Night of the Punks - see the short, relive the interview

Very happy to share this...  We saw "Night of the Punks" a couple years back and we had the chance to interview filmmaker Dan Riesser about it.  Check out our interview with him here.  It's a very well done short and you can check it out below.  Here's the press release we received recently about the short...  

"Director Dan Riesser has created an instant cult classic with Night of the Punks." 

 - Sarah Jahier, Fatally Yours 

 "A fun-filled grue-gala with awesome F/X and a rad sense of humor." 

 - Jake Dee, Arrow in the Head 

Just in time for the Halloween season, Irrational Films has made Dan Riesser's horror-comedy short film NIGHT OF THE PUNKS available for online streaming via YouTube.

In Night of the Punks, small town punk rockers The Brain Deads have their first out of town show, but there are a few problems: the venue is deserted, the promoter is a creep, their bassist has gone missing and the only kids in the audience turn out to be bloodthirsty punk rockers from Hell.

Drawing inspiration from Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons and the Evil Dead series, Night of the Punks is a blood-splatted love letter to '80s horror cinema. The cast includes industry veteran Luke Edwards (The Wizard, Little Big League, Newsies), sketch comedian Nick Munday, professional wrestler Vic D. Vine and L.A. horror punk band Murderland. The short has been Official Selection at more than 25 film festivals around the world and took home numerous awards and accolades.

Director Dan Riesser comments, "Making Night of the Punks and taking it to festivals was an amazing experience, and I'm glad everyone now has a chance to catch it on YouTube." Riesser plans to turn the self-financed, 19-minute short into a feature film. The script is complete and the project is currently seeking funding. In the interim, Riesser is focusing on his feature directorial debut, Stomping Ground. Billed as a scary comedy about love and Bigfoot, the movie enters production this month.

For more information on Night of the Punks, visit its official website at NightofthePunks.com.

   

Press Release - Season of Darkness

Hey guys, thought I'd share the press release that I received for Jay Woelfel's upcoming flick, "Season of Darkness".  You have to like that cast...  Tim Thomerson, Tiffany Shepis?  Also, if you have a press release for your film or you're looking for some promotion, please let us know.  More than happy to promote indie horror!

Director Jay Woelfel (Closed for the Season) has just released the first trailer, poster and production stills for his upcoming gore-gasm, Season of Darkness.  Please find the latest for Season of Darkness below:

Season of Darkness

“He escaped his insanity only to face a darker reality.”

Director Jay Woelfel (Closed for the Season) returns to horror with a psychological tale of mistaken identity. Woelfel’s Season of Darkness is a story that focuses on a protagonist who is an escaped mental patient.  He finds release daunting and strange. Once free, the public believes Dwight is actually a successful motivational speaker named Artemus Finch. Unsure of what is real and what is imagined, Dwight eases into his new role as Finch. But, there is a price to pay for Dwight’s new fame and loving wife.

Shades and faceless figures pursue him at every turn and they threaten Dwight’s love for Ellen. Will Dwight succumb to madness, or will he face his troubles head on?

Season of Darkness stars Richard Hatch (“Battlestar Galactica), Tiffany Shepis (Night of the Demons) Tim Thomerson (Trancers, War Wolves) and Nick Baldasare as Dwight (Beyond Dream’s Door, They Bite) in a classic tale of horror. To pay homage to past tales of the macabre, Season of Darkness was exclusively shot on 35mm film to enhance the dark and moody atmosphere of the film. This is a tale of true psychological horror few will forget.

  

The film’s logline:

 

“Dwight Stroud, a mental patient, escapes from an asylum seeking true freedom only to find horrifying insanity in the outside world.”

Director/writer: Jay Woelfel.

Producer: Lawreen Yakkel.

Cinematographer: Scott Spears.

Makeup/special effects: Brian Spears, Peter Gerner, Beki Ingram and John Ellis.

Cast: Nick Baldasare, Amanda Howell, Tim Thomerson, Richard Hatch and Tiffany Shepis.

*this title is the most recent collaboration between Emmy Award winning collaborators: Jay Woelfel and Scott Spears.

The film’s fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Season-of-Darkness/179160104500

The first trailer for the film is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDyR-ovJd90&feature=youtu.be

**premiere date: TBA shortly.

The Dead Feed - An Interactive Web Series

I've had various meetings with different producers and industry folks over the last little while about some projects that we're trying to get off the ground and what I've found to be very interesting is how much clout is given to online status.  I guess it makes sense, it's something that's measurable.  What's crazy is... and I don't mean to take anything away from the festivals, they're very important... but if your video on Youtube has over 1 million hits, you're going to get noticed faster than if you win best picture at a film festival.  Not only that, your ranking on imdb matters, anything on Youtube matters, how many unique visitors your site gets, whatever.  Long and short, if you've got Google juice, you can use that to your advantage and it can open up doors.

The truth is, how we use the internet for entertainment purposes is still in it's infancy.  Sure, the internet can deliver a film to you through Youtube, Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, whatever...  but that's just a delivery mechanism.  How about really using all the tools that are out there?  Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, etc.  Now, what if we actually start integrating these?  We're starting to see experimentation and when one of these projects rises to the top and gets noticed, we could see a revolution in how online is used for entertainment.

So, who's doing this?  Well, I received an email from James O'Connor about a month or two ago.  He's part of a new interactive web series called THE DEAD FEED.  The first episode aired a while ago, on August 17th, but a new episode has aired every two weeks.  The series follows three groups of people during the start of a zombie apocalypse and it's truly interactive... it utilizes Facebook, Twitter and users can upload Vlogs and more.  If you want to check it out, their Youtube channel is called "The Deadfeed" or you can just go to www.deadfeed.com and watch there.  When there, you'll also find all the links to the characters Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, etc.  The teaser video is embedded below.  It's a very cool idea and we wish them the best of luck.

The Best Article On Filmmaking That I've Ever Read

Yup, that's a bold statement...  but I'm going to share it with you; the best article on filmmaking that I've ever read.  Maybe it's because it really resonated with me, maybe it's because I read it at the right time, but... wow.  Ted Hope isn't talking about horror when he wrote this, but he might as well have.

If you didn't know, the Dead Harvey team is currently trying to get a few projects off the ground.  One's a low-budget horror and the others are more mid-range.  Currently, it looks like we'll get this low-budget one off the ground first, but you never know.  Regardless, we have a bunch of finished, polished scripts, but we just finished the last one and we're thinking about our next.  What to write?

You've had the conversation, right?  Do we do something niche, do we do something more commercial?  This stuff sells, this isn't hot right now.  Everyone wants found footage films, alien films are out, ghosts are in.  Blah, blah, blah...   well, read this article and I think it'll help you when you're at that stage.  It certainly helped me AND it put a few things in perspective.

Without further ado, here's the link to "Everything I Know About Producing, Pt 1".  I hope you like it as much as I did!

Interview with Christopher DiNunzio about his upcoming film, "A Life Not To Follow"

Tell us about your film, what’s it all about?

