An eye-opening, or should I say door-opening, Q&A with the director of Never Open the Door courtesy of our very own Derek Anderson kicks off today's Horror Highlights! Also, we have trailers for both Pitchfork and Red Hollow and a call for submissions for Popcorn Fright Film Festival 2017.
Never Open the Door Q&A: Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us, Vito. When did you first come up with the idea for Never Open the Door?
Vito Trabucco: Thanks for having me. The idea first came from Chris Maltauro, my producer and co-writer, our camera operator Mike Bates, and me one night in a parking lot when we wrapped on another shoot. A few months prior I completed my first feature, Bloody Bloody Bible Camp. We were just eager to do another one.
Where did filming take place and what did that environment add aesthetically and atmospherically to your movie?
Vito Trabucco: We filmed it up in Big Bear. The environment was great. The actors seemed to really get into it when they showed up and saw the place. I thought Joe Provenzano did an awesome job filming it. Plus, with Carlos Vivas’ score, it just added an extra layer of kick-ass to it. Those two are the ones that really give the movie its feel.
What was the shooting schedule like on this film?
Vito Trabucco: Very quick. I can’t even remember exactly. It was filmed a while ago. I think five or six days. We could’ve done a lot more if we had a few more days. But you do the best you can in the time you’re given.
What types of scares can fans expect to experience while watching Never Open the Door?
Vito Trabucco: Not a lot of scares in this one. We tried to make it more suspenseful than anything else. As far as the “jump scares” go, you should be safe on this one.
When you look back at your time on set, is there a particularly funny or memorable moment that stands out?
Vito Trabucco: It went by so fast, it’s hard to think of anything in particular. Only thing that pops to mind is the scene when Jess Sonneborn gets blood on her. She wanted it off her so bad, so she suggested to us that she’d do a shower scene–this was her way of getting her character out of having blood on her. Of course I would agree to that. Unfortunately, she had to wait about six hours before we could film that scene. Sorry, Jess. It was a great shower scene, however.
Were there any films or TV series that inspired or influenced you while making Never Open the Door?
Vito Trabucco: We did this movie as an homage to Chris Maltauro’s grandfather, John Brahm. He directed many Twilight Zone and Outer Limits episodes, so those were definitely our main source of inspiration.
Is this a world you would be willing to return to in a potential sequel?
Vito Trabucco: No, it’s not that kind of movie. I think this is a one-time story. Plus, I’m not a big fan of sequels. I want to do another black-and-white one, though, that’s for sure.
With Never Open the Door now available on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD, what projects do you have on deck that you can tease?
Vito Trabucco: Next, I have a horror web series coming up that I did with Debbie Venegas, who starred in both of my features, and also a documentary I’m doing call Henchman: The Al Leong Story.
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Pitchfork Trailer and Poster Revealed: Press Release: "Glenn Douglas Packard's highly anticipated horror spectacle PITCHFORK premieres in theaters and On Demand January 13 from Uncork’d Entertainment.
Having recently shared a life-changing secret with his family, Hunter recruits his friends to come with him from New York to the farm where he grew up as he faces his parents for the first time. As the college students enjoy the fresh air of Michigan farm country, an older, more dangerous secret slowly emerges. While Hunter navigates a new place within his conservative family, a vicious creature from their past descends on the farm, putting the unsuspecting city kids in mortal danger.
Produced by Packard, Darryl F. Gariglio, and Noreen Marriott, with associate producer Shaun Cairo, and boasting a screenplay by Gariglio and Packard,PITCHFORK introduces audiences to a horrifying new movie monster.
The ensemble cast includes Daniel Wilkinson, in the title role, with Lindsey Nicole, Brian Raetz, Ryan Moore, Celina Beach, Keith Webb, Sheila Leason, Nicole Dambro, Vibhu Raghave, Rachel Carter, Andrew Dawe-Collins, Carol Ludwick, Derek Reynolds, Addisyn Wallace, and Anisbel Lopez."
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Popcorn Frights Film Festival Call for Submissions: Press Release: "Attention filmmakers! We're proud to announce that submissions are officially open for the 3rd annual Popcorn Frights Film Festival, occurring August 11-17, 2017, at the landmark O Cinema theater in Wynwood, Miami. Don't miss your chance to have your film presented at Florida's Premiere genre film festival that receives national and local media recognition, and has featured films from many of the world's most renowned filmmakers!
As we value your continued filmmaking efforts and contributions, we want to share with you a special promo code providing a discount on your film submission. From now until December 31, 2016, if you submit your film through our Film Freeway platform and enter code PFFF2017, you will receive a 20% discount!
SUBMIT YOUR FILM TODAY!
PROMO CODE: PFFF2017"
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Red Hollow New Poster: "PII Productions is pleased to announce Red Hollow is back on track for a summer '16 shoot in Rural Alberta, Canada.
After her mother falls ill, Carley returns to her hometown of Red Hollow only to uncover a sinister series of events plaguing her former friends. As time runs out and people begin disappearing, she bands together with a mysterious newcomer to uncover the hideous truth of the evil threatening to overtake the formerly idyllic small town. If they can't put a stop to it, no one will make it out of the town of Red Hollow alive.
Red Hollow stars Elm Street's Lisa Wilcox alongside Natalie Buckley, Jackie Kobsar, Red Eye's Destinie Orndoff & Boogeyman: Reincarnation's Skylar Radzion.
An Indiegogo campaign has been launched for the film: www.igg.me/at/redhollow
The film's official website is: www.redhollowfilm.com"
Tamika hails from North Beach, Maryland, a tiny town inches from the Chesapeake Bay.She knew she wanted to be an actor after reciting a soliloquy by Sojourner Truth in front of her entire fifth grade class. Since then, she's appeared in over 20 film and television projects. In addition to acting, Tamika is the Indie Spotlight manager for Daily Dead, where she brings readers news on independent horror projects every weekend.
The first horror film Tamika watched was Child's Play. Being eight years old at the time, she remembers being so scared when Chucky came to life that she projectile vomited. It's tough for her to choose only one movie as her favorite horror film, so she picked two: Nosferatu and The Stepford Wives (1975).
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