About the film
Set in the dreary, slow thaw of late winter in Vermont, State of the State chronicles the early stages of a naïve, hapless young couple's tragic descent into opioid addiction. The film follows John and Cassie as they attempt to satisfy their newly formed dependence and with panic and desperation rapidly compounding the need to score drugs begins to erode their judgment and corrupt their will.
A work accident and a sickness in the family introduced the otherwise content, small-town sweethearts to the underworld of drug dependency where they've found a temporary reprieve from their physical and emotional pain. Now, with their first genuinely harrowing withdrawal looming on the horizon, John and Cassie embark on a spate of messy attempts to score drugs. They hobble through interactions with family members, trying to conceal the nature of their illness due to their overwhelming shame, but also because one particular member of John and Cassie's family has a stake in their new life as addicts beyond the obvious.
John and Cassie waver perilously at the intersection of their addiction, their unvarnished love for one another, and a society that remains ill-equipped to deal with a public health crisis of this magnitude. Alienated from their family and community, the bonds of a young romance are tested as the severity of their addiction intensifies and the drama that it imposes on daily life inevitably culminates into one decisive action to deliver John and Cassie from the sickness of withdrawal.
Watch the Film
State of the State
An Ungano & Agriodimas Production,
in association with Rooster Films, and Apparently Jack
Directed by: Julian Ungano
Written by: Julian Ungano, Jordan Blumetti
Produced by: Janet Lee
Executive Producers: Julian Ungano, Tommy Agriodimas, Evan Jonigkeit
Starring: Evan Jonigkeit, Rose Gilroy, Josh Cooke, Jordan Blumetti, John Scroggy, Karine Montanye
Cinematographer: Tommy Agriodimas
Editor: Joanna Naugle
Line Producer: Jacqueline Legan
1st Assitant Camera: Danny Valentine
2nd Assistant Camera, DIT: Marco Andre
Gaffer: Evan Dalcher
Sound Mixer and Boom Operator: Luigi Porto
Production Assistant: Azure Leffeld, Pietro Cercone
Drone Operator: Matt Borowick
Post Production Supervisor: Liz Stallmeyer
Online Editor: Christian Rush
Colorist: Jenn Gittings
Graphic Designer: Nikki Huffman
"Please Forgive Me" performed by Molly Burch
Special Thanks: Storied Boards in Lake George, NY. Karine and Kurt Montanye
www.stateofthestatefilm.com www.ungano-agriodimas.com
Cast
EVAN JONIGKEIT is an actor and producer, known for X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) and Bone Tomahawk (2015). Evan can currently be seen in the series "Sweet Bitter" on Starz.
ROSE GILROY is an actress and model born and raised in Los Angeles. She has been studying under James Brill at the Neighborhood Playhouse New York City for the last two years honing her skills. Rose recently appeared in acclaimed web-series "86'd" by Cazzie David. This is Rose's first film.
JOSH COOKE is an actor and writer known for Dexter (2006), Committed (2005) and I Love You, Man (2009). Josh can currently be seen in the TV series "Castle Rock" based on the stories of Stephen King.
The Filmmakers
JULIAN UNGANO is an award winning filmmaker and photographer born and raised in Chester, Vermont. Joined by shooting partner Tommy Agriodimas, Ungano has worked with some of the most influential names in fashion, business, film, and politics, ranging from Naomi Campbell and Ron Howard, to Noam Chomsky and Nas. His work has been featured in such publications as Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and The New York Times where Ungano was profiled in their "Up Next" section. This is Julian's third film.
TOMMY AGRIODIMAS is an award winning cinematographer and photographer born in Yonkers, New York. Agriodimas is a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, where he met collaborative partner Julian Ungano. He recently finished his first feature film "Kate Can't Swim", a special jury award winner at the 2017 Slamdance Film Festival.
JORDAN BLUMETTI is a writer based in Sarasota, Florida. A graduate of the University of Florida Jordan is a frequent contributor to GQ Magazine as well as the auspicious literary magazine The Bitter Southerner. This is Jordan's second script.
JANET LEE is a producer based in Los Angeles. In 2012 she completed her M.F.A. in the Producer’s Program at the UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television where she was the recipient of the Streisand Sony Fellowship and the Media Services Thesis Award in Producing. She was also awarded Film Independent’s Project Involve Producing Fellowship for 2015. With a strong commitment to thought provoking and socially relevant storytelling she has produced numerous short films and has worked with leading entertainment professionals at ABC Studios, Kurtzman & Orci, Spyglass Entertainment, and Amazon Studios. Lee also worked in development and production at IxtlanInc. alongside Academy Award winning filmmaker Oliver Stone and was the Associate Producer of “Snowden” (2016) starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Shailene Woodley. She has most recently developed and is currently producing a feature film called “Don’t Be Evil” which landed on the Black List in 2017.
CONTACT
Ungano & Agriodimas
studio@ungano-agriodimas.com
www.ungano-agriodimas.com
For full cast and crew credits please visit IMDB