Windatt, along with long-time co-conspirator James Bialkowski, co-founded the event under the Grimbrothers name. Entering its third year, Shock Stock—held at Centennial Hall in London—is fast becoming an April ritual  for film fans far and wide. The reasons for this are simple—stocked vendors, cool films, and a stellar line up of celebrity guests.  And with “Canada’s Filthiest Horror Convention!” as their  tagline, you know it’s going to be good.

While ideas percolated for the inaugural Shock Stock, the Grimbrothers thought to separate themselves from other conventions. Windatt explains how they wanted “more of a community atmosphere. Somewhere you can go and feel like you belong, and you can stay for the weekend and have fun.”

Wanting to foster a more communal vibe for the event came about from years of hosting screenings at various conventions in the States and “the big one in Toronto,” Windatt explains.

“We want people to enjoy the atmosphere and socialize,” he emphasizes. “We want the guests to feel like they connect with their fans. And we want the vendors to feel like they’re part of the show too.”

Shock Stock vendors definitely add to the appeal. Browse the tables and you’ll find rare VHS tapes, obscure DVD releases, and more posters and movie memorabilia than your rock and roll van could ever hold. If you’ve been dying to cross an elusive title off your must-see list, these are the people to see.

“We want to go after the people who have and share a passion for these films,” Windatt says, referring to his prime motivation for focusing mainly on horror and exploitation cinema. As for improving on an already incredible event, Windatt has a sure-fire way to do so—”focus on the fans, listen to the fans.”

It’s good to know someone is listening.

There are too many events and cool things occurring at Shock Stock to list them all here. In brief, the event is held at Centennial Hall in London, Ontario, on April 12-14. Passes are still available, and you can purchase in advance or at the event.

Visit the Shock Stock website for all the gory details. Check the guest list. Once you find out who’s rolling into London town, the hounds of hell won’t be able to keep you away.

And as every Tri-City Film article exists to promote local filmmakers, rest assured that we’ll be well represented at Shock Stock. Kitchener filmmakers Torin Langen and Zach Ramelan will be there, and Reese Eveneshen, Gabriel Carrer, and Chad Archibald will remind all  the people how Guelph throws down the terror.

See you there!

~ David Briggs

All of the details (and much more!) can be found on his blog at:

http://www.scottclevely.com/

Or to save time, I’ve posted the original posting below. Let the film magic begin!

FILM CREW NEEDED!

Just as important as finding the right actors to make our short film we need to find the right film crew.  We’re looking for a few good people from Waterloo Region and Guelph to play some key roles in helping us carry out the vision of our script.

ARE THEY PAID POSITIONS?

I firmly believe in paying artists and technicians for their time.  We will be raising funds through crowd source funding and we have an application in for an arts grant and it’s from these funds that we will be paying honorariums.  We just won’t know how much we have until the fundraising is complete.

WHEN’S THE SHOOT?

It’ll be a three day shoot this summer.  We’re still trying to lock down the production dates.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Storyboard Artist

To draw storyboards and help communicate my camera shot sequences, especially the action scenes, to the film crew and the visual effects supervisors.

Gaffer

Who will help Erik O’Neill, our Director of Photography, execute his lighting plan during production.

Key Grip

Also to help Erik O’Neill and the Gaffer diffuse and cut the light as well us move the camera dolly and help with the camera crane.

Sound Mixer

Need a good audio engineer that records the production sound on set at the time of shooting.  We have they gear, just need a good experienced sound mixer.

Production Designer

An artist who would be responsible for designing the overall visual appearance of our short film from wardrobe to set design.  (This is a cool job for sure and I look forward to working with a production designer on this film.)

Set Designer

A person responsible for translating the production designer’s vision of the movie’s environment into a set which can be used for filming.  There are a couple sets that need to be built, including a cliff face which will likely be made out of 2 x 4’s and a treatment to make it look like rock.  This set designer needs to be handy and creative with some experience with set design.

Costume Designer

A person who’ll help choose and designs the costumes for our film.

Hair Stylist

A person responsible for maintaining our actors’ hairstyles during filming.

Stunt Co-ordinator

The person who arranges and plans stunts with a focus on safety.  There is a fight scene between two actors, another scene where an actor will be in a harness so he floats and a fall onto a crash mat.

Script Supervisor

This person will tracks which parts have been filmed, how the filmed scenes deviated from the script; they also make continuity notes, creating a lined script.  Some filmmaker experience is needed here as it’s a critical position.

