About

The Faerie Rings – a new short film about the promise of consciousness expanding plants, and the dangers from those who would outlaw them.

In this live-action adventure tale, a grim society constrained by powerful rule-makers is disturbed when a curious hero enters the forbidden realm of Faeries.

The Faerie Rings is an allegory about our world’s fear, misunderstanding, and condemnation of expanded states of consciousness, and the importance of human curiosity.  Combining cutting-edge cinematography, fantastical costumes, epic faerie-tale visuals, and a mesmerizing electronica soundtrack, The Faerie Rings is a unique vision with a powerful and timely message about the freedom to explore our own minds.

Featuring world-class underground circus performers as the Cannabis Faeries, Psilocybin Mushroom Faeries, and the Ayahusaca Faerie.

All-new original music soundtrack by Govinda.

From the creators of the award-winning film, Dreams of the Last Butterflies, screened at 50 film festivals in 13 countries worldwide.


In partnership with Psymposia, a digital magazine & events group focusing on emerging social issues of psychedelic science, drug reform, & harm reduction affecting society, law, & medicine.

In partnership with The Third Wave, the online leader of well-researched, high-quality information regarding safe and beneficial use of psychedelics, Microdosing, and community.

 

Watch here for Director Zina Brown’s presentation on the film from the Psychedelic Science 2017 conference.

The Concept

Simon is a bright, shy young man with a natural curiosity. He hears about the fabled Faerie Rings, magical circles of mushrooms growing deep in nature that can open a portal to the Faerie realms. Simon’s world is controlled by the Truthsetters, three powerful rulers whose words all must obey. The Truthsetters forbid anyone from searching out the Faerie Rings, and punish those who would use them. They believe the Rings have the power to disrupt their carefully controlled world, so they demonize and destroy them wherever they are found.

Simon knows the dangers of being caught, but he wants to see the Faerie realms for himself. He searches for a Faerie Ring far out in the forbidden woods, rumored to be the last in the world. The Truthsetters’ minions are on the march to exterminate every remaining Ring. Simon must risk everything to discover the Faeries and the mysteries of their hidden realm before it is too late.

JOIN THE ADVENTURE AND HELP US BRING OUR PLANT POSITIVE MESSAGE TO LIFE!

Currently seeking financial patrons, sponsors, and additional partnerships.

Full script available to read by request
Total Film Length

20 minutes

Tentative Shoot Date

Summer 2018

Expected Post Production

2-3 months

After completion, The Faerie Rings will be submitted to the world’s top film festivals. Following our festival run, the film will be available to watch online to reach as wide an audience as possible.

We, the filmmakers, are passionate about the need for art that explores the incredible potential of plant medicines and society’s misunderstanding of them.

Concept Art

STORYBOARD SAMPLES

Production Team

Zina Brown, Writer/Director

    

Zina’s unique visual and narrative style has been screened in film festivals across the world, including the FICMA Barcelona International Environmental Film Festival, the Miami Short Film Festival, the Jaipur International Film Festival in India, and New York City’s VisionFest. His most recent short film, Dreams of the Last Butterflies, was screened at 50 Film Festivals in 13 countries on 5 continents, as well as winning many awards and appearing in Rolling Stone. Watch it online: DreamsOfTheLastButterflies.com

“Director Zina Brown has made something rather beautiful and unlike anything I’ve really seen before.”

-Ain’t It Cool News

“Dreams of the Last Butterflies is absolutely magical!”

-Film Shortage

“New York film director Zina Brown creates mesmerizing film masterpieces.”

-Miroir Magazine

Gavin Behrman, Executive Producer

Gavin is a 23-year veteran of the movie industry. He has worked all over the world on the production of over 35 feature films – both Hollywood blockbusters and independently made film festival favorites such as Terminator: Genisys, Robocop (2014), The Adjustment Bureau, Valkyrie, Rosewater, Spider-Man, Erin Brockovich, and The Horse Whisperer.  Gavin recently spent over a year in Budapest, Hungary as Production Supervisor for the highly acclaimed Blade Runner 2049.  Gavin’s other projects include the award-winning short film Admissions, starring James Cromwell, and the upcoming The Principal, a teaching film about cyber-bullying.  Gavin believes that important films can send a powerful message to the world, influencing society’s views and ultimately the destiny of humankind.

Trampas Thompson, Stunt Coordination/’Tamer Captain’

 

Trampas is a Hollywood stuntman, stunt coordinator, and director with an astounding resume of death-defying feats in some of the world’s most popular movies and television shows. Trampas has sword battled with Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, lit his entire body on fire, and stunt doubled Michael Keaton in the Academy Award-winning ‘Best Picture’ Birdman. He also recently doubled Keaton in Marvel’s blockbuster Spiderman: Homecoming as super villain, The Vulture. His other credits include The Dark Knight Rises, National Treasure, 21 Jump Street, and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Govinda, original music soundtrack

   

Govinda is the alter-ego of Austin based producer/composer Shane Madden. He began studying violin and composition at the age of eight and went on to study classical violin at the University of Texas where he fell in love with electronic music production. It was in Madden’s pursuit of his gypsy roots that he opened his ears to music from around the world. From experiences learning violin with mysterious masters on his journeys across the globe and his passion for modern design and technology, the current sound of Govinda was born.  A music festival favorite, Govinda has played at Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, SXSW, Symbiosis, and many more.  Govinda’s music has been on TV including stations like WB, MTV, and Bravo, as well as many independent films.