It's called "A Life Not To Follow", A trilogy of Neo-Noir films: Eric is a dead man and he knows it. Death is imminent and he must make amends for his past sins, by killing those who wronged him, no matter the price: A wiseguy willing to do anything to move up in the world must now make the ultimate sacrifice. He must kill his best friend or in turn be killed: An F.B.I.agent turned P.I. is on the trail of a missing girl. In his long search for her he comes face to face with a host of unsavory characters who will lead him to perdition or salvation.

If you don’t mind us asking, what was the budget for the film and how did you secure financing?

Don't know yet, I'm still adding up the receipts and we have one last part that still needs to be filmed. 

As of right now, what are your goals for the film and what kinds of things are you doing to make sure you reach your goals?

We want to play at the bigger named film festivals and get distribution with a studio who can really help us get our film in front of people. Me and our fantastic Producer/Actress Amy DePaola are gong to go over everything after the final cut is done and work to make it happen. But for now we are still putting the film together so that needs to get done before we can even begin acting on any goals we have for the film. 

What about film festivals? Are you going to enter your film? If you have, how did it do? Tell us about your feelings around the indie film fest circuit.

When the film is done absolutely! I help run The Massachusetts Independent Film Festival so I love film festivals!!!(Sept 25,26,28th 2012) They are a great place to get your film and name out there. It's a hard road getting into festivals, a lot of good films don't play at places they should. You just never really know what people are thinking when they see your film. For us at Mass Indie we try to find the best films we can. We don't judge it on how long it is or genre. We want great films! And we want them to be Independent films. Bottom line is when you get into a festival it's a great feeling but you just need to find the right festivals for you. 

Talk about distribution. Have you secured distribution? If so, how did you go about doing that? If not, what’s your plan?

Not yet. I have already talked to a few people. We'll see what happens but my goal is to screen it and see who's interested. I want a lot from my distribution at this point in my career. I know that could be asking for too much but I believe in this film and I can't forget that. 

Where can people find out more about the film and/or get their hands on a copy?

On IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2179734/ and FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/ALifeNotToFollow Please like both! It would be a great help to us.

Talk about the production. How did it go? Tell us one good or funny story that demonstrates the trials and tribulations of being an indie filmmaker.

Well there was a lot of joking around. Nothing I should share. LOL. But it's been hard but really fun! We have had to get to a bar at 5am to shoot with a time limit and battled weather (Not easy to do in Boston) and I've had extras drop out last minute but in the end we still stand tall! The locations we got are places I would have picked out if we had a ton of money and the acting has been amazing. The look we are getting is just beautiful! It's the best looking film I've done to date. That is thanks to Nolan , he's a great DP. Also 1st AC Alex Huang has helped with that as well. I try to find not only talented people but good people, the kind that know how to act like a professional. You need both! I have no room on my set for divas. That's just not acceptable at all. I've felt really honored to be able to have the cast & crew I have. They have put in so much effort while keeping a positive attitude and it's paying off. The evidence is in how great the film is coming out. I can't thank them enough. Filmmaking isn't easy. When you work on an Indie film everyone who has a credit did something to earn it. So Thank you cast & crew! Michael Capozzi, John Martellucci, Molly Kay, Fiore Leo, William DeCoff, Erica Derrickson, Johnny Cammarata, Jaimie Tucker, William Bloomfield, Vincent Di Nunzio, Leighsa Burgin, Geno Mirabella, Amy DePaola, Keith Bennett, Justin Thibault, Nick Apostolides, Angel Garcia, Madeleine McKenzie, Mark Mandracchia, Michael Caggiano,  Pedro Alvarado, Jason Miller, Nolan Yee, Alex Huang, Laura Grose, Mike Shea, Jessica-Lee Van Winkle, Scott Reardon, Roy Bosell, Steven Panetta, Shawn Contois, James L. Leite. And the best for last Melanie Kotoch! There's more to thank but If I don't stop this interview we'll be one long thank you letter. LOL. One thing and I can't stress enough is find good people to work with and treat them right. Something good will always come out of it. 

What about you? Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into indie horror.

For me it was Dario Argento. He made me see how Horror can be art. I love dark things. I'm just attracted to them. So being young horror drew me in. As far as getting into crime films. That's from growing up hearing all the stories from my family and friends in the North End in Boston,MA. Now the North End is just a tourist spot but man the things that went on there. 

Talk about the indie horror scene. Where do you think it is now and where do you see it going?

I'm at a loss with it. I'm not sure how I feel about it right now. I'll have to get back to you on that one. LOL. A far as where it's going it will never die. Horror has a great fan base who make it fun to like horror. 

Do you have any more projects in the works? What’s next for you?

A few things but nothing that I'm able to talk about at the moment. It's just not at that stage yet and it's partly because A Life Not To Follow is all I can think about right now. 

As always thank you so much for the interview! 

--
Christopher Di Nunzio  writer/director/producer
www.creepykidproductions.com
http://www.facebook.com/CreepyKidProductions
http://twitter.com/Creepykid

Interview with Greg Hanson about his film, "Thy Kill Be Done"

I love it when we can share a film with our readers, then follow the film up with an interview with the filmmaker...  do yourself a favor, check out "Thy Kill Be Done" -- an awesome nunsploitation short flick.  It's embedded below.  Then, read up on the interview with Greg Hanson, one of the indie filmmakers behind the project!



Thy Kill Be Done (2010) from Greth Productions on Vimeo.

Tell us about your film, what’s it all about?

Thy Kill Be Done is a short nunsploitation/revenge film about an inner city church where the Monsignor Priest is killed by a gang of no-good hoodlums and their drug lord leader, so the nuns in the church’s clergy vow bloody revenge. But these are no ordinary nuns…

If you don’t mind us asking, what was the budget for the film and how did you secure financing?

The budget for the film was about $3,000. This was a student film and we were actually able to somehow get the school to pay for a large chunk of it through campus film organisations that make and finance films. We had to formally pitch to the boards – it was really funny. But everyone was really behind us and super supportive. The rest of it I put up from my bank account, haha.

As of right now, what are your goals for the film and what kinds of things are you doing to make sure you reach your goals?

The film has pretty well done everything we (my co-director Casey Regan and I) could hope for – it has gotten us some great press, it was the first of our films to play a film festival – it has now played more than 25 and still screens – plus we learned a ton from it. It’s now available online for people to enjoy, so I think it’s done pretty much exactly what we had hoped for!

What about film festivals? Are you going to enter your film? If you have, how did it do? Tell us about your feelings around the indie film fest circuit.

The film has played more than 25 festivals worldwide so far and it’s still playing every now and then. It did pretty well but definitely had its fair share of rejections. That’s the way it goes. I love the indie festival circuit – we had some amazing experiences, met lots of great people, had a lot of fun. The indie festival route is sometimes tough but often rewarding. We ended up screening to more than 600 people in a huge amazing theater before Hobo with a Shotgun when we screened at the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival in Spain. Sitting next to Jason Eisener and Michael Biehn (who was there with The Victim) and a ton of other great people, it was very surreal and wonderful. It’s a great experience to finally sit back and enjoy your film with a great audience after it’s all said and done. It’s an amazing feeling of satisfaction.

