Little Dead Rotting Hood – Review

Moviegoers have been down the fairy-tale remake road numerous times before, with mixed results. But Little Dead Rotting Hood is told in a competent new way that grabs the audience’s throat from the opening scene and never lets go.  The movie is saturated with action, thrills, horror, mystery, comedy and sexiness thatwill have you hungering for more of the titular girl in red.

TRAILERhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYtXPn3coVQ

In the opening scene, the stakes are set high and the story’s main question and conflict are quickly established. Sammy (Bianca Santos) is attacked and killed by a wolf, and her grandmother Esmerelda (Marina Sirtis) sacrifices her own life to try to resurrect her.  Later on you learn there’s a lot more that actually transpired between Sammy and the grandmother in that scene

Wolves then start attacking residents of the small mountainous town. As Sheriff Adam (Eric Balfour) and his deputies(Patrick Muldoon, Heather Tom, Brendan Wayne) try to eliminate the wolves, they learn these are not typical attacks and the wolves’ behavior is far from ordinary.  Something else entirely is going on around them.

 

As the attacks occur more frequently and aggressively, the panic builds amongst the residents and law enforcement. While Sheriff Adam tries to figure out what is happening, and Danny (Romeo Miller) searches for his girlfriend Sammy, there’s nonstop entertainment consisting of brutal wolf attacks, hard core partying, and sexy moments that will have the audience howling.

Adding mystery and conflict to the story is when animal activist Becky Sanders (Amy Argyle) shows up. It’s obvious her agenda is more than looking out for the wolves, but we don’t learn her true motives until later.  Sammy ultimately rises from her grave as Little Dead Rotting Hood, with an instinct to keep the wolves at bay.  But she’s not completely sure of herself or what’s going on.  She sets out on a mission to figure out what happened to her and her grandmother’s secrets and purpose.

Throughout the story,all the pieces of the puzzle come together and ramp up the conflict leading to the climax when Sheriff Adam, Sammy, and Danny figure everything out. Unfortunately, as much as they want to take care of the situation themselves, they’re overpowered and need serious help.  The final battle is intense with multiple fights occurring simultaneously.  Don’t blink or you’ll miss a quality attack/kill.The resolution provides a cliffhanger that will leave you thirsting for a sequel.  All the elements are present as well for a quality television series, if that’s something the filmmakers would consider.

There are no boring moments in this movie. You are constantly intrigued and want to know what’s going to happen next.

PRODUCTION NOTES 

Screenwriting

Little Dead Rotting Hood writer Gabriel Campisi wrote a structurally sound screenplay with just the right amount of setbacks, foreshadowing and distinct motivation for the characters.The dialogue is top notch.  It’s witty, interesting and sarcastic, with random subtle comedy.  One witty example is when Deputy Henry (Patrick Muldoon) refers to a zombified Sammy as looking “crexy.”  You’ll need to watch the movie for an explanation and a laugh. Other subtle comedic scenes to watch for were quick and simple, like when Danny is scared by a stuffed wolf.  No one makes a comment, and he quickly composes himself and plays it off as Mr. Joe Cool.

“I thought it was important to have a lot of heart in this story,” said Campisi. “That means having very real moments, including humor.  And when you dig beneath all the layers of action and mystery, you’ll find this is a love story between Sammy (Little Dead Rotting Hood) and her boyfriend Danny.  It’s what fuels all the action from beginning to end.”

Campisi explained he introduced Sheriff Adam’s children and hinted at a potential romance between the Sheriff and Deputy Abbey for the same reasons. “There’s nothing worse than having a movie full of gratuitous blood and hollow screams and scares with nothing to back up the action.  A good movie needs meaning, a purpose, to tell a human story with emotion and character vulnerabilities in order for audiences to care.”

Campisi’s strategy definitely worked in a genre that typically focuses more on the creatures, gore and action. It’s one of the many reasons this movie works so well.

 

 

Directing and Editing

Director Jared Cohn is an expert director when it comes to taking on a low-budget project and producing a big-budget result. He utilizes all his resources available.  For example, in one scene, Danny runs through the forest.  It’s a simple scene, but Cohn uses the setting, props, effects and even the music to make Danny’s sprint a moment of intense drama.

Of course, all thefootage needs to be precisely put together by the editor. Rob Pallatina has worked many times with Cohn, and his editing professionalism shined in Little Dead Rotting Hood.

“I’ve been a freelancer in Los Angeles for the past 5 years, and when I got that call from Jared I knew it was going to be another wild ride,” said Pallatina. “We’ve worked on 3 previous films together, and have a great collaborative flow. It was great having Gabe in the editing suite, too.  With him writing the screenplay there was plenty of healthy discussion about the story, and it was a blast to bounce ideas off one another while assembling the film.”

Pallatina said the movie had many gun fights and action sequences that took time to construct, but were supported by solid performances by the actors and some cool visual effects.

Visual Effects

Real wolves were used in the productionas much as possible for authenticity. But the climactic battle scene contained a giant supernatural wolf that required special visual effects (CGI).  When the special effects were used, they were very well done and added qualityand weight to the effect.

“I was one of twelve VFX people who worked on the film,” said Tammy Klein, one of the visual effects artists. “There were about 203 VFX shots, which mostly involved muzzle flashes, and leash removals from the real wolves that were used on set. The leash removals were executed primarily by Al Magliochetti.”

 

Klein said the really cool shots with the Mega Wolf were done by Glenn Campbell, Aaron Witlin, Dan Dodd and Aine Graham. Dave Shorey did the transformation of one of the characters into the Mega Wolf, as well as the blood dripping from Marina Sirtis’ arm and other morph/transformation shots. Steve Clarke, John Karnerand Sasha Burrow rounded out the team.

