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Fri Mar 3, 2023 – 7:30 pm | Downtown Beloit Association
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Manufactured Luck
Directed by Kevin Keck
Narrative Short
United States | 15 min | 2021
Manufactured Luck dives into the day to day life of a young Appalachian girl and her grandfather as the two attempt to win a bike in a local grocery store sweepstakes.
Manufactured Luck follows Ash and her grandfather Jim as the two introverts from vastly different generations try to bond. A semi-successful local “sweeper”, Jim spends most of his retired life entering local grocery store sweepstakes, radio contests, and the occasional church raffle.
To Ash, Jim is ancient. Someone who she doesn’t really understand, and someone with who she has little in common. The two are able to bridge the gap between their generations when Ash notices a sweepstakes display with a new bike at a local supermarket. Jim, seeing this as possibly his last chance to connect with his granddaughter, works diligently to win the bike.
However, what they both learn, is that the connection they’ve made is far more valuable than any bike or contest could ever be.
Director Statement
I believe that Manufactured Luck has the ability to bring positivity and optimism by telling a relatable story about the difficulties and complexities of human connection. I think it’s especially potent now as we all struggle to maintain and re-establish connections during and after a pandemic that has universally altered the way we live. Sure, the film allows us to reflect on our own past relationships with our grandparents and family. But, its more modern message is about our connection with the future and the legacy we are leaving behind. It is by far the most personal film I have ever made.
Although Manufactured Luck has no superheroes, no grand battles, and no high-intensity action sequences, I believe that it still has the power to inspire. Because there is something special about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. That’s what the Manufactured Luck team does best.
Kevin Keck
Director
I was born north of Knoxville, Tennessee in a little town in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. After making homemade short films throughout high school I moved to Orange, California where I attended Chapman University and graduated with a BFA in Film Production in 2018.
For nearly a decade I have had the pleasure to screen films at multiple national and international film festivals on four continents. For an East Tennessee boy, it has been a truly humbling experience to see these stories and films enjoyed and honored with awards. But I am ever-conscious of the responsibilities of a storyteller. My hope is that I can use my content to break down stereotypes and misunderstandings. I want to portray underrepresented and diverse cultures, like the Appalachian region I call home, in an honest and intimate way.
Film Information
Director: Kevin Keck
Country: United States
Year: 2021
Language: English,
Runtime: 15 min.
Rated: G
Credits
Writer: Kevin Keck
Producer:Brandon Evans, Tyler Oxendine
Executive Producer: Lucas A. Ferrara
Cinematographer: Adam Chapman
Editor: Breeana Kovelman
Composer: Robert Mai
Azra Basile
as Ash
as Ash
Peter Aylward
as Jim
as Jim
Amelia Barlett
as Lilly
as Lilly