Talk about distribution. Have you secured distribution? If so, how did you go about doing that? If not, what’s your plan?

Distribution is a slippery thing, especially for shorts. We have talked to a few people over the last few years but it really comes down to a lack of market for shorts. With a few exceptions (the occasional such-and-such director’s early work or Wholpin compilation), shorts are typically special features if they even make it on DVD. So, not surprisingly, nothing has happened on that front. So, instead we put it online for anyone to check out and enjoy!

Where can people find out more about the film and/or get their hands on a copy?

https://vimeo.com/31342303 or go to Grethproductions.com

Talk about the production. How did it go? Tell us one good or funny story that demonstrates the trials and tribulations of being an indie filmmaker.

The production was definitely tough – we had to push the shoot back a few months from late October, 2009 to late January, 2010 because we had to figure out money stuff and get all the pieces together. As you could imagine, a January shoot outside of Boston was pretty brutal – we were pulling 17 hour days because we had to get it all done in a weekend, so we were shooting night exteriors in the middle of the night in 20 degree weather. We had no such thing as a warm room or tent. We were so worried that everyone was going to hate us afterwards and that we wouldn’t finish, stuff like that.

On the last day of the shoot, I had gotten about an hour of sleep before I had to wake up to go to pick people up. But when I got up to get ready, I fell to the floor. I couldn’t really walk or form sentences because I was so delirious. I called up my producer Ben Brewer and tried to ask him something about his car that I was using to pick people up. But I couldn’t finish the sentence. I kept slurring my words and nodding off. After a few minutes of arguing, he said he was pushing the call back. After some fighting, I rolled back over, sprung up three hours later feeling like a million bucks, and we went and shot the whole final sequence of the film. After a long three days, we got everything we needed, it looked great, and everyone had an amazing time.

What about you? Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into indie horror.

I got into horror movies late in life. This is, in part, because horror movies did what they were supposed to do – they scared the shit out of me. So much so that I wouldn’t sit and watch one until I was 10 or 11, and even then I typically stayed away. But when I was about 13 or so, I watched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) for the second time and suddenly everything clicked. It all seemed to make sense. It was the first time I watched a movie and I noticed the beautiful art of filmmaking. I noticed cinematography, the eerie sound design, the atmosphere, and I was hooked! The movie ended and I said, “That’s the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen!” and I wanted to immediately go back to the video store and pick up something else. It didn’t take long for me to get my hands on the classics – Suspiria, The Hills Have Eyes, The Fog – and that’s when I knew I wanted to make movies.

Talk about the indie horror scene. Where do you think it is now and where do you see it going?

I love the indie horror scene – it’s pretty much the only horror scene, as far as I am concerned. Big budget horror is pretty much dead – the indie scene is where the innovation happens and horror is and has been such an innovative genre. I love the old school vibe of a lot of the films happening, the mixing of genres, the absurdist edge, comedic twinges. There has been this great movement to make films that channel the best elements of yesteryear – funky music, crazy costumes, real suspense, horror, dread – and employ them in modern stories. It’s great to see less and less straight gross-out films happening and more imagination and experimentation. There are so many talented people making stuff right now - people like Alex Chandon, Ti West, Jason Eisener, Lucky McKee, Alex de la Iglasias, and countless others are making some of their best work right now!

Do you have any more projects in the works? What’s next for you?

We have a short black comedy that we are editing right now called Ipecac about a gambling addict who realizes he can cough up money but rather than pay off his debts, he creates horrible new ones. Casey and I just premiered our latest short, our family drama in a town full of cannibals Meat Me in Plainville at the amazing PiFan Film Festival in South Korea, so keep a lookout for that! Past that, we have some fun scripts coming together involving screwed up families, feudal dojos, post-apocalyptic pimps, and more! So the future holds some fun stuff.

The Undertakers - Kickstarter Project

If you're looking to finance a film or a project and you don't know about Kickstarter, you need to get your head in the game.  By no means does putting together an awesome Kickstarter campaign mean you're going to be successful, but we're in a world where financing doesn't come easy and it's definitely worth a shot.  Not only that, there's lots of success stories coming out the Kickstarter world these days, but, to get there, they all need help getting attention.  So, I'd like to bring your attention to an awesome looking Kickstarter project called "The Undertakers".  We spoke with Kevin Head about the project and, you know what to do - support indie film, go over to their Kickstarter page and donate a few bucks!


Tell us about your project, what’s it all about?

There are certain places throughout the world that possess supernatural properties, where the dead inexplicably rise from the grave to hunt human flesh. Charged with defending this dangerous secret are a group of highly skilled agents in a private organization referred to as "The Undertakers". Their mission: to identify, segregate, and stand vigil in these dangerous areas preventing the possibility of a catastrophic outbreak.

The Undertakers will be set in a highly stylised world with dark-gothic elements. Our character and zombie designs are created with a Burtonesque feel, giving the film a touch of similarity to classics like Cemetery Man and Underworld.

But the emphasis is on story. The web series centers around the sacrifices these brave men and women make in order to protect the world each and every day, in total secrecy.

Oh, and let's not forget to mention the kickass zombie killing scenes in which our characters prefer the traditional weapons of old, so that they might kill silently and swiftly.

If you don’t mind us asking, what was the budget and how are you going to secure financing?

At the moment, we are producing a series of web shorts that will lead up to the storyline of the feature film. We have decided to take the unconventional approach of crowd funding (Kickstarter.com) for raising the budget for these shorts for multiple reasons. It allows us to connect with fans of the genre directly, and give once-in-a-lifetime type rewards for their participation in raising the funds. Those who participate can receive cool items like an "I heart zombies" T-shirt, replica LARP swords and signed posters. They can also receive exciting rewards like Skyping with Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Producer credits and even a chance to appear as a zombie in the series.

To find out more visit our kickstarter website: http://kck.st/KAoAmv

We are working to fund two separate groups of web shorts. The first has a budget of $28,000 and the second will be produced if we reach the goal of $55,000.

As of right now, what are your goals for the film and what kinds of things are you doing to make sure you reach your goals?

We are producing these web shorts for a couple of reasons. First, we want to give fans a taste of what the world of The Undertakers feels like. We have been producing artwork, short stories and screenplays for a couple of years now and have a growing fan base that has sprung from our exposure on MySpace and Facebook. This is mainly for them.

But, it also allows us to have something to show as we go looking for funding from production companies and investors for the eventual feature film The Undertakers: Road's End.

What about film festivals? Are you going to enter your film? If you have, how did it do? Tell us about your feelings around the indie film fest circuit.

As of now we have no plans to enter the shorts into any festivals. It is mainly for use on our website and will be distributed on dvd to those participating in the kickstarter campaign. Hopefully, these little gems will become a little part of our success story, and coveted by those who have them.

Where can people find out more about the film and/or get their hands on a copy?

You can find out more about The Undertakers by visiting our Kickstarter page: http://kck.st/KAoAmv, by "liking" us on Facebook to follow our progress: https://www.facebook.com/TheUndertakersinfo, or by visiting our official website: www.theundertakers.info.

