NewEnglandFilm.com

Geoffrey Chaucer’s "Canterbury Tales" is the basis for Bagelfish Productions first film "G-spots?"  A post-modern interpretation of "The Wife of Bath’s Tale," "G-Spots?" is the story of an errant knight who gets sentenced to death by guillotine after deflowering a virgin. Having committed society’s greatest of crimes, the knight is about to be put to death before he is given an offer to commute his sentence. Given a last chance by the queen, the knight is given one year to solve a riddle, "what do women want?" The answer lies with an old hag — "women want to control their own destiny." The knight, however, refuses to listen. Can he save himself?

The film was shot entirely in Connecticut. Daniel Scott Fine directed the film. It was co-written with Carla Lynn Stockton. Carla, a former English teacher, suggested the idea to Fine of using Chaucer. After initial reluctance, Fine agreed to pursue the project.

"‘G-Spots?’ is so far from the original Chaucer," says Fine. "Ours is a post-modern deconstruction. It is a blend of the futuristic world and the medieval. In our version, one of the main things we played with was the power exchange between the King and Queen. He gives her the power to send the knight on the quest after he has already punished him. This was a very important element for us. Playing with the notion of power in male and female relationships."

The 13-minute short film stars Keith David and Sandy Duncan. Duncan had previously played the maiden in a Broadway musical production of "The Canterbury Tales." "G-Spots?" was shot using the latest in technology, High Definition 24P, which was then transferred to 35mm film. Other noteworthy films that have used HD 24P include Brad Anderson’s "Session Nine" and George Lucas’ next Star Wars film, "Episode II."

"G-Spots?" was written by Stockton and Fine in May of 2000 and filmed in March of 2001. It has been submitted to Cannes and has been the winner of "Best Regional Film" by the Rhode Island International Film Festival." Other official selections include the Lake Placid Film Forum, the Woods Hole International Film Festival, and Ohio Independent Film Festival.

Bagelfish Productions originated in Saranac Lake, NY in 1999. Initially called Bagelfish Films, the company has expanded its work to include theatrical productions and television. Fine is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, where he majored in directing. Working with the Pittsburgh filmmakers, Fine received the 1995 Emerging Grant. Since then he has gone on to teach theater and screenwriting. Carla Lynn Stockton taught AP English and World Literature at Connecticut high schools and is currently an acting coach and freelance writer. In addition to "G-Spots?" both are working with the Connecticut Film, Video, and Media Office and on the Connecticut Independent Filmmakers Web site.

As for the future of "G-Spots?" Daniel hopes to find a distributor. The film will be screening at the Magnolia Film Festival on February 9th and at the Director’s View Film Festival in Stamford, CT on February 16th. Currently, Bagelfish is looking for an executive producer to raise funds for their first feature films, "The Bagel King" and "Too Much of Nothing."