South of 8

South of 8 is a 2016 American crime drama heist film written and directed by Tony Olmos in his directorial debut. The film stars Brian Patrick Butler, George Jac, Jennifer Paredes, Kathryn Schott, Raye Richards and won Best Dramatic Screenplay at the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival in 2016.

Plot
San Diego in the 2040s has unemployment and crime at an all time high. Government surveillance, mass poverty and drought has decimated much of the population. Economic divide has caused society to be on the brink of another Great Depression in the United States.

Victor Vasquez (George Jac) is released from prison and subsequently forms a group called "The Vanishers" with Ryan Bertrand (Brian Patrick Butler) and Lori Randolph (Kathryn Schott). In disguise, Bertrand is a bank robber, Vasquez is the getaway driver and Randolph is a hacker who disrupts surveillance drones scouting the area. After conducting several heists, the group lays low for a while. Vasquez meets Emma (Jennifer Paredes) who wants him to leave the life of crime, but "The Vanishers" are in too deep with Lt. Armando Harris (Shane P. Allen), a detective closing in on them.

After a case of mistaken identity, Bertrand hires a mercenary named Benji (Luke Pensabene) and a thief named Lola 5 (Raye Richards), the last surviving member of a group of women vigilantes known as "The Lolas." They take on more banks, and come across Johannes Koppel (Michael C. Burgess), a diamond merchant who seeks to exact revenge on the group. The group retreats to a safe house with Emma.

Cast

 * Brian Patrick Butler as Ryan Bertrand
 * George Jac as Victor Vasquez
 * Jennifer Paredes as Emma
 * Kathryn Schott as Lori Randolph
 * Raye Richards as Lola 5
 * Luke Anthony Pensabene as Benji
 * Shane P. Allen as Lt. Armando Harris
 * Michael C. Burgess as Johannes Koppel

Production
Originally intended to be a short film, Tony Olmos said the idea of the story was if past gangsters had existed in the future. Principal photography occurred in San Diego County, including Ramona, with a local cast and crew and a $9,000 budget. Filming and editing was completed in a span of 18 months and the film is Olmos' directorial debut.

Ryan Binse, George Jac and Luke Pensabene produced the film  and Sergio Corona composed the score with Olmos. Musical artists that contributed to the soundtrack include Freedom Fries, Mother Mary Mood, Somerset Barnard and Spero.

Release
South of 8 premiered on September 26, 2016 at the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival and later screened at San Diego Film Week before being distributed by MultiVisionnaire Pictures.

Critical response
Emilie Black of Cinema Crazed said the film has potential citing "the story, directing, acting, and music are good" but also noted it had "framing, lighting, and focus issues". Meeta Borah at Sportskeeda said it is an "action-packed dystopian movie like Badland Hunters."

Crossover
Olmos expanded this universe in his follow up film; the comedy horror Continuance premiered at Shockfest on December 10, 2021.