First World (film)
Encyclopedia
First World is a 2007 independent science fiction
short film written and produced by Mark Lund
and directed by Adam Starr. This 25 minute short has bypassed the traditional film festival circuit and has been distributed primarily at science fiction conventions in the United States, Japan, Australia and Great Britain. The short is based on a feature length screenplay of the same name and was primarily produced as a promotional tool to secure production of the long version of the story.
discovered a vast and advanced civilization on the Moon
with their first space probes. While this civilization was able to shield itself from all Earth
-based visual detection devices, U.S. President John F. Kennedy
's speech from 1961 that declared the intent to "Put a man on the Moon and return him safely to the Earth" was not designed as a space race with the Soviet Union
, but to secretly establish contact with this newly discovered civilization. This discovery was classified and false images from the Moon were transmitted during all the Apollo missions. When the Earth mission of this new civilization was discovered, political forces demanded that President Richard Nixon
end manned missions to the Moon in 1972. First World commences in the year 2018 when the Chinese
government announces it is making its first manned mission to the Moon within 24 hours. What does this civilization represent? Why was it covered up? Who knows about its existence? What is their mission? And what lengths will some go to protect Earth and our way of life?
. The short was produced entirely in Massachusetts
in the fall of that year with post production finishing in February 2007. Archive footage from President Kennedy and President Ronald Reagan
is used in the production.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short film written and produced by Mark Lund
Mark Lund
Mark Ashton Lund is a writer, publisher, and television analyst who covers figure skating. He is also a film producer.He is the author of Frozen Assets , and was formerly the publisher of International Figure Skating Magazine from its inception in 1993 until 2004, when his company, Ashton...
and directed by Adam Starr. This 25 minute short has bypassed the traditional film festival circuit and has been distributed primarily at science fiction conventions in the United States, Japan, Australia and Great Britain. The short is based on a feature length screenplay of the same name and was primarily produced as a promotional tool to secure production of the long version of the story.
Plot
In the early 1960s NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
discovered a vast and advanced civilization on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
with their first space probes. While this civilization was able to shield itself from all Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
-based visual detection devices, U.S. President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's speech from 1961 that declared the intent to "Put a man on the Moon and return him safely to the Earth" was not designed as a space race with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, but to secretly establish contact with this newly discovered civilization. This discovery was classified and false images from the Moon were transmitted during all the Apollo missions. When the Earth mission of this new civilization was discovered, political forces demanded that President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
end manned missions to the Moon in 1972. First World commences in the year 2018 when the Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
government announces it is making its first manned mission to the Moon within 24 hours. What does this civilization represent? Why was it covered up? Who knows about its existence? What is their mission? And what lengths will some go to protect Earth and our way of life?
Production
Mark Lund wrote the original screenplay for First World in early 2006 when he served as a judge on Skating with CelebritiesSkating with Celebrities
Skating with Celebrities is a celebrity reality television show that began airing on the Fox network on January 18, 2006. The show also aired in Australia on Network Ten in early 2006 and in New Zealand in October 2008. The show was the U.S. version of Dancing on Ice, which also aired in the U.K....
. The short was produced entirely in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the fall of that year with post production finishing in February 2007. Archive footage from President Kennedy and President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
is used in the production.
Cast
- Angelina Spicer as "Secretary of State Elisabeth Seward"
- Jeffrey Phillips as "President Robert Anderson"
- Zebulun Huling as "Cedric"
- Lindy Nettleton as "Prime Minister Allison Colby"
- Mark Lund as "Steven Johnson"
- Marianne Phinney as "Susan Anderson"
- Michael Coppola as "Secret Service Agent"
- Gregg Creeden as "Chief of Staff"
- Steven Dennis as "Secret Service Agent"
- Kristi Drake as "Aide to the Prime Minister"