My second short movie (my first was based on my personal struggles with PTSD), this will be shot on 16mm B&W, be silent with intertitles, and is based on a stage play I wrote and directed over 21 years ago. "The Castle of Baron Finch" is an independent production that has been in the works for over three years (while I was in pre-production for my first film) and I am trying to get it out in time for 2019 when the 25th anniversary of Peter Cushing's passing and the 10th anniversary of Paul Naschy's passing occurs.
Shooting on film is expensive, but it is something I have always wanted to do and it fits the subject matter perfectly. It is inspired by silents, Universal, Hammer, and Spanish horror and will be dedicated to the memory of Peter Cushing (whose film The Evil of Frankenstein got me interested in horror) and Paul Naschy (who showed me you can be an actor, writer, and director and make the films you love).
More info can be found here: https://igg.me/at/CastleOfBaronFinch/x/15280591 (https://igg.me/at/CastleOfBaronFinch/x/15280591) and the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/CastleBaronFinch. (https://www.facebook.com/CastleBaronFinch.) Long live Gothic horror!
Some super 8 footage I shot this past summer as "2nd unit" material. I love the iron gates and fencing around the graves as it reminds me of the opening scene of "Frankenstein".
https://youtu.be/RDdr1c_usqg
Quote from: cushing on October 30, 2018, 08:17:48 AM
Some super 8 footage . . .
Man, what a creepy old graveyard! Even creepier in black and white! tynhrt
Quote from: cushing on October 30, 2018, 08:17:48 AM
Some super 8 footage I shot this past summer as "2nd unit" material. I love the iron gates and fencing around the graves as it reminds me of the opening scene of "Frankenstein".
https://youtu.be/RDdr1c_usqg
Awesome stuff! Good luck with this project. It looks like it could be very interesting. Especially seeing a movie shot in the style of the first classics.
thm
Thank you for the great comments. Shooting on film really brings out the nature of the classic look rather than digital. Here is some test footage I shot in the spring for a film grant (which I was rejected for). Quality is severely lacking in this clip due to compression; the raw does not have the artifacts.
https://youtu.be/OoaY-orqF3s
Film, especially Black and white film,has a certain moodiness that just isn't captured by digital.
CONTEST TIME!
For contributors of the crowdfunding campaign, the person who refers the most contributions (total dollars), will get a special bonus when their perk ships. If the goal is met, the winner will receive an autographed (by the cast) copy of the film poster with wonderful artwork by Ricardo Caballero AND a special lathe-cut vinyl lp of the soundtrack (only 1 will be produced). If the goal is not met, the winner will receive an autographed (by the cast) copy of the film poster.
NOTE: You must be logged into your Indiegogo account and use Indiegogo's share tools for analytics to track referral contributions.
17 days left, so ready, set, GO! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-castle-of-baron-finch-gothic-horror-short (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-castle-of-baron-finch-gothic-horror-short)
Five days left of the campaign. Currently looking grim, but the film will still be made. Just may take a little bit longer...
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-castle-of-baron-finch-gothic-horror-short (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-castle-of-baron-finch-gothic-horror-short)
(https://image.ibb.co/fEB0cA/5.png)
A surprise on Thanksgiving was to see my project on the front page of the local newspaper. I think I was more excited to see Cushing and Naschy get mentioned more than myself!
(https://image.ibb.co/fqWCCA/46514554-1889001687879839-7958154952981872640-o.jpg)
While I wait to save up my pennies to start shooting the film proper, I managed to capture footage of a full moon on 16mm this past weekend. On another note, the artist that I hired to create the poster art for the film had done a marvelous job by using the script and costume test photos of the actors.
(https://i.ibb.co/YDzvJrS/rsz-baron-finch-fb-instagram-etc.jpg)
The first bit of filming commenced this past Tuesday on location. I now await for the film to arrive to the lab, be processed, then returned to me so I can check the footage. Here are some stills from the day.
(https://i.ibb.co/FbyR3jW/DSC00017-3.png)
(https://i.ibb.co/qBdv6mj/DSC00024-2.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/BL21t29/DSC00042.jpg)
(https://i.ibb.co/Y01dwRF/56378086-332488817471168-5960021066054107136-n.jpg)
It has been some months since I provided an update. So, here is where the project stands. I purchased a small amount of film stock, makeup, and took a day off of work and drove 3 hours one way to a great location with my co-lead. After three hours of blocking and rehearsing, we shot three hundred feet of film (about 8-9 minutes). I sent the film out for processing and then had a economy (CHEAP!) scan done. I edited the shot footage to resemble something coherent and have applied for a film grant. Not getting my hopes up after being rejected last year, but I think the 16mm footage is way better than the digital test footage I shot previously. Plus, I have Norwegian composer Andreu Jacob on board to score. He did a marvelous job composing for this short bit.
Anyway, decisions for the grant won't be made until December and I have to expect the worst...that I will not be able to proceed with finishing the project. Here is an early edit of the shot footage.
https://youtu.be/qPM95ewBI0U (https://youtu.be/qPM95ewBI0U)
Wow! That music is really spooky! All synths, I'm guessing.
Quote from: Mike Scott on October 11, 2019, 09:37:07 AM
Wow! That music is really spooky! All synths, I'm guessing.
Some synth but also real string work and other instruments.
What Mike wrote. Wow!
