This last weekend, we have celebrated Shawn Welling's latest film release at WorldFest Houston Film Festival. And so far, it's been a blast!
If you've been to a WorldFest event, the chances are likely that you've heard Hunter Todd rattle off the impressive list of names, filmmakers whose careers started with a premiere or an award (or both) at WorldFest. The name Shawn Welling might be added to that list, as he has won numerous awards from this festival, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Feature. "The Last Astronaut" has already been nominated for a Remi Award for Live Action and had previously won a Gold Remi for Best Screenplay!
So what is this movie about?
"The Last Astronaut" focuses on two best friends, Luna Rigel and Naomi Portman, and their encounter with an alien astronaut, Evena, who comes to Earth to try to find proof of intelligent life. Essentially, this story is about two best friends trying to prove that aliens do exist, despite public claims and the CIA's efforts to stop the girls from spreading the truth.
Who are the main characters in The Last Astronaut?
Eva Igo stars as the alien astronaut, Evena, who has come to Earth for her race to find a new home. If the planet has intelligent life, then it will not be terraformed.
Preslee Tucker and Chloe Klitus play the two best friends, Luna Rigel and Naomi Portman respectively.
Hollywood star and actor, Darrin Dewitt Henson, plays General James Rex, the leading CIA investigator and interrogator for Luna and Naomi's case.
What was so special about the making of this film?
This is the director's first time using computer generated imagery (CGI) for this space-y movie. Shawn found his graphic inspiration from space classics, such as X-Files, 2001 Space Odyssey, and Close Encounters. Meanwhile, Duncan Johnson was Shawn's Director of Photography throughout the making of this film. Together, the two men have created an extraordinary film with beautiful cinematography, excellent acting, and even an epic fight scene in "The Last Astronaut". This film is also Shawn Welling's first collaboration with Deep Water Productions, a motion picture group based in Houston,TX founded by Derek H. Potts.
"The special effects were spectacular," movie goer, Cindy, says. "I loved the concept of an alien astronaut," another viewer, Peyton, says. "We have astronauts who fly out to other planets, why couldn't extra-terrestrials?"
The making of this movie was dedicated to Miriam Esther Goldman, the screenwriter and Welling Films family member who tragically passed away last year.
The Last Astronaut was filmed on site in Houston, South Texas, and San Luis Obispo, CA.
The WorldFest 2019 Film Festival showed the last screening of The Last Astronaut on Sunday, April 14th at 7 PM .