You can only receive a DVD by making a small pledge on our Kickstarter page.

What about you? Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into indie horror.

I've been a fan of the genre since watching the late-night double-feature of Night of the Living Dead and The Children at age 8 on Detroit television. I obtained a degree in Television Production at Ferris State University and became a post-production specialist, trained in editing, animating and camera.

About six years ago, I decided to follow my heart and pursue a career as a writer/director in feature film. My writing has garnered recent recognition, as I have been covered by William Morris Endeavor on the recommendation of Darren Lynn Bousman (Director of several films in the Saw franchise), hired by Zeitgeist Productions to pen a horror film now in development, and cultivated several invaluable relationships with recognizable actors with the desire to work on several of my projects. I have several other projects in the works, but this is the one closest to my heart.

Talk about the indie horror scene. Where do you think it is now and where do you see it going?

Indie horror is in a very interesting place right now. With the collapse of our economy a few years back, production companies were forced to adapt. The result for Indie writers, producers and directors were fewer options and sales. The amazing thing for me is how filmmakers always seem to find a way. From the ashes of our economic despair comes a new platform like Kickstarter.com, which allows fans to decide what gets made and what doesn't.

It's a frustrating, yet exciting time for those of us working our asses off trying to get our films made.

Adapt or abandon your dreams.

Do you have any more projects in the works? What’s next for you?

There are a few other things in the works at the moment. As we adapt, learn and get efficient at what we are doing, others look to use that knowledge which has led me to the producing side. I'm planning to be associated with a few other web projects in the near future.

We are also gearing up to fund another film I have in preproduction entitled "Black Storm", which centers around a small community plagued by a group of malevolent entities trapped inside a massive dust storm.
 

Mass Indie Film presents a Night Supporting Independent Film

If you're in the New England area, you need to be aware of the fact that Mass Indie Film is presenting a Night Supporting Independent Film. Details are below and you can also read the picture, as I think I left it big enough to read. I should also mention that if any of you have an event or film that you want to promote, please send info our way!

On April 26 At Belmont Studio Cinema, Mass Indie Film is presenting a night showcasing independent film with screenings from some of the best filmmakers in New England. This is the perfect opportunity for film fans in the area to support independent film by simply buying a ticket. If you work in film we want to hear from you! The night will also be a great networking opportunity for people in all aspects of filmmaking. We will be conducting interviews to shine the spotlight on all the talent that independent film has to offer. If you are interested in sharing your experiences working in indie film drop us a line on our website at www.massindiefilm.com.

Tickets are $9.

All proceeds go to support independent film production.

Doors open at 7:30pm Show starts at 8:00pm.

There will be a Q&A.

"Her Heart Still Beats"
 DIR: Christopher Di Nunzio

"Christopher Di Nunzio is able to hit all the right beats in adapting and modernizing Poe’s classic tale." -Ain't It Cool News

"2 A.M."
DIR: David Trodella

"Along A Dark Road"
DIR: Bryan Casey "Longreach - The Web Series" (Preview)
Written By: William Decoff

"Certainly Never" (Preview)
DIR: Matt Phillion

“The Loudest Sound” (Preview)
DIR: Jason Miller Belmont

Studio Cinema: www.studiocinema.com

"The Frolic" Now Available Via Online Download!

The horror DVD's of the week are going to have to wait until tomorrow, as we wanted to make sure we posted this today - Jacob Cooney's fantastic short film, "The Frolic", is now available via online download. Dead Harvey had the opportunity to interview Cooney about the film and you can access that here. It's an audio interview, so just sit back, relax, and click the links to listen to the soothing sounds of Brad drinking while interviewing Jacob.

If you want to know more about the new release of "The Frolic" and hear what Cooney's been up to, here's the press release...

THE FROLIC AVAILABLE VIA ONLINE DOWNLOAD!!!

THE FROLIC, Thomas Ligotti’s iconic horror short story turned short film, is now available via online download at both FILMBABY.COM and AMAZON.COM.

Directed by Jacob Cooney and Produced by Jane Kelly Kosek (Wonder Entertainment), THE FROLIC follows the story of Dr. David Munck, a prison psychologist, who uncovers a deadly supernatural force in one of his inmate patients, which ultimately leads him to his breaking point.

Starring Maury Sterling (John Doe), Michael Reilly Burke (Dr. Munck), Jennifer Aspen (Leslie Munck) and Kailey Swanson (Colleen Munck), this short film has played in numerous film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, Los Angeles International Short Films Festival, Dead by Dawn Film Festival, Shriekfest and Dances with Films and has frighten audiences across the world.

According to Stephen Jones (World Fantasy Award-winning author), “Jacob Cooney's film version of THE FROLIC, from a script co-written by Ligotti himself, is a masterful slice of psychological horror given a creepy supernatural twist. This is a little gem of twisted terror.”

THE FROLIC is available for download at the following locations. Hope you enjoy.

Filmbaby.com

Amazon.com

Cooney's got a lot of other great things going on as well. He describes all the cool projects he's currently juggling below. We can't wait to see them. Keep up the great work Jacob!

JC: "I recently co-wrote, directed and exec produced the television comedy pilot REHAB FOR REJECTS starring Maury Sterling (A-Team, Smokin' Aces, The Frolic), Adam Edgar (Chasing Midnight, Me and Her), April Billingsley (Andre the Butcher, Hellphone), Evan Arnold (Chasing the Clown, West Wing), and Richard Reihle (Office Space). It is about a young man who is court ordered to attend a rehab facility that specializes in odd addictions. You can check out the official pilot on funnyordie.com

Cooney's also finished the first draft of a script for State Street Pictures (Faster, Barbershop, Men of Honor) called WANT.

JC: "It is basically the re-envisioning of Indecent Proposal with more of a thriller edge."

He's also attached to direct a film titled GRASS LAKE

JC: "This film is an indie thriller about a group of four friends in their 30’s who go on a fishing trip. But when they find a package of marijuana and one hundred fifty thousand dollars cash, they discover that even lifelong friendships have their limits. We are currently going out to cast and also searching for potential investors for the project."

For more info on the film, here is the link to the film's facebook page

Cooney's also in development on a drama he co-wrote titled FAREWELL TO THE NIGHT, a werewolf horror film titled WOLF'S DEN, a horror comedy titled EXTRA DELIVERY, as well as a newly brainstormed untitled low budget psychological horror film about "a socially awkward shut-in who befriends an odd membrane/organism that's growing out of his bathtub drain. Some fantastic ideas and great things happening here. If anyone would like to invest in "Grass Lake" check out Cooney's short. He can be contacted via facebook. He's most certainly got the filmmaking chops for the job.

Interview with Geno McGahee, writer/director of "Family Secret"

One of my favorite things about having done this site for more than just a couple years is being able to watch indie filmmakers progress. There are lots of filmmakers that we've talked with multiple times and it's always interesting to check back in with them after each project. Not only is it interesting to see how their ideas, production quality and films evolve, it's also interesting to hear the lessons that they've learned along the way... and, hey, that's what this site's all about.

