MARK ROUSH
Substitutiary Locomotion
Each tale of fiction lay rooted in some, however skewed, aspect of truth. The portrayal of these stories through video is but a collection of experiences guided under the imagination of the writer and put to canvas by the various talents of actors, crew, and stage. The below narratives are inspiration from history. They had set root in my mind and eventually evolved into moving pasture painted postcards.
A starving and destitute family risks everything to compete in a nighttime-to-the-death demolition derby for a fleeting chance to secure vital resources for the year ahead.
Currently in post-production set for January 2025 festival release
Witness the haunting tale of "The Singing Armadillo and The Rat Child were nowhere to be found." This chilling and enigmatic story unveils the dark side of a fading circus world, where innocence is lost, cruelty thrives, and the outcome is not what one expects.
Currently on the 2024 / 2025 film festival circuit.
In the heart of a decaying city center, Bernie, a vile and eccentric circus owner, embarks on a desperate quest to recover two of his most profitable freak show attractions: a singing armadillo and a deformed rat child. Bernie had "rescued" the rat child from an orphanage in Quebec City, and his Singing Armadillo emitted a mesmerizing melody that drew crowds in by the dozen. However, his brutal handling and relentless cruelty compelled them to escape. Now, he prowls the desolate streets nursing a mean streak bent on violence and vengeance.