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''No Postage Necessary'' is a 2017 American
romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a sub-genre of comedy and Romance novel, romance fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount all obstacles. Ro ...
independent film An independent film, independent movie, indie film, or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is film production, produced outside the Major film studios, major film studio system in addition to being produced and distributed by independ ...
written and directed by Jeremy Culver as his second narrative feature and starring
George Blagden George Paul Blagden (born 28 December 1989) is an English stage and film actor. He is best known for his role as Louis XIV in the French-produced television series drama ''Versailles.'' He also played Grantaire in the 2012 film adaptation of ...
,
Charleene Closshey Charleene Closshey (born January 15, 1981) is an American stage and screen actress, musician, composer, and producer. She is known for her starring roles in the romantic comedy, romantic-comedy feature ''No Postage Necessary'' (2018) and the ho ...
,
Robbie Kay Robbie Kay is a British actor whose credits include '' Fugitive Pieces'', '' Heroes Reborn'', ''Pinocchio'', '' Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'', and Peter Pan in the ''Once Upon a Time'' television series. Career Kay's family mov ...
,
Stelio Savante Stelio Savante is a South African actor that has appeared in 140 films, TV series and video games in the last three decades. He is known for his roles as a South African/Israeli journalist and undercover Mossad agent opposite Jim Caviezel and ...
, with
Michael Beach Michael Anthony Beach (born October 30, 1963) is an American actor. He has appeared in the films '' Lean on Me'' (1989), ''One False Move'' (1992), ''Short Cuts'' (1993), ''Waiting to Exhale'' (1995), ''A Family Thing'' (1996), ''Soul Food'' (19 ...
and
Raymond J. Barry Raymond John Barry (born March 14, 1939) is an American film, television, and stage actor. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the film '' Steel City''. Personal life Raymond John Ba ...
. The film integrates current political happenings — including the
Silk Road The Silk Road was a network of Asian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over , it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the ...
(referred to "The Spice Trail" in the film's script),
hacktivism Hacktivism (or hactivism; a portmanteau of ''hack'' and ''activism''), is the use of computer-based techniques such as hacking as a form of civil disobedience to promote a political agenda or social change. A form of Internet activism with roots ...
, and
cyberterrorism Cyberterrorism is the use of the Internet to conduct violent acts that result in, or threaten, the loss of life or significant bodily harm, in order to achieve political or ideological gains through threat or intimidation. Emerging alongside th ...
— into a dramedy set in
Plant City, Florida Plant City is an incorporated city in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States, approximately midway between Brandon and Lakeland along Interstate 4. It is part of the Tampa Bay area. The population was 39,764 at the 2020 census. Despite ma ...
.
Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...
began in Plant City in August 2016 filming on
35mm film 35 mm may refer to: Film * 135 film, a type of still photography format commonly referred to as 35 mm film * 35 mm movie film 35 mm film is a film gauge used in filmmaking, and the film standard. In motion pictures that record on ...
. The film initially premiered on October 14, 2017, as an Official Selection of the
Heartland Film Festival The Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) is a high academy qualifying film festival held each October in Indianapolis, Indiana, hosted by the nonprofit organization Heartland Film, Inc. The festival was first held in 1992, with the goal to ...
. The shortened and final version later premiered on June 28, 2018, at the
Tampa Theatre The Tampa Theatre is a historic U.S. theater and city landmark in Downtown Tampa, Florida. Designed as an atmospheric theatre-style movie palace by architect John Eberson, it opened on October 15, 1926. The theatre features a wide range of i ...
in
Hillsborough County, Florida Hillsborough County is located in the west-central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. In the 2020 census, the population was 1,459,762, making it the fourth-most populous county in Florida and the most populous county outside the Miami metro ...
where the movie was filmed exclusively. It released in theaters in ten markets across the United States on July 6, 2018, by Two Roads Picture Co. as well as on the
decentralized application A decentralised application (DApp, dApp, Dapp, or dapp) is an Application software, application that can operate autonomously, typically through the use of smart contracts, that run on a decentralized computing, blockchain or other distributed le ...
Vevue, making history as the first film to ever release via
blockchain The blockchain is a distributed ledger with growing lists of Record (computer science), records (''blocks'') that are securely linked together via Cryptographic hash function, cryptographic hashes. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of th ...
technology and available to stream using
cryptocurrency A cryptocurrency (colloquially crypto) is a digital currency designed to work through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it. Individual coin ownership record ...
as payment. The film's script is now part of the Core Collection of the
Margaret Herrick Library The Margaret Herrick Library is the main repository of print, graphic and research materials of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The library contains a digital repository of historical materials, including those relating ...
at the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., with the stated goal of adva ...
. ''No Postage Necessary'' received mixed reviews, with praise for its heartfelt performances, music, production values, and ending that is "satisfying without artifice", but criticism suggesting it relies too heavily on its unique distribution strategy as its "hook".