We first spoke with Geno McGahee after his first film, "Evil Awakening". You can find that interview by clicking here. We next spoke with him after his film "Rise of the Scarecrows" and you can find that interview here. Now, Geno's finishing up his most ambitious project to date, "Family Secret". He's put together both a trailer (which I haven't seen, but I don't think is fully done at this point) and a music video (which I'll embed right before the interview) and, from what we can tell, it looks like Geno has definitely moved on to a whole new level of filmmaking. Please enjoy the video and definitely give the interview a read, he offers up plenty of insight and lessons learned.



Last we talked, you had just finished up “Rise of the Scarecrows”. What have you been up to since then?

Well, I have been up to a lot. I completed filming RISE OF THE SCARECROWS in 2004ish and sort of gave up filmmaking after that, but then I was able to strike the distribution deal with Tempe Entertainment and my world of filmmaking was reborn. I filmed a movie called “SCARY TALES” in 2008 and I had made an effort to improve, mostly technique. With the distribution deal and success in sales of RISE and EVIL AWAKENING, I wanted to present something to investors so they can see that I’m more than a “backyard cinema” filmmaker, and it worked.

My new project is a film called FAMILY SECRET. I had a budget to hire a cinematographer, editor, brought in established actors, and acquired great locations. I wrote it not concerning myself with whether or not the actors can remember the lines. I really shortchanged myself and the audience by cutting dialogue in my first two movies because the actors could not remember the lines. FAMILY SECRET is the best thing I have ever done and I want people to know that this is what I’m about film-wise…I’m not just a backyard cinema film guy. I’m a real filmmaker, and I will prove that with FAMILY SECRET.

First off, tell us a bit about both “Family Secret” and this music video.

FAMILY SECRET concerns a journalist that reunites with his family after the death of his grandmother. As he eases back into his life without his family, he gets drawn right back when what appears to be the dead grandmother is going around killing family members.

What I did with the movie was to bring back the shock value. There is surprise after surprise and I challenge anyone to guess what will happen next. I really think that this is the next big thing in horror. I know that those that know my work will doubt when I say that this is going to be big, but today is a new day for me and I am working with totally new people and writing without restraint.

Sonora is a great band out of Brazil. I found them on line doing cover songs of some great metal songs…which I am still stuck on...and Chris Miyai, the lead singer, had such an amazing voice that I had to contact them about doing the title tune for the movie. They thankfully agreed and here’s the power of the Internet. It creates the opportunity for a great rock band from Brazil to work with a film group out of Massachusetts.

Horror films and heavy metal videos go hand in hand and I wanted to create one with Sonora, and with the help of the band and my editor, Forris Day, JR., we have a great rock video that I hope the people will like.

If you don’t mind us asking, what was the budget for this latest film and how did you secure the financing?

I entertained several investors before agreeing with Webhead Entertainment, LLC. They came in and invested into the project and that, along with my sales from my first two movies and every other penny I could get together equaled a budget of $14,000, give or take.

Your production value goes up with each film and now, I’ve noticed, you’re filming in HD, as well. Talk about your progression over the last few years.

There were some negative things that happened during RISE OF THE SCARECROWS and I was incredibly frustrated with the lack of dedication from most of the cast and crew. I wrapped in 2004 and was done filmmaking, and with all the negativity even afterwards with people saying that distribution was impossible and to give up on filmmaking, I was ready to take the advice but it drew me back and when I landed a deal with Tempe, I knew it was a new day for me. I took over the entire production and eliminated 99% of the old crew, replacing it with willing and able people. I filmed SCARY TALES and it was such a vast improvement that I knew that I could make something special if I had good equipment and the right people involved. Basically, no more bullshit.

With FAMILY SECRET, I made the decision to bring in a cinematographer, a special effects team…basically improving on all of the criticisms from the audience that watched my first two movies. They would attack the technique and acting and you know what? They were 100% right. It bothered me at first when they would say “hang’em up,” and I would say: “Do they know what I went through with zero budget to even get these produced?!!! Do they know the shitheads I dealt with?” All of that doesn’t matter, because my name is on it and I they were correct about most of the negative things that they have said and it has helped me immensely. I have turned a negative into a positive and they can attack certain things, but technique and acting will not be on the list.

I stepped out of my comfort zone and employed “real” actors and brought in all new people, and the results speak for themselves. My editor, Forris Day, JR., and my Director of Photography, John Golden, have helped me SO much with the production. I have learned so much and they have really helped bring my vision to life. I feel that FAMILY SECRET is my first film. It is the first film where there were no restrictions writing wise and that has made a giant difference in the production. What I wrote was what was said…no changing along the way, no ad-libbing, and no cutting down lines to make it easier for the actor.

I also needed to film in HD. If you don’t have HD, you don’t have anything at this point. My earlier films are forgiven because they are backyard cinema, but if I were presenting a movie in hopes of creating the next horror icon, it had to be HD…because nobody wants standard definition at this point, especially on the higher levels.

So, why a music video? Is this in place of a trailer or is this just to some sort of cross promotion to get the word out?

I actually have a trailer. You can see it on youtube, but we are working on another as we speak. The video was to work a duel promotion for FS and Sonora. It’s such a great song that it should generate interest in the movie and the movie is creating a buzz, so it generates interest in the band. It’s a win/win and I’m old school. I loved Dokken’s Dream Warriors video and song and I think that there are many out there that are sick of the remakes and “re-imaginings” and Asian transfers. They want something fresh and American…the American slasher is sadly missed. HATCHET came out and promised to bring it back and it stunk, but FAMILY SECRET will bring back the feeling that horror fans have missed. People will talk about it and it’s a throwback to the 1970s brand of disturbing and surprising horror.

Talk about some of the lessons you’ve learned over the last few years and how you’re applying them to this project.

My prior productions from EVIL AWAKENING to RISE OF THE SCARECROWS taught me a lot. I have learned mostly to believe in myself and to stop dealing with nonsense. I used to drive around and pick up cast members only to have them come out to the car and tell me that they couldn’t do it that day…frustrating. It made me deal with the new people in a more professional way. If you can’t make it to the set, then you can’t be in the movie.

Through the production of FAMILY SECRET, I have learned SO much about filmmaking…the technique and lighting and learning what to film to make sure that the editor can make it into a cohesive movie. The largest lesson that I have learned is to trust my instincts and don’t listen to those that tell you that you cannot do something. The minute I washed my hands of the doubters, the world opened up to me. I also am assertive now and there is a zero bullshit policy now. It’s a business and it’s bad business to have bad actors or dead weight on the set and unfortunately, some buddies have not made the cut, but I had to do what I had to do to make the best production possible.

I have also gotten more organized and FAMILY SECRET has been my life since December of 2008. It’s still dominating my thoughts and actions and I won’t rest until it does what I want it to do.

What’s your goal for “Family Secret”? Are you going to hit up the festival circuit?

