By Staff

In the summer of 2014, with the incentives that drive the North Carolina film industry locked up in a nasty, partisan political battle a group of film craftspeople from Winston-Salem shot a gorgeous and inspiring short . “Reverie” is a meditation on imagination and joy that shows just how much talent we have here in Winston-Salem and the amazing things that can be accomplished by dedicated artists and artisans.

The “Reverie” production team included local filmmakers and industry professionals, with the majority of the crew made up of UNC School of the Arts’ School of Filmmaking students. Altair Casting and Production services helped get the ball rolling by commissioning “Death & the Robot” director Alex Thompson to write a script for the short film. Thompson worked with cinematographer Harper Alexander, production designer Connor Sullivan, editor David Harris, and composer Nate Fenwick Smith (Student Emmy winner ). Winston-Salem’s own computer animation outfit, Out of Our Minds Studios, did the CG character work led by UNCSA film faculty member Keith Hobgood.

Dale Girard, an actor/stunt coordinator who teaches at the UNCSA Drama School brought in talent from his company, Stunts NC. The stunt team included stunt coordinator Miles Duffield (drama class of ’14) with Rebecca Brinkley (’15) and Alex Bodine (’15) who portrayed the knights.

Principal photography took two days, with a third shooting day dedicated purely to aerial photography . The background plates were shot by James Suttle, an Asheville-based cinematographer and aerial photography specialist who also shot the recent Greensboro-lensed feature film Shifting Gears.

According to director Alex Thompson, the film was designed to show what can be accomplished using the talent and skills of our own, home-grown filmmakers. Who needs Hollywood and venal politicians when we have this kind of game right here in Camel City? “Reverie” is a beautiful example of storytelling craft and remains just the tip of the iceberg for what is possible here in our home town.

“Reverie” is appropriate for all audiences.

