This Film Festival's Bleak, Intense Look Into the Future Will Leave You Feeling Frayed

As sure as the jacaranda trees bloom every spring in Southern California, the Newport Beach Film Festival launches a quirky, cinematic work of art to promote its weeklong event. This year is no exception, with a beautiful and brutal 3-minute spot that looks like it could’ve been lifted directly from the mind of Ridley Scott. Instead, it’s the creation of director Jillian Martin, production company Untitled.tv and agency Garage Team Mazda in its first campaign for the festival. “Quota: Who Made the Cut” centers on two beaten-down miners in space suits dangling by ropes from a massive, alien edifice, mining for crystal with hand drills and bad attitudes. Are they the future's exploited working class? Prisoners? They may be both. They’re certainly in competition with one another to find a mother lode of the precious substance and earn their way back home. Their only respite from the bleak, oppressive scenario are VR memories from home now and again, which don’t so much provide the rest they need as remind them of the life they’re missing. Those vivid images they see in their fitful waking sleep—a lover with whip cream on a taut belly, for one—are both a tease and an incentive. No wonder things get violent. [kickout id="1"] The ad team had “free range on the creative,” according to Todd Quartararo, the festival’s co-founder and director of marketing, whose execs plucked “Quota” from a handful of contending concepts. Its final shot alludes to just how tough it is to land a slot in a film festival. But there’s likely less blood. “We believe the quality of our branding should be equal to the exceptional production and creative values our filmmakers bring to the festival,” Quartararo said. The Orange County-based festival, kicking off April 26, has a longstanding rep for its good taste in commercials, formerly produced by agency RPA. Last year’s “Go Deeper,” mixed live-action and stop-motion elements (and lots of skeletons) to follow a message in a bottle, and previous mini-movies have drawn from horror tropes and bedtime stories. [kickout id="2"] [kickout id="3"] “We set the bar high,” Quartararo said, with “Quota” “far surpassing our expectations.” The short will screen before each of the 350 films on this year’s festival lineup. CREDITS: Director: Jillian Martin Executive Producer: Jim Evans Producers: Larry Edwards, Christophe Faubert, Denny Kennedy Editor: Erwin Fraterman Untitled Inc. General Manager: Larry Edwards Head of Production: Geoff Campbell Director of Photography: Robert Dalsey Assistant Director: Peter Etzweiller Art Director: Melissa Broker Writers: Jillian Martin, Robert Dalsey Camera Operator: David Brickley Data Manager: Jordan Evans Wardrobe: Jen Eagen Wardrobe / Makeup: Elizabeth Meredith Wardrobe Assistant: CiCi Hoggard Effects: Zack Edwards Drone Pilot: Collin Burgess Riggers: Joe Makouske, Jonathen Zambella Spencer McBride, Ben Corso Production Assistants: Lauren Gagnon, Sam Berry, Tyler Ryan Talent: Nate Scholz, Aion Boyd Site Representative / Still Photography: Kyle Voles Special thanks to Phedon Papamichael Garage Team Mazda Chief Executive Officer: Michael Buttlar Chief Creative Officer: Erich Funke SVP Creative Director / Writer: Melissa Webber ACD / Art Director: Zak Masaki Writer- Jason Tucker Senior Producer: Jeff Perino Management Supervisor, Account: Cory Sampson Account Coordinator: Brooke Hawley jumP Editorial Executive Producer: Betsy Beale Flame Artist: Thom Reimerink Assistant Editor: Michael Wolfe Assistant Editor: Kristin Yawata Method Studios Lead Flame Artist: Emily Irvine Flame Artist: Louis Schachte Senior Producer: Julia Paskert Art Director: Norris Houk Motion Graphics Artist: Orey Spear Head of Production: Ananda Reavis Executive Producer: Cara Lehr Company 3 Senior Colorist: Stefan Sonnenfeld Senior Colorist: Stephen Nakamura Executive Producer: Ashley McKim Senior Producer: Katie Andrews Juice Studios Mixer: Scott Burns Producer: Vanessa Carey Executive Producer: Dawn Redmann Yessian Music & Sound Design Creative Director / Composer: Andy Grush Sound Designers: Jeff Dittenber, Mike Baluha Executive Producer: David Gold Senior Producer: Katie Overcash Music Supervisor: Lars Makie Head of Production / Partner: Michael Yessian CCO / Partner: Brian Yessian Casting: Face In The Crowd Casting Casting Director: Maryclaire Sweeters Vendors: Camtec | Global Effects | Strato | BLM | Nama Guides | Filmtools | Galpin | Quixote | Alan Gordon Enterprises | Bobby Digital