We’re back with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details for A Resurrection, details on a virtual trading card series called Closet Monsters, casting news for Dead Afterlife, a Q&A with Vigilante Diaries’ Christian Sesma, and much more:
A Resurrection Release Details: “Archstone Distribution announces the VOD, Digital Download and DVD release of A Resurrection from Writer/Director Matt Orlando (Barbershop). The film stars Mischa Barton (Fox’s “The OC”), Devon Sawa (CW’s “Nikita”) Jonathan Michael Trautmann (96 Minutes) and the late Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile). A Resurrection will be available on VOD on July 23, 2013 and on DVD on August 6, 2013. It was released this week for Digital Download on all internet platforms, including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Xbox Video and VUDU. The announcement was made today by Archstone Distribution’s Brady Bowen.
A Resurrection follows down to earth school psychologist, Jessie (Barton), who tries to help a mentally ill student, Eli (Trautmann). As they begin to connect, she unravels the truth behind the death of Eli’s brother. Are Eli’s stories true? Will his brother resurrect and avenge his death against those responsible for his murder? Or are these stories just in Eli’s imagination?”
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Viscera Film Festival Guests and Events Details: “The 2013 Viscera Film Festival, an annual celebration of female filmmakers in the horror genre happened Saturday at 5:00 pm. Co-presented by the American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, the Viscera Film Festival’s gala festivities began with a packed carpet ceremony featuring some of the biggest and brightest talents of the independent horror world. Following the VFF carpet ceremony, the festival began at 7 and featured 13 brand new short films by a talented group of emerging female horror directors from around the world, including the UK, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Canada, and the US. An awards ceremony sponsored by SoulFX Studio capped off the Viscera Film Festival event.
Celebrity guests in attendance for the 2013 Viscera Film Festival included Denise Crosby (“Star Trek: The Next Generation,” PET SEMATARY), AJ Bowen (YOU’RE NEXT), Brea Grant (“Dexter”), Juliet Landau (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Amber Benson (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Trent Haaga, Anthony DiBlasi (DREAD), Jeffrey Reddick (FINAL DESTINATION), John Skipp, Kristina Klebe (ROB ZOMBIE’S HALLOWEEN), Mike Mendez (BIG ASS SPIDER), Kevin Pereira (“Attack of the Show”), Darin Scott (TALES FROM THE HOOD), Legendary Scream Queen Brinke Stevens, Drew Daywalt (LEPRECHAUN’S REVENGE), David DeCoteau (Rapid Heart Films) and Jessica Cameron (TRUTH OR DARE).
Director Jennifer Lynch (CHAINED) was in attendance as she received the 2013 Inspiration Award from the Viscera Film Festival for her pioneering career as a female filmmaker.”
To learn more about the film festival, go to: www.viscerafilmfestival.com
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Trading Card Series, Closet Monsters, Announced: “StrangeKidsClub.com and ScabFarm.com have joined forces to create a virtual trading card series, ‘Closet Monsters’. Inspired by popular card series such as ‘Garbage Pail Kids’, ‘Awesome All-Stars’ and ‘Wacky Packages’, ‘Closet Monsters’ aims to set itself apart by challenging different artists from all across the globe to create their own original monster, while allowing each contributor to retain the rights to their respective creations. Every card in the series is a unique celebration of monster culture.
‘Closet Monsters’ was created to allow artists to showcase their creativity and artistic ability as well as expand their audience. In addition, each card includes the artist’s individual bio as well as a short bio for their monster. All the individual monsters are as distinct and varied as their creators. Cards are scheduled to release twice weekly.
Artists include Lee Hardcastle, Eric Pigors, Aaron Klopp, Mitch Loidolt, Dean Rankine, Andrew Barr and more!”
For more information on this series, go to: www.BewareTheCloset.com
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Premiere Details for Familiar: “Through a series of tragic events, a middle aged man grows to suspect the negative impulses plaguing his mind may not be his own.
FATAL PICTURES’ FAMILIAR premiered on FEARnet.com Monday, July 8th.”
Directed and written by Richard Powell, Familiar stars Robert Nolan, Astrida Auza, and Cathryn Hostick.
To learn more about Familiar, visit the film’s IMDB page at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2095640/
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Casting News for Dead Afterlife: “Jared Cohn, director of popular Bikini Spring Break and Hold Your Breath has been secured to direct Dead Afterlife. Currently in development, [Dead Afterlife] follows Pharmaceutical Representative Donald Conlee who discovers a miracle drug called “Awake,” soon to be released to the world as a breakthrough for brain trauma. Conlee is unaware of the adverse effects of the drug until he becomes the experiment.
