Local filmmakers debut short film exploring end of the world

WILKES-BARRE — If you knew for sure that the world were about to end in a matter of hours, how would you spend those last moments? That’s what a stirring short film made by a group of local filmmakers asked, and that film made its world premiere in downtown Wilkes-Barre Wednesday evening.

“Blackhole.” screened at the THINK Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre to a packed audience — it quickly became obvious the event was standing-room only.

The film is made by Holly Pilcavage, who made her directorial debut with the short film. Pilcavage was joined by producer Samuel O’Connell, writer/cinematographer Alex Manganella and producer and script supervisor Jessica Ross. Pilcavage and O’Connell also had starring roles.

The film sees the representation of four seemingly disparate stories, all set against the backdrop of the Earth being about to be swallowed by a black hole: a group of friends go out on a final hunting trip; a young couple welcomes their new baby into a dying world; a family tries to spend their final moments together; a young woman finds herself spending them alone.

According to O’Connell, the film was inspired by news earlier this year of the first image of a black hole ever captured by humans.

“Holly was super inspired by that, and me as a filmmaker, I said, ‘Let’s make a story around this,’” he said.

Pilcavage said, after the news of the photo broke in April, it quickly led to months of pre-production followed by four weekends of shooting in August.

According to her, the challenge of the film was finding characters that the audience could relate to immediately in the film’s 15-minute run time.

“We had a lot to pack in in under 20 minutes,” she said. “We had to make sure that the story lines were simple enough and relatable enough to most average everyday humans.”

And based on the audience response, it was clearly relatable: when the lights came up, numerous audience members were in tears.

According to Pilcavage and O’Connell, the next step is submitting the movie to film festivals.

‘Blackhole.’ co-producer Jessica Ross fills bags of popcorn at a premiere party for the film at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center on Wednesday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101019Blackhole_2.jpg.optimal.jpg‘Blackhole.’ co-producer Jessica Ross fills bags of popcorn at a premiere party for the film at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center on Wednesday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

‘Blackhole.’ director Holly Pilcavage, left, passes out movie fare to attendees at the film’s premiere party in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101019Blackhole_3.jpg.optimal.jpg‘Blackhole.’ director Holly Pilcavage, left, passes out movie fare to attendees at the film’s premiere party in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

A capacity crowd watches the screening of ‘Blackhole.’ at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center on Wednesday.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101019Blackhole_4.jpg.optimal.jpgA capacity crowd watches the screening of ‘Blackhole.’ at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center on Wednesday. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Director Holly Pilcavage, second from left, addresses the audience with co-producer Jessica Ross, left, producer Samuel O’Connell, and writer Alex Manganella after the screening of ‘Blackhole.’ during a premiere party at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center on Wednesday evening.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101019Blackhole_1.jpg.optimal.jpgDirector Holly Pilcavage, second from left, addresses the audience with co-producer Jessica Ross, left, producer Samuel O’Connell, and writer Alex Manganella after the screening of ‘Blackhole.’ during a premiere party at the Wilkes-Barre THINK Center on Wednesday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader