Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts

Jersey Devil Expeditions: Not Necessarily Non-Fiction

Be careful, or you might run into this guy.
Photo Credit: Pinelands Preservation Alliance
The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

In our film, Jersey Devil Expeditions, a group of tourists, along with their guides from a local roadside attraction, set off on an overnight hunt for the Jersey Devil. They expected campfires and marshmallows, but ended up with a whole lot of trouble.

In reality, these kinds of hunts really do exist! The Pinelands Preservation Alliance hosts Friday Night Jersey Devil Hunts, where brave souls (ages 10 and up) meet up for a mile and a half hike into the heart of the Pine Barrens.

Before the adventure - just to make sure it's dark and scary enough - the hunters gather around the campfire for a sing-along and "BYOHD" (Bring Your Own Hot Dog) weenie roast. Throughout the hunt, an intrepid guide regales the group with tales of the Jersey Devil and other creatures that are rumored to roam the woods. As for spotting the Devil ... well, it's a distinct possibility!
Obviously, this is a family-friendly, educational activity to support wildlife preservation in a fun way. If you find yourself in the Southampton area and would like more information, you can contact the PPA at (609) 859-8860 or check the PPA website.
We're still searching for our own Jersey Devil, here at Fighting Owl Films. We're making headway, as far as fundraising is concerned, but, as with any creature hunt, it's a lot of hurry up and wait. There have been rustlings and fleeting glimpses, though. We're now working with a producer consultant to find investors, and have received some very positive feedback on the script. With a little luck, maybe we'll catch something on film soon.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: Roadside Attractions

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

Photo Credit: Cryptomundo
Flying is nice - and definitely the most time-effective way to travel - but in my family, it wasn't a vacation unless you woke up around two in the morning and spent the better part of the next 24 hours trapped in the backseat, surrounded by snacks, batted to death by hanging clothes, and praying Dad wouldn't hit the brakes too hard, or that cooler in the back was going to slam into your head.

About the only difference between our vacations and the Griswold's was a dead aunt tied to the roof of the truckster. As it turns out, nurture won out over my comfort-creature nature, and Thomas and I have found ourselves following in my parents' tire treads. We have officially become "road-trippers."

I can't lay all the blame on my parents, though. A good portion can also go to the time I spent on the road as a touring musical theatre performer. We didn't have much to do off-stage, so the actors and crew stayed on the look-out for silly roadside attractions to kill the boredom. I've worn a Cheesehead in the Wisconsin Dells (and burned the photographic evidence), visited two competing Judy Garland museums in Minnesota, and blindly screamed my way through a corny haunted house at Niagara Falls. Heck, I've even "Seen Rock City," and if Thomas has his way, our next trip to Florida will include the famous Skunk Ape Research Headquarters. My bucket list truly includes seeing the world's largest ball of twine. I just need to figure out where it is.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: As seen on TV, Part II

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film. 

The Paranormal State PRS Team.
Photo Credit: A&E
In my last post, I mentioned that the Jersey Devil myth is one that hasn't seen a whole lot of action in movies or on television, but that's not to say it hasn't seen any! I've already listed five scripted television programs that featured either the creature or the legend. Here are five un-scripted, reality programs that attempted to shed some light on our favorite cryptid. As before, I've tried to stay out of spoiler country in the post, but be careful clicking on any of the links if you haven't seen the episodes and want to be surprised when they don't find him. (What?! If they had, don't you think you'd have heard by now?!)

These are shows that Thomas and I have checked out for research purposes, since you can't write or produce a movie on a subject you know nothing about. Also, we're huge Destination Truth fans, and were really hoping for an up close and personal encounter between Josh Gates and the creature. Personally, my money'd be on Josh Gates.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: As seen on TV

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film. 


From 'American Dragon: Jake Long'
Photo Credit: Wikia
One of the biggest reasons Thomas, Fighting Owl Films' founder and director, wanted to tackle the Jersey Devil mythos was that it hadn't been explored all that deeply, or nearly as often as, say, Bigfoot or Nessie. That's not to suggest the subject had never been broached before.