Horror genre icons Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes) and Bill Oberst, Jr. (Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies) are attached to the horror/comedy. “My honest opinion (and this is being honest) it is f**king brilliant. A ghost watching his undead body eat funeral guests?” said Oberst, Jr. “Oh my God! Have ghosts and zombies ever been mixed? It expands both genres.”
Joining the cast are horror fan favorites, Bill Moseley (Texas Chainsaw 3D and Holliston TV series) as Gravedigger Jaggers and Kane Hodder (Hatchet III and Friday the 13th movies) as Gravedigger Mantell.
The feature length movie is scheduled begin shooting in 2014 on location in Pennsylvania.”
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Second Trailer for Entity: “In 1998, thirty four unidentified bodies were found in shallow graves in a remote Siberian forest. After subsequent investigations, no official explanation by the Russian authorities was ever offered about the circumstances of the deaths. The case was closed. In 2010, a small English TV crew from the show ‘Darkest Secrets’ set out for the Siberian forest. ‘Darkest Secrets’ focuses on revisiting the sites of unsolved crimes and they employ the gifts of a psychic whose extraordinary powers may help shed new light on cold cases. The last communication to their production office in London stated that they were approaching the Siberian region where the bodies were found. Nothing was heard from them again. ‘Entity’ is the story of what happened to them. The forest was only the beginning….”
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Ghost Trek: Confederate Ghouls Details: “We are in the running to get a deal with Amazon Studios. Watch the video and don’t forget to vote! The “Confederate Ghoul” head [was created] by Face Off’s Conor McCullagh.
The latest episode of Ghost Trek entitled, Goomba Body Snatchers Mortuary Lockdown, is screening next at the Gwinnett Center International Film Festival in Atlanta on Saturday, July 27th at 7 PM.”
For more information on Ghost Trek: Confederate Ghouls, and how to support the project, go to: http://studios.amazon.com/projects/25897#
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New Episode of Horror Medication: Written and presented by Bleedingcritic, this episode of Horror Medication is called, Celebrity:
“This episode of #horrormedication is called celebrity. The idea I got for Celebrity is from an experience a close friend had with a celebrity. They knew this person before he became well known. When he was well known, he contacted my friend after 20 years since they last spoke, he asked her take part in a documentary. My friend presumed the friendship was rekindled. She never got a thanks….So I twisted this real life event into something nasty with honest observations. Some celebrities do feel they can behave in a certain way with no come back. Now I’m on the scene – it’s time to bleedingbalance things out a bit…”
To see more of Bleedingcritic’s shorts, go to: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYRR59Umn9IAjDGdh2nc6QA/videos
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First Details on Vamps, Blood, and Smoking Guns: “Bored with dull divorce cases, ex-cop-turned-private-detective Erika “Colt” Coltrane decides to investigate a series of eerie murders that has been kept secret thanks to police corruption. Sooner than expected, though, she finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy involving a small vampire cult led by Vanessa, a mysterious figure convinced that drinking Nick Payne’s blood (Colt’s client) will turn her vampire symptoms into superhuman powers. Colt then not only has to rush and do her best detective work in order to solve the murders but also to save Nick and save herself, ultimately stopping the killing rampage of the vampires.”
To stay up-to-date on the progress of this film, visit: www.facebook.com/vampsbloodsmokingguns
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Escape from the Dead Gameplay Details: “The world has gone to hell…Dead roam the land…Survivors flee for their lives…The zombie apocalypse has started – the dead are returning to life and attacking the living. You have been chased by the dead across open farmland and have taken shelter in an abandoned farmhouse. Now you must find a way to escape before it’s too late. Stuck? A walkthrough video has been posted on YouTube.
FEATURES:
+ A classic point & click adventure game, similar to room escape games.
+ Graphic novel styled visuals.
+ Atmospheric sound effects and music.
+ An original and unique storyline.
+ Many items to collect and puzzles to solve.
+ Game auto-saves as you progress.
‘Escape from the Dead’ is a classic point and click adventure game. To survive you must find and use objects, solve puzzles and make your escape from the dead!”
This game is available on iTunes for the iPhone and iPad, and now on Google Play in Android Apps. It is also available for the Kindle Fire HD. The walkthrough video has been provided below.
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CableTV.com Release a The Walking Dead Infographic: “Here’s a behind the scenes Walking Dead experience we put together on CableTV.com.
