The Counter

Insect Room (2013)

Actors: Manuel Nashi (producer), Justin Rang (writer), Justin Rang (director), Justin Rang (editor), Vito Maraula (actor),

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Short,

Misfire (2012)

Actors: Eric Hackler (director), Eric Hackler (writer), Eric Hackler (producer), Eric Hackler (editor), Eric Hackler (actor), Zach Caruso (producer), Zach Caruso (actor), Kara Romanetz (producer), Givanna Robbins (actress), Dan Morgan (composer), Fred Hadden (actor), Heather Zaccaro (actress), Caroline Harvey (actress), Heather Zaccaro (actress), Kyle Kellel (actor),

Plot: Six players are brought to the table by the mysterious Pit Boss. Each have their own motivations for betting their lives on the spin of a pistol chamber. Stanislaw is a religious man who wants to prove God still loves him. After a twist of fate results in surviving a mugging, he wants to test his faith. Achmet is a failed magician rooted in the ideals of deception. His former boss, The Conjurer, disgraces him for failing to take risks to enhance magic. Achmet needs to know if he can pull off these deadly illusions to once again restore his name. He has practiced spinning the chamber to give himself the edge over his opponents. Charles, a psychiatrist with a terminal illness, falls into despair because he cannot understand why his younger brother committed suicide. Years of searching for the truth come up empty-handed. In a desperate attempt to finally gain some closure, Charles needs to face death himself. Ivan, a skilled and intelligent thief, is blackmailed by the Governor to steal evidence of the Governor's crimes. It all goes according to plan until Ivan reads the notes. He decides the evidence is too damning to be covered up. Before he can escape, Ivan is caught and tortured for over a year by the sadistic Jailer. He's offered his freedom if he wins at Russian Roulette. Theodor was once a world-class poker player, but quickly lost it all. He lives as a ghost to his former self, haunted by his continuous losing. Theodor needs to find out why he's been failing, and is convinced if he ups the stakes high enough, he will win. August rose from a naive prostitute to high-powered madame in just a few short years. Rejected by her family and HIV-positive, she strives to make sure those around her don't repeat her mistakes. With only a few months left to live and the hope of an experimental treatment, August enters the game needing to know if life is worth living. Each round, the fewer and fewer survivors get closer to their goals. In the end, only one will be left alive, but will any of them actually get what they need?

Keywords: desperation, having-something-to-die-for, having-something-to-live-for, motivation, russian-roulette
Genres: Thriller,
Taglines: What Do You Have To Live For?

Quotes:

Stanislaw: But Father, the only reason I was stabbed was because I chose a different route home than usual and by some misfortune, happened to pass the church at that time. How am I to know which chance God was controlling?

Achmet: What are you going to do? Shoot me?::The Conjurer: Yeah. Catch.

Theodor: Don't tell me you need the money. I don't care. I need the win.

Theodor: But this... this is Russian Roulette. Actual, live-bullet Russian Roulette. The fascination... how can I pass this up?

Charles: I can't live with not knowing.

The Conjurer: And hey, if I die - at least this will still be entertaining, right?

August: [the Gun] is heavier than I expected.::Stanislaw: There's more weight on it than usual tonight.::Ivan: Yeah, a lot more.::Theodor: It's the weight of your life. What do you have that's worth dying for? You wouldn't be here if that weight wasn't pressing down on your shoulders.

Charles: What are you thinking?::Theodor: How I should hold it.::August: Depends. Open or closed casket.

Theodor: You know they say that only works in movies.::Achmet: Well with practice, anything works.::Theodor: And what about the things you can't practice?::Achmet: Like hanging yourself?::Theodor: Or putting a gun to your head.

Charles: You've worked the numbers.::Ivan: We all have. 16 percent the first round. Slightly more as each person's eliminated. By the end, there's a three-sixths chance::Theodor: Of what?::Ivan: Survival.::Achmet: Death.::Theodor: Glass half full. Glass half empty. Either way, fifty percent? I've bet with worse odds.::Charles: And lost?::Theodor: And won,

Red Asphalt (2010)

Actors: Jesse Gale (editor), Jesse Gale (actor), Jesse Gale (actor), Joel Jutagir (actor), Joel Jutagir (actor), Joel Jutagir (actor), Joel Jutagir (director), Joel Jutagir (producer), Taylor Kennedy (actor), Daniel DuBois (actor), Shawn Lloyd (actor), Corey Duffel (actor), Shawn Lloyd (actor), Daniel DuBois (actor), Corey Duffel (actor),

Genres: Sport,