DIRECTOR’S Q&A
With Writer, Director, Producer, Editor D.J. Rivera
What is Torrent about?
The film looks at the ability to hack the brain, which is not a new concept. Humans have been “Hacking” the brain in different ways since the beginning of time. The definition of hacking refers to gaining information from a system without authorization. Essentially, the act is deceiving the system that it needs to give you the information. This is very similar to the deception and interrogation tactics humans use to gain information out of people. Violence, torture, seduction are all effective ways to trick a system into giving unauthorized information. From threatening the death of another to a persuasive pitch, all these methods can get the most defended brain to cave. These are all ways of tricking the system into thinking it needs to give up the information. Now imagine when the assistance of technology enters the game. That’s what Torrent is about.
What was your inspiration for the film?
I wanted to explore the dark side of tech escalation and I wanted to do it in a way that hadn’t been done before. In a world of smartphones, smart houses, Siri this and Alexa that, I wanted to give people a glimpse into a world where the gap between the mind and the computer no longer existed. I wanted people to leave really grasping the potential of that theory and the impact it would have on everything.
How did the film get off the ground? What was the process of getting the film made?
It was 4 years of starts and stops, we utilized skeleton crews and whatever location we could get our hands on. This production was the definition of indie; better yet it redefined what it means to be Indie. Whatever we had we made work for the script.
I pitched the idea of a world where your thoughts, dreams, ideas, and secrets could all be stolen with the simple click of a button, a world where the gap between the mind and the computer no longer existed. Two of my colleagues from Business school, Javy and Cesar, thought the idea was a game changer. Not only did they both volunteer to help get it off the ground, Javy was inspired to create the infamous helmet seen throughout the film and the eye gif used in promotions. The next day I wrote the script’s first draft.
I casted the film in 2013 and began shooting in late 2013. Everything that could of gone wrong did, from lack of funding, broken promises and just all around bad luck. Due to everyone’s crazy schedule and the lack of resources, we had a lot of time in between shoot days. Each scene was shot in one day. It was a true testament to everyone’s skill, passion, and patience.
After production was completed a lot of the battle was to come in Post. I spent a better part of a year learning to perfect my skills in VFX, Color correction and sound design to achieve everything I wanted for the final cut of the film.
I devoted almost all my time to this film. Kept focusing on the goal. I kept seeing the movie play over and over again in my head. Kept preparing, Kept, planning, kept practicing; everything was about finishing what I started no matter what.
Torrent’s world exists in a future where the gap between the mind and computer no longer exists, what does that mean?
We live in a world that’s constantly evolving. VR, computer brain interfaces, the technology is there and is coming at an exponential rate. All this points to one day being able to link our brains to our computer. And we may not even need a helmet or cord to do so, maybe just a Wi-Fi connection or Bluetooth? Or maybe all we need to do is give up information like we already are. We already have programs learning our purchasing habits, our song preferences, and storing our sensitive information. The world is steadily being terra formed for programs. Rock and dirt are literally exploded out of the earth to make room for Miles of fiber optic cable so it can improve the efficiency of all kinds of programs, algorithms, whatever. You’ve got acres of server warehouses to make connections faster and store more data. Cyber defense programs, cyber weapons, these are the new tools of war and are in high demand for the dangers that exist in cyberspace. So with the gap closing, your mind’s will in be just as vulnerable as a computer is today. We are constantly seeing emails, pictures and cloud data hacked. Translate that to the future when we are using technology for literally everything. If a song, movie, or document is taken with the click of a button, what’s to stop bank account numbers, ideas, and secrets from being stolen? It’s inevitable and if we don’t prepare ourselves for it we are in for a new kind of terror.
This is one of the few Sci-Fi Films where a lot of the key figures, with cast and crew, are Latino. Speak a little bit about that.
It wasn’t planned out that way at all. It just sort of happened. Cesar, who was in the film, did our choreography and stunt work, which we didn’t have a lot in but that just allowed us to perfect it and make sure everyone was safe. Javier helped out from graphic design, SEO, marketing, and he was always willing to help out on set. Neither of these guys has a film background so it showcases their talent and skill at doing just about anything under the proper direction. Justin came in real late in the game and he was fresh out of acting school. So the fact that he was able to kick it into gear very quickly shows a lot of potential.
As for myself being the writer, director, producer, and editor, it feels good to represent for the Puerto Rican community as well as Latinos all over the world within the realms of Sci-Fi and Indie filmmaking. We hope to gain a reputation for being faster, sharper game changers. Hopefully we can start a trend and collaborate with other talented Hispanics within the industry.
But all in all, everyone in our cast and crew worked really well together. I hope and look forward to working with all of them again, and hopefully I can pay them this time.
Siren, Zed, and Chariot are very complex and layered characters. How did they come about?
I always love in films the heist and the players that go along with it. In this film they are a team of agents that are after information. They all have their own special set of skills and dynamic to bring to the group. The Recon Man breaks the subjects defenses. The Infiltration expert finds the best route to the information, mostly by getting the subject to give in very quickly. And The Extraction tech gathers all the intel and makes a clean getaway. These agents, Siren, Zed and Chariot represent how authority is enforced and information is gathered which later turns to leverage, then inevitably into control. They are based on violence, sex, and loss; three of the best methods for coercing people to your agenda.