Recently we put up a Facebook poll asking which TV show infographic viewers would like us to put together. Our overwhelming response of over 20,000 people voted for The Walking Dead, and we now have the finished product. It truly is our best work, and we hope that fans of the show can feed their Walking Dead hunger with it until the new season starts.”
To watch the infographic, go to: http://www.cabletv.com/the-walking-dead?utm_source=twdoutreach&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=twd
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Release Details for New Issue of Weird Tales: “The 2nd issue since the [Weird Tales] re-launch is coming out this Friday. The publisher (film maker and director) John Harlacher and editor in chief Marvin Kaye (The playwright, author and anthologist) have made an attempt to take the magazine back to its roots. Each new issue has a mixture of themed and non-themed fiction.
The first relaunch issue (#360) had H.P. Lovecraft’s “Old Ones” as it theme with original fiction by Brian Lumley, Michael Shea and Darrell Schweitzer among others.
The newest issue has “Fairy Tales” as it’s them with fiction by Peter S. Beagle (The Last Unicorn) and Tanith Lee and non-fiction by Darrell Schweitzer.”
For more information, go to: http://weirdtalesmagazine.com
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First Details on Number 18: “Twenty-seven-year-old Robert has assaulted seventeen victims so far, and is proud of it. At a carnival, he stalks a new prey, ready to add her to his list. Special number eighteen will be a sweet victory…or so he thinks.”
To learn more about Number 18, head over to Amazon.
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Houseboat on Terror Lake Production Details: “Prussian Chess Pictures has announced the production of their debut feature length film “Houseboat on Terror Lake”, set to start shooting later this year.
The horror/comedy Houseboat On Terror Lake finds six college friends stealing a houseboat as a prank, only to have their night of debauchery turn into a gruesome bloodbath.
The picture will be co-directed by Jon C. Forisha and Andrew Ford. Ford recently directed the highly acclaimed short film “Arriving At Night” featuring legendary actor Tom Atkins (Night Of The Creeps, Halloween 3).
Houseboat on Terror Lake will shoot in Tennessee with principal photography set to begin in August of 2013. The film will debut on the film festival circuit in 2014.”
For more information on Houseboat on Terror Lake, visit: https://www.facebook.com/HouseboatOnTerrorLake
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Dialogue With the Devil Release Details: “The greatest trick that the Devil has ever pulled off was to convince the world He does not exist. Now, you will know He exists.
For one man on a life-long pursuit for the truth, a chilling relationship with the Fallen Angel brings him a soul shattering insight into the world we live in. Will his DIALOGUE WITH THE DEVIL bring enlightenment or only madness and suffering?
Dialogue With The Devil contains transcriptions by a writer who got pulled into the battle for his very soul, giving him a glimpse into the larger battle that rages between Heaven and Hell. It’s a War in which most of mankind lives in total ignorance.
Stephen Biro (author of HELLUCINATION – A MEMOIR), is again doing what he does best: Peering behind the veil and fighting the Devil on his own ground. Here, Biro searches for reasons to the madness of humanity by asking direct questions of Satan.
“Dialogue With The Devil” will hit shelves on July 21st from Unearthed Books.”
To learn more, go to: www.UnearthedFilms.com
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Q&A with Christian Sesma from Vigilante Diaries
“”Vigilante Diaries” is a new graphic novel-inspired action comedy series starring Jason Mewes. Documentary filmmaker Michael Hanover (Mewes) turns his camera to the dark world of vigilante justice. Documenting the lives of “The Vigilante “and his lethal sidekick, “The Kid”, he finds himself unexpectedly thrust into the middle of the story he is trying to tell. Taking down drug lords, mafia kingpins and getting some action from “the twins”, Hanover must learn to survive in this dark new world. With a heavy dose of blood, gore, sex and gamer style first-person shooter action sequences, Vigilante Diaries will have you on the edge of your seat.”
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Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Christian. How did the idea for Vigilante Diaries come about and why did you want to move forward with this as your latest project?
Christian Sesma: The idea for Vigilante Diaries came from Paul Sloan, a good friend and sometimes writing partner. He had this cool little PUNISHER homage type web series he thought would be fun to shoot in between movie gigs. So, after calling Jason Mewes and asking him if this would be something he’d be up for and him being super pumped for it. I took it to the next level and approached my friends at CHILL.COM to finance the pilot episodes and see where this little series could go.
Was it always planned as a web series or was it initially pitched as a full feature/TV series?
Christian Sesma: Yeah, Vigilante was always planned as a series.
