Posted: 11/17/2006

Plainview

(2006)

by Del Harvey

In this small tale of a simple misunderstanding, a restaurant manager attempts to redeem herself after being talked into a humiliating strip search of her socially inept employee. What transpires is ultimately embarrassing for the lead character.

Based on true events, Plainview is the story of Missy (Ryan Driscoll), a small town restaurant manager in charge of Brian (Anderson Lawfer), her simple minded, yet endearing employee who’s painfully aware of the incompetencies that cause his register drawer to come up short. When Missy receives a detective’s phone call concerning monetary thefts within the company, it’s Brian who’s the main suspect. Slowly, the detective talks her step-by-step into a thorough investigation of Brian. Each step grows increasingly humiliating, culminating into a full-body strip search, before Missy discovers her detective’s true, horrifying intention. Now, after being berated by both her boss (Alex Gillmor) and the local sheriff (James S. Allen), Missy’s newfound empathy for Brian motivates her attempt to restore not just his dignity, but her own as well.

In the end, Plainview is not a film that will overwhelm with high drama, tension, anxiety, or big special effects. But it isn’t meant to be that kind of film, either. It’s an extremely well-made little short with strong characters thrown into a small, real life turmoil due to one individual’s naïveté. And that makes it all the more enjoyable.

Scott completed his B.A. for Film/Video at Columbia College Chicago with a concentration on writing and direction. He’s been making films since 1996. Some of his productions include a documentary about internationally renowned musician/graphic artist Jay Ryan and the short film dramedy “The Salesmen.” Scott has also taken some acting roles including the lead role in Alex Rojas’ short film “cushion,” which premiered at 2005’s Slamdance Film Festival. In 2005 Scott co-founded TaLiLi Films with Liz Dotts and is currently prepping for a short film for production early next year.

Runtime: 23 min.

CAST:
Missy - Ryan Driscoll
Brian - Anderson Lawfer
Don - Alex Gillmor
Sheriff Pratt - James S. Allen
Deputy Cory - Joe Woodell
Customer - Cheryl Golemo
Shane - Tony Kimble
Wanda - Lisa Wilson

PRODUCTION CREW:
Director/Writer - Scott T. Jones
Producers - Liz Dotts, Scott T. Jones
Director Of Photography - Armando Ballesteros
Production Manager - Gary M. Schultz
Assistant Director - Liz Dotts
First Assistant Camera - Josh Gibson, Matt Borek
Second Assistant Camera - Brian Sowell
Dolly Grip - Patrick Russo
Gaffer - Cindy Harrig
Grips - Hunter Whalen, Jesus Villarreal
Production Sound Mixer - Jennifer Ruvalcaba, Robert Aguilar
Boom Operator - Lisa Wilson
Script Supervisor - Tres-e Tamondong
Make-up - Niehla Ollie, Stephanie Graham
Still Photographer - Cezar Limon
Production Assistant - Tony Kimble
Driver - Eric Mercure

POST-PRODUCTION CREW:
Post-Production Supervisor - Lisa Wilson
Editor - Jennifer Ruvalcaba
Sound Designer - Veronica Morales
Sound Mixer - Sean Clark
Composer - Joseph L’Amour
Optical Effects - Tres-e Tamondong
MUSIC PERFORMED BY:
Joseph L’Amour- piano & Adam Schmitz- cello

ADDITIONAL MUSIC:
Treaty Of Paris

Filmed on location in Algonquin, Illinois

Del Harvey is the founder and editor of Film Monthly. He teaches screenwriting at Columbia College Chicago.

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