Armed with only a three-minute preview clip (on video) and a manageable dream, [Dror Soref] penetrated many of the industry's more inner sanctums. (Soref financed the production of the clip-about $3,200-with his savings.)

Such a ball of logistics could not have started rolling unless Soref-more or less an industry unknown with no appreciable track record as a director-got some king-size help at the outset. Soref says he knew some people who could help, but none who could initiate the project.

Especially after [Tex Rudloff]'s commitment, CFI Lab's Jerry Virnig and [Ben Cowitt] got involved. The more character references Soref got, the easier it was to get other people to go along.