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RITUAL OF FIRE

short film

A magical realist short film about a young boy's encounter with a Pagan fire circle in xenophobic Eastern Europe during the lead up to WWI.

This independent film with a strong social message was written and directed by Ryan Uzilevsky in 2005. The film was made during George W. Bushes second term. It was seen as a response to the war crying post 911 america that seemed to suffer from historical amnesia. The escalation of violence in the Arab world, and xenophobia on American soil under the guise of patriotism 

Skydog wanted to tell a story about another time, not that long ago where this line of nationalistic racism became paramount in Eastern Europe ultimately the leading up to catastrophic World War and Genocide. 

DVD Cover Art_2014_F.jpg

THE FILM

THE FRAMES

THE VISUAL CONCEPTS

Concept Art for "Ritual of Fire"

Some of the visual inspiration for the film came from Antonín Kratochvíl's photo-journalism of post communist Eastern Europe, as well as other historic images from the region.

THE INSPIRATION

THE PRODUCTION

Filming took place on location over two weekends in Upstate New York.

Producer, Dustin Highbridge and the rest of the Brooklyn based production team rented school buses as well as the facilities at an off-season summer camp to deal with the rather large cast and crew

THE CREDITS


              
Written and Directed by

Ryan Uzilevsky      

 

Produced By

Dustin Highbridge    

Starring

Sawyer Stanton as Young Sig

Evgenia Randilova as Young Girl


Cinematography by

Jesse Redding Fleming  

Ryan Uzilevsky

 

Executive Producers

Karl McGuiness
Richard Zucker
Marcus Uzilevsky
Nicky Johnson

Assistant Producer

Mitch Bacharach

Editing
Ryan Uzilevsky

Sound Designer
Brandon Wollcot 

Special Effects, Hair, and Make-up By

Jen Suarez        

Art Direction

Ryan Uzilevsky            
Toa Garcia


Fire and Mask Effects

Flambeaux (Chris Riley)

CAST


Raymond Young Gregori

Eni the Forest Nymph

Evgenia Randilova


PAGAN GYPSY GODESSESS

Nahryha 
Mahi
Cristal Albornoz
Olivia Rorick
Harrie Mule
Erika Rivera
Monica Mehta
Summer
Katie Kopchic
Pamela Highbridge
Noelle Vogt 


PAGAN WARRIORS

Terry Von Hightower - The Shaman

Master Flynn
Tom Hannigan
Flamebeux
Damon Honeycutt          Pan / Flute 
Omar Holmes
Mike Zhang
Justin Montalvo          
Zack Roberts            
Don Keenan
Omar Reyes
Otis Cook
Dehran Duckworth
Tisho

COPSA MICA VILLAGERS

Skippy D - Millitia Leadman    
Tom Trocola
Captain Zorikh
Drew Stymacks
William Scala            
Cory Loyd
Mike Zhang
Zee Raza
Leoni Pimentel
Logan Wolf
Tom Trocola

Grandmother             Helen Weigner


CREW

Jason Rinn                    Camera Operator
Brian Mackie                Camera Operator
Javier perez karam        Camera Operator
Ryan Uzilevsky             Camera Operator
Terry Gjezo                 Camera Operator

Chris Abel                   Stunt Coordinator    

Ryan McGrath             1st Assistant Director
Matt Medlin                1st Assistant Director

Concept Illustrator        Alex Tarampi

Jay Hayes                   Prop Master    
Matt Dooley                Assistant Art Director
James Barnes              Puppet Master
Patrick                        Set Construction Supervisor
Ari Taub                     Props and Modern Weaponry
Captain Zorihk            Period Props and Weaponry
Fred Vogt                   Chainsaw Guy

Jessica McCormick     Costume Director
Giuliana Favaron        Specialty Props
Lisa Campos              Special Effects Make-up Artist
Kenny Franklin            Props   
Naraya                     Props and Jeweler
Nancy Voght              Best Mom
Cristal Albornaz         Jewelry

Skippy D   Pyro

Storyboarding
Alex Tarampi
Ryan Uzilevsky
Jason Rinn

Justin Situ                  2nd Unit A.D.
Tina  Yeh                   2nd A.D
Marina Djokic           2nd 2nd A.D

Sean Linehan            Gaffer
Zak Mulligan            Gaffer

    
James Barnes           Lighting and Puppets

Brent                       Deep Sea videographer
Brian castaldo          Key Grip
Kevin Groff              Key Grip
Joe                         Best Boy Grip
Russ                        Best Boy Grip

Brian Sachson          Best Boy Grip
Nick  Montalvo        Grip
John  Scott Wilson    Grip

Dance Choreography by 
Harrie Mule
Ryan Uzilevsky    
                
Samantha Casolari      Script Supervisor
Steven Roy                  Set Photographer 
Christine                     Production coordinator                      
Kevin Johnson             Location Audio
Rob Albrecht               Sound Recording
Brian Loatman             Sound Operator
Andrejs Prokopenko      Sound operator


Dan                             Sound Assist

Matt Dooley                 Special Effects Make-up 
Lisa Campos                Special Effects Make-up Assist
Amanda Wash             Hair/Make-up Assist
Stephanie Fisher           Hair/Make-up Assist
Courtney Foster            Hair/Make-up Assist
Katie McDermott          Hair/Make up-Assist
Melanie                      Hair/Make up-Assist

Fait Cass                     wardrobe P.A
Jill Ernhardt                 wardrobe P.A
Sara Sharpia               wardrobe P.A
        
    
Jim Mitchell           Technician    
Ariel Sheldon         Talent Coordinator    

Flambeaux            Pagan God / Fire Mask Artist    
    


PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

Deryck Highbridge        
Rachel McCants        
Brian Douglas            
Fletcher Elison            
Jennifer Larkan        
Adam Driggs          
Christopher Navarro    
Dave Kabeebo           
Joan Gerardi            
    

FACTORY WORKERS 

   

Skippy D
Mike Boyer                
chris farington    
Tony Gruia    
Florin Penisoara    
Brody            
Richard    
Steven Booth    
Joe                
Danny            
Rich Shultis    
John Voght
    
            
FARMERS            
            
Cory Loyd
John Voght        
Katie Kopchic 
Cybelle Cappelli    
Nancy Orlowski    
Peggy Ringwood    
Jakie             
Janet Ionescu 
skippy D    
    
              
Village Children


Allyson and Morgan Sitler            
Lori, Casey and Matt Bryant            
Christen Potenz    

Miss Ionescu

Nicole Guzman         Head Chef
Nicoles Sister            Cook
        
Jose Rivas                 Kitchen P.A
        

Jay Bermudez           Lifeguard

 


    

VENDORS            
Hit and Run Productions


SPECIAL THANKS

Radius 5 Films
Anton Kratochvil
Doug Highbridge 
Marcus Uzilevsky
Boni Uzilevsky
Giuliana Favaron
Ari Taub 
Hit and Run Productions
Brooklyn Independent Studios
The New York Jedi
3rd Ward
Samantha Casolari
JoAnne Boyer
Javier Perez-Karam
Mike the Lake President
Jeff Johnson
Andy the Cat
Kip Singer
Dehran Duckworth
Janet Ionescu and Family
The Burning Man Arts Festival
Joe at Shadow Studios
Julie the "Young Starving Whatever"

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