Hempstead Lake State Park Sets Scene For Short Film

If you found out the world was ending, what would you say to the person you love in your final moments together?

This was the question explored in a short film, "Till the End," shot earlier this month in in West Hempstead.

It's one of two movies that were recently filmed in the scenic location, both written by local man Steve Strangio, who many of you know from Strangio, who received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Hofstra University, has written and produced 14 short films and 20 stage plays. He was also a writer for 15 years for Cracked magazine. His credits also include many T.V. shows and he even produced several pilots for NBC.

Patch recently sat down with the screenwriter to learn more about his latest creation and to find out how he would react if the Apocalypse was actually approaching.

Patch: What was your inspiration for this film?

Strangio: It seems like the theme of “End Times” is all around us, so I wanted to know how people would react to it and also what you would say to the person you loved if you knew you only had a few moments to do it.

Patch: Can you tell us a little more about the characters: How old are they? How long have they been together? And how do they know the world is going to end?

Strangio: The choice to make them teenagers (around 13 years or so) was pitched to me by the film’s director Deborah Cascio.  I originally had the characters in their mid-to-late twenties. However, when Deb told me that she wanted them to be young teens, I thought that it was a brilliant stroke.  Here is this young couple who has just discovered what love really is, and now they only have a few moments to truly experience it. The plotline of the world ending was implied and they already knew it was coming. If it was really coming or was just the end of “their world” is a choice I wanted the viewer to make.

Patch: In the film we hear the characters' voices but their mouths never move. Why did you choose to film it this way?

Strangio: That was a choice by the director and I didn’t find out about it until my first viewing. Deb was concerned if I’d like it and I was totally on board with the idea after viewing it. “Hearing” the thoughts of the main characters gave this film a poetic flair that “normal” dialogue couldn’t achieve. Maybe the conversation already happened and we are now privy to their last moments. I feel that there are many ways to interpret this.

Patch: Why did you choose Hempstead Lake State Park as your location? What did you like about filming here?

Strangio: This location was chosen by Deborah Cascio and Ted Plezia.Ted shot the footage and got some amazing shots. To me, this actually feels like a foreign film with the attention to visuals and pacing. The lake location was written into the film, but they chose the actual location. I felt that this type of scene needed to be near a serene location and by the water. Most people always seem to be at peace by the water because of the calmness it creates.  So my advice is to just relax while watching this and take in the moments as they happen.

Patch: What do you hope or think viewers will take away from this?

Strangio: Tell the person you love that you love them or you may never get the chance. Whatever happens…happens.

Patch: If the world were to end tomorrow where would you spend your final minutes?

Strangio: I’d grab my girlfriend, get a bottle of wine, and toast a damn good life!

Credits

"Til the End" was shot and edited by Ted Plezia, produced and directed by Deborah Plezia, and stars Hailey Reese and Thaddeus Plezia. Strangio wrote the script and served as executive producer. For more information about his projects visit HappySaturdays.com