Randy Carfagno, Costume and Prop Design

A 30 year veteran of both Broadway and Film, New York-based institution Randy Carfagno Productions has designed and built custom props and costumes for the biggest names in the business, from HBO to Disney to Madonna. He and his team created the Butterfly Queen wings for Director Zina Brown’s previous short film, Dreams of the Last Butterflies. Randy also worked on beloved fantasy movie The Dark Crystal.

 

John Mattiuzzi, VFX Supervisor

   

John was raised in the extraterrestrial region of Pine Bush, New York. In 2012, John received his MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts. With a fantastic imagination and incredible VFX work, he created the semi-autobiographical, paranormal parable called The Compositor, a 2013 Student Academy Award winner. His latest otherworldly VFX short, Zerogon, premiered at Slamdance Film Festival.

KaytiBunny Roberts, Performance Coordinator/’Cannabis Faerie’

  

As a Performance Coordinator and Creative Director, KaytiBunny tours the globe each year planning and performing at top festivals including Envision Festival, Electric Forest, Bali Spirit Festival, Shambhala, Secret Garden Party, Gratitude Migration, and Cosmic Convergence. In addition she has performed with hundreds of artists including MIA, Phish, Gaudi, George Clinton and the P Funk Allstars, String Cheese Incident, Shpongle, OTT, Random Rab, Polish Ambassador, Nahko and Medicine for the People, Govinda, David Starfire, and Emancipator.

Kai altair, additional Music/Music Direction

Kai Altair’s music is composed of deep bass exploration, vocal dreamscapes, and rhythms rooted in modern global migrations.  A student of ancient musical, movement, and healing traditions, Kai Altair’s intention is to inspire connection to the multiverse, and help create an elevated state on the dance floor. She also wrote the film’s theme song for Dreams of the Last Butterflies.

Kurt Huggins: Concept Art

Cast

Veronica Varlow, The Wayshower

   

Internationally acclaimed Burlesque star, Veronica has been called “A modern day Marlene Dietrich” by CBS News and “Hypnotizing and mesmerizing” by Jay Leno on the Tonight Show. A crystal-encrusted “burlesque chanteuse” (Elle), Varlow serenades with a smoky voice reminiscent of the silver screen sirens of the 1940s.

e. James Ford, The Lightgiver

  

E. James Ford is an performer, writer, and designer based in NYC. He recently performed in Private Manning Goes to Washington and  travelled across the country with the EveryHere Logistics Night Market, creating immersive art in the back of box trucks. Other recent appearances include NY Times favorite The Dreary Coast, Biter (Everytime I Turn Around), Speakeasy Dollhouse, Wilde Nights, and Novacation. As a storyteller, he has performed for the Liar’s League and No, You Tell It! series and one of his performances was recently broadcast on BBC Radio. He was a regular on the sci-fi show Pioneer One and appears frequently in commercials.

Evgeniya Radilova, Tatiana

  

Born in tiny East European Bulgaria, Evgeniya Radilova is the daughter of the famous Bulgarian actress Silva Avramova, and father Petko Radilov, a highly regarded director. By 20 years old she had already become a well-known personality on major Bulgarian shows, and she relocated to New York to graduate from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts with honors. She has since landed roles in such popular TV shows as Limitless (CBS) Law and Order SVU (NBC), Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll (Fox), Elementary (CBS), as well as acting in many off-broadway plays and independent film.

 

Kenneth Telesco, carrafdillidie – the faerie guide

Kenneth has worked in theatre, film and television for the past 38 years.  He’s been an actor, dancer, director, producer, stage manager, creative consultant, choreographer and teacher.  He co-founded and performed in The Improverts, a comedy improv troupe in Sante Fe, and in Seattle, co-founded, artistic directed, produced and performed in Lola Tarot, a wildly successful ‘inner-active’ ritual improv medicine show theatre company.  He’s also lived on an old converted Greyhound bus and with a dozen other gifted mystics and magic makers, toured the United States performing with the infamous Living Tarot out of Austin, Texas.

 

Benjamin Cerf, The Lawmaker

An active member of Brooklyn’s legendary underground circus and avant-garde theater space House of Yes, Ben Cerf has lived in France, California, Austria and NYC creating music, performance activism, video animation and general mischief. He currently works with Time’s-Up!, Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping, The Living Theater, the Hungry March Band, and is a very convincing pirate.

 

Faerie Performers:

Natasha King, Tiffany Valentin

 

Ali Luminescent,  Christine Geiger

 

Jay Schuurman

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