In fact, I've compiled a list of 15 movies and television shows that have dealt with the creature ... more or less. I've tried to keep my comments out of spoiler territory, but beware of clicking any links if you haven't seen the shows.

Here are the first five: scripted television programs.

Ask Dr. Spectre: Health tips for paranormal hunters

 Holistic healthcare practitioner and paranormal investigator Frank Cinelli aka "Dr. Spectre" joins us on occasion to offer advice about how to remain in a prime paranormal investigative state for the most healthy hunts. If you've questions for the good doc, send them to askdrspectre@gmail.com and reach out to him on Twitter @DrSpectre.*
(*The Fine Print: ParanormalPopCulture.com cannot validate claims made by the columnist. Before taking any advice offered by the columnist, you should consult your physician)

With the impending horror that could be Valentine’s Day, I will transform from mild-mannered Dr. Spectre into my alter ego of "The Love Doctor Spectre." To make this day go from potential disaster to potential fireworks, here are some simple things that might help create a spark.  

What to Eat

Most traditional dates will include a nice meal, so since you are going to eat anyway, here are some foods for your moods:

Extra Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate ontains phenylethylamine, a chemical believed to produce the feeling of "being in love." We all know how good chocolate makes us feel. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who enjoyed a piece of chocolate every day, had a more active sex life than those who didn’t. Eating dark chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins, resulting in pleasurable feelings and reduced stress. The heart shaped box is optional but highly recommended.

The Ghost Chick Diaries

Sarah LaBrie is a model by day, paranormal investigator by night. She joins us to share stories about life in front of the camera and behind the IR.

A new photo shoot! I was thrilled. I got to dress up (and down) in a rustic vintage setting.

I applied some smokey eyeshadow and makeup, and headed out to drive into a bad part of town, just two streets over from million-dollar neighborhoods. I pulled up to a small studio that sat next to a dilapidated house and knocked on the door.

A very friendly face opens up and lets me in. The photographer. He was slightly older with curly grey wild-artist hair and had a studio filled with amazing art work. I followed him into a room that was unusually cold for the ninety-plus degree weather and cooled by only two desktop fans.

Time to take it off!

Jersey Devil Expeditions

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film. 

Fighting Owl Films now has its very own green screen. We'd borrowed a screen for The Night Shift (see if you can spot it!), so it was time for the company to have its own. In case you're wondering, a green screen (sometimes called a blue screen, or Chroma Key screen) is a solid-colored background that can be digitally altered. It's the same thing television meteorologists use for their animated maps.

Our screen is a crayon-green muslin photographer's background on a metal stand. It's nowhere near fully extended, and still takes up one entire wall of our office. It also requires two umbrella lights (like you'd see at a portrait photographer's studio) to make sure that there are no shadows to mess up the computer imaging. Basically, this thing is a monster, which is kind of appropriate, considering why we have it. See, we've got to make a devil fly.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: The unholy beginning

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

Last October, just before Halloween, indie production company Fighting Owl Films released to DVD its first feature-length movie, The Night Shift. The film centered around an undead caretaker, Rue Morgan, and the "lively" cemetery he oversaw. The little lower-than-micro-budget picture made it into a handful of festivals (including the Paranormal Pop Culture Film Festival), winning Best Fantasy Feature at Shockerfest International, as well as the praise of critics and viewers alike as a "potential cult classic" that all ages could enjoy. Personally, I thought it was a ground-breaking, thought-provoking, phenomenal piece of cinema - not to be missed - but then again, I could be a little biased. Afterall, I did produce and co-star in the film.

With TNS under our belts, Fighting Owl Films founder and director Thomas Smith decided it was time to branch out. "While The Night Shift was a family-friendly paranormal adventure, [the next feature] Jersey Devil Expeditions (JDE) shifts its tone to a more adult nature; a horrific creature feature that maintains a sense of fun, excitement and adventure."



