MicroCinema Scene

[Editors Note: This is another article from the Vault. Back in the old days, when people still made printed “zines,” Tim Shrum was putting out a D.I.Y. filmmaking publication titled NEXT TUESDAY.  One of his frequent subjects was filmmaker Rock Savage. In this interview, Tim interviews Rock about a documentary called Assignment: Ghosthunt. I find this project extremely interesting, because back in 2003, Rock was covering the type of subjects that have now completely entered the mainstream. You can flip around cable stations on any given night and find a reality series about people investigating “haunted” buildings and having encounters with “real” ghosts. It’s just another example of big mainstream media gradually absorbing fringe subjects were independent filmmakers used to thrive.]

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Well, after you read this, it won’t be a secret will it? To be honest, all the things I will tell you should not be a secret but many low budget filmmakers don’t have the information to save big bucks on their film projects! Everything that I’m about to tell you, I have learned from the school of “hard knocks” so you won’t have to spend a lot of bread!

NEVER GET PERMITS!

One of the reasons that film schools suck is that they don’t teach you how to save money and get stuff for free! First, lets talk about location, you need a place to film, and you don’t want to rent a place because you’ll have to break your piggy bank! Don’t bother to get permits, they cost too much and in order to get one, you may need some sort of insurance (more money!) so lets say you need an office, first try to get a “home office”, you may know someone who has one!! In Hardboiled Heroes there is a scene in occult investigator Harry Gross’ office which is really a home office but looks damn good and I got it for free!

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The above title is no joke!  I have been called “dangerous” and other things as well!  Well someone who reviewed two of my films said that the Savage Film Group was “art” disguised as fun and this made my films “dangerous” (he thought this was a good thing!!) I have also been called “dangerous” because I pack heat & my films are very vengeance driven!  An angry feminist said that we ran on “high octane testosterone”.  Also, we have done some dangerous things for our movies!

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Movie Seals Productions has announced that Maverick Entertainment Group has acquired the United States distribution rights to its sci-fi action movie, Recon 2020: The Caprini Massacre, directed by Christian Viel (Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain).  Since its premiere the film has garnered critical acclaim including receiving a Best Sci-Fi/Action Movie award at the Sci-Fi London Film Festival in 2005.  The movie is expected to hit store shelves on December 5th, 2006, as part of the Maverick Platinum collection.  A sequel to the film, Recon 2020: The Mezzo Incident, is currently in post-production.  For more details about the film visit http://www.recon2020-movie.com.

Filmmaker Chris Grega (Amphetamine) and 88mm Productions have currently wrapped production on their latest film, Rhineland.  The film is being described as a gritty war drama set in March, 1945 during the battle known as “the last killing ground in the west.” Rhineland tells the story of a young replacement thrown into an under-strength mine platoon. A burned-out lieutenant and a bitter sergeant are his only guides as he struggles to come to terms with the brutality of war during the final bloody months of World War II.  The film stars Derek Simmons, Paul Wendell, R. Travis Estes, and features a cameo from indie filmmaker Eric Stanze (Ice from the Sun, Deadwood Park, Scrapbook).  The project is undergoing post-production work with a planned Spring 2007 release date.  For more information, visit www.88mm.net. 

5HeadsTall Productions, the Manchester UK based company responsible for the online TV show Inside Report, announced that the long-awaited documentary George and Me is to be released on DVD on September 30th 2006.  The documentary investigates how much of a positive “force” Star Wars has been on fans’ lives since its release nearly 30 years ago.  The feature took both producers, Sky Wilson and Vin Kelly, nearly two years to complete, financing the whole operation themselves.  They traveled across the United States and England.  The film will be released in both region 1 and 2 formats.  For more information, visit www.georgeandme.co.uk.

The often illegally bootlegged feature Bride of Frank is finally getting a proper DVD treatment in 2007.  Sub Rosa is releasing the cult film that centers around Frank O’Brien, who is described as a smelly but lovable ex-homeless man in the industrial wastelands of New Jersey.  With the aid of his friend, he seeks through the personal ads a woman who will become his bride.  This only invites a series of obnoxious and demanding women, and only one good one for a Bride.  The others, however, are not so lucky when Frank loses his temper.  The DVD special edition includes a 30 minute alternating ending, the never-before-seen camping scene, blooper reels, a Frank’s Home Movie featurette, and more, including hidden easter eggs.  The film hits store shelves on January 30th, 2007 with a suggested retail price of $29.95.  For more details, visit www.b-movie.com.

Filmmakers Ron Bonk and Eric Stanze are teaming up to executive produce Satan’s Cannibal Holocaust for their SRS Extreme label.  The film is being directed and produced by Jim Wayer from a script written by Jim Wayer and Scott D. Muck.  The film centers around Kelly, a young journalist, who is working on an article about her father, the local mayor.  However, what starts out as an innocent piece uncovers a secret that lurks beneath the city.  Soon, violence erupts in subterranean catacombs, and innocent victims are held captive and brutalized.  The film is slated for late September 2006 post-production for a early 2007 release.  For more information visit the film’s official website at www.thadiuspictures.com/sch.html.