Birth of Separation

Fundraising party Wed., June 16, 8-11 p.m., $10 suggested donation, 2424 Studios, 2424 East York St., 215-925-7676, 2424studios.com; screening Thu., June 17, 7:30 p.m., $10, Ritz at the Bourse, 400 Ranstead St., 215-925-7900, landmarktheatres.com.

by Marielle Mondon

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Published: Jun 8, 2010

[ indie spirit ]

Roommates Louis Mansfield and Steve Saturn wanted to make a movie. They didn't have access to untold millions nor the blessing of free time. But that didn't stop them from producing the Philly-made thriller Birth of Separation from Mansfield's script, shooting on a budget that wouldn't cover a Hollywood set's craft services table. With Mansfield taking the directorial reins and Saturn starring and executive producing, Birth follows pregnant housewife Elizabeth (Ashley-Rebekah Faulkner) as she is visited by the mysterious Jerome (Saturn), who claims to be searching for a missing person. As the film continues, violence escalates; it turns out Jerome knows Elizabeth more than she realized. "[Jerome] is someone looking to put some meaning to his life," says Saturn, "and he feels that this woman is the way to do that." Birth was shot in five days in a South Philly townhouse. Saturn says the long filming days reflect the grueling subject matter of the piece. "The original concept of the film is the idea of being trapped in the moment," Saturn says. "There's a lot of scenes where you get this tense feeling that you want to stop seeing these horrible images, and there's nothing you can do about it."

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