Your upcoming film Reservoir - in a few words, what's it
going to be about?
The pitch is "Poltergeist meets Friday
the 13th", so it's going to be a "supernatural slasher
film" so to say. Your movie is based in part on the
Quabbin Reservoir flooding - so what caught your interest regarding that
story, what amount of research have you put into this, and how close will
you stick to actual events? Quabbin has always been an
interesting topic, the history is taught in the public school system
throughout Massachusetts. Plus our location manager and production assistant
are freelance historians on this topic. What caught my interest was
watching a documentary a few years back with scuba divers swimming through
some of the submerged buildings in the reservoir. Kind of like a Colonial
New England version of the Lost City of Atlantis. Then Chris Kellogg
pitched the idea and we ran with it. In terms of how close to the actual
events, you'll need to decide by watching the movie yourself and
conducting your own research. Other sources of inspiration
when writing Reservoir? I normally use people from
my past when developing characters. I change the names up a bit but every
character in my screenplays is loosely based on a real life person, I put
those people into a situation and knowing them well enough I map it out
how they would react. This enables every character to have a voice in the
script. What can you tell us
about your co-writer, radio host Chris Kellogg, what was your
collaboration like, and how did he get involved in the first place?
Chris
pitched me the original idea to the script, I have written the bulk of it
as he is a professional editor and has added some great ideas for some
really awesome scenes. Our collaboration has been great, it's scary how
much we are alike, recently I told him he's like my brother. He got
involved by approaching me via Facebook by pitching the idea for this
movie in a private message. I fell in love with the concept immediately. How
do you intend to approach the horror elements of your movie (as in
atmosphere vs blood and guts, suspense vs sudden shocks and the like)? Low
budget meets classic horror is the pay off. What you can not see, "as
in the killer(s)", is much scarier than what you can see. As for the
special effects we're going mainly with practical effects, so it will look
very real. What
can you tell us about the intended look and feel of your movie? Dark
and gritty image grade, spooky music, a fast-paced script full of action,
and a bit of comic relief with the dialogue.
Felissa Rose |
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Shawn C. Phillips |
Now
my guess is a film like yours is heavily dependable on the right locations
- so what can you tell us about yours? We'll be filming at
disclosed locations, both public and private. What can you tell
us about your intended cast, and why exactly these people?
Jonathan Tiersten |
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Jackey Hall |
Jonathan
Tiersten and Felissa Rose, who need no introductions as they're living
legends from Sleepaway Camp. Frank Sorrentino of
The Sorrentinos on the
TVG Network, because he's funny and maybe he can introduce me to JWOWW.
Ian Lyons of NBC's upcoming Series
Odyssey and The Judge with Robert
Downey Jr. I chose Ian because we met at a top casting agency in Boston
and is one of the most talented actors I know. Then we have John
J Thomassen [John J Thomassen
interview - click here], Jessica Mazo, and Jackey Hall who are great players I
pre-screened with The Undead, and Shawn C. Phillips [Shawn
C. Phillips interview - click here], everyones favorite SyFy
Channel guy. We will also be casting local principal and extra roles
shortly. As
far as I know, you are currently running a fundraiser for Reservoir
- so what can you tell us about your campaign? This is phase 2 of our campaign, meaning we have enough assets to FILM A MOVIE.
However we just do not want to make a good movie we want to make a GREAT
MOVIE! Therefore these additional funds will enable us to use top of
the line equipment, purchase better music and create some really awesome
special effects. Once your
funds are raised, what's the schedule - and any idea when and where the
film might be released onto the general public yet? 10-12
day shoot in late August, since Chris is the editor we're looking to have
something ready for select audiences by Halloween. Any
future projects beyond Reservoir?
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Feeling lucky? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results? (commissions earned) |
The links below will take you just there!!!
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Yes, The Undead is
still on schedule [The
Undead interview with Mark - click here], then Johnny Tiersten and I have some stuff in the works,
so stay tuned. Your/your
movie's website, Facebook, IndieGoGo, whatever else?
Indiegogo:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/reservoir- they-re-still-in-the-water-an-old-legend-based-on-actual-events/x/2083088
Anything
else you are dying to mention and I've merely forgotten to ask? Yes
The Undead is not DEAD as some rumor mills have stated. Reservoir
is being
filmed before because it is a summer film and there is no reason to postpone it until next summer when we have the resources to get it into the
can (industry term for completed) by early September. Then The Undead
is a
fall-based film which needs the New England fall foliage to bring the look
I've always intended for it to have. If you look at The Undead comic book,
that is the look we want. New England, especially The Berkshires is one of
the most desirable places to be in the world during the fall months, we
therefore look to use that natural beauty to our advantage. Thanks
for the interview!
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