MONSTER MASH
Local filmmakers team up to produce zombie flick in Bay City area
INTERIOR OF A SHED - DAYBlackness is accompanied by the sounds of rattling chains and banging on wood. For a long moment, this is all we hear until the fall ofapproaching footsteps. They stop and we hear sliding metal on metalfollowed by the creak of a wooden door and a slowly growing sliver of light.
The door only opens wide and long enough for a dog bowl filled with amass of red pulp to be pushed through.
We hear grunting, as if something is straining toreach the food, thenthe scraping of the bowl on concrete..
After a moment, the disgusting sounds of something devouring the bowl's contents permeate the shed. Then we hear the bowl slam against the door and hit the ground. The something begins to wail - we assume for more food - and the door opens and a hand yanks the bowl out before slamming it shut again.
In the darkness, the wailing continues as we hear several bars and locks slide into place…
That's just the beginning of a new horror movie called "Locked Away"that will soon begin production in the Tri-City area.
Written by Bay City resident Jason Morisette, Locked Away is atraditional zombie movie filled with plenty of blood and guts and death and destruction. It tells the story of a young soldier who returns from Iraq to a loving mother, an overbearing father, an excitable brother, a long-time friend, an old teacher … and a hordeof flesh-hungry living dead!
The group of survivors must rally together amidst the rotting threat and come face-to-face with their own past.
Filming is scheduled to begin in July and the movie will be released on DVD sometime next year. Morisette is the film's director; Tim Rooney of Saginaw is the producer.
Casting for the movie's 10 male roles, three female roles and dozens of zombies takes place from 6-10 p.m. June 18 and noon to 4 p.m. June 19 at the State Theatre, 913 Washington Ave., in downtown Bay City. Anaudition packet is available at the film's Web site, webpages.charter.net/sayhello. |
 Jason Morisette
 Tim Rooney |
"We're looking for anyone interested in working in a movie," said RobClark, the movie's casting director. "We'll look at everyone fromveteran actors to first-timers. We need a large cast to fill a varietyof roles."
Morisette and Rooney are hopeful that the movie will turn into a cult classic.
"A lot of directors start off with cult films," said Rooney. "PeterJackson (director for 'Lord of the Rings') did movies that were shot on weekends.That's how he got started."
Added Morisette: "Obviously, we don't have the marketing to make 'Lordof the Rings.' We'll have to see what happens. I'd love to see it become a cult film and become popular."
Morisette and Rooney have already teamed up to make one movie, a shortfilm called "The Watching." The 30-minute horror film was shot atMorisette's home and will be distributed as part of a set with Locked Away.
With a $15,000 budget, all of the shooting for Locked Away will be done on weekends with filming scheduled to wrap up in November. It will be a full-length feature.
Morisette and Rooney are also looking for companies interested inproduct placement in the movie. For $500 on up, characters can be using or consuming local products - such as drinking soda or eating potato chips - in the movie.
For more information about the movie, auditions or product placementopportunities, call Morisette at (989) 992-3105.
Stephen Kent
|
|
Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations.
More from Stephen Kent
|
Send This Story to a Friend!
Letter to the editor
Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View
--- Advertisments ---