“The Mega Wolf was a very impressive Lightwave 3D creation,” Klein said. “But a good example of visual effects work that goes undetected is the scene where our masked director, Jared Cohn, lights and throws a Molotov cocktail. There was no fire whatsoever on set, and the entire sequence was created in post by Glenn Campbell. Aine Graham did the amazing wolf-on-fire shot that follows it. Our department head, Joe Lawson, performed an amazing amount of heavy lifting as did his wife, Kelly, who did all of the muzzle-flash shots.”

 

Klein did all of the shots with Bianca Santos and her glowing eyes and sword. Basically, if it glowed, she was responsible.

“Gabe wanted Bianca’s eyes to glow yellow,” Klein said. “Then go from yellow to red in the final scene where one of the main characters is killed to indicate the emotional change of her simple get-the-werewolves anger to the true rage of you-killed-the-most-important-person-in-the-world-and-you-are-so-gonna-die.”

 

Final Thoughts

This movie is a classic example of what a great screenplay combined with solid directing and competent actors can accomplish on a tight budget.I’m perplexed why it didn’t get a limited theatrical release like so many other Asylum movies. I think it’s probably one of their best productions to date.

The Spotlight is on Sara Malakul Lane

The stunning actress/model Sara Malakul Lane has been starring in more and more films each year and her fan base is growing exponentially. Filmmakers want her in their films as she thrives on challenging roles and her costars love working with her. Erin O’Brien is just one of many actresses that enjoys working with Sara, “I absolutely love working with Sara, she is not only incredibly talented she is also one of the sweetest people I know and so easy to work with.” She’s more than a beauty in films, she’s an exceptional actress that’s a team player and yet Sara sincerely says she’s just a regular girl.

Producer Gabriel Campisi also works with Sara often, “I’ve worked with Sara on several films, and I consider her one of the most amazing and talented actresses I have ever met. She’s also the most down-to-Earth person you will ever come across. Her smile and her passion for her craft is contagious. She’s on the fast track to A-list stardom, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Keep an eye on her, because you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!”

In her upcoming films, she stars alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kickboxer: Vengeance, directed by John Stockwell. In Beyond the Gates she costars with Brea Grant. Sara stars in the drama/romance Wishing for a Dream directed by Jared Cohn. She also stars in films with Dolph Lundgren, Sarah Hagan, Evan Jones, Eric Roberts, and Ciara Hanna just to name a few.

Shark Lake:

Sara stars with Dolph Lundgren in the highly anticipated Shark Lake which is due out October 2, 2015 on VOD and in limited theatres.

Shark Lake was an exciting role for Sara as she tells, “It’s the first time I play a cop which was super fun. We shot the film in Mississippi earlier this year. It was nice to play a tomboyish character, no makeup totally unglam, gun slinging, shark fighting. There was a lot of swimming and boat scenes too. This was a dream role for me because Jaws is one of my favorites, Shark Lake is kind of a throwback to that, where a shark is scary enough as a shark.”

Check out the trailer here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?sns=fb&v=uU_ZvIup-3Y

Kickboxer: Vengeance:

A reboot of the classic that made Jean-Claude Van Damme an international superstar, KICKBOXER follows Eric and Kurt Sloan, the descendants of a well-known Venice, California-based family of martial artists. Kurt, the younger of the two, has always been in his brother Eric’s shadow, and despite his talent has been told he lacks the instinct needed to become a champion. But when Kurt witnesses the merciless murder of his brother at the hands of Muay Thai champion Tong Po, he vows revenge. He trains with his brother’s mentor for a fight to the death with Tong Po. At first it seems impossible to turn Kurt into the living weapon he must become to beat Tong Po, but through a series of tests and dangerous encounters, Kurt proves he has a deeper strength that will carry him through to his final showdown with Tong Po.

Wishing for a Dream:

Actress Mika Andrews and her filmmaker boyfriend Louis Digman struggle through the trenches of the entertainment industry to succeed in “Hollywood.” Told in raw documentary style, the camera chronicles Mika’s journey through Los Angeles, going to auditions and trying to make her mark in front of the camera. Louis’s story shows his struggles behind the scenes as an up-and-coming writer-director. The film also follows their ups and downs as a young couple, supporting each other through the stresses, hopes, desires, disappointments and Mika’s crippling insomnia, as they try to make ends meet and pursue their dreams in an often heart-breaking industry.

Sun Choke:

Janie’s just trying to get well. As she recovers from a violent psychotic break, she’s subjected each day to a bizarre holistic health and wellness regimen designed, and enforced, by her lifelong nanny and caretaker. But when she develops an obsession with a stranger, Janie’s buried demons begin to surface.

Some other recent films with Sara:

Beyond the Gates
Pernicious
Jurassic City
Buddy Hutchins
Cowboys vs Dinosaurs
Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
Sara is very involved with her social sites, so be sure to connect on her Instagram @saramalakul Twitter: @saramalakullane as it’s the best way to keep current with her projects and news.

San Andreas Quake Review

When a discredited L.A. Seismologist warns of an impending 12.7 earthquake, no one takes her seriously. Now on her own, she races desperately to get her family to safety before the earthquake breaks Los Angeles apart from the mainland.

http://youtu.be/w-fSiFJcw9k

San Andreas Quake has all the action, effects, and characters to make this film a pleasure to watch.