The goal for the movie is a theatrical run and to be the next low budget horror film to take the world’s imagination. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY did it on a budget of 11,000 bucks and it was a very simple production. FAMILY SECRET is a better movie with better production value and I think that it has a legitimate chance to make it on the big screen. All of the greatest horror movies started out with a low budget and an indie status, more or less. You look at A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, FRIDAY THE 13TH, and HALLOWEEN….all three are low budget flicks that made gobs and gobs of money and there is a reason why. It doesn’t take a lot of money to make a great film. It takes a good story, presented well. I know that there are those out there that saw my first two films and scratching their heads, but FAMILY SECRET is in a different universe than my first two.

I have entered it into three festivals thus far and have my eyes on a few others. I hope to win, of course, and I’m trying to keep my feet on the ground. I had a test audience for FS and they jumped and were shocked at the right times. It was really promising. I think that will be across the board.

How are you going to approach distribution this time around?

I can’t go deeply into this matter, but I have one distributor that has it right now and it looks promising…if it comes through, then we will be going worldwide and possibly, make my dream of the big screen come true. I have spoken to two other distributors and they both expressed interest, but I’m hoping that the big distributor will run with it and give me a deal that I can accept. Through my horror site, scaredstiffreviews.com, I have met some great people and thankfully, they have pointed me in the right direction and have made distribution easier and have given me a very big opportunity that I’m hoping pans out.

Where can people find out more about “Family Secret” and/or get their hands on a copy?

At this point, they can go to scaredstiffreviews.com and click on the FAMILY SECRET cover art on the top left and it will bring them to the page where all the news is. They can also befriend me on Facebook. I have weekly updates there and sometimes I say something that some people may deem humorous….maybe not, but you can at least get FAMILY SECRET updates there. I also recommend visiting webheadentertainment.com, another great place for information about FAMILY SECRET. I’m hoping that a deal will be struck soon so people can see it and see what the new X Posse Productions is all about.

What’s next?

I am reshooting SCARY TALES at the present moment, high definition and with established actors. I will be wrapping in October, 2010. I was also hired for an Internet TV show called “JAKI’S BUZZ,” an entertainment show, and am planning on shooting FAMILY SECRET II next spring. If not, I have another movie called “SICKLE” that has a lot of potential. The point is to keep producing and improving. If you’re not growing, you’re dying, and the plan is to continue to grow and win fans and hopefully make my mark on a very large scale.

Inconsequential Weekend At The Box Office and A Great Week in Horror on DVD

Okay, seriously, I'm just going to whip right through the news from the box office because it's all of little or no consequence to anything that I give a rats ass about. "Shrek Forever After" won the weekend, but it was the least attended opening for a "Shrek" film... this being the fourth, if you lost count. I have a feeling that "Shrek" will live on, though... in some sort of incarnation. A kids show, video games, straight to DVD releases. Whatever. It's a good franchise. The other new nationwide release was an unmitigated disaster. "MacGruber". Wow. I mean, it took in around $4Million total. With "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" and "Sex and the City 2" coming out this week, it's done. "George Romero's Survival of the Dead" will probably do better and it gets a limited releases this Friday... so limited that I don't get it here, which sucks. Anyhow, let's look at the week in DVD horror. As usual, you can check out our Youtube Page for the trailers and click on the titles to go to their Amazon page, where you can read more and/or buy them.

I watched the first half of the first season of "True Blood", then it got away from me. Now, they're releasing "True Blood: The Complete Second Season" on DVD. Where does the time go? Are any of you big "True Blood" fans? If so, is this worth getting caught up on, really? The show has received great critical acclaim and even won a few awards, including a Golden Globe. However, I want to hear from the people that watch it.

They're rereleasing a special edition version of Lucio Fulci's "City of the Living Dead", otherwise known as "The Gates of Hell", on regular DVD and Blu-ray. Is it a classic? I think so. It was the first installment in Fulci's unofficial "Gates of Hell" trilogy, which also included "The Beyond" and "The House by the Cemetary".

The awesome indie horror, "The Landlord", comes out this week... officially. We actually spoke with the writer/director, Emil Hyde, a while back. Here's a link to the interview that we did with him. It's definitely worth a read and the film is definitely worth checking out.

Okay, I've mentioned this film numerous times and I highly, highly recommend it. If you've never been in to Japanese splatter films or you love them, but haven't seen "Machine Girl", here's your chance to go all in. This week, you can get the "Ultimate Machine Girl: Collectors Tin".

This looks like a bit of a hidden gem and I'll be on this one quick. Check out the trailer for "Babysitter Wanted" on our Youtube Page, it looks unreal. It had a very limited theatrical release in 2009, but won a ton of awards on the indie horror festival circuit.

The writer/director of "Someone's Knocking at the Door" is Chad Ferrin and he broke into the industry as a production assistant on "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers" and "Hellraiser: Bloodline". He moved on to directing episodes of "Troma's Edge TV" and then started making films for Troma... with low-no budgets. "The Ghouls" was shot on Mini DV for $15K and "Unspeakable" was shot for $20K. This is his latest and, quite frankly, it looks pretty f'ing good. If you're going to go low-no budget, you might as well do something f'ed up. This fits the bill and I can't wait to check it out.

"The Shadow Within" looks really creepy, but mainly because I find twins creepy to start with. The film is about a twin that dies and the brother and family that grieve after his death. The surviving brother acts as a medium and they discover that the two of them want the same thing, their parents love. However, the dead one doesn't want to return to the living, he wants them all to join him in the afterlife.

"Iron Man 2" stays on top and a whole bunch of Asylum films hit the shelves

So, "Iron Man 2" tumbled a bit, but not enough to lose its first place standing at the box office. It still pulled in $53Million, which ain't chump change, but that is down 59% from the week before. What surprised me was that "Robin Hood" did a lot better than I thought it would. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe, it's the team that brought you the all-time classic, "Gladiator", AND pulling on that film quite a bit in their marketing, I thought it was going to be a disaster. I thought Robin Hood was tired, I just think of "Robin Hood: Men In Tights", for some reason. Tough to think of Robin Hood as a bad ass, I guess... even though he actually, in fact, was a bad ass. Anyhow, it pulled in $37.1Million and that's almost in line with what "Gladiator" did and that's remarkably good for a medieval-themed film. Next week ain't aces for horror fans, as we get "MacGruber" and "Shrek Forever After", then... on May 28th, if you're lucky enough to live in a market that's showing it, you'll get "George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead". Now, to the week in horror on DVD. As usual, you can go to our Youtube Page to see the trailers and you can click on the title to go to the films page on Amazon, where you can read more and/or buy it.

Am I the only one who hadn't heard of the Kevin Costner film, "The New Daughter"? I'm just reading about it now, for the first time, and there's a lot of good things going on here. It's the directorial debut of Spanish screenwriter, Luis Berdego and he's written a few things, most notably, "{REC}", which was then "Quarantine". He also wrote the sequel to "{REC}", "{REC} Genesis", which is currently in pre-production. Now, as the butt of a lot of jokes over the last decade, it's easy to discount a Costner film, but... I have a tough time being hard on him these days. Did you see "Mr. Brooks"? If you haven't, go check that out. It may change your opinion on him. Anyhow, I loved "{REC}", so I'm anxious to check out what Berdego can do at the helm, but I'm also anxious to see Costner's next foray into horror. Could be good.

