Jon Silverberg began his filmmaking career in Nanaimo before moving to Vancouver, but it was to Vancouver Island he returned to shoot his first feature-length film earlier this year.
Silverberg spent the last three years writing, rewriting and refining his script right up until shooting began in Port McNeill in February. The film, Crypto, tells the story of a junkie photojournalist working out of a remote lodge on Haida Gwaii who discovers that the photographs he develops in his darkroom contain details that mysteriously predict his future.
“We’re also finding out bit-by-bit about his haunted past and what he might be running away from, as some people are when they take jobs like that in really remote places,” Silverberg said.
The director added that visiting Haida Gwaii left and impression on him and that the film’s setting suits the story.
“I spent a few years shooting a lot of outdoor shows that I shot in Haida Gwaii and just had unique experiences going up there. It just felt like almost another planet or going back in time,” he said. “It’s really beautiful, it’s really rugged and also kind of mysterious as well, being such a secluded place … and being very isolated away from everything, so that also works into the story in the film.”
Crypto, which Silverberg describes as a supernatural psychological thriller in the vein of Stephen King or David Lynch, stars Vancouver actor Richard Harmon, known primarily for his recurring roles in crime and science-fiction dramas like The CW’s The 100, Showcase’s Continuum and AMC’s The Killing.
Silverberg said he reached out to Harmon after seeing some of the actor’s work and predicting that the role of the film’s protagonist was something he could “really sink his teeth into.” Silverberg contacted Harmon’s agent and less than a week later they met for the first time.
“From the second we met and talked about it we just had really similar ideas of how the character was going to be played and how the film was going to look and the tone of it and everything,” Silverberg said.
“He was just on board right from the beginning and we really shared a vision so it made it really easy to work together.”
The film has been shot and edited and is now in post-production. Silverberg, working with what he described as a “fairly indie-level budget” is now turning to crowdfunding to cover expenses related to special effects, sound design and mixing and other final touches. Once the film is complete he hopes to afford marketing, distribution and the cost of submitting the film to festivals around the world.
Silverberg is aiming to raise $20,000 through the course of the next month. Those interested in learning more and viewing a list of donor incentives are invited to visit crypto-movie.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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