The movie stars Jhey Castles, Blaire Chandler, Grace Van Dien, Jason Woods, and Alex Diehl.   Director and writer John Baumgartner had the mockbuster filming challenges and he rose to the occasion and  provided non-stop, entertaining, intense ride from start to finish.  Asylum veteran cinematographer and DP Ben Demaree worked alongside Baumgartner on the film.

“For San Andreas Quake the biggest thing that stood out was that I had worked with all the main cast before. I had shot Sleeping Beauty with Grace Van Dien in Bulgaria, Age of Tomorrow with Lane Townsend (get him an axe!), and then this was my 3rd time working with Jhey Castles as she was in both of the films I’ve directed, Hansel vs Gretel and Apocalypse Pompeii. So it was like a family reunion on set for me and made the tough schedule and numerous logistical challenges a lot more bearable. We had fun,” shared Demaree.

In the opening minutes, the premise is clear and the stakes are high.  We meet a teen, Molly, who is passionate about studying earthquakes and experiences a tragic one while in the back yard with her father.  Fast forwarding 20 years, the past experience propelled her into designing a program/model that can accurately predict earthquakes along with their magnitudes.  Molly (Jhey Castles) now is a professor at the local university and has a husband (Lane Townsend) and is a step mother to Ali (Grace Van Dien) who has the typical resentment to her stepmother.

Molly’s program that she has worked on and perfected for years is finally operating and able to predict earthquakes.  However, the model cannot predict with exact precision, which keeps the tension high not knowing exactly when the quakes will occur.  A swarm of micro quakes show up on her model which is in indication that the big one is inevitable very soon.  Molly has to save her family and warn the region.  That is a huge challenge for her as she was wrong on a prediction back in 2008 that caused major panic.  The authorities didn’t forget that incident and don’t trust her current prediction.

Molly needs Ali’s boyfriend Nick’s (Jason Woods) car to travel from the university to Ali’s downtown Los Angeles hotel where she works.  Nick happens to be one of Molly’s students, who is not one of her favorite students, to say the least.  Their journey avoiding disasters and obstacles builds their relationship and trust.  What’s a better way to solidify a relationship than battling through hostile gun bearing stranded mothers, natural gas leaks and explosions, tight tunnels to crawl through emitting lethal fumes, and a pissed off momma hippo?!

It took multiple micro quakes for the authorities to finally believe Molly and they order a mass evacuation resulting in gridlock throughout the region.  The military has orders to arrest and stop anyone with whatever force necessary from entering the downtown area, which adds more difficulty for Molly to reach her daughter.  All this excitement and action with the micro quakes is just a sample of the effects before the big one.

So, where is the father/husband in all this?  He’s doing the best he can to get his tour helicopter to the hotel to save his family.  Due to circumstances beyond his control, he has to save the baby of a couple love birds he was up in the air giving a tour while the quakes were occurring in the beginning.  When you meet the baby at the end you’ll realize it was worth the risk.

San Andreas Quake is a thrill ride and Baumgartner does a fantastic job keeping the audience entertained, at the edge of their seats, snickering with subtle sarcastic comments, and cheering on all the characters to survive.   A film of this level requires time and budget which was not available for Baumgartner.  He shares the entire experience he endured making San Andreas Quake.

Director and Writer John Baumgartner:

It’s a big challenge making a film for the Asylum, as their budgets and schedules are incredibly restrictive and small.  That includes the time to write.  In this case, I had about 4 weeks to write the script (along with a little help from some ghostwriting buddies), which actually overlapped with the prepping of production.  (Which sometimes meant you were prepping scenes that weren’t yet approved or in some cases even yet written!)  The main intention of the script was to create characters that had a lot of organic, interpersonal conflict, to help propel the story.     

With a very limited budget and schedule, you have to very wisely pick your battles, where you’ll spend your resources.  Having characters with believable conflicts not only would help ground the story, but would help the budget and schedule.  This explains why Molly and Nick find themselves having their arguments in the car over and over again, for better or for worse.  Thankfully it was organic to the story, if perhaps lacking cinematically.  A worthy compromise because it meant we could spend more time on the action sequences. 

There were a couple sequences which I made sure to give as much shooting time to as possible.  (And again, we’re talking LITERALLY 10X less time than the big-budget version would enjoy).  Those sequence included the car jacking scene (I love the actress Blaire Chandler and felt she could deliver a special performance, and the scene could stand dramatically on its own without VFX or pyrotechnics.) Also, the finale scene where Nick goes flying out the window was the sequence I tried to hardest to protect for shooting time.  If you watch it closely, the number of stunts, cuts, and shots is well above what is usually allowed on these budgets, so if there’s any sense of cinematic action and danger, it’s because we sacrificed in other places so that scene could have the time.  I owe a big debt of gratitude to my stunt coordinator Kyro Waveborne, who pulled a lot of favors and was always pushing me to do bigger and better, beyond what the budget would allow, all while making safety the absolute priority, another rare thing on budgets and schedules of this size.  Kyro always had great ideas on set that were truly dynamic and cinematic but often we simply didn’t have the time, and I know that was frustrating.  But I think he still pulled off some amazing feats, whether it be the stunt driving, the stunt falls, or how he trained our actors to do their own stunts when conditions allowed. 

Working with the cast was a blast, not a bad apple in the bunch.  Jhey Castles and Jason Woods, with whom I worked the most, were up for anything, grateful to be there, and very fun.  They never lost their cool, always had a smile and a joke, and that’s a great energy to have around as the crew and I were losing our minds to the stress sometimes.  Ben Demaree, our DP, is unflappable and a really gifted artist, and although it took a few days for us to adjust to each others’ rhythms, we got our stride and I knew I could trust him for some beautiful lighting and operation that well exceeded the resources and budget he had to work with.  You could set your watch by his lighting time estimates and nine times out of ten you couldn’t believe he threw together what he did in the time allotted.  Plus he and Jhey had a fun history together on two other Asylum films (Apocalypse Pompeii and Hansel vs. Gretel), so it was a happy reunion for them. 

