Here is an excellent audio review of the sensational (too much?) Root Rot of The Witch’s Hat Blog who was kind enough (more like awesome) to submit this review for the ReelyBored Blog.
If you haven’t seen The Exorcist (really?), be forewarned that there be some spoilers in this review but nothing that will ruin the overall feel of the movie. Hope you all enjoy and thanks again, Root Rot for the review!
Secretly, I’ve considered myself an independent filmmaker for a very long time. Now, when I say a long time I mean ever since I was about nine years old and I picked up my dad’s Minolta VHS camcorder, which I now call ‘Megladon’! Why? Well, for no other reason other than it was a huge piece of machinery. Despite the massive size and having no preconceptions of what the future had in store for us in terms of technology, the VHS camcorder was one of the cooler things one had the pleasure of saying they owned in the summer of 1989. Of course, it was already four years old being that my dad purchased it in 1985 but still cool nonetheless.
It was because of ‘Megladon’ where an epiphany was realized in my fragile little mind. I can make movies, I thought. I mean, how hard can it be; naivety at its best. My idea of making a movie was simply point, shoot, action, record, oh and, of course, cut! Being nine years old, the world was my playing field and I had no choice but to make due with the tools that were accessible to me.
Camera?… Check!
Friends and family? (ie, actors)…Check!
Done! That was all I needed as far as production was concerned. Post production? No problem as it did not exist! All editing was done in camera. If someone looked at the camera or laughed all I did was hit stop, rewind and record over the blundered scene. Just like that, Presto! Instant editing. What about music? Nothing a tape recorder couldn’t fix while we filmed. Before I knew it, I was directing my first short film. Using a very cheap, hairless Rubies Michael Myers mask (long gone in latex heaven), I filmed the 10 minute, pre-teen version of Halloween! Was it any good? In nine-year old world, yes it was!
Of course, it wasn’t until I got older that I came to realize that I wasn’t an independent filmmaker but, rather, an amateur with a really cool hobby. I was bummed! Being a fan of John Carpenter’s Halloween, I was utterly surprised that it was an independent horror movie with a budget of about $320,000. In terms of movies these days, that money is what most would deem as chump change. Still, being a young buck without a clue, I was under the impression that Independent Film was made, literally, for pennies and that friends and family all chipped in to lend a hand at making someone’s dreams come true. Oh, how wrong I was!
According to Wikipedia, the definition of an Independent Film is as follows:
An independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced mostly outside of a major film studio. The term also refers to art films which differ markedly from most mass marketed films. In addition to being produced by independent production companies, independent films are often produced and/or distributed by subsidiaries of major studios. In order to be considered independent, less than half of a film’s financing should come from a major studio. Independent films are sometimes distinguishable by their content and style and the way in which the filmmakers’ personal artistic vision is realized. Usually, but not always, independent films are made with considerably lower budgets than major studio films. Generally, the marketing of independent films is characterized by limited release designed to build word-of-mouth or to reach small specialty audiences.
Hmmm, OK. So I was way off! Or was I? I never knew there were so many rules to being “independent”! Let’s dissect some of the more important things about this definition.
“a film that is produced mostly outside of a major film studio”
OK, check! I am not remotely close to the Hollywood system, therefore, I am independent of said system.
“In order to be considered independent, less than half of a film’s financing should come from a major studio.”
Again, I have no affiliations with any major studios so I am not only receiving less than a movies finance from a major studio but I am, in fact, receiving nothing, nada, zip, zilch! Check! Independent all the way!
“Usually, but not always, independent films are made with considerably lower budgets than major studio films.”
In my case, this is always! I never have the budget to make a “big budget” film and have held on to that old belief of “work with what you got!” Check!
Net-picking a couple of lines here and there would point towards my being an independent filmmaker! Another aspect of my “independence” lays within the marketing realm. I don’t have commercials that air on national television, trailers screened prior to the next block/lack luster film or movie posters that can adorn your wall (my wall 9 times out of 10). All I have is my NOT-SO TRUSTY PC to help spread the word, oh and Facebook and Twitter, of course.
