Lynn native submits documentary to Sundance Film Festival

LYNN – Lynn native David Rutter is on the potential road to stardom after submitting his independent movie, ‘Consequences of Our Choices: A Documentary,’ to the Sundance Film Festival in Sundance, Utah.Nineteen-year-old Rutter began acting in the sixth grade and focused on his passion for producing by the age of 16.He has written, produced and acted in several short films through his membership with local cable access station LynnCam but never had the confidence in them that resonates loudly through his work on his most recent production.Rutter refers to himself as his biggest critic, typically disliking everything that he’s created in the past.”It made me think, like, why do I even keep doing this?” said Rutter.This time around, however, his confidence has been restored.Rutter recalls the turning point that made him realize he was on to something great. “After seeing the first cut of this project,” said Rutter, “The smile on my face was so large that I knew I had to share it with the world.”The documentary is about the day-to-day production of a low budget independent film: The excitement, the challenges, the troubles and triumphs and everything in between.”This is not your normal behind-the-scenes documentary,” said Rutter. “It’s the ultimate show and tell.”The documentary portion includes more than a dozen sit-down interviews with the members of the cast and crew, on-location photos since the first day of production, scanned pictures of multiple drafts of scripts and an in-depth account of the overall commotion involved with independent movie-making.Rutter said finding money to make the movie is a challenge and the cash typically came right out of the pockets of the cast and crew. Limited funds led the crew to film the majority of scenes at LynnCam, as well as creating mock sets in the bedrooms of many of the actors’ homes.Director of Cinematography and supporting actor David Riley Jr. experienced a physical toll that the process of creating the film took on him when a fellow actor accidentally punched him in the face during taping.Although the punch was only meant to seem like a direct hit, it’s scenes like this that add to the personal flavor of the film.”Nothing is off limits in the documentary,” said Rutter. “Good and bad are all discussed at one point or another. You will feel like you were involved in the production and right there with us.”Aside from college classes, part-time and full-time jobs, and of course sleeping, the dedicated cast and crew put every ounce of creativity and spare time into the making of the film.”I can’t be credited as the mastermind behind the project,” said Rutter. “Everyone involved has busy schedules and without the entire cast and crew this wouldn’t be happening.”‘Consequences of Our Choices,’ the actual movie, is about a 20-something year-old male – Matt Hogan, played by Rutter – who proposes to his girlfriend only to endure a tale of unrequited love.The woman breaks up with Hogan when he proposes, sending Hogan down a spiraling road to depression. As many friends would, Hogan’s peers attempt to get his mind off of his emotional turmoil, which in turn makes matters even worse. A second young woman is introduced to the plot creating a situation that becomes much more than Hogan bargained for.Production of the movie began this past June, but the idea of it began blossoming in Rutter’s mind approximately five years ago. Over the years the idea has been tweaked and modified more than a dozen times and Rutter and his crew have gone through multiple script drafts and revisions.Production of the documentary portion began in mid-July and thus far it stands as a feature-length film, slightly less than 90 minutes. The final product, according to Rutter, should reach about 100 minutes after completion of a few final interviews with cast members. Rutter hopes to release it by mid-November.The trailer was released on YouTube, as well as the Facebook page for “Consequences of Our Choices,” three weeks