OzLand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids OzLand |
|
|---|---|
Release poster for OzLand
|
|
| Directed by | Michael Williams |
| Produced by | Michael Williams |
| Written by | Michael Williams |
| Starring | Zack Ratkovich Glenn Payne |
| Music by | Keatzi Gunmoney |
| Cinematography | Michael Williams |
| Editing by | Michael Williams |
| Studio | Shendopen Productions |
| Distributed by | Indie Rights |
| Release date(s) | September 4, 2014 |
| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10,000 (estimated) |
OzLand is an American science fantasy drama film released in 2014. It is an independent film, meaning it was made outside of the major Hollywood studios. The movie stars Zack Ratkovich and Glenn Payne.
Michael Williams wrote and directed OzLand. This was his very first movie as a director. The story and characters in the film are inspired by the famous 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
Contents
What is OzLand About?
A Journey in a Strange Land
The film follows two men, Lief (played by Zack Ratkovich) and Emri (played by Glenn Payne). They are wandering through a post-apocalyptic Kansas. This means the world has changed a lot, and they are looking for food and shelter in abandoned places.
Lief is the younger of the two. He is also the only one who can read. One day, he finds a copy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Lief starts to believe the book is a true story. He uses the world around them as proof that the events in the book really happened.
Searching for Home
Lief begins to wonder if the strange land they are in is "home," like Dorothy Gale described in the book. Emri, however, has a different idea. He suggests that every day is a journey through "home." Their adventure makes them think about what home truly means.
Who is in the Movie?
- Zack Ratkovich as Lief
- Glenn Payne as Emri
- Dunlap Peeples IV as Loi/FM
- Casey Heflin as Dee (voice)
How Was OzLand Made?
The movie was filmed in two main locations. All the scenes were shot in Minneola, Kansas, and in Northern Mississippi. This means the filmmakers used real places for their sets instead of building them in a studio.
When Was OzLand Released?
First Screenings
OzLand first showed in Columbus, Mississippi, on September 4, 2014. After that, it was shown at several film festivals. These included the Magnolia Independent Film Festival, Oxford Film Festival, Tupelo Film Festival, and FestivalSouth Film Expo. These screenings happened throughout 2015.
Wider Release
The movie had its first showing in theaters in Hollywood on October 16, 2015. Just four days later, it became available on internet streaming platforms. This allowed many more people to watch it from home. The DVD version of the film was released on July 26, 2016. Later, on October 4, 2016, OzLand was shown in the United Kingdom on a platform called Flix Premiere.
Later Availability
In 2018, the rights to distribute the film went back to the filmmaker, Michael Williams, and his company, Shendopen Productions. Because of this, the movie was re-released. It became available on Amazon Prime in the US and UK. You could also watch it worldwide on Vimeo on Demand. A special limited edition Blu-ray was also released. This Blu-ray included many hours of extra features and content that had never been seen before.
Awards and Recognition
OzLand won several awards at different film festivals. These awards show that the movie was well-liked by critics and judges.
- Best Feature at Magnolia Independent Film Festival (2015)
- Best Cinematography, Magnolia Independent Film Festival (2015)
- Best of Show, Tupelo Film Festival (2015)
- 1st Place Feature, Tupelo Film Festival (2015)
- Elvin Whitesides Director's Award, Tupelo Film Festival (2015)
- Best Feature Film, Real to Reel Film Festival (2015)
- Best Narrative Feature, Offshoot Film Festival (2015)
- Best Cinematography, FestivalSouth Film Expo (2015)
