Project Mindscape
Published on February 19th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA-Many twenty eight-year-olds are often still trying to figure out what they want in life. Many in their mid to late twenties haven’t even really found a true niche for themselves in their careers. This is one thing that is definitely not true for Jason Santo and Roman Berman who at the age of 28 already have made a mark on the entertainment industry, albeit as the micro cinema of Boston, with a no-budget production company called "Mindscape Pictures".
"The idea is to keep ourselves out here in Boston. To keep ourselves as the primary studio in Boston,” said Santo.
Also, we cannot forget that these goal oriented men graduated from our very own Stoneham High School in 1993.
Going back about fifteen years they were 11 years old when Santo and Berman discovered the art of 8mm film and a whole new world opened up before them. By the age of fifteen they had already made their first movie, cleverly titled "The Berminator".
In the credits of that film their production company’s name was "Mindscape Pictures." When they were prepared to begin their production company many years later they knew that "Mindscape Pictures" was a name that stood out, a name that you could see on the big screen down the road.
Santo believes that Stoneham game him the educational foundation needed to make his mark in the world.
"The education I received there was a very well-rounded one. While they helped me concentrate on my strengths, art, photography and writing, they didn't shortchange me on the fundamentals of history, math and science,” said Santo. “I give a lot of credit to the education I had at Stoneham High School. It made me want to never stop learning and always aim higher for myself. These were ideals I believe they helped instill in me."
By 2002 they finally got the chance to start their dream of a production company and within a year produced 10 short films. Also they released their first dvd which is their volume one of a three-volume set called "Bent." "Bent: Volume One," like the 2 to follow, are all in very diverse genres. As the preview sharply explains: "Bound together by the theme that human life, like the path of running water, can be suddenly and unpredictably bent."
"Bent: Volume One" involves three vastly different stories. What these three tales have in common is a theme of how life can be "suddenly and unpredictably bent." "Marisa" is of a woman’s love and blooming new romance and how it turns into an ordeal.
"Haunted" encompasses four men hiding out in an abandoned warehouse waiting to be paid for their kidnapping of a young woman, and the gruesome murder of her boyfriend. As they wait they learn they are not alone and the woman may know more than they realize. And "His Life" has a man returning to his hometown with the belief that he will die on his 25th birthday and dealing with all the changes everyone and everything have gone through.
If you would like to learn more about Mindscape Pictures please visit www.mindscapepictures.com, which has reviews, in-depth descriptions of their movies, and contact information. What I found most surprising about Mindscape Pictures was their level of professionalism and the brilliant quality of the work.
Jason and Roman are very aware of the hard work and preservation that this goal requires. Jason’s view on his chosen career is "you have to be an extremely good communicator. You have to be extremely energetic. And you can’t take no for an answer and you can’t listen to people who say you can’t do that."
After learning so much about this still young company, I could only imagine what the future holds for a company that has so much potential in the entertainment industry.
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