March 11th, 2010 by Editor

Highly reveredMarvel Comicwriting legendGreg Pak— who likely has the type of career that would make legions of geeks break down and weep tears of absolute joy if they could walk just one mile in his footsteps – has garnered equal praise for his collection of screenplays and particularly 2003’sRobot Storieswhich was featured at theSlamdance Film Festival. The compelling flick consists of four stories, includingMy Robot Baby,The Robot Fixer,Machine LoveandClay, whichsurprise,surprise, all revolve around the challenges faced by humans as they attempt to navigate a wild wacky world of androids both at the workplace and in the home. Well, critics are now applauding his latest effort, calledMister Green, the subject of which smacks entirely of Ecorazzi goodness.

Part of Independent Television Service’sFuture States, which is “a series of 11 fictional mini-features exploring possible future scenarios through the lens of today’s global realities,”Pak’s self-written and directed 15+ minute tale explores what happens when an unwitting governmental test subject is hurled head first into a very unnerving and highly experimental program designed to put the kibosh on global warming.

Taking place in a future world that none of us hope to ever see in our lifetime, global warming has resulted in Bostonwintersthat are 87 degrees, the entirely submerged status of Venice, Italy and the restoration ofManhattanto its canal-like origins.  ActorTim Kang, who plays undersecretary for the Department of Global WarmingMason Park, informs everyone attending theBiosphere Climate Change Expothat earth is at a point of no return and that they should all feel personally responsible. With no more budget available to launch aggressive climate initiatives, a frustrated Park ends up falling into the comforting arms of a fellow classmate and scientific colleague,Dr. Gloria Holtzer, portrayed by actressBetty Gilpin. Oh…but there’s just one tid bit of information that he’s not privy to. She’s happens to work for an eco-tech company that has masterminded an evil plan to deal with the far-reaching effects of climate change – and whenParkwakes up the next morning, he realizes that he is drawn into an entirely new world that is completely alien to him. One night stands can sometimes be a bitch.

Of his process,Paksays: “In terms of storytelling, my literary and filmmaking heroes are people likeRay Bradbury,Lloyd Alexander,Octavia Butler,Kurt Vonnegut,Akira Kurosawa,Billy Wilder, andHayao Miyazaki— folks who combine big, big ideas, mind-bending genre hijinks, and a deeply humanistic worldview in which compelling characters grapple with some fundamental human experience and emotional truth. I think I’ve also been compelled by writers and filmmakers who haven’t given in to cynicism and who actually have something to say. I’m in the business of escapist entertainment. But I’d argue that the greatest escapist literature doesn’t just let us avoid our problems; it gives us a safe space to explore new ways to deal with our real world challenges.”

Are you sufficiently intrigued?Mister Greenwill be premiering atSouth by Southweston March 14^thin Austin, Texas, but if you aren’t planning on attending that festival, feel free to check out the flick in its entirety from the comfort of your own computer screen! You can thank us later

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