Icarian

In the unforgiving landscapes of Utah, “Icarian” follows the desperate journey of Simon Shaw and Isabella Hughes, the last survivors of a doomed outlaw gang. “Icarian” explores their struggle for survival, haunted by the ghosts of their violent past and pursued by a relentless Marshal.

While interviewing director Paul Amstone, he reveals that the inspiration for “Icarian” stems from a fascination with individuals who choose a path of darkness. He delves into the psyche of characters who perceive themselves as heroes despite committing heinous acts. The film challenges audiences to empathize with characters on the brink of death, exploring the impact of fear on their psychology.

“For a character like Shaw I felt as though it was right to challenge myself and the audience with a man who has done horrible things but has become almost child-like in fear as the Marshal closes in” said Armstone. “It was important for us to show a man falling into despair and almost feel sorry for him as he inches closer and closer to his death. For Isabella we find an entirely different situation, she does horrible things but still has the ability to see the humanity in her victims. Early in the film we’re introduced to her grieving over the loss of a friend and lover which completely contrasts to that of Shaw, who couldn’t be more apathetic to the deaths of his victims or friends. How utterly sad it must be for these people to live their lives with such destruction and completely waste the gifts that have been given to them through incredibly selfish means.”

Amstone expresses a deep connection to storytelling, citing childhood experiences of watching movies with his family. His motivation lies in creating films that resonate with both himself and viewers. Drawing inspiration from childhood memories, he aims to craft movies that captivate and inspire, akin to the impact “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and “King Kong” had on him.

“So every time I sit down to write a film or direct a project I think of a nine year old me, sitting in a theater with my dad, asking myself if this is the kind of movie that would inspire me then. If the answer is anything less than yes, I know the project either needs more time or I have to move on.”

The director reminisces about the exhilarating first day of shooting, witnessing characters come to life and the collaborative efforts of the talented crew. 

“Historically the first day of production is never as smooth sailing as it could be and Icarian was no different. However there’s no such moment that can be compared to seeing an idea you had years prior finally come to life before your eyes. Watching Lindsey say her first lines as Isabella, and Dan deliver this cold and callused performance as Shaw for the first time, I knew from that first day we were off to the races and we had something special. Then you realize Jonah had created some of the finest wardrobe I’ve ever seen for a indie-short, Jeremy had created this tactile realism in the makeup and hair, Caleb creating this beautiful haunting color palette with his cinematography, Keith capturing perfect sound that he later mixed into this pounding spiritualistic mix, and all coming together under the powerful music by Jacob. It all stems from day one. If you nail day one, the rest will fall into place.”

Despite the film’s challenging production, Amstone commends the dedication and energy of his team. Filming in the cold Utah winter presented difficulties, with handheld shots capturing the raw, elemental essence of the story.

“We shot the entire film in six days over the course of 2022. The first three which were our principal photography days filmed in Zion National Park adhering to their low impact shoot rules. Then our pick-up shooting, one day of reshoots where we reshot the entire first ten minutes of the film at Timpanogos Trail above Sundance Resort. One day at Silver Lake and the Salt Flats and then a final production date in Leeds nearly nine months after principal photography to shoot our Angel of Death sequence after the Utah fire ordinance had subsided enough for us to shoot with a large burning fire late at night.”

Reflecting on the experience, Amstone acknowledges the importance of meticulous planning. He shares a valuable lesson from the last day of shooting, emphasizing the need to prioritize critical scenes. The director regrets not allocating sufficient time for the film’s conclusion, recognizing the impact it could have had with more attention.

“One the last day of shooting we were filming the end of the movie, we had held off because of a blood gag the script called for and we only had one set of each wardrobe item. We didn’t know what was going to happen. So I opted to spend the first part of the day as we were ahead of schedule shooting additional shots, drones, sticks, transition pieces and other just useful things that might help the edit. I stayed behind in the trailer and entrusted my DP Caleb to oversee and direct these segments while Jonah and I stayed behind in the production trailer with our Make-Up and hair lead Jeremy planning out this blood gag. The sun was dropping incredibly fast, and I had not accounted for how quickly it was going away. So when our splinter unit returned we had to hike down the mountain into this valley and shoot the end of the film. It was roughly four pages of script that had to be shot in about five and a half hours or we’d be in complete darkness deep inside Zion. Some people would say that’s impossible and they’d be right if they didn’t have the amazing Icarian crew. We did and we cut a lot of planned shots. Some moments resulting in one or two takes each and moving on. If I could go back, I would shoot the ending of the movie first thing that day, and really give the time I think it was lacking and then spend the rest of the daylight hours collecting additional material. A filmmaker always sees the flaws in his/her own work and I’ve received very positive comments on the ending, however, I can’t escape the idea of what might have come from it, had I given it more attention.”

“Icarian” is set to premiere on YouTube and Vimeo early this year through Film Southern Utah and Baying Hound Films. The film has also been submitted to various film festivals across the country, with the hopes of reaching wider audiences.

“Icarian” boasts a talented cast including Dan Fowlks, Lindsey Cruz, Jonah Garlick, Keslie Ta’afua, Mark Bracich, Lance Murphy, Laura Schmitt, Emma Schmitt, Robert Taylor II, Jessica Staples, Paul Amstone, and Keith Owen. The skilled crew, led by Paul Amstone, includes cinematographer Caleb Hatton, makeup artist Jeremy L. Bird, and composer Jacob Shaw.

Audiences can follow Paul Amstone on Instagram (@paul_amstone), producer Dan Fowlks (@danfowlks), and explore his work on the Baying Hound Films website (www.bayinghoundfilms.com). The website features stills and trailers from his projects, offering insights into Amstone’s evolving career.