I'm going to assume that the 2 disc set of "Tokyo Gore Police 1.5" is, in fact, just a reboot of "Tokyo Gore Police", but with some added features or something. In case you were wondering... and I'm sure you were, this and "Machine Girl" are my two favorite Japanese gore films of late, so if you haven't seen either, check this out... then check out "Machine Girl". After that, you'll either think that the Japanese are out of their mind (or more out of their minds that you had originally thought) and you'll never watch another Japanese gore flick again OR you'll be hooked. Now that I think about it, it's been a while since I've watched a good Japanese gore flick. Takashi Miike usually makes about 5 movies a year, he must have something new out...

I've been thinking about it. I think I could work for Asylum Films. Seriously. I could handle a lot of the marketing and advertising. I could also help develop new titles, open up new markets, even do a bit of writing. At first, much like most people, I looked down my nose at them... rip-off movies that are just trying to trick people into watching the wrong film. Asylum - the guys who created the "mockbuster", low-budget, straight-to-DVD productions that usually emulate or copy productions by major studios. This week, they're rereleasing some of their best and they're selling them all for only $6.99 each, including: "30,000 Leagues Under the Sea", "AVH: Alien vs. Hunter", "Invasion of the Pod People", "Journey to the Center of the Earth", "Haunting of Winchester House", "Monster" and "Freakshow". So, look, it's easy to look down your nose at them, sure. Be a film snob. However, what's tough to ignore is the fact that they make money. Lots of it. They're like Roger Corman, almost all of their films make a profit. Not only that, they're getting a ton of recognition and their films aren't that bad... well, the later ones are a lot better than their earlier ones. They've turned the corner, from rip-off guys to becoming their own niche. At first, people may have been tricked into watching their films, but now... people look for them. Anyways, if anyone knows anyone at Asylum or if you're from Asylum yourself, shoot me an email. I'll send you my resume.

From My Inbox To Yours: Another Potpourri of Indie Horror News

Ahhh.... another Friday and, I've gotta say, it's been a great week. In fact, I think I may be finished up early today, too. That means one of two things, I'll either watch a couple of indie horror films this afternoon OR I'll find a patio to sit on and have a few beers. Toss up right now, as the weather IS great, but... I haven't been able to watch a movie since last weekend and I can always drink at home with the window open. We'll see how it goes. Anyhow, once again, a few interesting things have come through my inbox and I'd like to share.

I realize that most of our readers are from North America, but we do have a few readers overseas. Either way, you should know about the 9th annual Fantastic Films Weekend that takes place in the UK. They screens some great films, both old and new. Check out the list of films that they'll be screening, a lot of them are available on DVD and you may have forgotten about them. I know I looked through the list and found a few that I had forgotten about. For example, their latest additions include: Paul Verhoeven's "Robocop", Bill Rebane's "The Giant Spider Invasion", Jan Svankmajer's "Faust" and Derek Ford's mondo witchcraft documentary "Secret Rites". They're also going to be screening some new blood, including "Zone of the Dead", "Plague Town", "Shadow" and their midnight screamer, the phenomenon that is "Birdemic: Shock and Terror", a $10,000 epic that's played to sold out audiences at festivals across the US. If you're in the U.K., check the festival out. If you're not, at least go check out the site and get some ideas for your next rental.

Have you heard about IndieGoGo.com? I hadn't... until I was forwarded a link because someone was looking for some funding. Now, just to be clear, I'm not typing this from the rear deck of my yacht, lighting cigars with $100 bills or anything. I'd LOVE to fund everyone's indie projects, but that's just not going to happen right now. However, I CAN pass on the link to you guys because that's what IndieGoGo is all about. Basically, they look to be a collaborative way to fund ideas and they're geared towards indie projects. I mean, they are called INDIEgogo, right? Anyhow, if funding is a big hurdle for you... and it probably is, check it out. I really like how one of the ways they help fund films is with pre-sales, that's ingenious.

I love this article from TheWrap.com, called "Cannes: The Asylum Makes Steady Profit on ... 'Titanic II'". I mean, I love it because there's a great message in there. You know what that message is? Sure, there are 'important' films out there, but people don't necessarily only want to see important films. There's a lot of people out there who want schlock. They want indie and micro-budget horror, they want "Titanic II". By the way, 'What if another ship took the same route as The Titanic and what if it ALSO hit an iceberg?' Awesome... and, not only that, they're making money on all their films! Can any Hollywood studio say that? The moral of the story? Every once in a while, it's important to realize how UNimportant we actually are.

Have a great weekend, talk to you next week!

Interview with Andrea Ricca, writer/director of the CG film, "The Furfangs"

Good God, it was almost a year ago now that we spoke with Andrea Ricca, the filmmaker that brought us the CG effects laden short, "The Guardian". Here's a LINK to the post, if you'd like to get up to speed. Otherwise, I'll summarize - we discussed his CG film, "The Guardian" and, near the end of the interview, he mentioned that his next film would be about little critters, like Gremlins. Now, low and behold, that film is done. Unreal, someone who makes a deadline and sticks to it! The film is called "The Furfangs" and I'll embed the five minute film below the interview.

As for the film itself, if Andrea was going for a "Critters" meets "Gremlins" homage to 80's films, he nailed it. By the way, what would you call those films? There was a pile of them, "Gremlins", "Ghoulies", "Critters"... and I'm sure there was more. You could probably put Peter Jackson's "Meet the Feebles" in there. Ahhh, maybe not. Funny how you don't see any films about furry little guys anymore. Anyhow, the creatures he created may not be as cute as Gizmo or as scary as a Ghoulie, but they definitely captured the look and feel. It's very well done and, if you've seen Andrea's previous work, you'll notice that he's moving in the right direction. His work is getting better and better each time.

Below is a short interview that we did with him and, like I said, below that is the actual film. I should mention that Andrea's from Italy, so there may be a few grammatical errors and things, but I'm assuming that it's because English isn't his first language...

So, tell us about what happened with "The Guardian". Did the film open any doors or get you any recognition?

After "The Guardian" (that have got a nomination for Best Independent Production at RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS) I made "Ufo Race", reviewed also on the SFX.UK Magazine, and after that came the next "The Furfangs". Although these shorts are shot "at home" with zero budget and only one MiniDV cam, they have received very good reviews from the audience and the cirtics. I hope to find some producers for the next, because I would like to reach better shooting quality.

Tell us about your next project, "The Furfangs"

"The Furfangs" is a five minutes sci-fi short movie, with 3D special effects, about mysterious and aggressive creatures who came from space.

Once again, you use 3D effects. Tell us about how you created the Furfang characters.

As I received favorable reviews about my previous shorts "The Guardian" and "Ufo Race" (which I made all by myself ) I decided to look for some collaborators to make a short movie which could be a tribute the 80's movies about little creatures, like "Gremlins", "Critters" etc. I found the collaboration of the 3D graphic designer Gennaro Acanfora that lives near to me. Music is by the composer Gianfilippo De Mattia. The creatures are completely in 3D and interact with a real character. In this short there is a large use of CG in almost every scene.
There is also some CG in kitchen utensils and the whole first scene about the spaceship that lands on earth. Some sketches about the elaboration of the creature design can be find on my site.

