The Last Touch
A young couple struggles to keep their love alive in a world where technology has replaced intimacy, and human touch is deadly.
Interview with Director/Producer Melissa Mars
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I had just moved to New York from California and was at an acting class with my favorite coach, the legendary Anthony Abeson, who gave us a challenge: “Our lust to go viral dehumanizes us... With that theme, create a movie. You can be a Writer, Director and/or Actor or all three.” — I chose to be all three.
That night, as I was going through my pre-bed rituals – plugging in my “smartphone” to charge, setting up my wake-up alarm, turning on Sleep Cycle, scrolling through social media — I was suddenly overwhelmed by visions of a dark, dystopian world in which our attachment to our devices stripped us of our humanity, a world in which our desire to connect virtually left us unable to connect physically. It was in that moment that the concept for The Last Touch was born.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
'The Last Touch' holds a metaphorical mirror up to our world. It shows us a vision of what we are drifting towards, a world where we are so connected virtually that we are disconnected physically and emotionally. It acts as a warning - [look at what we have to lose]. It may be disturbing, but isn’t it what we all like about dystopias?
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Through ‘The Last Touch’ I really wanted to explore the theme of connection, and how technology gives us such an illusion of true connection to the world but it can come at the expense of our intimate personal connections. We can be emotionally distant from each other in the most intimate settings and not even realize it.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The idea came out as a three-page script. Very contained. We shot it pretty much as it was written and I presented it to my class and Anthony Abeson. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit and I decided to turn the concept into a true short film that the real edits began.
I cut out the only scene in the whole short during which the two main characters look at each other. It took a lot out of me to sacrifice that moment, and make the choice to show no emotional or physical contact between the characters (besides the accidental touch). Eye contact can convey a deep emotional bond and I wanted to show both the physical and emotional disconnect between these two - the eye contact had to go! The only thing connecting these two people is their devices.
I also added a character that was not in the original version - or rather it was but only “silently”. The voice of the Sweet Cherry corporation was born in the second edit! What was interesting was that some filmmakers who had seen the first version thought I had reshot it - the first and second edits were so different!
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive and positive! A lot of people who’ve seen it immediately compared it to Black Mirror, which is a huge compliment to me!
The key words I heard or read the most about The Last Touch were “disturbing”, “unnerving” and “thought-provoking”.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I’m actually very touched and impressed - after having sacrificed the eye contact scene I just spoke about - when some viewers at festivals point out the total absence of eye contact and tell me how powerful and unnerving they find it. It is gratifying to have people notice that detail!
I have been positively overwhelmed with encouragement to take it further. People want to see more to my great surprise! Hopefully they will be satisfied, as I’ve been working on developing the concept into a pilot!
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I’m hoping greater visibility will fuel a continued interest in the film and spark a desire in viewers to see more of the world and characters as I continue to expand the story for a pilot!
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
The run “The Last Touch” has had on the festival circuit has been beyond what I could have hoped for in terms of success and invaluable for sharing the film’s message. With the festival run coming to an end, finding online distribution larger than my Vimeo and YouTube channels would be the “sweet Cherry”* on top of everything!
(*name of the A.I & corporation in the movie)!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I’m honestly blessed with the feedback I’ve had so far, it’s been in alignment with my hopes. I love that “The Last Touch” is disturbing enough that people remember it as well as thought-provoking enough that it may challenge people to view their relationships - both online and off - in a new light. I hope it continues to impact viewers the way it has been!
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I’d say… What is true connection? How is technology connecting us and how does it threaten the existence of connection as we know it?
Would you like to add anything else?
Yes! I would like to thank you for inviting me on your platform. I also would love to thank my wonderful cast and crew! My co-star, James Kacey, my Sweet Cherry Voice, Monica Blaze-Leavitt, the composers Steve Sholtes, who created the original soundtrack, as well as Olivier Schultheis who let me use a beautiful track of his, and of course Anthony Abeson who triggered the birth of this project as well as Eric R. Mizrahi who helped me find my wonderful director of photography, Yaniv Glaser!
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have a few projects on the go right now, including the expansion of “The Last Touch” into a pilot, as well as a dystopian novel. I’m also working on a short drama close to my heart and my French-Algerian roots, which I hope to direct this year or next year. Fingers crossed!
Interview: June 2022
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
The Last Touch
Length:
4:40
Writer/Director
International award-winning actress, singer-songwriter and filmmaker, MELISSA MARS is well-known in France for her pop music career with her three solo albums with Universal Music, her duet and hit song “1980”, her leading role in the smash hit musical Mozart the Rock Opera, directed by Olivier Dahan (La Vie en Rose).
She received major notice in the US after appearing alongside John Travolta in From Paris With Love produced by Luc Besson (Nikita, Lucy), winning multiple best actress awards for her performances in American movies such as the feature The Cabining, the short drama Polly, and having her song “Beautiful” picked up by Coca-Cola Music for their "52 Songs of Happiness" worldwide music compilation album.
Producer
Founded originally in France by award-winning international artist Melissa Mars, MADE IN MARS STUDIOS is a growing global production with a home base in New York, while operating and maintaining business relationships in Los Angeles, Paris, London and Algiers.
Connected to the movie industry as well as the music industry, MADE IN MARS STUDIOS tells stories that put women in the spotlight, whether through acting, writing or directing. With several projects under development encompassing a variety of genres and story-telling mediums — from dystopia to comedy, songs to graphic novels, literary fiction to movies- the heart of the drive is female-driven, compelling stories.
Key cast:
Melissa Mars (Clea), James Kacey (Cain), Monica Blaze Leavitt (Sweet Cherry Voice)
Looking for:
distributors
distributors
Twitter:
Facebook:
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/melissamarsofficial
Hashtags used:
#shortmovie #dystopian #sciencefiction #melissamars #femalefilmmaker #womeninfilm #womanwriter #indiefilmmaking #scififilm #awardwinning
More info:
Where can I watch it?
Vero Beach Film Festival / Vero Beach, CA - June 9-12 2022
Hollyshorts Monthly Screenings, Los Angeles, CA - TCL Chinese Theater - June 29 2022
Now streaming on Vidiverse - bit.ly/lasttouch-vidiverse