Once upon a time, I viewed the process of filmmaking from a whole different perspective; mainly because the Hollywood blockbuster ruled my world. I’ve seen picture like Halloween before when I was a young tyke (is that even a word) but never did I comprehend the term ‘budget’. It was a film that looked as if it could’ve been made for a meesly couple of hundred dollars. What? Come again? We have to pay a crew? I thought they were just friends and family! Again, I was young and naive and didn’t know any better.
Still, now as a grown adult (some may beg to differ) I have learned to appreciate what being a filmmaker is. Get out there and tell a story and that old philosophy I grew up with, “work with what you’ve got” has stuck with me. Although I am not one to probably be ever recognized for my work, I do one of the things I enjoy the most and that’s making films (albeit, short).
So, now that I’m older I have the same bag of goodies as when I had a kid:
Camera – Check!
Friends and Family – Check!
Tripod – Check!
Plus a plethora of other goodies that make it easier to make said film (i.e. a PC with editing software). But, do I still think the same way I did when I was in grade school with dreams of Hollywood and fame? Not at all, making film is simply a passion but no longer a priority. Of course I still love the art but I also like to make money!
“Midnight Son” is a gritty, realistic new look at the vampire genre! Eduardo Sanchez of The Blair Witch Project fame is on board as executive producer!
Check out trailer below and visit the Official Website for Midnight Son for more information. You can also “friend” them on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest news and happenings in regards to the films’ progress!
Synopsis: MIDNIGHT SON is the story of Jacob, a young man confined to a life of isolation, due to a rare skin disorder that prevents him from being exposed to sunlight. His world opens up when he meets Mary, a local bartender, and falls in love. Tragically, Jacob’s actions become increasingly bizarre as he struggles to cope with the effects of his worsening condition. Forced by the disease to drink human blood for sustenance, he must control his increasingly violent tendencies as local law enforcement narrow their focus on him as a suspect in a series of grisly murders.
C’mon, I know many of you remember this one. Truly these were Tales from the Darkside and I remember them being genuinely scary, especially with an intro like the one below that was already setting the mood for the tale to come. Unfortunately, I was able to watch a few episodes recently and let’s just say that sometimes it’s better to remember them than to revisit. Favorite episode by far as I still remember it to this day was an episode called Trick or Treat.
Browsing the web for good examples of dark photography, I stumbled upon photographer Amanda Norman, who is based out of the UK. Starting out as an amateur photographer, Amanda has taken her love for photography and blossomed it into a major talent who, I believe, is only getting started with her craft.
I found myself immersed in her photos as they capture the essence of both dark and Gothic and was compelled to reach out and talk to her. And so, I did.
To my surprise, she responded and a conversation ensued. I got to know her a little and thought it would be a good idea for others to get to know her as well as to help spread her fantastic work. Hence, this interview was conducted.
ReelyBored: When did you decide to become a photographer?
Amanda Norman: I’ve never made a conscious decision to become a photographer.
I just started taking photographs. At first they were snap shots and that’s when I decided that I wanted to capture the atmosphere and emotion of my subjects, which isn’t that easy to do. I’m still learning, but I’ve always had a creative mind.
ReelyBored: Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW!?
Amanda Norman: This is a hard question.
Like I said in my previous answer, my first shots were just snaps and I wasn’t happy with the photos I took of an angel in the local cemetery as it didn’t have no atmosphere about it. I wanted to portray the eerie feeling I sensed when walking past these life sized statues. Remember the scene in Interview with the Vampire when the eyes of that statue follow Louis? This is the feeling I get and the first photograph of an angel that made me go WOW is this one due to the dark shape against a brooding sky.
ReelyBored: Define the word “beauty”!
Amanda Norman: You like asking hard questions don’t you?
I find beauty in objects or places that inspire my creativity. It’s usually something that has taken many hours or years to have been created.
