DoWiTTle’s Doomsday

2012 is almost here. Suppose the crazies have been right all along and we’re all screwed. What are you going to do with that last year? How about if you only had one day left?

Local musician, and now filmmaker, Michael “DoWiTTle” Widger examined this question in his new feature-length film The End of Syracuse NY. The movie, written and directed by Widger, will premiere at Eastwood’s Palace Theatre on Thursday, March 24, at 6 p.m. Admission is free, with a cash bar.

“It all came from the thought, ‘What would you do if you only had one day left to live?’” Widger explained. “And how much we take life for granted. If we didn’t have the time we thought we had, if you just had one day, what would you do with that day? It would really tell a lot about who you are.”

The premise of the film is that the people on earth—focusing on Syracusans—only have one day before Mars collides with the planet. The plot follows their decisions and actions, from how a family deals with the situation to how a pack of armed bikers approaches the issue. “Mars is like the elephant in the room. It’s the reason to get these people ready to deal with the end, and that’s where the fun begins. The characters are all crisscrossing with each other, not even knowing the roles they play in other people’s lives,” Widger said. “It’s like Crash meets 2012.”

Widger and his wife, Eliza Marie, created the idea behind the story from her thesis project for a filmmaking class at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Widger had previous experience working with video—essentially short films—in his music career. Once the premise of the story was set, Widger found his cast and started shooting in what he referred to as “guerilla style filmmaking.”

“It’s a fun terrain to play with. I have no one telling me what I can or can’t do,” Widger said. “We have a carjacking scene right on {SU’s} campus. It was a deader time of the day and I dressed my buddies up in orange coats. That’s what it takes. If you only knew the lengths we went. There are so many stories just involved in the making of the thing.

It was a real adventure.”

Widger and his crew have been working on the post-production elements of The End of Syracuse NY for a year now. “It’s loaded with crazy special effects and scenes that people won’t believe until they see,” Widger said. But don’t think the film is all about the special effects. “It’s for a very deep and open-minded audience. As much as I beef it up with all kinds of thrills and kills, I hope people see that’s not really what the film is about,” Widger said. “Really, it’s meant to be a beautiful tragedy. There are so many things about life and art, and they’re so beautifully tragic.” Widger cites the artsy Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums) and Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) as well as the twisted Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) as inspirations for his filmmaking.

Now that the film is complete, Widger is ready to present his creation to the masses in his hometown. “It’s a small perspective of an epic event. The film wouldn’t have been the same unless it was a small city, and of course it had to be my city. There’s so much art and culture in this city. There are a lot of talented artists out here,” Widger said. “Anyone who really ‘makes it’ makes it out. I’ve had chances to do that in my rap career, but I couldn’t do it. I had to do something great for Syracuse. This is from the people of Syracuse for the people of Syracuse and that’s why it’s free for the people of Syracuse.”

While the film is created for the masses, from those who like indie to those to prefer action, families should know that there are some risque elements to The End of Syracuse NY. The film would surely earn an R rating for language, drug use, graphic violence, nudity, rape and murder. The content—the apocalypse—is, of course, a little heavy, but don’t back away too soon. “It’s very messageoriented,” Widger said. “It’s meant to be very beautiful, as well as tragic.”

Those attending the premiere will have the chance to meet the entire cast and crew, as well as see a live performance by local singersongwriter Ashley Cox, who performed the soundtrack to the movie. Cox’s “abstract acoustic” style provides a good balance to the graphic content of the film, Widger said, helping the audience focus on the details of the characters and emotions. DVD copies of the film will be available at the premiere, as well as online.

The main message Widger hopes the crowd will take away from The End of Syracuse NY is one of self-discovery. “We developed these characters around all these types of decision making. You’ve got lovers, the hero, the good, the bad. But it’s never as simple as good or bad, it’s really deeper than that,” Widger said. “My grandpa has a saying: ‘A person shows their true colors under pressure.’ Some of the characters, you hate them but you love them. It’s really a story about people.”

For more information, visit www.theendofsyracuse.com. The Palace Theatre is located at 2384 James St., and can be reached at 463-9240.

—Lorna Oppedisano