Teen Twin Peaks: Little Spark Films Wraps Kelli Maroney/Lisa Gaye-fronted YA "Gateway Horror" Bridgette Wrona and the Whisper Creek Murders: "Production has wrapped on Bridgette Wrona and the Whisper Creek Murders, the first film from Arlington-based Little Spark Films since becoming a fully-financed film studio.
Described as "YA mystery/gateway horror," the film follows the eponymous twenty-something sleuth, the hostess of a popular true crime podcast called "Hot Coffee, Cold Cases." For her latest case, Bridgette is dispatched to the remote East Texas town of Whisper Creek, where a long-dormant serial killer known as The Flower King has resurfaced. Haunted by memories from her own rural past, Bridgette must uncover the truth in a place where everyone is a suspect. Directed by Mary Beth McAndrews from a script by Preston Fassel, the film is led by newcomer Amanda Huerta in a star-turn that came about due to her appearance in a LSF “48-Hour Spark” film race.
“While we were in pre-production, we also hosted a 48 Hour Film Race entitled 48 Hour Sparks where our Office P.A.-turned-2nd-AD Jacob Harper had worked with Amanda,” says LSF co-founder Catalina Querida, who spearheaded Bridgette Wrona as the film’s producer. “Seeing how quickly she was able to take on his 48 Hour film, ‘Music to my Ears,’ we thought she would fit the role as our confident hero.”
Huerta is supported by a pair of genre veterans in the form of Lisa Gaye (the Toxic Avenger franchise) and Kelli Maroney (Fast Times at Ridgemont High; Night of the Comet). Gaye stars as Ella Mallory, Whisper Creek's “gently authoritarian” sheriff, who may have been involved in a cover-up of the original Flower King murders. Maroney co-stars as Marlene Gatlin, Whisper Creek's "resident Blanche DuBois," a resale shop proprietress with a shadowy connection to the town’s past. The pair were hand-selected by LSF for key reasons.
Says Little Spark co-founder Joe Manco, “Lisa was an amazing get. I was fortunate to work with her shooting Season 3 of Fantastico Disasterpiece Theater. After meeting her and seeing how strong her presence was on the set and how pleasant she was to work with, I knew I’d met a classy lady. She has such great insight and love for the craft. When she expressed interest in being in our film, I was ecstatic and knew this picture was going to evolve into what it needed to be.”
Meanwhile, Fassel wrote the role of Marlene explicitly for Maroney: "Kelli and I’ve been friends for a decade now, but never got to work on a film together. She’s an incredibly versatile actress who I feel can tend to get pigeonholed, so I wrote this to give her the opportunity to do something unique and different, based on some conversations we’ve had, while introducing her to Gen Z in the process.”
Rounding out the cast are Alexandra Broussard as Lila Hart, an unassuming waitress whose keen insight into Whisper Creek’s past makes her a vital ally to Bridgette; and Larissa Dali (the Becky franchise) as Deputy Claudia Ritter, “Sheriff Mallory's Bigfoot-obsessed right-hand.” In addition to her work in the film, Dali also served as producer alongside Querida. Says Dali, “I’ve worked with LSF for years now, and being part of their growth has truly been an honor. Hear me when I say: As an actress in this business, I’ve worked with numerous production companies, from your corporate mainstream networks to indie-max extreme, and Little Spark is a rare gem that shines amongst them. It’s not only for their creative collective process, which is accepting and collaborative, allowing individuals thoughts and ideas to be heard and considered; most importantly, it’s the environment created that cultivates such an empowering and family-like dynamic. This film came together in ways none of us could expect, believe me!”
Bridgette Wrona is directed by Mary Beth McAndrews from a screenplay by Preston Fassel, based on a concept by Cameron Hazelwood. Fassel was tapped to write Bridgette Wrona based on his experience with woman-fronted crime fiction, including 2018's Our Lady of the Inferno, about two sisters hunting a female serial killer in 1983.
Says Fassel, "I had a few personal initiatives, including doing a YA story in the vein of what I grew up with- Tuck Everlasting, Bridge to Terabithia, Maniac Magee- this non-IP, thoughtful approach that spoke to its audience as real people. Something that I'd show a theoretical daughter of mine, about a girl I imagine would be what that daughter would turn out like. And my hope is I’ve delivered a Teen Twin Peaks that mothers can use to introduce their daughters to David Lynch.”
Says McAndrews, “As a certified weird girl, now is the time for Weird Girl Cinema, and I couldn’t be more grateful to direct an entry into that growing pantheon. Bridgette Wrona is a film for all the weirdos out there who are passionate, creative, smart, and a little different from the world around them. My hope is that teens will watch this and feel inspired to dive further into the world of genre films; we don’t get a lot of true gateway horror anymore! This is gateway horror for the girls out there who spend their days watching true crime videos and reading about serial killers.”
Says Chris Rushing, LSF’s CFO, who was instrumental in greenlighting the project: "As a fan of the genre ever since reading every YA mystery I could check out of the library as a kid, I found this an extremely interesting project for Little Spark to tackle. Using it as the beginning of this new phase felt like a perfect way to introduce ourselves to a new audience, and honor both those amazing books, as well as the local people and places of the production."
Bridgette Wrona was produced by Catalina Querida and Larissa Dali. Joe Manco and Chris Rushing served as executive producers. Preston Fassel served as associate producer. Robert “Ghoulio” Alcala, a veteran of Dallas-area haunted house Dark Hour, served as DP.
“Getting to work with Lisa and Kelli was such an immense privilege, especially as I got to watch them embody roles that were unlike anything they’ve done before,” McAndrews says. “Paired with the shining, rising talents of Amanda and Alexandra, I truly think we’ve made something special that’ll resonate across ages and audiences.”
Says Querida, “I'm ecstatic at how unique and fun this interpretation of the teen mystery genre is turning out.”
Bridgette Wrona and the Whisper Creek Murders is currently in post-production."
[Photo Credit: Alex Dominguez]
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Watch the Trailer for BREEDER: "An eccentric poodle breeder lures a broke college student to her remote ranch with a promise of research funding. But, as he soon learns, there’s a catch."
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
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