Fissure

Fissure, out today on DVD, had a brief theatrical engagement in Houston last month at the Studio Grill Movie Theater on I-10. Free Press Houston spoke to director Russ Pond about the film's production and subsequent rollout.
"A cop navigates a fractured reality to solve a mystery," explained Pond who wanted his feature film debut to bristle with a mixed-genre storyline. So you have a detective investigating a murder only to find he's trapped in what may be a haunted house. But that notion gets tossed out the window when the audience realizes the real explanation borders on "metaphysical premises."
Pond made Fissure on a modest budget utilizing a Panasonic HD Varicam. "We spent a great deal of time lighting the set and color corrected the negative to get a film look," noted Pond. While Fissure employs a few special effects shots the overall feeling never emphasizes that fact. Much of the atmosphere is accomplished through the narrative and what Pond refers to as "a unique sound design," meant to draw the viewer into the experience.
The capstone to Pond's efforts was hooking up with a small distributor (SMG) that allowed Fissure to four-wall at Studio Grills in Dallas and Houston. Additionally a barrage of self-promotion using networking tools like Facebook and the free movie streaming website Hulu.com allowed Pond to reach a somewhat wider circle of appreciation.
Fissure has a compelling plot, and once you get drawn into its maze like structure you know you're watching something different than a run of the mill indie thriller.