For those of you who don’t know, Jay Cheel is the director of the Genie nominated documentary Beauty Day, a film that focuses on the life and antics of one Ralph Zavadil, perhaps better known as Cap’n Video. But Jay, no longer shackled with an ego that thinks he can only cover subjects who think setting their face on fire is funny, has now decided to move onto a subject just brimming with possibilities, time travel. But don’t take my word for it:
For years I’ve been exploring the subject and talking to people – from science fiction fans to physicists – who are as intrigued as I am. My film will explore all aspects of time travel (which is theoretically possible!) but the core will be the tale of John Titor.
HOW TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE will be a genre-bending, true life sci fi mystery that will tell John Titor’s story through interviews with the incredible web of people who were drawn into it, and through a recreation of his journey.
To help Jay with this project, the Canadian Documentary Film Festival Hot Docs has selected How to Build a Time Machine as its inaugural selection for its crowd funding campaign Doc Ignite, a program designed to help filmmaker’s raise money for their projects. In How to Build a Time Machine’s case it will be to help pay for actors, costumes, props and locations. I mean, flying Reed Farrington out to CERN doesn’t come cheap. And to help convince you that giving a miscreant like Jay your hard earned greenbacks is a good idea, Jay has cut this promo trailer with some of the footage for the upcoming film.
But really, how hard of a sell do you need to help support a documentary on time travel?
How to Build a Time Machine – Doc Ignite Campaign Video from Jay Cheel on Vimeo.
And if you still aren’t sold, check out Jay’s student film Obsessed & Scientific, when he first starts to explore time travel in the documentary format. This is just a taste of what will be in store for you.
