profiles | ||
Code 8 short film 2016
Code 8 is a 2016 short sci-fi action film directed by Jeff Chan and written by Chan and Chris Paré. Starring Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell and Sung Kang, the film is expected to be expanded into a feature length project to shoot during 2017 for release in October of that year. The film is a futuristic vision taking place in a world where 4% of the population are born with some type of supernatural ability. Instead of being billionaire superheroes, most ‘specials’ live in poverty and resort to crime, forcing the police to become more militarized.
Contents
Code 8 indiegogo campaign video
Plot
Sometime in the future 4% of the earth's population have developed special abilities, but are treated like pariahs and forced by circumstance to live in poverty. The term "special" had become a pejorative and those with abilities are treated poorly by those without. In Lincoln City, Taylor Reed (Robbie Amell), a young man with special powers, struggles to find work as a day laborer. After a dispute over he and his friend Freddie (Aaron Abrams) being shorted in their pay after completing work, Taylor finds himself in a confrontation with police officer Alex Park (Sung Kang) and the many autonomous robot drones backing up the officer.
Reception
Gizmodo wrote that "The Mysterious Code 8 Film Is An Intriguing Crowdfunding Teaser", and praised the film in writing it "definitely leaves the audience wanting to see what happens next, and it really looks like’s something that Neill Blomkamp would have directed: robotic police officers, some pretty overt political themes, and so forth. We’re certainly interested in seeing where this goes."
History
On March 22, 2016, Robbie and Stephen Amell premiered a 10-minute short film as a teaser for a full-length feature. While releasing the short, the Amells simultaneously started an Indiegogo campaign in order to fund the full-length feature. With their target being $200,000 the film was funded less than 48 hours, and continues to grow, having exceeded $1,500,000 in a month. Both the Amells expressed that by going with the crowdfunding route, they can keep the creative control to themselves. Some of the perks to donating to Code 8 included digital copies of both versions of the film, exclusive merchandise, producing credits and some quality time with the Amells. On April 9, 2016, Robbie Amell teased in a Facebook Q&A video that actor Victor Garber had expressed his interest in joining the film. On April 14th director Jeff Chan made a post about the short film on the social media & -news aggregator site reddit where he also answered questions in a mini-AMA.
Planned feature film
Due to scheduling conflicts, Stephen Amell was not able to star in the short film, however he did voice a police drone. He has confirmed that he will star in the feature. The short film was self-financed as well as calling in favors from friends and family. Production is slated to begin February 2017, and is projected to wrap in May 2017.