“La Jetée” is one of the most famous short films ever made. Chris Marker’s 1962 sci-fi thriller used black-and-white still photos and a vague, ominous narrative to tell the tale of a man who travels through time to try to save the world by correcting the mistakes of the past.
Kyle Rodgers saw “La Jetée” in a film class at University of Hartford. Its influence can be clearly seen in a short film Rodgers just made, “Voids,” which will be shown in a one-time-only screening on Sunday, April 24, at Spotlight Theatres in Hartford.
Rodgers said the plot started out as noir.
“Every draft, it changed and got more science-fictiony. Should I place it in the future? Should do time travel? Maybe an alternate reality sort of thing? But the noir ’50s-ish mystery is still the base,” he says.
Like “La Jetée,” Rodgers’ black-and-white, 30-minute film tells its story using a succession of still photos, as well as audio and sound tracks. It is about a woman who enters an alternate reality to investigate the death of her partner. It stars University of Hartford students and alumni, including Lizzy Jutila, Adam Montgomery, Ali Oshinskie, Joey Heimbach, Kate McLellan, Madison Obery and Conor M. Hamill. It was produced by Pedro Bermudez, Tyler Pulsifer, Allen Loughman and Rodgers. It was shot in locations around Hartford, as well as at a cornfield at Rosedale Farms in Simsbury.
Music is by The Historic, which is the name Rodgers uses when he releases his music. About 2,000 stills were used to make the film, Rodgers said.
The Spotlight screening came about because Rodgers works there as a manager. He also works as a lab equipment manager at the university. He lives in Naugatuck with his fiancee, Karlie Henton, who did the special effects for the movie.
Spotlight is at 39 Front St. Showtime is 7 p.m. Admission is $5. A Q&A will follow the screening. A trailer for “Voids” can be found on YouTube. Proceeds from the evening will finance Rodgers’ new short film.
“It’s a comedy about a guy named George Clooney,” who is always teased about his name, he says.
