Jeff Dark is blasting out of Marietta, Georgia with Route 4, his first feature about five college students stranded in the Everglades when their '77 Volkswagen bus breaks down en route to spring break in the Florida Keys. Psyched for an overnight misadventure, they revel in an evening of drinking under the stars. But when morning brings no sign of rescue, the gravity of their situation turns tomfoolery to terror. Route 4 also explores subtle elements of racism with a subplot involving the group's outsider, a Japanese exchange student named Koji. "Koji creates a contrast and a foil for all kinds of situations," says Dark. "Ultimately, [his character allows] heedless college kids (and American audiences) to see themselves through the prism of another culture."

Dark, 25, grew up in Marietta and graduated from the film program at Florida State University in 1994, winning awards from that year's Fort Lauderdale and Philadelphia international film festivals for his 15-minute thesis film, Five Spot. He's been working on Route 4 since August 1994. He raised the $275,000 to cash flow his film through postproduction from 30 local investors in a limited partnership. Big ticket budget items on this film included hiring 40 members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to perform 4's score after Dark decided he had to scrap initial sessions with a local orchestra. He also got the rights to Credence Clearwater Reviva's "Bad Moon Rising" for 4's opening sequence. The 35mm color Route 4 was shot at Florida State University and the Everglades' Big Cypress National Park over 30 days.

Cast: Matt Burris, Bryan Green, Taketoshi Kunisue, Mark Silvernail, Glenn Aldous, Erika Gabaldon. Crew: Producers, Jeff Dark, Morten Brante; Screenwriters, Brian Szot & Jeff Dark; Director, Dark; Director of Photography, Andres E. Sanchez; Editor, Jess Bowers; Casting, Janet McLean; Composer, Danny Mordujovich. Contact: Jeff Dark, Southern Pictures, 942 Denmeade Walk, Marietta, Georgia 30064-2975. Tel: (770) 425-8562, Fax: (770) 425-8563.

A Fish in the Bathtub - Joan Micklin Silver
Frogs for Snakes - Amos Poe
High Art - Lisa Cholodenko
Karma Local - Darshan Bhagat
Mixing Nia - Alison Swan
Restaurant - Eric Bross
Route 4 - Jeff Dark
Show & Tell - Dean Pollack
Smart Money - Alexander Hennech
Strangers in Transit - Brad Kaned