Plot

Brilliant computer hacker Sam Collins is on probation and barred from the internet; his parole officer is Harry. He steals from mailboxes and works at a local dessert shop with hacking cohort Stanley, now going by David and claiming to have undergone a spiritual awakening. When Sam steals a letter written by Josie to her dead Marine husband, he begins stalking her, stealing her letters, and finding the courage to introduce himself. FBI agent Ames accuses Sam of stealing Bitcoins, which were actually stolen by David, and are now lost. Sam and Josie begin to date tentatively. When Sam hears about the job interview Harry arranges for him, he performs a social media attack to prove to his prospective employers he can tighten up their cybersecurity without having to use the Internet, which his probation terms prohibit him from doing. When Harry finds out, he scolds Sam. Ames increases pressure on Sam to relinquish the missing bitcoins, and goes on a hunt for Sam when he later finds out that his own personal bitcoin wallet has been emptied. Sam attempts to come clean to Josie. When Ames finds out that Sam has been stealing mail, he arrests Sam for the crime, interrupting his apology to Josie. Ames' departure is interrupted by the arrival of Harry and local police reinforcements, where Ames is arrested for money laundering. Jack, Josie's father, consoles Josie, including the revelation that her letters to her late husband---all addressed to the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier A Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is a monument dedicated to the services of an unknown soldier and the common memories of all soldiers killed in war. Such tombs are located in many nations and are usually high-profile na ...
---were always returned, because the Tomb receives no mail, and he kept them in a special box after taking out a post office box for them to be returned. Meanwhile, Harry recommends early parole release for Sam. David, now going by his real name Stanley, hacks into the Department of Justice in order to email Harry and take the blame for Sam's mail theft. Sam visits Josie at work, but she feels violated by how Sam has hacked into her life, but tells him of her plans to move to Nashville to enroll her daughter Daisy into a special needs school. A month later, Josie receives an acceptance letter for Daisy to the school with an anonymous scholarship for Daisy's tuition and fees. Josie, Jack, and Daisy move to Nashville. Sam interviews to enlist in the Army, offering his special computer intelligence skills, deciding to chase his dreams and while helping others. After he's accepted, he writes a letter to Josie, who smiles when receiving it, convinced that Sam is now becoming the man he wanted to be.


