Code 8 (2016 film)

Code 8 is a 2016 American-Canadian short science fiction action film directed by Jeff Chan, co-written by Chan and Chris Paré. Starring Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell and Sung Kang, the film was expanded into a feature-length project, also titled Code 8.

Code 8
Title poster
Directed byJeff Chan
Written by
  • Jeff Chan
  • Chris Paré
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAlex Disenhof
Edited byPaul Skinner
Music byRyan Taubert
Distributed byYouTube
Release date
  • March 22, 2016 (2016-03-22) (Internet)
Running time
10 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Canada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.1 million

The film is a futuristic vision taking place in a world where 4% of the population are born with some type of supernatural ability. Instead of being billionaire superheroes, most ‘specials’ live in poverty and resort to crime, forcing the police to become more militarized.

Plot

Sometime in the future 4% of the earth's population have developed special abilities, but are treated like pariahs and forced by circumstance to live in poverty. The term "special" had become pejorative and those with abilities are treated poorly by those without. In Lincoln City, Connor Reed (Robbie Amell), a young man with special powers, struggles to find work as a day laborer. After a dispute over him and his friend Freddie (Aaron Abrams) being shorted in their pay after completing work, Connor finds himself in a confrontation with police officer Alex Park (Sung Kang) and the many autonomous robot drones backing up the officer.

Cast

A Special who provides for his family by working as a day laborer. He is a Class 5 Electric, meaning he can manipulate electricity and is capable of emitting an EMP blast strong enough to knock out a city block. He prefers not to use his powers, instead relying on his training as an electrician to find work.

A by-the-book cop who does his best to protect Lincoln City while following the rules. He is Officer Dixon's partner.

Connor's friend and a fellow Special. He is a Class 2 Brawn, meaning he has superhuman strength powerful enough to lift a truck with one arm or toss grown men through the air with ease.

A cop who has a deep prejudice against Specials. He is Officer Park's partner.

  • Peter Huang as Drone Pilot 3
  • Alfred Rubin Thompson as Big Joe
  • Al Marchesi as a class 2 Pyro

A Special with the power of pyrokinesis. He can produce flames from his fingers that can be small enough to light a cigarette or hot enough to cut through metal piping.

  • Christine Pagulayan as Reporter
  • Patrice Henry as Dispatch 1
  • Phyllis Politowicz as Grandma
  • Tonya Dodds Sinisac as Dispatch 3
  • Ryan Freer as Drone Pilot 4
  • Jack Horan as Justin Reed
  • Jeff Sinasac as Drone Pilot 2

Production

History

On March 22, 2016, Robbie and Stephen Amell premiered a 10-minute short film as a teaser for a full-length feature, also titled Code 8.[1] While releasing the short, the Amells simultaneously started an Indiegogo campaign in order to fund the full-length feature.[2] With their target being $200,000, the film was funded less than 48 hours, and continued to grow,[3][4] having exceeded $1,500,000 in a month.[5] Both the Amells expressed that, by going with the crowdfunding route, they can keep the creative control to themselves.[6] Some of the perks to donating to Code 8 included digital copies of both versions of the film, exclusive merchandise, producing credits and some quality time with the Amells.[2] On April 9, 2016, Robbie Amell teased in a Facebook Q&A video that actor Victor Garber had expressed his interest in joining the film.[7] On April 14, 2016, director Jeff Chan made a post about the short film on the social media and news aggregator site Reddit, where he also answered questions in a mini-AMA.[8]

Feature film
Main article: Code 8 (2019 film)

Due to scheduling conflicts, Stephen Amell was not able to star in the short film. However, he did voice a police drone. He confirmed that he will star in the feature.[9] The short film was self-financed as well as calling in favors from friends and family.[10] Production began on June 1, 2017.[2] The film screened at the Sitges Film Festival in October 2019.[11]

Reception

Gizmodo wrote that "The Mysterious Code 8 Film Is An Intriguing Crowdfunding Teaser",[12] and praised the film in writing it "definitely leaves the audience wanting to see what happens next, and it really looks like’s something that Neill Blomkamp would have directed: robotic police officers, some pretty overt political themes, and so forth. We’re certainly interested in seeing where this goes."[12]

References
  1. Code 8 - Short Film [2016]. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 – via YouTube.
  2. "Code 8 - a film from Robbie & Stephen Amell". Indiegogo.com. Accessed April 2016.
  3. "Jen O". Twitter. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. "Robbie Amell on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  5. "Code 8 - a film from Robbie & Stephen Amell". Indiegogo.com. Accessed April 2016.
  6. Dominic Patten (7 April 2016). "'Arrow' & 'Flash' Villain Crowdfund Superpowers Pic With 'Fast & Furious' Actor". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  7. "Robbie Amell - Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  8. "I directed a short film [Code 8] that is a more grounded and human take on the superpower genre. No costumes. No destroyed skyscrapers. Hope you dig it!". reddit.com. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  9. Code 8 - Indiegogo Campaign Video. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016 – via YouTube.
  10. Furdyk, Brent (March 24, 2016). "Stephen and Robbie Amell To Star In First Film Together — With Your Help". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  11. "CODE 8". Sitges Film Festival. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  12. Liptak, Andrew (28 March 2016). "The Mysterious Code 8 Film Is An Intriguing Crowdfunding Teaser". Gizmodo. Retrieved 17 April 2016.

Further reading
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