New 2012 book: Doomsday prophecies cause world of trouble

As a physics professor, Dr. Christopher Keating knows the world is not going to end any time soon. But that doesn’t mean the myth of the apocalypse can’t cause harm.

"I hear the argument that predictions made by doomsday prophets like Harold Camping are harmless because the majority of people will ignore them. But many people ruined themselves financially because of Camping’s prediction that the rapture would occur on May 21. In the past, predictions like this have even led people to commit suicide. It’s difficult to stand by and watch while people are harmed because of someone like Camping.” said Keating, author of Dialogues on 2012: Why the World Will Not End.

“Science and religion have both been misused by fearmongers to promote the idea that the world will come to an end in October, in 2012 or whatever comes next. There is always the next crackpot who thinks he has all of the great answers. I wish there was a way to convince the public that these people are merely putting forth these ideas for their own self-promotion and profit. Just look at Camping. He originally predicted the rapture would occur in 1994 and people believed him. Now, even though he was wrong last time, people mindlessly followed him again!”

The Night Shift: It's out!

Night Shift is the diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in distribution in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

It's out!

Last night, Thomas and I toasted the DVD release of The Night Shift. This morning, I got up early and made a quart of fake blood. To borrow a line from a very appropriate Disney song, it's the circle of life, folks.

To be fair, the fake blood wasn't actually for filming. My kid brother's middle school is putting on a haunted house this weekend, so this was for him. Still, it was good practice for the fake blood I get to make next week for the filming of our Jersey Devil promo video. This is the trailer-esque short that we'll show potential backers/producers who might be interested in funding our next feature. It won't be a long video, but it's definitely not a small undertaking. We've cast five talented actors (and me), and, furthering the circle, I guess, they're having their costume fittings the same day that our Night Shift actors are scheduled to pick up their copies of the film. There's something poetic about that; just as we finish one chapter, we begin another. Poetic, or possibly, just insane. Anyway, we've also created a temporary logo for the film, scouted locations, figured out the lighting design, and even composed a song for the promo. As my brother would say, this thing is "beast". I think that means awesome.

Holly jolly Halloween gives Christmas heave-ho-ho-ho

A Gargoyle at the gates of Eastern State Penitentiary's
 'Terror Behind The Walls.' Courtesy Krystle Marcellus
BY AARON SAGERS

Even with kids jingle belling, and everyone telling you to be of good cheer - when friends come to call - Christmas is no longer the most wonderful time of the year. Instead, with kids trick-or-treating and everyone telling you to have a good fear - when maniac killers come to call – now Halloween is the most wonderful season of all.

Andy Williams may have been right when he sang about Christmas in 1963’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but Pumpkin King Jack Skellington has since taken over as grandmaster because when it comes to the “it” holiday to celebrate, black (and orange) is the new green and red.

In 2006, ABC News reported the season had become the second-biggest decorating holiday of the year. Plus, retailers have come to rely on the season as a precursor to Christmas and the best chance to improve sales numbers between back-to-school time and Dec. 25 with costumes, candy, party supplies and decorations, reported The Birmingham News in 2010.

On the popular culture landscape, October is a primo time for networks and movie studios to get their

The Night Shift: Gourd-geous October

Night Shift is the diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in distribution in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.


Gord-geous October

I adore October. Changing leaves, cooling temperatures, Halloween, and, of course, the all-important Pumpkin Spice latte have long been a few of my favorite things; but this October has been absolutely unbelievable. For starters, we had the ad in Rue Morgue, which was both very exciting and extraordinarily difficult to find, and eventually caused Thomas and me to drive bookstore staffs crazy in three different states, but we got one! Then, last week, the entire movie aired on Macabre Theatre with the lovely Ivonna Cadaver, and had the first of two screenings at the Shockerfest International Film Festival, where we're nominated for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy (and if you want to vote, go here). Our next festival is later this month, too: Horror Quest Film Fest. Lastly, we'll cap off the month with the long-awaited DVD release. Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas!