The movie was limited to 100 visual effects shots, which is pretty restrictive  for a disaster movie (as comparison, my last VFX project, MIDNIGHT SUN, was a 4 minute film with 42 VFX shots – viewable at JohnBaumgartner.com ).   I had to be very disciplined about this.  In prep, I drew up spread sheets accounting for every VFX shot, based on my storyboards and diagrams, and I had to stick to it religiously.  Joe Lawson and his VFX team at The Asylum had a very, very full pipeline with a number of films being worked on ahead and after mine, none-the-least being SHARKNADO 3. So it meant going over the limit would not be tolerated, as well as the fact that they would only have little more than 3 weeks to complete the shots for the entire movie.  Joe Lawson, the VFX supervisor, is wonderfully fun and really cares, so in addition to being a fantastic and generous guide, he delivered the very best that the time and budget allowed, and sometimes, miraculously, beyond those limits.  But, there is only so much time, and some shots are what they are and that’s perhaps the charm of an Asylum movie.  But some of the shots, the ones we earmarked as important from the beginning, got the loving they deserved, and hold up exceptionally very well, I feel.

I think when all is said and done, you do the best you can with what you’re given.  On these films the resources are maddeningly limited, so for me it became an exercise in letting go.  I’m usually very anal and fastidious about my work, but a picture like this just doesn’t allow for it.  And that’s a spiritual journey – letting go, seeing what good can come out of the chaos if you put your best foot (and prep) forward.  That the movie is watchable and fun, I hope, is a testament to that.  As hard as it was, I’m certainly grateful to the Asylum that I had the experience.”

A huge thank you to John for all the amazing insights into making San Andreas Quake.  The film is now available on DVD, so be sure to check it out!

Flight World War II Review

Caught in a battle between Allied and German Forces, the passengers of a modern day 757 fight to stay alive after their plane mysteriously travels back in time to 1940. In their desperation to stay alive and return home safely, they turn the tide that wins the war in Europe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgRBVDzITNE

No long goodbyes at the airport terminals, kiss and go, or security line, Flight World War II begins when reaching cruising altitude and within a few minutes they fly through the time warp back to 1940.  Right away the conflict and goal is established.  Its then we meet and get to know the main characters and how they’re going to handle the situation.

Captain William Strong (Faran Tahir) does a great job keeping the passengers calm even when he’s BS’ing them.  He makes for a great captain, because while in danger he can deliver comforting words along with a reassuring smile. Tahir does an exceptional job at playing the role of a confident captain.  “I had a wonderful time working with Emile, cast and crew on this film. Some of the most dedicated and talented people I have had the privilege to work with,” Tahir said about working on Flight World War II.

Flight Attendant Cameron (Aqueela Zoll) has the challenge of answering irate passengers’ questions, keeping the captain informed of cabin concerns, and defending herself.  Aqueela was great throughout the film and swings a mean fire extinguisher.

Unknowing what’s going on and unable to communicate to anyone on the radio once they pass through the time warp, the plane has to duck below the clouds hoping for a signal.  Once they are below the clouds the entire plane witnesses World War II.  A couple historians on the plane believe they know what’s going on and try to inform the captain and crew.  However, as expected the crew is skeptical and rightfully so because who in their right mind would believe a couple guys telling you that you traveled back to 1940 and that you’re in the middle of World War II.

After numerous distress calls, finally they get in contact with British Corporal Nigel Sheffield (Robbie Kay).   Despite being in war time, Nigel talks to Captain Strong with some British sarcasm that makes for comical dialogue.   Captain Strong and the crew are now starting to believe the historians.   With fuel running low and not being able to land in a war zone, Captain Strong has to tell the passengers the truth.  This brings out a couple passengers who think it’ll be a great idea to assassinate Hitler and why not, the historians know Hitler’s location and surroundings.   However, altering history can have a drastic impact, so their plan is quickly shot down by a few soldiers on the plane, but not without a fight.

Not only are they trying to survive and get back home, there’s a lot of history included and the course of WWII, including technology, may have come about from Captain Strong’s flight back in time.  It makes it obvious why British forces are the United States number one allie.

With the plane now running on fumes and still in hostile territory, time is critical, but as expected, Captain Strong is in control of the situation and does whatever it takes to escape the fierce German bombers and get his passengers to safety.

Considering a majority of the movie is inside the plane, there is a lot of action, drama, and tension making Flight World War II a captivating flight.

The Spotlight is on Darin Cooper

Darin Cooper is highly recognized in numerous films and his credits keep piling up.  The last year has been an exceptional time for Darin, with a half dozen recently released films and several currently in production where he is working alongside with some extraordinary names.  Darin sums the year up stating, “This has been a miraculous year overall.”

Recently Released B and major studio films:Gone Girl

Several Asylum films:
Wuthering High School 
Tentacle 8
Asteroid vs. Earth

Darin’s talent, commitment, and hard work over the years is paying off, as he is in James Franco’s upcoming In Dubious Battle.  Darin plays the role of Robert Duvall’s hired gun, a Pinkerton detective who is brought in to discourage the unionization of apple pickers in 1930’s Northern California.  The screenplay is an adaption of John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name.