Cast

;Main *
George Blagden George Paul Blagden (born 28 December 1989) is an English stage and film actor. He is best known for his role as Louis XIV in the French-produced television series drama ''Versailles.'' He also played Grantaire in the 2012 film adaptation of ...
as Sam Collins, a tech genius and disaffected computer hacker who champions the underdog usually to his own detriment. *
Charleene Closshey Charleene Closshey (born January 15, 1981) is an American stage and screen actress, musician, composer, and producer. She is known for her starring roles in the romantic comedy, romantic-comedy feature ''No Postage Necessary'' (2018) and the ho ...
as Josie Cartwright, a young war
widow A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has Death, died and has usually not remarried. The male form, "widower", is first attested in the 14th century, by the 19th century supplanting "widow" with reference to men. The adjecti ...
and single mother raising her 6-year-old daughter Daisy. *
Robbie Kay Robbie Kay is a British actor whose credits include '' Fugitive Pieces'', '' Heroes Reborn'', ''Pinocchio'', '' Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'', and Peter Pan in the ''Once Upon a Time'' television series. Career Kay's family mov ...
as Stanley, Sam's computer protege and partner in crime, searching for life's answers through
spirituality The meaning of ''spirituality'' has developed and expanded over time, and various meanings can be found alongside each other. Traditionally, spirituality referred to a religious process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape o ...
. *
Stelio Savante Stelio Savante is a South African actor that has appeared in 140 films, TV series and video games in the last three decades. He is known for his roles as a South African/Israeli journalist and undercover Mossad agent opposite Jim Caviezel and ...
as Special Agent Ames, an FBI officer investigating tech crimes and responsible for Sam's first run in with the law. *
Michael Beach Michael Anthony Beach (born October 30, 1963) is an American actor. He has appeared in the films '' Lean on Me'' (1989), ''One False Move'' (1992), ''Short Cuts'' (1993), ''Waiting to Exhale'' (1995), ''A Family Thing'' (1996), ''Soul Food'' (19 ...
as Harry, Sam's probation officer. *
Raymond J. Barry Raymond John Barry (born March 14, 1939) is an American film, television, and stage actor. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the film '' Steel City''. Personal life Raymond John Ba ...
as Jack, Josie's father whose military background keeps him keenly aware of his daughter's struggles. ;Supporting * Michelle Moreno as Daisy Cartwright, Josie's daughter who has never met her deceased father and struggles in school. * Matthew Cornwell as Larry Collins, Sam's older deadbeat brother who charges Sam excessive rent. * Autumn Dial as Rachel, a co worker of Sam and Stanley at the local Twistee Treat who learns about Bitcoin via her online poker habits. ;Additional * Gareth Dunlop as Gareth, an Irish singer/songwriter who used to sing in a band with Josie. * Fedor Steer as Tom, Josie's creepy co worker. * Shandi Hampton as Nancy, Larry's girlfriend. * Ricky Wayne as the Manic Man, trying to find honey made by bees. * Marty Stonerock as the CEO. * Matthew Sharp as the HR Guy. * Tim Goodwin as the CIS officer. * Peter Travis as the Receptionist. * Margaret Murphy as the elementary school principal. * Morgen Culver as the waitress. * Jan Kerr as Jack's friendly neighbor. * Chris Burns as Adam, a local catfishing creep. * Darrin Ortiz as the Recruitment Officer. * Sean Mahabir as the Police Officer. * Omar Resto as the Security Officer. * Lowrie Fawley as Barb. * Vincenzo Hinckley as Michael, Josie's deceased husband, a Marine killed in
War in Afghanistan War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to: *Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC), the conquest of Afghanistan by the Macedonian Empire * Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, a series of campaigns in ...
. * Charles Closshey as Pat the Bartender.


Casting

The casting department included Sharon Howard-Field (known for her work in Grumpy Old Men,
The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...
, and Shine), Tara Feldstein and Chase Paris. (known for their work on
Stranger Things ''Stranger Things'' is an American television series created by the Duffer brothers, Duffer Brothers for Netflix. Produced by Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment, the Stranger Things season 1, first season was released on N ...
). Says director Jeremy Culver, "Sharon (Howard-Field) always had consistently brilliant ideas of actors who could play the various roles. Her strong opinions were matched by her keen eye for talent and insight into the various archetypes represented in the script. A director and casting director's relationship is unique as its usually the first step on the long road of creative collaboration - and as with every journey, it's important to get off on the right foot. Sharon provided this foundation for No Postage Necessary."


Filming

Pre production on the film began in May 2016 in Hillsborough County, FL, and
principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...
began on August 3, 2016, and wrapped August 21, 2016.


Release

The film was released in theaters on July 6, 2018, in the United States. On July 10, 2018, the film released digitally in the United States and on the
decentralized application A decentralised application (DApp, dApp, Dapp, or dapp) is an Application software, application that can operate autonomously, typically through the use of smart contracts, that run on a decentralized computing, blockchain or other distributed le ...
Vevue, becoming the first film in history to release via
blockchain The blockchain is a distributed ledger with growing lists of Record (computer science), records (''blocks'') that are securely linked together via Cryptographic hash function, cryptographic hashes. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of th ...
technology and available to stream using
cryptocurrency A cryptocurrency (colloquially crypto) is a digital currency designed to work through a computer network that is not reliant on any central authority, such as a government or bank, to uphold or maintain it. Individual coin ownership record ...
as payment. ''No Postage Necessary'' was released on
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
and
Blu-ray Blu-ray (Blu-ray Disc or BD) is a digital optical disc data storage format designed to supersede the DVD format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released worldwide on June 20, 2006, capable of storing several hours of high-defin ...
on October 2, 2018.


References


External links

* * * *
No Postage Necessary
{{DEFAULTSORT:No Postage Necessary 2017 films 2017 romantic comedy-drama films American romantic comedy-drama films Blockchain art Films directed by Jeremy Culver Films set in 2017 Films set in Florida Films shot in Florida Plant City, Florida 2010s English-language films 2010s American films English-language romantic comedy-drama films