ReelyBored: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
Amanda Norman: I wouldn’t say that my personality changes other than I possibly become a loner as I don’t have anyone in my personal life who understands my passion for creating Gothic or horror photography.
ReelyBored: What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
Amanda Norman: The first image that had me awe struck was Salvador Dali’s ‘Spain’. On first impression, it looks like a battle scene in a desert, but when viewed carefully, you can clearly see a woman known as ‘Mother Spain’ leaning on a chest of draws. This painting tells a story about the Spanish Civil War. Other images of Dali’s that excite me are ‘Swans Reflecting Elephants’ and ‘The Face of War’ as I find that particular one creepy.
I believe that Salvador Dali taught me that every picture should have a meaning to it. You need to draw the viewer in and let their imagination take over. If someone just glances at a photo, what’s the point in taking it to present to the world?
ReelyBored: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
Amanda Norman: Favourite subjects to photograph are usually old and eerie. I like taking photographs of Gothic architecture especially if it’s in a decayed state as I find it a shame and a challenge to portray the beauty it once held.
St Luke’s
I also like taking photographs of gargoyles and grotesques as there can be some hideous faces. These are hard to photograph as they’re usually high on a building.
I also like taking photographs of cemetery angels and other monuments and my favourite subject to photograph are people for my dark portrait collection.
My dark portrait collection started quite accidentally when I took a photograph of my ‘Uncle Terry’. He likes to pull creepy faces.
Uncle Terry
ReelyBored: Why horror photography?
Amanda Norman: Well it’s the old Gothic horror films that inspire my photography. Back in the days before CGI, directors relied on music and the effects of lighting to provoke the intensity to scare the audience. My best example is the hideous shadow of Nosferatu climbing the stairs as everyone must have seen this. It’s so iconic!
ReelyBored: Do you sometimes freak yourself out while on a shoot?
Amanda Norman: There was only one occasion that freaked me out and it was within the local cemetery. I was alone and had the strong impression that I was being watched. I scanned the headstones and could see no one so I returned to taking photographs. All of a sudden, I got the STRONG urge to turn around quickly and I seen what I can only describe as a heat haze shimmer pass me at a very fast speed. That was freaky and I decided to call it a day and leave although I must stress that I wasn’t terrified.
ReelyBored: Tell me your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photo shoot!
Amanda Norman: I have a friend who is also called Mandy and she is a dark artist in her own right and her work can be viewed on Zazzle at http://www.zazzle.com/amandaryanstudios
She features in a lot of my dark portraits simply because she looks so evil in them. Now in real life she doesn’t look evil or bad, but once she gets in front of my lens, it’s like her true soul of a witch is revealed. Her own family excluding her husband, can’t look at the portraits and some of her friends don’t believe that it is her face.
Portraits of Mandy include:
The Hag The Witch Evil Mandy Amanda Ryan
ReelyBored: Who or what would you love to shoot that you haven’t already?
Amanda Norman: I would love to do more dark portraits especially for people who would use them to promote themselves while I gain recognition for my work. Such people can include musicians, actors, the list is endless really. I would love to photograph Marilyn Manson and Christopher Lee. That would be totally awesome!
ReelyBored: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
Amanda Norman: I don’t have a problem with digital manipulation as I use it sparingly on mainly my dark portraits. None of my subjects use makeup to create the effect, they simply pull a face and I do the rest by playing with digital effects, mainly the lighting.
ReelyBored: Any advice for aspiring photographers?
Amanda Norman: Yes! Don’t be told that you can’t do that! I was told that I shouldn’t take close up shots of faces as it’s not the ‘done’ thing. Screw normality!
If you’re creative, go out and explore your creativity and don’t be held back.
ReelyBored: Any plugs?
Amanda Norman: Of course!
Gothic & Horror Collection
My Zazzle store features my photography on products that you can add your own text to like Birthday cards, business cards, invitation cards and it also features prints and posters that are for sale.
