IN MAY 2006 a three full-page article appeared in the CREATIVE COW MAGAZINE (for media professionals in film, video, motion graphics imagining and design) titled, "MARKUS ROTHKRANZ'S Atomic City" with a subtitle, "Creative Communities of the World, Las Vegas." The writer marvels over the creativity of this producer's production of the film and the process and technique of developing it. Markus is truly a genius as an artist, model builder, writer, graphics designer, a master of effects and animation, lighting and set design…as well as a creative producer and director.

While in the process of researching subjects for my book, "The FilmMakers," I was referred to this young filmmaker in 1998 living and working in Hollywood, California. He was most cooperative in our interviews and I soon learned about his childhood centered on his model-building, his career with Disney and his dreams for his future. During the years following the publication of the book (1999) we continued our communication.

Las Vegas was in the process of rapid growth and, at the same time, developing a film community of small studios cropping up here and there. It was then that I encouraged Markus to move to Las Vegas…and he did…only to find that the film industry in our city was not ready for his various qualifications. Undaunted, he spent his energies creating movie-theme slot-machines that became a major money-maker for all the casinos.

Longing to return to the film world and enchanted with living in Las Vegas and being involved in the Entertainment Network with its focus on Celebrity Impersonators, he used all of his resources to create a futuristic film called "Atomic City." Each of the "actors" were filmed in front of a blank screen for a few minutes and computerized into a full comedic, exciting and most enjoyable film.

While meetings continue to discuss the possibilities of developing this and other low-budget Rothkranz films for television, it is my opinion that this short film never received the attention it deserved, considering the technique of producing and developing it. Cost being a major factor, with millions of dollars spent on films today that by-pass the movie theaters and go immediately to video, the film studios and commercials should take a second look at what Markus Rothkranz has to offer.

Indeed, as he said to me, "Life can really test you when you try to hold onto a dream."  

[ed. note: More on Markus Rothkranz at his Web site: www.markusworld.net]