The State Story Intention
The story poses a question: Can love survive in a genetically engineered, sterile world? I believe the answer is yes. Love, even when suppressed and supposedly erased from consciousness, will always find a way to reveal itself. In the world of The State, love is like a blade of grass pushing its way up from beneath a landscape of concrete, glass, and steel. It’s the irrepressible glue that binds us all together, bridging personalities, languages, and borders.
Synopsis
ADAM Gard is a dedicated officer for the Ministry of Moral Observance and Standards (D-MOS) in a dystopian society where emotions and personal connections are heavily regulated. Adam, though highly competent, feels increasingly disillusioned with the sterile, oppressive world he enforces. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets LIVIA TAG, a brilliant but introverted art restorer who is unknowingly marked as a natural birth—an anomaly in their controlled society. Initially drawn to Livia out of curiosity and duty, Adam finds himself fascinated by her quiet strength and independence, qualities that challenge his ingrained beliefs.
As he becomes more involved with her, Adam begins to question the very system he upholds. Their growing bond, although fraught with tension and misunderstanding, awakens emotions in Adam that he never allowed himself to feel, pushing him toward a dangerous path of rebellion. Livia, too, struggles with the forbidden feelings Adam stirs in her, as her carefully constructed world starts to unravel. The two navigate their forbidden connection amidst increasing scrutiny from Adam’s colleagues, especially TEVIS, his loyal but concerned partner. As Adam’s obsession with Livia deepens, he makes a series of reckless decisions, ultimately sacrificing his career and life to protect her. Livia, who evolves from a cold, analytical figure to someone deeply affected by Adam’s love and sacrifice, finds herself alone in a foreign land, carrying the weight of his legacy and the forbidden love that changed them both forever.
The World
Global warming, rising sea levels, and a series of wars have reshaped the world, halting the technological progress everyone assumed humankind would achieve. A millennium has passed, and the remaining nations have become isolationist and paranoid. Unlike cyberpunk, the technology in the world of our story is not as advanced as it is today, with communication and computer systems reminiscent of the 1980s. However, there are one or two technological elements that surpass our current capabilities, indicating that this story is set in a distant yet ravaged future. Global health scares involving pathogens running rampant in overpopulated countries dominate the headlines, striking fear in the hearts of the more technologically advanced nations. The unscrupulous, faceless governmental body in The State exploits this news to calm and control the population.
The State Story Intention
The story poses a question: Can love survive in a genetically engineered, sterile world? I believe the answer is yes. Love, even when suppressed and supposedly erased from consciousness, will always find a way to reveal itself. In the world of The State, love is like a blade of grass pushing its way up from beneath a landscape of concrete, glass, and steel. It’s the irrepressible glue that binds us all together, bridging personalities, languages, and borders.
Synopsis
ADAM Gard is a dedicated officer for the Ministry of Moral Observance and Standards (D-MOS) in a dystopian society where emotions and personal connections are heavily regulated. Adam, though highly competent, feels increasingly disillusioned with the sterile, oppressive world he enforces. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets LIVIA TAG, a brilliant but introverted art restorer who is unknowingly marked as a natural birth—an anomaly in their controlled society. Initially drawn to Livia out of curiosity and duty, Adam finds himself fascinated by her quiet strength and independence, qualities that challenge his ingrained beliefs.
As he becomes more involved with her, Adam begins to question the very system he upholds. Their growing bond, although fraught with tension and misunderstanding, awakens emotions in Adam that he never allowed himself to feel, pushing him toward a dangerous path of rebellion. Livia, too, struggles with the forbidden feelings Adam stirs in her, as her carefully constructed world starts to unravel. The two navigate their forbidden connection amidst increasing scrutiny from Adam’s colleagues, especially TEVIS, his loyal but concerned partner. As Adam’s obsession with Livia deepens, he makes a series of reckless decisions, ultimately sacrificing his career and life to protect her. Livia, who evolves from a cold, analytical figure to someone deeply affected by Adam’s love and sacrifice, finds herself alone in a foreign land, carrying the weight of his legacy and the forbidden love that changed them both forever.
The World
Global warming, rising sea levels, and a series of wars have reshaped the world, halting the technological progress everyone assumed humankind would achieve. A millennium has passed, and the remaining nations have become isolationist and paranoid. Unlike cyberpunk, the technology in the world of our story is not as advanced as it is today, with communication and computer systems reminiscent of the 1980s. However, there are one or two technological elements that surpass our current capabilities, indicating that this story is set in a distant yet ravaged future. Global health scares involving pathogens running rampant in overpopulated countries dominate the headlines, striking fear in the hearts of the more technologically advanced nations. The unscrupulous, faceless governmental body in The State exploits this news to calm and control the population.
Creative Team
NATALIYA PADILLA
Producer
Nataliya Padilla (Tishkina) is a Ukrainian award-winning director and producer who recently resides and works in Los Angeles, USA. She is a highly educated professional graduated with Master Degree from leading filmmaking schools such as New York Film Academy and UCLA. She also has a Master Degree in Business from the University of Strathclyde, UK . Nataliya has a rich blend of experience in both television production and broadcasting, and is also an avid photographer.
Her awards include: Best Female Filmmaker ( Rahway International Film Festival), Best Director (International Independent Film Award), Best Filmmaker ( Westfield International Film Festival), Best Filmmaker ( Women’s Independent Film Festival), Best Director (LA Indie Film Festival)
RAY ELLINGSEN
Producer
Ray Ellingsen began his film career in 1987 as a writer. He has since gone on to pursue numerous aspects of filmmaking, from directing and producing, to supervising post production of feature films, documentaries, and commercials. In 1999, Ellingsen helped form the motion picture entertainment company, Ugly Old Bird Productions, which produced multiple film and video projects during its five years of doing business.
Ellingsen moved to Arizona in 2005 to manage the largest motion picture film studio in the state of Arizona, Hollywood-Phoenix Film Studios. Within a year, Ellingsen brought in three feature films, numerous commercials, as well as a television series for the studio to produce. Ellingsen left the studio and moved back to Los Angeles to further his filmmaking career.
To date, Ellingsen has written and directed two documentaries and a feature film, along with a multitude of commercial, instructional and industrial projects. He has also produced nine feature films and over 30 video and commercial projects, with two feature films currently in development.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Moving Pictures Media Group
Moving Pictures Media Group, also known as MPMG, is a production company founded for motion picture, television, and internet content. MPMG provides a full suite of services to assist independent filmmakers, production companies and investors in the development, production, post-production, distribution, and marketing of their projects. Managing Director and Chief Creative Officer, Michael Minkler is a three-time Academy Award winner for his outstanding work on Black Hawk Down, Chicago, and Dreamgirls. A seasoned professional who has collaborated on over 200 projects with Hollywood’s elite directors, his most recent works include the Academy Award winning film, The Hateful Eight, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Chief Legal and Operations Officer, Ron Takehara, has a wide range of legal experience in the entertainment industry, from high profile cases involving motion picture and television industry litigation, to representing entertainment production companies, television networks, actors, stunt men and women, and screenwriters.
SOCIAL MEDIA