Working with Franco on In Dubious Battle was a privilege as Darin tells, “I think every serious actor’s dream is to work with legends in their own field (Robert Duvall, Ed Harris, and Sam Shepard) and to get deep with an exemplary director who happens to be an incredibly talented actor (James Franco).” Darin continues on with his admiration acting with the cast,  “Working on this set and being in a scene with these guys (not to mention the formidable powerhouse Vincent D’Onofrio, and superstars Selena Gomez, Josh Hutcherson, Ashley Greene, Analeigh Tipton, Bryan Cranston, I mean, geez, the list goes on and on) was such an honor.”

Continuing with the miraculous year, Darin also shared that he recently was in Atlanta shooting Keeping Up With The Joneses opposite Zach Galiafinakis and Isla Fisher.  Immediately followed by traveling on this past Memorial Day to shoot Vice Principals which is Danny McBride’s new HBO comedy co-starring Walton Goggins.  “Hilarious stuff, McBride is a comedic genius” Darin said.

Rounding up are a few more films listed on IMDB that currently are in production (which is constantly updated).

Cockroaches
You Above All
Hedda Gabler

For more information and to keep current with all of Darin’s upcoming films and news, be sure to visit his pages.

IMDB:  www.imdb.me/darincooper

VIMEO:  www.vimeo.com/darincooper

FACEBOOK:  www.facebook.com/darin.cooper.9

The Spotlight is on Erin O’Brien

Erin O’Brien knew relocating to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career was no small commitment.  With a strong motivation and desire to succeed, Erin quickly worked her way up to starring in feature films.  So far in 2015 she has landed several lead and supporting roles that are currently in production and she also signed a management deal with Harris Management.

Starring in Jailbait with Sara Malakul Lane, Erin’s true talents shined and even her costar admired Erin’s talent and personal skills, “I loved working with Erin, she is one of the hardest working people I know – she’s got this gangster vibe in Jailbait and she can kick some serious ass, but off screen she is super sweet, and has this bubbly energy that makes you just want to be around her.  And she is a great kisser …” said Sara.

Erin gained a lot of well-deserved recognition in Jailbait which contributed to more lead roles including Michael DeVita’s One Penn.  “I just wrapped “One Penny”.  We shot for a month in the Baltimore/DC area. It’s the story of a young homeless kid who is trying to create a better life for himself, despite facing extreme disadvantages. I play Jordon, the female lead. Jordon befriends the boy and becomes his confidant and encourages him to pursue his dreams. It’s a really sweet and uplifting story” Erin shared.

Erin’s details another thrilling film she’s starring in.  “I’m getting ready for my next role this summer in the film “Fight Valley”. This is also a lead role. I am excited to be working alongside some of the best Female MMA and UFC fighters, including Miesha Tate. The film centers around women’s underground fighting. The story has a lot of heart and will for sure challenge me as an actor. We start filming late August in New Jersey & the Philadelphia area.”

Below are some of the other films Erin is currently working on or have been recently released.

Lead/supporting roles:

One Penny
Fight Valley
The Mafia Ain’t Dead
Killing Joan – post production
The Good, the Bad, the Dead

 
Recently Released:

Dirty Dead Con Men
Buddy Hutchins

Erin is one to keep an eye on as she continues adding credits to her rapidly growing resume.  Keep updated with her films on IMDB, Twitter, Facebook Fan Page, and her personal website:

http://erinobrienactress.weebly.com/

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3867285/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-OBrien-Actress/555802471099106?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/obrienerin11

Laura Beth Love Interview

“Laura Beth is a great worker of light and the different phases it can go through,” are the words cinematographer Laura Beth Love is told from a good friend and director every time she works with him.

Laura Beth Love is a Cinematographer that always goes above and beyond her job responsibilities.  Her experiences include producer, co-writer, editor, and co-director amongst other positions.  If she’s not assisting others on set, she’s probably making a Vlog of her work or a behind the scenes video.  Check out the numerous videos on her YouTube page http://lblove.com/youtube-channel   The videos give a firsthand look at her current and past films, including many by Asylum and Traplight Media.

“Laura Beth Love is amazing! A true artist and a great person,” Jared Cohn.

Gabriel Campisi has nothing but praise for her, “Laura Beth, is sincerely amazing.  Seriously.  We get along great on and off the set.  She’s super talented.  She uses the camera and lights like a paint canvas, and makes magic.  I love her to death.”  He adds, “Beth is amazing for so many reasons: she’s an adept at her craft, and an artist with her creative mind.  She’s also the easiest person to work with and discuss the shots at hand.  Her genuine smile and good nature always make for an exciting production.”

Five Quick Questions with Laura Beth Love

You’re incredibly passionate about cinematography, can you tell us how you got into the field and was it always your interest?

LAURA BETH: Yes I am! Really, I’m passionate about storytelling. I started as a writer and a painter. Actually, it was a random video assignment in a high school creative writing class that got me thinking about filmmaking.  I had always loved film, but hadn’t considered it as a career until that homework assignment. My teacher referred me to a local filmmaker, (in Charlotte, NC) and I soon found myself on the set of “The Rage: Carrie 2” as a PA. I fell in love with being on set! I felt like these were “my people.” haha. I changed course to pursuing film school, landed at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and never looked back.

Still, I initially came to all of this as a writer and director… Yet, in film school, it made more sense to focus on cinematography. Ultimately, directing and cinematography are like 80% the same thing. Only that last tiny 20% separates the DP and the Director with technical details that only a DP need know, and actor nuance that only a Director need know… Otherwise, it’s all the same storytelling, leadership, creativity, and wielding the tools of the trade.

