Doorpost Filmmaker Gets Lost in The Mojave Desert

PRLog (Press Release) - Apr 17, 2009 -
Director, Tom Wozny of Red Horizon Films recently found himself standing in the middle of the Mojave Desert—on the set of his latest project, Mojave Philosophy. His short, inspirational film is the story of a truck stop waitress who takes a soul-searching walk through a small desert town and discovers true redemption. The film has been accepted into the Doorpost Film Project, an international competition for inspirational short films.

Set in the City of Mojave where discarded cars, boats and junkyards clutter the landscape, the filmmaker found himself philosophizing about the material things and how they affect our lives. “The film (now on the Doorpost Film Project for viewing and film contest voting) is about a human being taking inventory of her life and making choices based on what really matters,” Wozny said. “Southern California tends to focus on status symbols: Who’s got the best car, the biggest boat, the most expensive watch. But what happens to that stuff when it goes out of style or it’s replaced by a newer, better model? Mojave’s kind of like California’s own Island of Broken Toys. It’s a wasteland of abandoned things. If you really look at it, you start thinking about the meaning of it all. How much time do we spend working or letting ourselves get pulled away from what’s important just to make the money to buy stuff that eventually turn to rust? This film was made from the viewpoint of making choices that are survival to life rather than choosing the material things that fade over time. It’s about finding redemption from the material world.”

Shot on location in the Mojave Desert, the dismal surroundings mirror the mood of the waitress as she reflects on her life and her shortcomings, and if there is a chance for redemption in such a place. “When we went location scouting in Mojave, it was all right there, the abandoned cars, the stray dogs and the hitchhikers—desperate to get out of there,” Wozny said. “In a place where everyone wants to leave, I wanted to tell the story of someone who stayed and why by exploring the subject of redemption. While material things are deteriorating all around the character, she creates something precious in a graveyard of irreversible decline. It’s about the triumph of the human soul over material things which the waitress achieves through tough choices, real redemption.”

Directed by Tom Wozny and produced by Sandy Hockenbery, Mojave Philosophy was accepted into The Doorpost Film Project, an international competition for inspirational short films. To watch the film in its online debut, visit http://www.thedoorpost.com/redemption/mojavephilosophy Viewers may register for a free account at www.thedoorpost.com and participate in the voting process to determine the winning short films for 2009. Voting is open until April 30, 2009.

For more information contact Red Horizon Films at www.RedHorizonFilms.com