A STORY OF REVENGE, DRUGS AND MONEY
Based on the novel by Frederic Donner, “To Die To Sleep Perchance To Dream”
Inspired By True Events
All is not as it seems in the 1980s in drug fueled Colombia as love, money and violence collide.
View the trailer of Donner’s short film, “PERCHANCE”
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View the trailer of Donner’s short film, “PERCHANCE”
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Accolades for “Perchance”
THE CAST
Jason Millner
as Jude Simeone
Millner is a writer, actor, director, and
producer. Most recently, in post
production is Hungry Dog Blues which
he wrote, directed, and played the
lead role (2021).
Noel Calcaterra
as Maria Castano
Calcaterra is a singer, actress, and dancer
originally from Uruguay. Her numerous theater
credits include Chicago, West Side Story, and
Alchemy. Recent film credits include three works
in post production: The Last Immortal, The War
Necklace, and Endless Passion (2021).
Ranko Knafel
as El Ingeniero
Knafel is an actor and producer known
for Shark Bait (2017) and Sending To
The Sea (2019).
Supporting Cast
Machete Miguel …. Michael Ochotorena
Double Barrel Diego …. Jesse Murphy
Assault Rifle Armando …. Jay Alfonso Lopez
Broken Nose Bernardo …. Fred Donner
Fist as Fact Fredo …. Nick Prinsipe
The Creative Team behind PERCHANCE
Frederic Donner
Writer / Director
Jeff Stanley
Producer / Editor
Also Including:
First Assistant Director …. Angela Houston
Director of Photography …. Alex Mitchell
Assistant Camera …. Matt Herbert
Gaffer …. Craig Flemming
Gaffer …. Scott Benjamin
Production Sound Recordist …. Jeff Brach
Key Makeup Artist …. Mary Wright
Props Master …. Steve Rioux
Promotions & Media Manager …. Rachel Karls-Gomes
Executive Producer …. Carla Rexrode
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
The five-fold process to create the film was unique. The book, the vintage book trailer, the live action book trailer, the script and the film.
First, the vintage book trailer was created from archived news footage of Tom Brokaw. Eighteen months later we shot a key scene from the story with a live action book trailer where the main character, Judas Carlito Simeone is confronted about his identity as an undercover agent for the FBI. Two more years elapsed, and I was determined and needed to see the story continue. I wrote a script to shoot scenes that linked the vintage book trailer and the live action book trailer to create a complete short film. The use of the vintage footage immediately cements that the story is real. Then it felt essential to craft the story with the visual edge to gritty realism. In the drug transaction itself I asked the actors to draw upon the knowledge that life is precious but precarious at the same exact moment. I tried to draw on the inspiration of Sergio Leone and the dramatic Spaghetti Western feel for the dusty, dangerous, and tense scene. The counterpoint to the danger and violence had to be carefully balanced with the beauty and vocal talent of the female lead who is crosscut into the action as she sings on a nightclub stage. The love and conflict between them are completed with courageous acting but minimal dialogue.
The scene has been set, and the tension has built; the viewer is vested in our Anti-hero. Drawing upon Shakespeare’s dual concept of “Dream” the viewer is rudely awakened when, “El Ingenero” with scalpel at the ready will inform the hero that he has been kidnapped and his identity as an FBI Agent is known. Left scarred and identified will he still be loved? The end has them just a finger touch apart, as a cigarette smolders in an ashtray. An apt visual metaphor for a film crafted to be complete in its own standing, but also serve as a prequel. Can they reunite? Can Maria Castano, a Colombian beauty, still love a man who is scarred physically and mentally?
I enjoy making films that show a dark side to the human story, but there is always love. For all stories are at some level, Love Stories. I was honored and humbled to be a part of team that created this film.
ABOUT THE BOOK
PERCHANCE is a short film based on the book: “To Die to Sleep Perchance to Dream”. Fred’s insight as an undercover FBI Agent and his ability to bring his lead character to life creates dramatic tension as Judas Carlito Simeone battles a Colombian drug cartel, falls in love, and is captured and tortured. Set in South America, as well as the U.S., the full feature film will be a love story set against a backdrop plagued with corruption, power, and retribution.
In “To Die to Sleep Perchance to Dream” the protagonist battles his deformities, his illness and his own organization to correct wrongs and help set things right. To correct these injustices, he sways along the invisible lines of right and wrong, and good and evil.
The story follows the lives of a pack of interesting characters Jude (Judas Carlito Simeone), an undercover FBI agent; his girlfriend Maria Castaño, a Colombian beauty; and Neats (Netio Alicirra), Simeone’s friend and Colombian informant are the characters that live the tragedies and successes of Colombian U.S. drug trafficking.
“To Die to Sleep Perchance to Dream” is a seamless blend of a highly relevant controversial plot about the problems of drug trafficking, corruption and incompetence in the U.S. and in the world. This story is bursting with action-oriented mystery and religious allegory.
Perfectly backed by Donner’s solid firsthand experiences in the Bureau, it is no ordinary novel. It is an eye opener and shows us that The Government will take any measure, legal or illegal, to protect the interests of the United States of America while, oftentimes, personal motives take precedence.
About Frederic Donner
Fred is the author of the books and co-writer in the screenplays. Frederic Donner is a retired 20-year Veteran Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has primarily worked in anti-narcotic and counter terrorism efforts in undercover capacities in many cities around the United States and the world. Special Agent Donner has been responsible for a number of major investigations and is a Special Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) team leader.