I have worked with some very talented directors and actors over the years, it’s one of the things I love most about this career. You are constantly learning from each other, cultivating new skills, evolving.

In addition to all your work in the industry you find time to teach filmmaking students. Can you tell us about that?

LAURA BETH: Both of my parents work in arts education, so as child my primary example of how to “be” around others was in the context of sharing information. My mother taught piano in our home, so I literally listened to her instruction all day long when I was at home. It has always been natural for me to train or share advice on the job, and in 2008 when I stumbled into a job as a cinematography lab instructor at the LA Film School, that was a comfortable fit as well. I eventually ended up running the cinematography department for a couple of years, which prompted me to spend a lot of time examining my own filmmaking instincts and practices, and figuring out how to best share that

information. However, as I said before, my heart belongs on set. I quit teaching full-time in 2012 to allow myself to be on set “full time.” But, the teaching keeps finding a way back in. I have a few unofficial mentees, and I’m always happy to answer email or facebook questions about cinematography.

In fact, questions from former students prompted me to start my you tube channel “LBLOVECinematography” so that I could answer some of their questions in a video that could be shared with others! My youtube channel is a slowly growing resource for indie filmmakers, with tutorial videos and behind the scenes videos. I’ve also begun writing “how to” and tutorial-type articles for my production blog:

www.lblove.com

I also occasionally guest teach. This Spring, I’m heading to Bulgaria as a cinematographer and mentor to a group of students shooting a feature film, as part of the new “Making the Movie” educational experience at NuBoyana Studios. It’s just something I enjoy. I love filmmaking, as well as exploring and sharing the theory that shapes our craft.

 

In addition to all your films, can you share about your work outside of films?

LAURA BETH: Right now my biggest focus outside of filmmaking is health and fitness. Years ago, I realized that “fit filmmakers” were sort of a rarity…despite the physically demanding nature of our work. I had definitely fallen victim to the unhealthy filmmaker side effects brought on by the “craft services” table, odd hours, lack of sleep, and “no time to exercise” syndrome.

A few years ago, it became a personal goal for me to get a grip on my own diet and fitness needs, and about a year ago I started blogging about my journey. Honestly, I was frustrated because I couldn’t find a fitness voice that gave the kind of brutal, but practical, inspiration that I was seeking, specifically for women. So, I decided I’d just have to be my own voice. ha. Now, I’ve got this wonderful documentation of my journey that helps to motivate me and keep me accountable.

And, I can’t tell you how much BETTER I feel on set, now that I’m in better health. I love camera operating. I’m a dancer, and the choreography of the camera and actors is so important to me, and it always has been. But, WOW, I have so much more flexibility as a camera operator now, because I’m stronger, more agile, and nimble. I have more physical and mental energy all day because I’m eating better… My recovery time between shows is MUCH shorter. It’s truly amazing, and so important, because I’m in this for the long haul. We have to take care of ourselves if we want to be “carnies” for life!

Recently you’ve wrapped up working on Mega Shark vs. Kolossus, what can you share about working on the film and what to expect?

LAURA BETH: Wow. I’m so pleased that I got to join the Mega Shark franchise! haha.  It was INSANE! This movie is completely off-the-wall, full of the crazy, extreme, mega-moments the fans have come to expect. Although, I think this one might be a little darker than the previous Megas…Chris (director) and I had a blast shooting it. We were shooting during a heatwave last fall, so my clearest memory is shooting inside a metal warehouse in 110 degree heat, with giant vats of boiling water next to me (dry ice machines) and the camera getting so hot that I had to wear a glove in order to operate it. (of course this room was supposed to be a cryo-chamber. lol) We were always chasing this wonderful mix of genuine action-drama and, like, almost scooby-doo-super-villain antics.

There are so many interweaving story lines, that we assigned colors to each storyline to help keep a visual reference for which story you are focusing on at a given moment. Most of all, it was a fun shoot, with all kinds of adventure… I actually put together a little behind-the-scenes video while we were shooting the movie, and it’s on my you tube channel! I’ve also got more tech specs (camera and lighting info) listed on my website under “portfolios”, if you are interested! I can’t wait to see it all put together this July!

 

You do a lot of multitasking on various projects, including cinematography, writing, producing, editing, amongst other jobs.  With all that experience, do you want to or see yourself directing or making your own full feature?

LAURA BETH: You’re right! I like wearing multiple hats; I actually really embrace the ability to wear multiple hats as a fundamental asset in everyone on my set. I think it’s just a basic part of the filmmaking in this age. That doesn’t mean I expect everyone to DO mutliple jobs, but I value their ability to UNDERSTAND multiple jobs.

Producing was a natural evolution when I first started as a DP. I knew where to rent gear, what kind of insurance was needed, where to get deals… it just became a thing that I co-produced almost everything I shot in the beginning. I eventually began to fully produce short projects, promos, music videos, and eventually, a feature. I like being able to take care of my crew, and whether I’m DP, producer, or Director, I like to influence a safe, efficient, and organized set.

As for directing vs DP, like I said before, I so narrowly differentiate between the two. I think that’s part of my value to the director, that I can understand his/her concerns. And, likewise, a good director is going to be able to understand the concerns of his/her DP. Once I chose cinematography in film school, I really “put a pin” in directing and focused on my cinematography career. However, I’ve continued to direct and co-direct countless projects over the past ten years. I have also worked with some very talented directors and actors over the years… it’s one of the things I love most about this career. You are constantly learning from each other, cultivating new skills, and evolving.

So… I guess all of that is to say “yes” I am looking forward to formally directing a couple features in the coming year or two! I’m also eager to continue producing, as well. Perhaps I’ll occasionally wear three hats? We shall see…

THANK YOU LAURA BETH!!!

