Ahead of a screening event taking place in Plymouth this March, we get the lowdown on Level 10: Wild Wild West.
Among many other roles, Isabella Esposito wrote, directed, co-produced and starred in the short film, which was shot in Devon and made by Devon cast and crew.
Tell us about this film – what can we expect?
Level 10: Wild Wild West is a speculative Sci-fi. The story is set 30/40 years into the future, where the Health Service becomes almost completely inaccessible. Until a tech company emerges…
Vitatech Medical creates revolutionary virtual reality technology that gives people scans and diagnoses to expedite prescriptions and treatment by doctors for a fraction of the price of private healthcare. When over half of the population is hooked, game developers see an opportunity and a multi-level game is created where players go through authentic physical strain. If you are shot in the game, and your pain setting is on ‘Real’, you will really feel like you have been shot. Only die-hard players set the pain that high to motivate them to pass the level.
You play the main character in the film – tell us about her.
The protagonist of this story is Mog, a player in the game with an unhealthy obsession: passing Level:10 Wild Wild West. When she becomes the first player to pass, Level 11 is not what she expected. She uncovers a catastrophic fault in the software.
This film is about working class people, obsession and what can happen when powerful technology ends up in the wrong hands. It’s our hopes and fears for the future and the potential implications of our ever-increasing dependence for technology. The film gives the occasional moment of calm and familiarity, only to throw you back into the brutal spiral of Mog’s detachment of reality.
What inspired the film?
Ready Player One and Black Mirror greatly inspired the tone, but my own experiences in accessing the NHS inspired the story. Creating exciting worlds, I sometimes wished I could escape to and fully immerse myself in, inspired Mog’s character. Contemplating how, if one had the chance to trade mundanity for an adventure with all five senses at a moment’s notice, would anyone ever want to leave?
As a local filmmaker, how important was it to you to make this film in Devon?
There is a massive community of incredibly talented artists, filmmakers and actors, lovely people who are fantastic to work with. There is such variance in scenery. You could be in a city one minute, but drive twenty minutes and you’re overlooking sprawling, ancient Dartmoor, which is such a privilege and was very important for the ‘Wild West’ elements of this film. The South West is so full of potential, you don’t need a green screen or a studio, or even to drive too far to cover two genres in one film!
Talking of locations, where did you end up filming?
The first location was my house! To be completely honest, this was because there are scenes depicting a room full – literally full – of rubbish. I really think that’s the only place I could have gotten away with that. My house was used to depict two separate locations which, for an under-£500 budget, worked fantastically well. (Thanks Mum).
The second location was my friend’s house. He let me film there for free, and the style, colours and layout lent very well to the story and character in those scenes. (Thanks Dave).
We filmed a montage in Exeter with the intention of showing a long journey and time passing. Exeter worked fantastically well because of how different each area is! We covered the city centre, the quay, alleyways and suburban areas.
Lastly, we filmed on Dartmoor. Void of modern structures or power lines, clusters of trees between the hills, the vastness, the dry shrubs- It was absolutely perfect for a Western.
Are there any memorable moments that stand-out from the whole experience?
The most memorable day was finally getting into the western costumes and heading to the moors. We had to cancel that last shoot day several times due to the weather not being on our side, and we almost had to cancel again. We drove up to location which was thick with fog in the morning. I was thinking, ‘Do I not know how to read a weather forecast? Does the ‘sun’ icon mean something else?’. By the time we finished setting up, it had cleared. I could have cried. I think I did a little bit. For memorable moments, its either that, or meticulously laying out 3 months’ worth of recycling I had collected, to then throw it around the room in scene, then setting it all back up again exactly as it was before.
What did you learn through making the film?
To make a Sci-fi western on a budget of £500, I’m not going to lie, was ambitious and at times (as I’m sure most indie filmmakers can relate) stressful. In a small team, everyone wears many hats to make things work. The beauty of this though, is how much I learned. I started as an actor three years ago, and a filmmaker when I made this film, so I haven’t been in the scene long. I was incredibly lucky to meet and work with all of the wonderful people that have taught me so much.
What tips or advice would you share with other filmmakers embarking on a project?
If you’re writing something and you haven’t finished it, finish it!
Write the far-fetched ambitious thing as big as it is in your mind; you can always scale it back in a way that is feasible. You may be surprised to find how much of that idea you can actually achieve with what you have.
If you’re making what you’ve written, do the boring stuff first. Do the paperwork first. Don’t put it off, it will only haunt your nightmares later.
If you are working with a low budget, do as much as you can yourself. If you don’t know how, reach out to other people and ask for advice, watch YouTube videos. Try doing it yourself before taking a chunk of budget.
Finally, if you’re shooting outdoors, best of luck.
Looking ahead – what’s next for you?
This short film is actually technically a proof-of-concept pilot episode. The story goes on and on and grows bigger. It has so much potential and I am looking to pitch it to a studio and hopefully get it greenlit. A long, arduous journey I’m sure, but not one I have any intention of giving up on.
Thank you, Isabella and huge thanks also to Jim Elton for the images.
Go show your support for the film, along with The Breakwater at a special double screening at Plymouth Arts Cinema. Taking place on Sunday 1st March, from 2.30pm. A Q&A and drinks/networking in the bar will follow.
Tickets are free here