Talk a bit about production. How long did it take you to shoot "The Furfangs" and how long did post-production take?

"The Furfangs" took a week for the live actions shots and three months for the 3D effects; these were realized with Lightwave by the graphic Gennaro Acanfora.

Where can people watch "The Furfangs"?

The primary reference is my site andrearicca.com were you can find most of the reviews from the international film e 3D industry press. There are also all the info about "The Furfangs" and my previous short movies, and some backstages.

What's next? Are you working on another short?

I have an idea about an escape from a volcano eruption. I made the storyboard and now I'm finding the location.

Getting Your Film Distributed - A Talk With Trevor Hirsch of Seminal Films

Hey, I know you... you're that indie filmmaker with that idea in your head and you want to get it out, right? Yeah, right now, you're wondering how in God's name you're going to get this thing done. You've come to the realization that there's going to be lot of hurdles between the point where you were drunk at the bar and an idea emerged and the point where you're going to see that idea in a box on a shelf at Blockbuster. Well, look, most hurdles pose questions that are easily answered: where do I get equipment, crew and actors? If you can't answer those questions, just go back to the bar and keep thinking or... drinking, whatever makes you happier. However, some questions aren't that easily answered: how am I going to afford this and how do I get it distributed when it's finished? Well, I can't help with financing, but I can help with distribution... sort of.

In our ongoing quest to bring you as much knowledge about the indie film world as possible, we've been talking with indie filmmakers, producers and distributors and sharing what they've learned with you. Today, we have a great interview with Trevor Hirsch of Seminal Films and if you're the guy that I was talking with in the first paragraph, you're going to want to give this a read. Seminal Films is LA based and they specialize in indie film acquisition and production and they have an exclusive DVD output distribution agreement with Entertainment 1, the world's largest indie CD/DVD distributor. They distribute various genres of films, but horror is one of their key genres, having distributed such indie horror films as "Ninjas vs Zombies", "Clownstrophobia" and "Mutant Vampire Zombies From the Hood". Trevor offers up a great interview and if you're interested in the distribution process from the eyes of the distributor or you're interested in making a film that's more easily acquired, you should give this a read.

Tell us about Seminal Films. How long have you guys been around and what do you guys do?

Seminal Films started in 2009. We are primarily an acquirer and distributor of independent films, with our aim being to maximize viewership of moving pictures and profits for filmmakers. Mathius Mack Gertz, the Vice President of Acquisitions, handles the majority of our film acquisitions and sees them through the entire process from screening the film all the way up until the film’s release. We have a strategic DVD output arrangement with the Entertainment 1, the world’s largest independent DVD/CD distributor in the world. Our films are subsequently released on DVD to a number of different media carrying outlets, and are available on Video On Demand through various internet and television outlets as well.

How about yourself? What got you into film and how did you end up with Seminal Films?

I personally just recently joined Seminal in February after the company relocated from Edmonton Alberta, Canada to its new offices located on The Culver Studios Lot in Culver City, California. I previously attended the University of California at Santa Barbara’s Film and Media Studies Program and worked in various production and development roles within the film and television industries. I now do the marketing and manage Seminal's various site - seminalfilms.com -youtube.com/seminalfilmspresents etc..

What made me want to work within the industry is film’s unique ability to inform, inspire, and entertain in ways no other medium is able to.

Mathius Gertz became Vice President of Acquisitions in 2009. A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Mathius has produced a number of films and worked in nearly all aspects of the film industry.

Seminal distributes a wide variety of films, including: documentaries, comedies, dramas, family films, reality and, of course, thriller/horrors. From a financial standpoint, which films do best?

Much is dependent on the quality and marketing of the film. I wouldn't say one genre is vastly different from any other, however the horror genre has produced films for us that meet and in some instances exceed our expectations.

What are the different ways that Seminal acquires films?

We acquire directly from film makers, through sales agents, and in concert with other distributors.

When you're acquiring a film, what qualities are you looking for?

Quality, marketability, Theatrical distribution, a film’s success or entry into various festivals, and recognizable talent.

Briefly take us through the distribution process. You just acquired a low-budget horror, now what?

Our distribution is a hybrid. We collaborate with the film maker to design art work. They will send us screeners to send out to reviewers as well as buyers at Walmart, Blockbuster, Amazon, Netflix, etc.

We will design sell sheets to go in books that are sent to retailers and we will customize marketing to take advantage of psyco-specific niches in the market place. In addition, an on-line campaign will be drawn up and implemented by our IT department. If the film maker is inclined, we will help them do a limited theatrical release as well.

I'd assume that the process of distributing a film differs from genre to genre, talk about the differences in distributing, say... a drama versus a horror?

There are definitely differences in distributing different genres. The horror genre is unique and different from many genres in that it has such a cult following and there is a genuine fanfare amongst those in the horror community. With a drama there is usually more of a focus on who is in the movie, if the acting is solid, if the story comes together, and whether it has had success on the festival circuit. With a horror film, it is more about the film’s take on certain aspects of the horror genre, the aesthetics, its originality, and whether it produces an excitement amongst viewers.

What are some common mistakes that filmmakers make and, if you could pass one piece of advice on to filmmakers, what would that be?

If you want to make a film that is a passion project, don't worry about the distribution. Just make it, do the festival circuit and move on.

However, if your goal is to fill a niche in the marketplace, you would be advised to get advice from a number of people in the industry as to what the market needs. Then write your script and make your film with that in mind. Most people in this business will give nearly anyone fifteen minutes on the phone to help them in their career. You just have to have the confidence to ask. My one piece of advice is that once you find what the market needs and you have the script to fill it and you are putting a budget and funding together, make sure you budget for one or two actors with some marketing potential. Even if you have to raise the budget a little or knock something else out. Retailers want names that people know. It is a whole lot easier to sell a good horror film with Gary Busey in than without. Also, remember that this is a collaborative medium. Don't do everything. The film will probably turn out better if someone other than you shoots it and edits it. Lastly, the best kind of film to do for the home entertainment market is one that is evergreen. family films, Christmas movies and horror films with plots that incorporate Halloween or Valentines Day.

Talk about the state of indie horror. Where is it now and where do you see it going?

I think the state of indie horror is in a great position right now, thanks largely in part to the internet, social networking, and word of mouth within the horror community. People have a fascination and dedication to the horror community that is unlike that of any other genre. What is great for indie horror filmmakers is that it is possible to create great horror films on a limited budget if you are skilled in the filmmaking process and have a great idea.

Talk about the future of Seminal Films, what's your plan over the next few years?

Short term we want to distribute about fifty films a year for the next two or three years and then start making some of our own. We also want very much to put money in our filmmakers pockets. We believe that a hybrid distribution model like ours is the way of the future for indie film, Combining the best of traditional and self distribution models.