I kid, I kid! Although, I can tell you that Walmart limits you to six copies at a time. Just don't ask how I know.

At this point, sad as it is to say, The Night Shift is done. With the exception of some Facebook and Twitter publicity (oh, how I long to see #thenightshiftmovie trending!) and the occasional interview, our baby is out of our hands. That's okay, though. We have a few other projects going that are easing the sting of empty nest syndrome. You could also read that as, "stressing us out to the point of delirium," and you wouldn't be wrong. We've started looking for financers/producers for our Jersey Devil film (anyone interested? Bueller? Bueller?), but we need to have something to show them. Thomas has worked up a screenplay for a promo video that has the potential to be really creepy and cool, but besides that, we need a visual that will knock off some socks.

Thomas and I started working on poster ideas, and a few weeks in realized that no matter what poster we came up with, it was going to need a logo. There was absolutely no getting around it. So, we're now working with an artist on a logo design that can then be incorporated into not only the poster, but into t-shirts, merchandise, and even props for the actual film. I'm not one to post spoilers, but what I can tell you is that this logo, whatever it may be, is going to be prominent in the film.

So, anyone got a few thousand dollars lying around? I know a great cause.

Follow The Night Shift at www.thenightshiftmovie.com. You can check out the poster, trailer, cast and crew, and some fun downloads. Heck, if you like, you can even be our friend on Facebook and Twitter (@NightShiftMovie), where you can follow more of the progress of the movie.

Ask Dr. Spectre: Health tips for paranormal hunters

Holistic healthcare practitioner and paranormal investigator Frank Cinelli aka "Dr. Spectre" joins us on occasion to offer advice about how to remain in a prime paranormal investigative state for the most healthy hunts. If you've questions for the good doc, send them to askdrspectre@gmail.com and reach out to him on Twitter @DrSpectre.*
(*The Fine Print: ParanormalPopCulture.com cannot validate claims made by the columnist. Before taking any advice offered by the columnist, you should consult your physician)

Lyme-carrying deer tick
Q: I am a self-proclaimed Bigfoot Hunter in Pennsylvania. After one of our recent expeditions, my friend developed Lyme disease. Although I’ve never been bitten by a tick I am now very concerned about the possibility of it. How can I prevent being bitten? -Aiden, Pennsylvania

Dr. Spectre: Great question, Aiden. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or so they say. Lyme disease is becoming epidemic and Lyme awareness should be on the forefront of every paranormal investigator's mind. Lyme disease is a serious disorder that is caused by a microscopic, corkscrew-shaped bacterium (spirochetes) that are transmitted by the bite of deer ticks. Symptoms of Lyme are often times confused with influenza, infectious mononucleosis and rheumatoid arthritis. There is no fool proof way to prevent from being bitten, but here are a few helpful hints to stack the odds in your favor:

The Night Shift: The Jersey Devil Riseth?

Night Shift is the diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in distribution in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

The other night, Soren, our cinematographer, composer-in-residence, voice of Herbie the Skeleton, and just plain old friend, came over to brainstorm project ideas with Thomas. I had to head out for choir practice, so I left the boys with a pizza and wished them luck. Two hours later, I came home to a modern-day version of Your Show of Shows.

Jersey Devil sketch,
'Philadelphia Post' 1909
An open laptop displayed MS Paint sketches of winged creatures, sci-fi robots, and a host of other monsters. A desktop monitor flickered between IMDb and Google Images, and chicken scratch-covered Post-It notes lay in the scanner, awaiting their own digitization. In the middle, the boys shouted out one-liners and gags at a pace so rapid-fire that Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner would have been proud. The only thing missing from this "writer's room" was an empty pot of coffee and a haze of cigarette smoke. I plopped myself down on the couch and enjoyed the show.

This is how things get started around Fighting Owl Films. Sometimes it's just Thomas scribbling on scrap paper. Sometimes ideas bounce off of me. Occasionally, a few of us sit around the living room and riff. The better ideas get vetted to make sure they're completely original, and we didn't subconsciously use someone else's creation. I actually sat with my phone in my hand, Googling bits and pieces of story as they flew past me.

