Primer (movie)

Primer is a 2004 film written and directed by Shane Carruth . It won the Grand Jury and Alfred P. Sloan Awards at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

Plot

The plot of Primer centers around two engineers, Abe and Aaron, who create a time machine while working on in Aaron's garage. Using the technology, the two are able to travel back in time 12 hours, which they initially exploit by way of the stock market in order to fund further ventures. However, ethical and philosophical dilemmas soon ensue regarding the possible applications and dangers of the machine. The film raises questions on what can happen with countless possible revisions able to be made to reality itself. The film also explores different individuals' reactions to power and the capacity to abuse it. Primer's plot, though twisting and filled with developments whose ramifications are difficult to be immediately recognized, has been generally well received by critics as creative and inventive, especially in the often-abused science fiction theme of time travel.

Tagline: If you always want what you can't have, what do you want when you can have anything?

Production

Primer was filmed with a budget of only USD $7,000. Much of this cost was spent on film stock. Whereas big production film crews can number hundreds of people, Primer was shot with only a crew of five. Writer/Director Shane Carruth is also one of the film's lead actors, cinematographer, producer, editor, and even its composer. Filming was done in the Dallas area, with lab sequences shot at the University of Texas at Dallas. To compensate for the lack of expensive lighting equipment, the film makes maximum use of fluorescent lighting and non-neutral color temperatures (achieved through a mix of different films (Tungsten/Daylight) and filters.)

Reception

Since the film was created with almost non-existent funds, it lacks the production values that a mainstream film simultaneously affords and requires. But Primer's creative editing and lighting as well as the low-budget charm of 16mm film's grain has endeared it to many critics as an art house independent film. Others have criticized it as being too much of one, seemingly designed to be endearing to the indie film crowd. The film has since gained much attention after winning at Sundance 2004 and is one of the few micro-budget films to reach a wider audience.

Cast

• Shane Carruth - Aaron
• David Sullivan - Abe
• Casey Gooden - Robert
• Anand Upadhyaya - Phillip
• Carrie Crawford - Kara

External links

• Official Film Site