Two-Time Cannes Film Festival Director Debuts New Film `Spaceman On
Earth’ In LA
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By Asbarez Staff on Jun 5th, 2009 and filed under Arts & Culture,
Culture, News.
LOS ANGELES – Now that the new film `Star Trek’ is making the Sci-Fi
genre hip again, Shant Hamassian’s `Spaceman On Earth’ is ready for
the spotlight. His high concept short film recently premiered at
Cannes in the Short Film Corner 2009.
For Hamassian, an illustrator-turned-director, his second directorial
effort proved to be his second time at Festival De Cannes. His debut
film, `The Slowww Zombie’ premiered in the Short Film Corner in 2006.
Filmed on a shoestring budget, `Spaceman’ is complete with puppetry,
matte paintings, miniature-models of cityscapes and castles,
stop-motion car chase scenes – and a flying saucer to boot. The film,
which combines the Sci-Fi genre with the retro 1950’s period, was shot
entirely on a makeshift green screen in a high school’s tiny
auditorium.
Hamassian, a graduate of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design, used
his illustration skills to achieve the look of a million dollar
production for the film, giving the viewer nothing short of a comedic
and special effects extravaganza.
`Spaceman On Earth’ offers a glimmering sneak peak into Hamassian’s
forthcoming multi-platform franchise, which include feature films, TV
series, action figures and video games. The film presents such themes
as red paranoia, aliens, superheroes and superwomen, as well as
innovative action sequences with enough twists and turns to challenge
even the most expensive Hollywood action film.
A special feature of the film is the character voiced by legendary
underground actor, Angus Scrimm (the Tall Man in the cult hit
`Phantasm’) who plays Spaceman’s nemesis, Mr. Grouch. Fresh faces
also appear, from the female love interest portrayed by Austin
Highsmith (`CSI’, `Boston Legal’) to the CIA agent, played by Alex
Kalognomos (Deuces Wild, `ER’). The film’s hero, Spaceman, is played
by Shant Hamassian himself.
`Spaceman On Earth’ premiered before international audiences on May
13th in Cannes’ Short Film Corner.
Currently, it is a finalist in the Cine Gear Expo 2009 and will have
its Los Angeles premiere at Paramount Studios in Hollywood on June
4th. For more information about `Spaceman On Earth and screening
times, please visit ShantHamassian.blogspot.com or contact
[email protected] (818) 606-8560