Headlining today's Horror Highlights is an Indiegogo campaign for Angels of Mercy, a new horror film that stars (and was co-written by) Owen Kent, an actor with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. In the groundbreaking film for the disabled community, Kent plays a character with SMA, and while the movie has been shot, it is now looking for funding to help with the post-production process, and we have information on how you can support the project. We also have details on Michael Smith's short film Mister Stitches and Kickstarter campaign info for author Jonathan Fesmire's new novel Bodacious Creed and the Frisco Syndicate.
Angels of Mercy Indiegogo Campaign: Press Release: "Angels of Mercy is a groundbreaking horror film that challenges Hollywood’s representation of the Disabled Community. Leading the cast is Owen Kent, an actor and filmmaker with the condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Owen plays a hacker named Zach, who has moved himself to the rural forests of northern California to escape public scorn. When a eugenics cult descends upon Zach’s home, he must use his wits to make it through the night alive.
“Whether you like the movie, or you hate it, you definitely haven’t ever seen anything like it.” - Andrew Balcof, Co-writer and Director of Angels of Mercy.
While misrepresentation, or a lack of representation, for certain groups has started to enter the discussion and creep through the cracks of the Hollywood system, the disabled community has seemingly been ignored. Movies like Me Before You and even The Theory of Everything have cast able-bodied actors for disabled roles. Some have deemed this act to be “crip face.” Angels of Mercy aims to change the exclusion of disabled actors and provide a space for those with disabilities in the film industry, in front of and behind the camera.
To get a feature film off the ground is a feat, but if there ever was a miracle, the fact that Angels of Mercy made it through principal photography would be that miracle. In addition to a myriad of mishaps, including a break-in at the crew house, the film's financing fell through two months before production. By the skin of their teeth, through private investments, fundraising parties, and credit card debt, Andrew, Owen, and Johnny Griffith, one of Angels of Mercy’s producer, obtained a budget and were able to shoot the film.
“We didn’t make this film because we thought it would be easy. We made it because it needed to be done.” - Owen Kent, Co-writer and Lead Actor of Angels of Mercy.
Although the film is shot, it is not complete. Andrew, Owen, and Johnny have set up an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the postproduction of Angels of Mercy (https://tinyurl.com/AoMPostPro). Almost like a championship sports team, the trio of filmmakers have
adopted the motto, “Just find a way to get it done,” and that’s what they’ll have to do to have a finished product for the anticipated completion date this fall.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj8N6ty-lgM
Indiegogo: https://tinyurl.com/AoMPostPro
Twitter: @AngelsxOfxMercy
Instagram: @angelsofmercyfilm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/angelsxofxmercy/"
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Mister Stitches in Production: Press Release: "After six years, award-nominated makeup artist and filmmaker Michael Smith is in production on his SAG/AFTRA short film, Mister Stitches.
A supernatural thriller set in 1938, Stitches details the grisly events following a botched bank robbery and an attempt by the robbers to use a secluded farm as a hideout while on the lam.
Stitches is a unique morality tale and period thriller that's set far enough in the past to be the stuff of folklore but you can visit the location and still feel the terror from that night eighty years ago.
Smith raised a few hundred dollars with a crowdfunding campaign in 2013 with which he produced a promotional trailer to pitch to potential investors and gain a fan base.
Bringing Stitches to life has been a goal for Smith since he first conceptualized the story in 2009. Smith says "As I explored remains of houses reclaimed by the dense forests of rural southeast Ohio, I wondered what tales these places could tell of joys and tragedies experienced by an average family long since passed on, what if something extraordinarily awful happened there that has been lost to time? There's something here that would lend itself to a unique story and the gravestones in forgotten family cemeteries tell no tales, so I will".
In 2015, Smith launched the website: www.misterstitchesmovie.com to showcase photos and videos of the production as well as talent bios.
The story has piqued the interest of local professional stage and film actors, including some who've worked in Hollywood. Smith says "Central Ohio has some fantastic talent and some of the film’s original cast are slated to reprise their roles from the 2013 trailer shoot which I'm especially happy about".
Some notables attached to the project include, SAG/AFTRA actor Ralph Scott returning as gang leader Hank Smith. Scott is an active member of the Columbus independent movie scene and professional stage actor with CATCO and others. His acting encompasses both stage and screen. He can been seen in the films “God Don't Make The Laws” with Paul Sorvino, “Recoil,” and multi-award winning “Oracabessa” as well as national and regional advertisements. Additionally, SAG/AFTRA actor Todd Covert returns to play 'handsome' Jack Castille, one of the gangsters. Beth Josephsen-Simon, a fantastic actress who's appeared on stage in the U.K as well as in the States is playing the farmer's wife.
A local vintage car club to has agreed to be 'traffic' in an exterior scene to be filmed in West Virginia which Michael is most excited about since finding cars of that period is far more difficult than finding authentic locations in the historic villages of southern Ohio.
The $4,000 budget for the approximately thirty minute short goes toward paying SAG/AFTRA talent, period wardrobe, authentic props, special effects, ost-production and distribution costs.
To learn more about the film, visit the Mister Stitches website at: www.misterstitchesmovie.com or https://www.facebook.com/misterstitchesfilm."
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Bodacious Creed and the Frisco Syndicate Kickstarter Campaign: From author Jonathan Fesmire: "Hello everyone! My name is Jonathan Fesmire. I'm a full-time writer and proud steampunk.
Last year, I published my novel, Bodacious Creed: a Steampunk Zombie Western which started out as a Kickstarter. It more than met my funding goal and gave backers the opportunity to help create characters that shaped the story. Readers love the novel, which has more than 50 reviews, all four and five stars, and is selling well.
Yes, Kickstarter is a great place to help fund novels!
Now, I'm working on the sequel, Bodacious Creed and the Frisco Syndicate. This Kickstarter will help fund it, allowing me to pay for professional editing, cover art, and a portion of my reader's fee for the Audible edition.
Like its predecessor, Bodacious Creed and the Frisco Syndicate will be full of steampunk technology, gunfights, mystery, and well-rounded characters. These include the hero, the resurrected U.S. Marshal, James Creed, and the brothel madam and inventor, Anna Lynn Boyd. It will also include a full cast of supporting characters.
While the first novel took place in an alternate version of my home town of Santa Cruz, California, in 1876, the second will happen mostly in San Francisco.
What was San Francisco like at the time? Wild, rowdy, and dangerous. I've been doing extensive research on the city and its most notorious criminal district, The Barbary Coast, where much of the tale will take place. In addition to historical crime, add a syndicate raising the dead with steam-based technology, and we have a formula for the sort of danger Creed was born to confront. His greatest challenges lie ahead.
Check out the video and any updates. Once we reach the goal, I'll add stretch goals. Also, have a look at the rewards and become a backer! Everyone backer gets something. Even at $1, you will get a large, high quality jpeg of the wrap-around trade paperback cover. I invite you to become part of James "Bodacious" Creed's next adventure!"
Visit Kickstarter to learn more, and visit Fesmire's official website for additional details on his work.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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