Ryan Martin and his boyfriend Nick Celentano have had an extremely busy summer.
In addition to taking full class loads, the senior CU broadcast production major and CSU student collaborated on a film. On Wednesday in the ATLAS building, their mockumentary “Aperture: A Triumph of Science” based on Valve’s “Portal”, premiered.
“Portal” is a video game series for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. Their 22-minute mockumentary, however, specifically centers on the fictional research company featured in the games called Aperture Science. Martin said the film focuses on the company as if it were real.
A still from the opening sequence of the mockumentary. (Courtesy of Ryan Martin and Nick Celentano)
“’Aperture: A Triumph of Science’ explores the company in its prime and talks about the history of the company, the facility, their products and the future,” Martin said. “We brought to life some characters mentioned in the game, but never depicted and some wholly original characters.”
The film’s tone is established immediately with one of Aperture Science’s slogans, “We invented the future.” A laboratory is filmed in an “Arrested Development” style with references to “Portal”, “Futurama” and several other clever things I’m sure I missed.
Even the actors are talented in this incredibly clean student production. Performers artfully deliver lines like, “Our lack of a solid business plan is what separates us from our competitors,” and perform physical comedy flawlessly. Bumbling employees seeing themselves as innovators is a concept anyone can find humor in, even while missing many underlying references.
“The company itself is sort of a joke,” Martin said. “They’re very proud and believe they’re a leader in applied sciences, when they’re really only ever second place at best. They’ve made a lot of products in the past that have been disastrous and uncanny.”
The film premiered for free on campus in conjunction with a midnight premiere on YouTube. Prior to the screening, musician Danielle ate the Sandwich performed a short set in the lobby of the ATLAS Building complete with acoustic ukulele covers of pop songs, some original music, and Danielle Anderson’s “awkward banter between songs,” as she puts it.
Although an indie singer playing ukulele before a movie based on a video game might seem like a juxtaposition, Martin said they both benefitted from sharing an audience.
“Danielle has great talent,” Martin said. “We have been friends for a couple of years now.”
Martin and Celentano made a music video with Anderson several months ago for her song, “Where the Good Ones Go“. Martin said they are also talking about doing a music video with Danielle ate the Sandwich, Bizarre Learning Center and Josh Blackburn before graduation.
The good-natured friendship between them was evident. Anderson sang a jingle for a commercial that is featured in the film and made one of the costumes. She even appears in the film as one of the scientists.
“I think fans of ‘Portal’ will either be really impressed or really angry if things aren’t like they imagined them to be,” Anderson said. “When you’re taking something that exists already, that a big group of people love, and you’re trying to do it justice in your own way, you can get into some trouble. I think most fans of ‘Portal’ will appreciate the effort and will appreciate how seriously these guys took the project.”
As she began her set with a smirk, Anderson said, “I hope you like it enough not to leave. If you do, just take a break, then come back.”
Her first tune entitled “Gone,” was an upbeat song about death. Throughout her performance, the sweet songwriter kept the audience rapt with her deadpan comedy mixed with the silly, funny and frequently sincere song writing.
With lines like, “They are so sexy and they know more about comic books than me / If you don’t come back to me this time,” and “when you are gone you are well spoken”, it was obvious why the crowd was so silent. Still, Anderson’s kept encouraging the audience to get more snacks or talk amongst themselves.
Anderson’s music was lively, captivating and incredibly accessible. It seemed as though Anderson was singing to her friends and family, and it’s very likely she was. She called out several members of the audience by name and joked with them lovingly.
“We love Gaga, she’s the lotion that butters our skin,” Anderson said. “Everyone loves a Gaga metaphor.”
In addition, she managed a stirring cover of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” after an audience member called out a request. Her last song was “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” showcasing her soulful voice.
After the film, the audience called out to the cast and crew, asking them questions. Photographers asked them to stand for photos and Hunter Sard, the film’s prop guy and a scientist in the movie, explained the construction of the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device and the Weighted Companion Cube.
“I’ve always wanted to make something like this,” Sard said. “And these guys asked me to do it. I used my graduation money to buy a 3D printer.”
They credit their crew’s donation of time and energy, in addition to the Technology Arts and Media program.
“ATLAS is a great resource and always has been, from renting equipment to having such nice labs to even filming in the building,” Martin said. “I’ve also used some of what I’ve learned in TAM to create parts of the film and a website to accompany and promote it.”
Once the cast and crew had posed for their photos and bowed together, the audience began lining up to ask them questions, many about the future of the movie.
“It was fun. In its own way it’s a CU film,” Martin said. “We did it on campus this summer and maybe we’ll take it to some film festivals, but we just did it for fun.”
Danielle ate the Sandwich will be at the Laughing Goat on Oct. 16th.
Contact CU Independent Entertainment Editor Anne Robertson at Anne.Robertson@colorado.edu.