For more information about Laura Beth, be sure to check out her website that is jammed packed with production information, pics, videos, and a link to her YouTube page.  A special thank you to Chris Ray, Jared Cohn, and Gabriel Campisi for their kind comments about Laura Beth.

HenRii Coleman Interview

After making his own films in Houston, it was faith that drove HenRii Coleman to Los Angeles. He knew jumping into the Hollywood scene is not for the faint of heart and it would take a lot of hard work and patience.  Surviving through a few years of difficult living conditions and just getting by financially, he was working as a production assistant and learning as much as he could in all trades of the industry. A few directors he’s worked with include Jared Cohn, Nick Lyon, Erik White, F. Gary Gray, and Mark Atkins.

HenRii is patient and took whatever jobs were available to meet industry professionals and to continue educating himself in filmmaking.  His acting training was from paying close attention to directors like Cohn, while working as a PA and acting the roles behind the camera.  HenRii is thriving to be the best and with his talent, faith, and determination behind him, he’s sure to quickly have more and more lead roles in films.

 

Five Quick Questions with HenRii Coleman

Can you introduce yourself and how you got your start in the film industry?

HenRii: Technically, I started by making my own film projects in Houston, Texas and Remade Sade, “like a tattoo” song then shot the video. From there, the video made its way to a background singer, Tony Momrelle in Sade’s band and when Sade did a show in Houston I got to meet them. Henceforth, I made films on my own which led me to Hollywood on my quest to be the best. This is the physical side to the story but it runs parallel with a spiritual side that got me started. However, I believe we can save that for another interview.

You worked with director Jared Cohn as an assistant director on Jailbait and acted in Buddy Hutchinson.  What have you learn and taken from working with Jared?

HenRii: Jared taught me the mechanics of directing from watching him shoot. Moreover, he taught me work ethic because he writes, produces, and direct his films to name a few. Also, he has great leadership skills because he is able to gather people together and get on one accord to make a film. These are the things that stick out the most about Jared to me.

Is directing a feature film one of your goals?

HenRii: My goal is to be a creator. I want my films to have the quality as James Cameron and Steven Spielberg. The goal is to make a film so impactful it changes the social norms. Therefore, I came into film making as a student trying to gain as much knowledge as possible. Working with people like Jared taught me the Logistics and infrastructure of making film in Hollywood. However, right now I’m about to produce/direct this drama called “Whii Felicia” (working title). I’m excited because the hero is a woman and this film will be a low key homage to women.

For Bermuda Tentacles you were a Military Consultant.  Can you tell us about that and any military background you have?

HenRii: I went into the army fresh out of high school. The army really built my character to become the man I am today. There are not many jobs in the civilian world can top stress like sleeping outside in -16 F temperatures in a foreign locked and loaded. However, the military helped me book my second feature length film Nick Lyon’s “Bullet”. Nick Lyon knew about my military background and brought me on to do that SYFY movie “Bermuda Tentacles”.  

What are you currently working on and where and when will we see you’re future work?

HenRii: I’m working on an independent film called “Whii Felicia” that has no release date. I did some acting Beats by Dre commercial. I had my hands in the Universal movie “Straight Outta Compton” out in Theaters August 14. I’m currently working with Sony and Paramount but can’t speak on the projects yet because of the NDA (Non-disclosure agreement). I’m also working with my friend BenMarc Film Company called Vision Bank ENT which has made a deal with Master P. Akon is another person I have projects with showcasing my acting skills. However let me digress, Whii Felicia is my baby/passion project I can’t wait for people to see. This film will showcase my hidden talents people didn’t know I had.

Thank you HenRii

Stay connected with HenRii through his Twitter and Instagram:

@RiiMASTERED

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5419812/

Paul Logan

Paul Logan for years has been entertaining movie audiences with his unique martial arts fighting skills, whether he’s battling men or creatures.  Logan was born and raised in N.Y. and began his martial arts training at the age of 13.  All his training paid off and resulted in precision fight scenes.  Not only did Logan perform in the scenes, he did all his own choreography and stunts.

In addition to films, he has a highly educated background in bio-chemistry, and studied chiropractic arts.  Logan initially didn’t plan on being an actor, but after some early success with acting he pursued that career.  Since then he has been a regular in Asylum films and worked with multiple iconic genre filmmakers including Roger Corman and Jim Wynorski.  Logan also was a contract player as Glen Reiber on Days of Our Lives from 2000 through 2003.

Not only is he an actor, but over the years he wrote numerous screenplays.  In recent years, he has put a lot of effort and dedication into getting his screenplays produced and one due out soon is The Horde.  Logan wrote and stars in it, but he also produced and was involved with every production aspect.

 

Five Quick Questions with Paul Logan 

As the writer, lead actor, and producer of The Horde, this film is personal to you.  Can you summarize the experience from concept through filming including the involvement of producer Gabriel Campisi and working with director Jared Cohn.

PAUL: This film is Extremely personal to me. I feel So fortunate to have gotten it done and that it has turned out so amazing.

I’ve written six scripts. The reason this one came about was because I thought most horror films are the same. It’s a bunch of kids going into the woods, the killer or the killers hunt them down one at a time until there is usually one girl left and she gets away. We’ve seen it a million times. But we’ve seen it million times because that’s what the horror audience wants, expects and enjoys. So I thought, what would happen if you had the same scenario, a bunch of kids  out on a photography field trip in the woods with their teacher. A bunch of mutant, cannibalistic killers hunting them down… but one person in their group was ex-special forces, was a Navy SEAL and can turn the hunters into the hunted.  You have all of the boo scares, terror and gore of a horror film and all of the extreme action of an action movie as well as a cool love story.

