EMR

The UK’s first film simultaneously released in cinemas, on the internet and on DVD, and fully digital from conception to exhibition. London premiere on 15 July 2005 at Genesis Cinema.

Dogwoof Digital in partnership with Tiscali, Genesis Cinema & Silverscreen is releasing Cottonopolis films production EMR simultaneously in cinemas, on the internet and on DVD after its London premiere on 15 July 2005.

Directed by James Erskine and Danny Mccullough and financed on a micro-budget, the film is a triumph of the spirit of Independent film making under adverse circumstances. Made for less than $100,000, the film was shot on the highest quality digital cameras available (High Definition), the very same cameras that George Lucas shot the latest Star Wars on. Moreover, the film makers were able to shoot the film in both the UK (London, Essex, Hampshire) and the USA (San Francisco, Los Angeles).

Whilst talk of simultaneous releases has been underway in the US recently, with Steven Soderbergh’s deal with 2929 Entertainment, this is the world’s first simultaneous release. As the release windows between cinematic releases and DVD releases have been narrowing, this pre-empts a logical move by the studios and bigger players. Not surprisingly the lead has come from the more flexible independent sector.

This release will collapse traditionally staggered release windows and gives consumers a choice for the first time, regarding how and when they want to see a film. The filmmakers believe that the choice as to how consumers view films should rest with the consumer and that theatrical, DVD and internet forms of distribution need not threaten each other, and may indeed be mutually complimentary.

Londoner Adam Jones (Adam Leese) is stuck in a dead end job; lives alone with his cat and spends his free time obsessing over the latest conspiracy theories on the internet. Taking an experimental drug for his epilepsy, manufactured by the Pfenal corporation, Adam begins suffering from seizures, black outs and terrifying visions. When he wakes up in a hotel room in Mexico missing a kidney, Adam becomes convinced that he’s unwittingly stumbled into the middle of a conspiracy. Drugged by mysterious paramedics (Gil Belows), Adam finds himself back in his London flat. Just as he assumes it's just been a bad dream, the pain of a scar on his back serves to convince him that something dark and disturbing is indeed happening.

Worse still, Adam’s one friend at work, Tracey (Jemma Walker), informs him that he's been missing from work for a week and as a result he's been fired. He turns to his doctor (Lara Cazalet), but she seems to be overly zealous in prescribing the drug company's medication. His only confidant is his beautiful and mysterious internet correspondent, whom he knows only by her screen name CyberBunnyLily (Whitney Cummings) and who lives in San Francisco. With his reality becoming more and more fractured, and unable to trust anyone, let alone himself, Adam sets about trying to uncover the truth about the mysterious drug company Pfenal. The transatlantic connection seems ever more prominent in solving the mystery. Will he escape his torment and be united with his beloved Lily, and if so, at what cost?

Just as he finally feels that he is able to rid himself of the ordeal of his medication, Adam finds himself confronted by two of the drug company’s agents (Guy Henry, George Calil). And the reality of his situation turns out to be worse than his wildest conspiratorial nightmares. Raindance was the first public screening of the completed EMR and the film won the Jury Prize for Best UK Feature 2004. Previously it was shown as a work in progress at the Washington DC Independent Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Film. It has also screened at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival and at Germany’s cult ‘Weekend of Fear Festival’ where it won the Golden Glibb (Best Feature). Moreover, EMR was official selection at Jeonju Film Festival 2005, Korea; San Francisco Independent Film Festival 2005; and Dead Centre Film Festival, Oklahoma. The cast of EMR features some of the hottest emerging British acting talent. In his breakthrough role, Adam Leese stars as Adam Jones, supported by an Anglo-American cast.

British actors include Guy Henry, George Calil, Tom Hardy, Ross McCall. As well as debut film roles for Jeremy Edwards and Eastenders star Jemma Walker.

American actors include Gil Bellows, star of Ally McBeal and The Agency, Kevin Christy, Anthony Azzizi and Whitney Cummings. The film was produced by John Lentaigne, Erskine and McCullough and George Calil. Original screenplay by James Erskine and Danny McCullough. Directed by Erskine & McCullough and Director of photography John Halliday.