Over two years since the test-footage was shot...four years since pre-production...This past Sunday, HALLOWEEN, the first frames from the project were officially shot. More to be done, but it felt good getting started on this. The vampire, Jay Pennington, has been busy on his own projects as well as having a role on Magnum PI.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/14946/202111/3967155_37706fc6388f0f7773eaa935528a4a6c.jpg?Expires=1636033182&Signature=Iw-n58BsUyont2~IgoFwPc3klY15MJm5fL0z0erCo7AWfdOSBD4Sb-oWmjrDR7RVcKdq0Gfla~~Fo9LUwX5GQS5Y9aLoCwKphfZHlD1dH~VIDJRlZ0Bsgi3DSiS7ZE0hCSFMRUa3Nkw45bV4M-VDtbRL0G~0LCHyabwadV2Gc-75L10di~xkczadyITkxv1N6OfcmWeYYAAtvBw6ufPZbKL5Y5~aWmp6qmTr~dNas-aHq-gQsr~J9wS9nQf5bKdelz87l1bOw3gMpa1LoREm7oI34spdeYtdt0msTTWkwH5Gpvf4LcVohdqRQxKffkryJG8fpzgtPhkcwHRUmRBpKg__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJS72YROXJYGYDADA)
October 1, 2022: The finale and select other scenes were shot after 7 months since the prior shooting day with over 700 feet of 16mm film captured. The makeup artist did an amazing job for what will amount to mere moments on screen. No pre-made prosthetics here, just the time-tested Jack Pierce method of makeup. The footage has been processed in Burbank and is currently at the scanning house getting scanned in 5K. Nerves are high waiting to see how the image looks...
Behind the scenes image taken by the make-up artist.
(https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/monsterkidclassichorrorforum/download/file.php?id=111298)
It's been some time since I've visited this board. IT issues kept me from here, but I'm back and with a status update.
On September 15 I shot what should be the final 600 feet of film which just left the processing lab and is off to be scanned. After I get the footage and finish editing, the edit will be in the hands of the composer in Norway. The end is in sight!
Quote from: cushing on September 28, 2023, 01:41:49 PM
On September 15 I shot what should be the final 600 feet of film which just left the processing lab and is off to be scanned.
You must be the only person still shooting film? :)
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 28, 2023, 02:54:44 PM
You must be the only person still shooting film? :)
The only self-funded micro budget indie short film that has taken 6 years to complete shooting on film? Probably. Most of the current film-based stuff I see now is VERY commercial which is OK for them, but not what I like.
Editing was completed last week and a low-res file sent to the composer in Norway. I had a chat with him yesterday as he wanted to discuss an idea with me; he's very excited to be working on this type of project.
(https://c1.iggcdn.com/indiegogo-media-prod-cld/image/upload/c_limit,w_695/v1699278551/b2nx7awimgb4prtxdmj3.jpg)
With the short film now completed, the composer made a mini-documentary about his process with some sneak peeks...
https://youtu.be/T2rUJirjXW4?feature=shared
Backers have received their copies of the blu ray, some also received a CD soundtrack, and I have been selling the remaining discs or film festival submission fees. Minimum order quantities for fulfilling orders for seven backers.
I've been enjoying the feedback from the people who have watched it so far.
Quotethe film is shot in B&W 16mm with a style that recalls the glory days of German expressionistic silent films of the 1920's. Plenty of atmosphere, assisted by an exceptional music score. I saw scenes straight out of the original Nosferatu, perhaps some Haxan and a moment or two of the more modern Jean Rollin vampire films. Don took a shoestring budget and has created a movie that exhibits his personal deep affection for not only silent horror but also for the films of one Paul Naschy. Don does so with reverence and care. A marvel how Don creates this vampire vs. werewolf tale with camera tricks and some damn cool exterior shots. Operating out of South Texas, with all that hot sunshine, Don manages to transport us to eastern Europe.
For anyone in Ohio, or attending the Cinema Wasteland Movie & Memorabilia Expo in April, this short will be screened at the event.
Entering four months into the festival circuit and have had some welcome recognition thus far.
Acknowledgement and awards received:
Best Director - Absurd Film Festival
Best Poster - Monza Film Fest
Best Costume Design - Athens Film Festival
Best Horror/Thriller & Official Selection - Andromeda Film Festival
Official Selection - South Italy International Film Festival
To anyone in the Ontario, Canada region...my short has been selected to play at the Bay of Blood film festival with the showing to take place the afternoon of Saturday, May 18.
https://www.bayofblood.ca/schedule
It's been almost a year since my last update. The short has had more festival screenings (a 25% festival acceptance rate) and has garnered some awards. Thus far the highlight has been being named BEST FILM at the Silence is Golden Film Festival.
I am making the short temporarily available for viewing.
https://youtu.be/-HjqPiy8CYk
Very creepy! Good score! :)
Quote from: Mike Scott on March 05, 2025, 06:58:48 PMVery creepy! Good score! :)
Thank you :) The score has received two awards as well as a few other nominations. Andreu did some amazing work!
For anyone near the Texas/Oklahoma border, the short is playing the Cowpokes Int'l Film Festival on April 25. The short is in the opening block of films just before lunch - http://www.cowpokesfilmfestival.com/
The project has received 9 nominations for 8 different awards. I'd love to go and see the films and participate in Q&A, but I'm at a conference that week and won't be able to make the 5.5 hour drive from South Texas up to Electra.
Quote from: cushing on April 11, 2025, 08:05:55 AMThe project has received 9 nominations for 8 different awards.
Cool! Congrats!