So, I wrote the script, I shot a sizzle reel and started looking for funding. I was so lucky that 313 Films liked my vision and had the confidence that I could pull it off. I started calling all of my friends both in front of and behind the camera and asked them to be a part of it. I wanted Jared Cohn to direct it, Jared is an amazing director and we worked so well with each other. We put our heads together and with our amazing cast and crew were able to transfer 99% of what I wrote onto the screen. It was such a great collaborative effort. As a producer, it was amazing to actually have the freedom of creativity to do things the way I envisioned them.  I brought Gabe Campisi on board. He is a great nuts and bolts producer and super guy.  It was nice to know things were being handled while I was on set by him, the producing team from 313, Beth Thuna, Doreen Bennett and Joel Bennett. It gave me the freedom to kick mutant Ass!

 

The film is described as having hideous disfigured mutated humans.  Sounds like a difficult elaborate task for the make-up artists and special effects team, can you tell us about the effects?

PAUL: The mutants in the film are Scary. We were so lucky to get Eric Fox and his company MORB-X FX recommended to us by my good friend and fellow Special FX makeup artist Mark Viniello. Eric and I talked about the creatures and i told him that Nothing about this film was going to be campy….I wanted everything to be visceral…real…and terrifying. He took my descriptions in the script and came up with incredible make ups for the mutants. He based all of their deformities on real life diseases taken to a hideously extreme level. The creatures look amazing and he and his team were awesome applying the elaborate appliances on set. They will scare the shit out of you…

 

The Horde stars many familiar genre film stars including Bill Moseley, Costas Mandylor, Nestor Serrano, Vernon Wells, Matt Willig, and Frankie Ray.  How where they brought on the project and how was working with them?

PAUL: I was fortunate to be friends with most of those guys and asked them to come on board. I called Costas and had already told him about the project a while back. I spoke with Vernon through a mutual friend and he liked the script. Nestor, Matt and Frankie are my friends. The only one I didn’t already know was Bill. We hit it off and are friends now as well. I even got my buddy Don “The Dragon” Wilson to come in for a cool cameo. These guys are all pros and were all amazing. They all were incredible to work with and breathed life into my characters so perfectly. The strength of their villains made my character more of a hero and I thank them all for that. We were so fortunate to have them in THE HORDE

 

You’ve been in many Asylum films. Can you share a little about your long relationship with them and David Latt since one of your first films was Killers, a David Michael Latt film?

PAUL:  I have worked with the guys at The Asylum many times. My first film ever was KILLERS that I did with them. I was the lead bad guy, David Latt directed it and David Rimawi produced it. It was their second film.  I love those guys and Paul Bales as well. They gave me my first shot…I don’t forget that.  

What can you tell us about your upcoming film CobraGator, that is directed by Jim Wynorski and any other upcoming films, maybe another screenplay of yours in the works?

PAUL: Cobragator is a cool SyFy film. I have worked with Jim many times and it’s great. He’s a great director and a great friend. I was also fortunate enough to work with Roger Corman, an amazing man. My character in Cobragator is ex-special forces and hired to hunt down the giant creature by its creator played by Michael Madsen. It was so great working with Mike, most of my scenes are with him. We killed it. Such a pro and cool guy.

My next project is also one that I wrote. It’s called THE EDGE OF MADNESS, it’s basically DIE HARD in an Asylum.  My character is a detective trapped in an asylum that houses the worst of the worst of the criminally insane.  Lots of action… it Rocks.

 

A huge thank you to Paul!  For more information and to keep updated on all of his upcoming projects, check out his website and IMDB:

http://m.imdb.com/name/nm0517638

Www.paullogan.net

www.TheHordeMovie.com

Twitter: @RealPaulLogan

Instagram: PaulLogan88

Blood Lake Review

Every three to five years a poison is used to massacre “Vampire Fish” to keep them from reaching Lake Michigan…and that is real life!  Lampreys live off fish blood so what happens if there’s no fish for them to feast on?  Animal Planet, The Asylum and director James Cullen Bressack give you an in depth look at what could happen if these lampreys are starved and desperate for food.  Well, having The Asylum producing it and horror/gore master James Cullen Bressack directing it, may have the film exaggerating the truth a tiny bit.  However, they do make it entertaining having lampreys coming out of every water way, plumbing pipe, and finding their way into Mayor Akerman’s (Christopher Lloyd) own waste pipe and all the through and out his mouth (a highlight of the film).

After chomping through the fish population, thousands of starved lampreys begin attacking the citizens of a sleepy lake town, and the community scrambles to stay alive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOiI2b4AQ-k

When a film is announced that James Cullen Bressack will be directing it, it’s time to take stock out in fake blood, it’s only fitting that the word “blood” is in this film’s title. The film was a bit nostalgic with it starring Shannon  Doherty, Christopher Lloyd, Jason Brooks, and Zack Ward who has been in many movies and TV shows, but probably most notorious for playing Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story.  Also, the audience gets a special treat to watch the gorgeous Ciara Hanna who plays Nicole, use a weed whacker to take out tons of lampreys and even uses a plunger in one scene.

Just go with it and you will enjoy this film because nothing says quality family time like ripping out the livers of dozens of lampreys or a lamprey coming out of a MILF’s mouth or Shannon Doherty trapped in the shower surrounded by lampreys or many beach goers rushing out of the water stained with fish blood along with many more fun moments.  Blood Lake is currently available on DVD and on Netflix, check it out!