Describe the casting process?
Casting was a crazy process and very unconventional. We casted Jimmy Dempster through a video and after scheduling issues he was cast.
Casting Siren was difficult because we had so many amazing actresses try out for the role. In the end Amber’s talent, range, and confidence made her the easy choice for the film’s leading lady.
Jared actually tried out for all the male parts extremely well. He memorized all the lines in matter of minutes. That was really impressive especially due to his lack of experience in film. In the end no one but him could play Zed.
Casting Castor was a nightmare. The original actor casted dragged his feet and inevitably decided he couldn’t handle the role. This set production back and forced delays, schedule changes, and a lot of unwanted stress. Thankfully Amber recommended M. Quinones from her acting class to play the role. He showed up day one ready to be water boarded. As a director, you really can’t ask for more. ‘
David Raizor and David Rose had worked with me on a previous film and were eager to work with me again.
Michele is our walk off Homerun in this scenario. She came in after most of the postproduction process had been completed. I had made her a video of several A.I.’s depicted in other films and she was able to translate that into bringing the program to life. Her presence is greatly felt even though you never see her on camera.
I couldn’t be more proud of the cast’s performance, perseverance, and enthusiasm through this film process. They all criminally underrated and I am thankful to have worked with them.
The film is told from different perspectives and at different at different stages of the programs process, Why did you decide to tell the story this way?
The film is done from the perspectives of each set of characters. The agents pitch to the boss, the players involved in the game and the program that analyzes it all to see just how quickly the digital age could be mankind’s last. To see how each of these character’s comprehend the situation gives the audience a better idea on how to go forward and open their eyes a bit wider as to what’s going on.
I think it's important to see things from different perspectives. I wanted people to see this and not only question the escalation of technology, but also human behavior and its effects on the evolution of technology.
How was the film shot?
The film was shot on various Canon DSLR cameras. A Canon 5D Mk II, Canon 5D Mk III a Canon 7D and, Canon 60D with one sequence shot on a GoProHero3. We used whatever lenses we could get our hands on. There were times we had Dolly’s, Jibs, and $1,000 dollar Tripods. Then sometimes we had to go handheld. Then there were times where we had a three-camera setup. It was always different but we learned to find ways to make it all match up in the end.
Because of the lapse in time between shoot days we ended up using 4 different cinematographers including myself. Daniel Guadalupe did the soundstage scene and the mission-briefing scene. Kyle McDowell did the outside of the cell scene and the Conversation between Macclin & Costigan. Trent Arrant handled Siren’s Interrogation scene and the Eccerson Tech live promos. I handled the Cell, the white room, Sirens entrance, and Zed’s home invasion. Because I was heavily involved in the shooting process we were always able to keep the style with what we wanted while making sure the footage flowed consistently.
What is your favorite scene in the film?
Honestly every scene in the film is my favorite because of how many times we had to throw out the playbook and start from scratch. It was truly a great process to go through for your first feature. You learn skills and abilities you’d never thought you had and when a crisis comes, you become all “Try Me” as opposed to “Why me?”
How long was the shoot? Where did you shoot?
The production was sporadically shot over 3 years. It was all one-day shoots, meaning every scene was shot in one day; sometimes we shot two scenes in a day or one scene and part of another. Every time we went out we only had a skeleton crew, sometimes it was just an actor, a cam op, and myself running around grabbing shots where we could. We had to use precision timing and surgical skill to pull off these scenes in the small window we had to get them done. We shot on various soundstages and locations in the central Florida area.
Why did the locations play such an important role in the film?
The locations were very important because they were never what we expected. We constantly were shooting a section of a room or a hallway of one building then going somewhere else and shooting the outside scene and just hoping it would all come together later in post. We were forced to adapt and overcome a lot when it came to locations
Eccerson Tech studios and Siren’s Cyber defense building is a combination of soundstages and news broadcast training facility. His talk show and interviews were done on a new set and weather green screen. Siren’s Interrogation room was a real conundrum. We were promised a conference room, then a soundstage and then told we were out of luck. I told the guy I’m pulling everything out of your office and putting a table, one overhead light and I’m shooting as long as I want. He had no choice but to comply to redeem himself and further avoid my wrath.
Both scenes in houses are actually in real people’s homes. The offsite location was from our classmate who wanted to help. The other was a different story. The Location Scout had messed up and lost one of the locations last minute. So I then proceeded to take over his parent’s living room as Eccerson’s house. I put plastic everywhere to make it look like a potential murder scene, but also to make sure we didn’t mess anything up too bad.
The Conversation from Macclin to Costigan was shot at a hotel in one night with a cam op, DP and myself. We shot all over the hotel and had to be done before sunrise.
So the location process was always changing, coming down to the wire, and a challenge in adaptability as well as storytelling. For my first feature it definitely helped establish a skill set that sets me apart for most filmmakers.
As the film’s writer, what do you think the essence of the film and its characters are about?
Mankind’s weakness for vices and its ignorance is bliss attitude being exploited by technology and whoever (or whatever) is in control of it. It previews what happens when sex, violence, loss, and greed are upgraded for the digital age. The film vividly illustrates that technology was suppose to turn us in gods, when inevitably it make us as a species expendable.
