User:Vlhart/The Mercury Cycle

''The Mercury Cycle is a 2009 independent film written and produced by Vincent Grippi and directed by Cody Hoerig. It is the first feature length film in history to be written and produced by college undergraduate students. The students creating this film have had no outside assistance other than guidance from professors at Quinnipiac University as well as the use of Quinnipiac's video equipment. "Though most are college students, there is nothing amateur about this cast and crew. Hand-held radios are used for communication and shots are meticulously planned."

The film stars Bobby Ceriello, Jessica Merigan, Ted Yudain, David Thomas McLaine, and Jason Scott Upchurch. All are actors from outside of the Quinnipiac University community.

It depicts a college student, David Bushell, who struggles with social anxiety. The film takes viewers on a journey that blurs the line between free will and fate- David struggles to repair his life and defy a future doomed by his own curiosity.

Production
The Mercury Cycle was filmed in 38 days with a budget of $10,000. All $10,000 were fundraised by the film's crew by generous donations and t-shirt sales. Along with filming the movie on weekends, the entire crew had to handle a full course load of classes during the week. "'We all knew it was going to be extremely hard and time consuming,' Hoerig said."

The film was predominantly shot in Hamden, Connecticut at Quinnipiac University and apartments and businesses in the surrounding area, excluding a few scenes which were shot in Cortland Manor, New York.

All music is composed by Quinnipiac undergraduate Alex Busi.

Release
The Mercury Cycle is expected to be completed by November 2009. Once completed, it will be submitted into film festivals nationwide.