Synopsis
"Starship" unfolds as a surreal, theatrical journey through an otherworldly realm. A captain leads a group of lost souls, while a lone violinist appears as both performer and mysterious guide. The characters move through an atmosphere shaped by isolation, ritual, and science-fiction imagery, with the orchestral score carrying much of the emotional narrative. Rather than following a conventional pop-video structure, the film plays like a compact fantasy short built around mood, symbolic figures, and the idea of searching for a way forward.
Factoids & Trivia
- The film was based on Israel Heller's original instrumental piece and an original short story of the same name.
- Heller appears in the cast as "The Violinist," as well as supplying the music and violin performance.
- The central characters are identified in the credits as Vernell Rogers' "The Captain" and four "Lost Souls": Lucy, Mary, Michael, and Peter.
- The production was made through a collaboration between Symbiotic Productions and Charlottebobcats.com.
- The film was shot at Studio 60, using a designed studio environment rather than relying on an identified natural location.
- Heller and Mark Vogel handled the orchestration, while Vogel also produced the music. The recordings were made at Studio City Sound and Canalzone.
- Two versions of the composition appeared on Heller's 2012 album "The Violinist": "Starship (Solo)" and "Starship (Orchestrated)."
- The project was announced for an early screening at the Landmark/Westside Pavilion in West Los Angeles, extending the piece beyond a standard online music-video presentation into short-film territory.