Eventually, some of these ideas will make it into the script for our next project, while others will be kept on file for future use. Most will go in the garbage, but that's brainstorming for you. Not everything that comes from it is gold, but ideas beget ideas, and you don't always know what will work until you try it out loud.

But what are these ideas for? I know I've mentioned in passing that our next project, concerning the Jersey Devil, is currently in the early planning stages, but I haven't really elaborated on it. I thought it might be nice for you to get the information straight from the writer/director himself, so I sat down with Thomas for a little interview:

So, Thomas, with The Night Shift (TNS) about to be released, what's next for Fighting Owl Films?

It feels like people have been asking “what’s next?” since the second principal photography wrapped on TNS. I’ve been kicking around several ideas since then, all of which I hope to someday get off the ground. I’ve settled on what our next potential project will be: The Jersey Devil Expedition (working title). I say “potential” because it all comes down to funding. If we’re unable to secure funding, the project could, at the least, be scaled back and, at most, get scrapped.

The Night Shift: On to the Next

Night Shift is the diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in distribution in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

On to the Next!

Wow.

Things are really starting to move around Fighting Owl Films HQ (aka My Living Room)! First off, we've found out a little bit more about where The Night Shift will be available. So far, it's Amazon (which you already knew about), Deep Discount, Buy.com, DVD Empire, Half.com, DVD Planet, CD Universe, and Home DVD Store.

There's also one more little place you may have heard of: WALMART!

That's right! Walmart will be stocking the movie, and not just online! According to the website, it'll be available in stores, too! If it ends up at the one we do our grocery shopping at, I'm totally stopping to take a picture. I don't care how stupid I look taking pictures in the middle of Walmart, as God is my witness, I. Will. Do. It.

Thomas and I are happily, busily tweeting and posting updates on all of our social networking sites. Should any more retailers be added to the list, you'll find them there. Prices vary from store to store, but so far, they're all in the under $20 range, so it's completely affordable, and would make the perfect holiday gift (hint, hint, wink, wink, say no more!).

Okay, shameless plugging aside, Thomas, Soren (our director of photography, composer, and voice of everyone's favorite skeleton) and I got to do a little photo shoot yesterday for the local paper. The Arts editor is doing a little piece on the movie receiving distribution, so we met up with their photographer in one of the cemeteries we shot in. Hopefully, it will all turn out well, and we'll have a cute, professionally shot picture to hang up next to the movie poster. In any case, we're overwhelmed with the amount of local support that's been shown. The hometown has been very kind to us.

Also, if you're going to be in the Atlanta area October 21-27, you'll want to check out the Horror Quest Film Festival. The Night Shift will be screening Wednesday the 26th at 9 p.m. at the Cinefest Film Theatre. Sadly, Thomas and I can't be there in person, but we'll be there in spirit, and hope some of you can go out and show your support of indie film.

The Ghost Chick Diaries: Emily's Bridge

Sarah LaBrie is a model by day, paranormal investigator by night. She joins us to share stories about life in front of the camera and behind the IR.

It was a warm august night; my guy friend and I decided the best way to spend the weekend night was creeping through the dark woods to hunt at the infamous Emily's Bridge in Stowe, Vt.

After an hour drive, we rounded a corner on a dirt road and the ancient covered bridge loomed in the dark. It was already well worth the drive. We parked around back and stepped out into shining moonlight in a clear, open sky. But the bridge, even though well lit, was eerily dark.

The story of the bridge goes like this: A woman named Emily met the man of her dreams. They planned to elope, but when her father found out, he hunted down the young man and had him beat. In the morning, when she was supposed to meet him for their escape, he was nowhere to be seen. Plunged into sorrow over her lover's absence, poor Emily hung herself inside the bridge. Now the legend has it that any couple who enters the bridge will be met with hatred by Emily's ghost.

So of course we decided to put it to the test.

The Night Shift: See it Soon!

