Select Your Character: Who Will You Choose To Be?

When I was in high school my English teacher spoke seven words that were simultaneously simple and life changing.  In my successes and in my failures she was always quick to remind me that:

“LIFE IS ABOUT THE CHOICES YOU MAKE.”

The short film Turbo, a University of Southern California graduate thesis project directed by Jarrett Lee Conaway and produced by Garrett T. Thompson, takes my teacher’s classroom motto to the next dimension.  In Turbo, the ideals of the Karate Kid meet a futuristic interactive 4-D gaming world similar to that of the Nintendo Wii.

Our protagonist, Hugo Park (Justin Chon, Twilight) faces off against his nemesis Shamus (David Lehre, Epic Movie) in his journey to become the best player of “Super Turbo Arena,” the hottest 4-D fighting game on the market.  Unlike his virtual fighter, the real life Hugo is a scrawny push over.  Shamus, on the other hand, is a bully in the virtual and real worlds.

With the guidance of his brother, Hugo makes a choice:  to not only have the virtual appearance of a fighter as a gamer, but to live with the spirit of a fighter in reality.

LIFE IS ABOUT THE CHOICES YOU MAKE.  In order to succeed, Hugo practiced as a champion would practice.  Trained as a champion would train.  Focused as a champion focused.  All of these are conscious choices.

My D.U.M.B. Question to you is this:  How will you select your character?  Who will you choose to be?  Will you choose to be content where you are now?  Will you consistently work towards the goals that you have?  Will you choose to fail or will you choose to succeed?

LIFE IS ABOUT THE CHOICES YOU MAKE.

Turbo

Directed by:  Jarrett Lee Conaway

Written by:  Jarrett Lee Conaway & Erika Cervantes

Produced by:  Garrett T. Thompson, Jarrett Lee Conaway, Rachel G. Blavin

Online Release Date:  October 7, 2009

Website:  www.turbothemovie.com

“Select Your Character” originally appeared as an article on www.justdumbproductions.com on October 2, 2009.