Jason Mewes may not be the first person that people think of as an action star, but he really works in this role. Did you always have him in mind for this project? How did you get him on board?
Christian Sesma: Mewes is such a hilarious and versatile actor. Paul and I worked together with Mewes in my indie action/comedy Shoot the Hero! in 2009. We all became good buddies. So when the idea of the series came up and we needed a comedic lead to take us through this graphic novel world of violence and badassery. Who better than Jason Mewes?
It seems like it would be tough to balance the comedy and action. Can you tell me about your work with Paul Sloan to get your visions down on the script as well as in front of the camera?
Christian Sesma: Paul and I are total film geeks at our core. So, our vision was razor sharp. Make a kick-ass graphic novel style action/comedy and just do what we love doing. So I brought on my right hand man, Cinematographer A.J. Rickert-Epstein (who also edited, VFX’d and Sound Designed) to round out the creative team. All hard core film buffs that think Predator and Aliens and Die Hard are the holy trio. Balancing action and comedy, really comes naturally.
Working with a small budget, you were still able to pack in plenty of action. Can you tell us about the challenges of shooting intense action scenes on a small budget?
Christian Sesma: Again, back to the my Cinematographer and I, we had just finished working on a cool Sci-Fi feature with plenty of action. We just know we can pull that stuff off at a cost. The challenges are time. As always. So we just made sure our P’s and Q’s were covered and set out to do our best.
It seems like this is something that the actors really had fun with. Can you tell us about your time on the set? Are there any interesting stories you can share?
Christian Sesma: I like to run a really fun set. And I believe a lot of that has to do that my production team are all very talented. So it’s literally just a bunch of badass goofballs, doing their job efficiently and confidently. I feel if you’re not in the movie biz to have a good time and not do cool stuff, it’s miserable. We just don’t have time for ego’s or bad attitudes. As for an interesting story? Anything that spews from the mouth of Jason Mewes is pretty interesting. It was a constant good time.
This series is unique in that the first two episodes are available to purchase and help fund additional episode product. Is this something you always had in mind? Why go the crowd funding route?
Christian Sesma: I think the model CHILL has is something that was available to us. So, we went with what would help us produce this series right away, before Mewes went off to do another movie or Sloan got too busy or even myself. As for crowd funding, we really think the fan base is there for people to want to see Mewes doing a cool stand alone thing, and you never know where it will lead either on CHILL or another platform.
Have you been happy with the response the first two episodes have received? Will you be making any changes/enhancements to future episodes based on feedback?
Christian Sesma: We’ve been super happy with the feedback. It’s been overwhelmingly cool. People dig it. There are always going to be guys on the web that will complain about everything. Man of Steel is gets hated on, so we just need to make sure our core audience loves it and they do. As for changes, I think we’ll continue to listen to what the core audience wants. Enhancements? Hell yeah. Bigger, badder and meaner. We know we have to push envelopes each and every time. We have rocket launchers, car chases, helicopters, ninjas, etc. We plan on going bananas with the action.
If all goes well, how many episodes do you have planned? Can you give our readers a tease of what’s next?
Christian Sesma: We have a 10 episode arc on paper, thanks to Paul Sloan, who cranks out amazing scripts. Tease of what’s next? Jason Mewes character will now have to save the Vigilante with the help of the Kid, and in doing that realizes his own dad is heavily involved in this whole thing. We try not to go too heavy on the dramatic story lines in such a small series, but we do need to make sure we have a real core story going here. So the more episodes we do, the more Jason’s character gets deeper into this world and becomes a vigilante/superhero himself.
Ideally, what would you like to see happen with Vigilante Diaries down the line? Is this something you’d like to see on TV or as a feature film? Are you already working toward that?
Christian Sesma: I would love for Vigilante Diaries to take off as a series. It’s a blast to make. It’s a no-limit type project that we feel we have a huge range of creative freedom with. We get to make the genre and style of project we all love which is the graphic novel, comic book, action/comedy. We are trying everything to keep this going, one way or another. Vigilante will prevail.
Comic-Con is taking place next week and I understand that some of you from Vigilante Diaries will be attending. Can you tell our readers where/when you’ll be appearing?
Christian Sesma: Jason, Paul and I will definitely be there Thursday through Saturday. Jason will be part of the big Hall H panel with Kevin. We definitely plan on doing some really cool street level promotions with Twitter giveaways by Jason!
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We’ve included the first episode below. To learn more, visit: https://chill.com/VigilanteDiaries/1-2
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