The Night Shift is the production diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in "post" in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

See it Soon!

Let's just call this "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Night Shift," shall we? I am now, officially, at liberty to announce that we have received a distribution deal with the nice folks over at R-Squared Films! You might recognize the name from Zombie Girl or Baghdad, Texas, and we're really excited to be working with them.

Ask Dr. Spectre: Health tips for paranormal hunters

Holistic healthcare practitioner and paranormal investigator Frank Cinelli aka "Dr. Spectre" joins us on occasion to offer advice about how to remain in a prime paranormal investigative state for the most healthy hunts. If you've questions for the good doc, send them to askdrspectre@gmail.com and reach out to him on Twitter @DrSpectre.*
(*The Fine Print: ParanormalPopCulture.com cannot validate claims made by the columnist. Before taking any advice offered by the columnist, you should consult your physician)


Q: "Hey Doc, I investigate a lot of old factories, some of them still have barrels of chemicals in them. I worry about breathing that stuff in. What can I do to keep from getting sick" - John, Tennessee

A neti pot
A: Well John, this is a big concern among paranormal investigators and urban explorers as well. There are a few things you can do a head of time. Use a mask, or in extremely dusty areas, I world even recommend a respirator. If you find yourself in a situation and you don’t have any of those available, you can always use a damp bandana or rag, prospector-style. A good pair of safety goggles should be with everyone’s adventure gear. When not listening for something specific, ear plugs should be used. Most people don’t realize that we take in a lot of contaminates through the eyes and ears.

After the hunt, you should immediately shower, and don’t forget to wash your ears. After the shower use a good natural eye wash drops and finally you should use a neti pot. A neti pot is a form of nasal irrigation. This is a practice in which the nasal cavity is washed to flush out excess mucus and debris from the nose and sinuses. With severe exposures you should see your doctor.

The Night Shift: Back to the Graveyard


The Night Shift is the production diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in "post" in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

Back to the Graveyard

The past week has felt very familiar. You see, the gang (Thomas, Soren and Herbie) and I all headed back to the smaller of the two cemeteries where we filmed The Night Shift, to shoot a couple of interviews for Macabre Theatre. Just like last year, it was insanely hot and humid; I think the mosquitoes remembered us, because they were out with a vengeance. I also had the same feeling of, "please, God, don't let the cops pull us over," because we left our apartment with a shovel, a hand-truck, and a body in the trunk. Honestly, I'm not sure if I should be relieved or very, very disturbed that not one of the neighbors who watched us pack batted an eyelash.


As with everything having to do with The Night Shift, this was a learning experience. Thomas is still new to this whole being in front of the camera business, so he had some nerves to overcome. The show required we shoot in HD, so we had an unfamiliar (borrowed) camera and a whole slew of computer challenges to contend with. Who would have guessed that our post-production programs wouldn't play well with high-definition? We're currently researching both hardware and software options now, since a new HD camera is probably going to become a necessity. Now, how we're going to pay for it is another story. We're looking into options for that, too.

The Night Shift: Good News, Bad News


The Night Shift is the production diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in "post" in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

Good News, Bad News

Things are rolling right along over here at Fighting Owl Films. The Night Shift will screen this upcoming weekend at the Fright Night Film Fest in Kentucky, and there is a tentative (not yet public) release date for the DVD. With that behind us, Thomas has just about finished the script for what could potentially be our next project, and we're focusing our efforts toward funding that. Aside from that, our major challenge this week is finding an affordable HD Camera that doesn't suck.

See, The Night Shift has the possibility of getting some television publicity. That's fantastic, and we're completely thrilled, but TV has gone HD, and our camera, well, hasn't. Thomas and Soren (our Director of Photography) love the camera we have currently (I'm not allowed to touch it, as I am the biggest klutz who ever lived. I once broke a sewing maching by looking at it), but technology is passing us by, and at a rate faster than our bank accounts can grow, so Thomas is not only researching cameras, but also payment plans, refurbished options and eBay. At least, it keeps him busy and off the streets.