Up-and-coming Regina filmmakers pay tribute to their roots with the help of a video game

REGINA – Breaking into the movie industry can be a grueling task, and one group of post-graduate students working on their first feature film in Regina can definitely relate.

Allan Roeher and Matthieu Belanger are producing “Basic Human Needs” as an expansion of a short film they made in university that won a national award back in 2012.

Roeher said the upcoming movie will be completely based in Regina, which will be obvious to the viewer with notable landmarks visible.

“It’s about a young couple that deals with the most trying week of their young lives,” he added. “A week where a bunch of things clash as they try to become adults.”

The film is part of a national competition called the Indiecan 10K Challenge, put on by Indiecan & Federgreen Entertainment.

Avi Federgreen, president of the companies, said that the film was one of six chosen (out 68 applicants) across Canada; their entry represents Saskatchewan.

“There needs to be more emerging filmmakers given the opportunity to make their first film,” Federgreen added.

As part of the competition, Roeher and Belanger are sponsored and mentored by local industry experts, but they are required to raise $10,000 towards the film’s production.

To raise the funds, they came up with a unique idea: a video game set in Regina.

“The game is sort of a prequel to the movie. It’s the day leading up to the movie,” Belanger explained.

Donors will receive a free download to the “Basic Human Needs” video game.

Players can stroll down College Avenue or Victoria Park, as well as become an actual character in the game.

“Someone sent us, last night, saying that we made their day because they’re from here but have been out of town for a while. They said it reminded them of home,” Belanger said.

The production will begin filming in Regina in July.

To support the film’s production or download the game click here.