Productions Assistants

We also we have some unpaid production assistants and for these positions no experience is required.  Just a willingness to learn.

IF NOT YOU… DO YOU KNOW ANYONE?

Maybe you’re not interested or don’t have the skills but know someone who does.  Please share this page with them by clicking one of the share buttons below.

Ready to be part of our film production team?

Please leave a comment in the box below or contact me.

About the play: 1917. The Western Front. New recruit Billy Haven arrives eager to kill his first Hun. Instead, he’s ordered to put on a dress and sing. Suddenly one of the Maple Leaves, a group of men who perform for the troops to boost morale, Billy must determine where his duty truly lies.

We’ll be casting five males aged 18-40.

​Performance dates: Wednesday, May 15 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 18 at 12:00 p.m.

Rehearsal dates: Dates to be determined (mid-April to mid-May)

Auditions will be held on Friday, March 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Dancemakers (Studio 314, Case Goods Building, Distillery).

For more information, find all the details here: http://www.stillwaters-productions.com/#%21auditions/c1nme

Cambridge, Ontario   Monday March 11, 2013 – The Grand River Film Festival and the Multicultural Cinema Club today announced details of a multi-faceted partnership which will make it easier for local filmmakers to submit their movies to GRFF and LFFF (Local Focus Film Festival – a project of the Multicultural Cinema Club at The Working Centre).

The partnership will allow local filmmakers to make a single submission for both festivals via Withoutabox for one fee.  Both festivals will take place this year in October/November.

In addition both GRFF and MCC will collaborate on a newly-launched film-making workshop series which will offer workshops and lectures for filmmakers during GRFF and LFFF 2013.

Speaking for GRFF Executive Director Tamara Louks said “this partnership strengthens both organizations’ focus on supporting the burgeoning local film industry. GRFF has, since its inception recognized its responsibility to provide both support and a forum for the discussion of filmmaking.  Providing these services to local filmmakers will make it easier for their work to reach a commercial market”.

Duncan Finnigan Producer at MCC added “we believe that the work of local filmmakers will be made easier by this collaboration with GRFF. We both share a passion for filmmaking in general and the local community in particular.  Our mandate to support the local industry will be enhanced by this agreement with GRFF”.

Launched in 2007, the Grand River Film Festival (GRFF), a non-profit organization, serves the Waterloo Region community by offering an annual Festival and Short Film program in which Canadian and international films are screened at venues throughout the Region.

The Local Focus Film Festival has been a showcase and discussion forum for recent films, video and new media works created by media arts practitioners based in Waterloo Region and adjacent areas since it was founded in 2008.

Multicultural Cinema Club, a Community Tools project of The Working Centre, was established in 2006 to create a culture of cinema within Waterloo Region by screening films, hosting discussions, creating artistic work and encouraging film-making in and with our community. The mandate of MCC is to provide access to affordable production and post-production facilities, training, and equipment to media creators
with a diverse cultural and economic background.

We’re shooting in April, over the weekend of the 19-21. Most of the shoot will occur on the Saturday. Now this is how to spend a weekend…in cinematic style!

Here’s the link to the casting call, we hope to hear from you soon!

http://www.distantfieldproductions.com/casting-call.html

After all, we indie film folk have to stay together!

Here’s the link: http://www.scottclevely.com/2013/03/

Happy Reading!

Rosco Films has been selected to produce a 4-part video series on Faith and Finances. Each episode will be about 8-10 minutes long.

The series revolves around a Radio Talk Show DJ (Male or Female), the shows Producer/Engineer (Male or Female) and their On-Location Field Reporter (Male or Female). Each episode will feature an in-studio guest and several on-location street interviews. Think a purposely bad version of NPR or CBC radio, also see:http://youtu.be/0ptQY6tkVGo

Rosco’s approach to story development involves input and brainstorming with each actor to further develop, and bring real authentic life to their character. This is why each role has not been defined by gender or ethnicity.

• Age 35 to 60
• Improvisational Acting
• Comedic Timing
• Work history – At least 1 other tv/film/short film credit in a lead or supporting role.
• Personality – We are looking for all kinds of different personalities that could exist within our fictional radio program.

Please email an up-to-date headshot and resume to: casting@roscofilms.com. Successful round one applicants will be invited to submit further information.

• Radio Talk Show Host
• Producer/Engineer
• On-Location Field Reporter

http://www.roscofilms.com/index.php/about-rosco-films

Financing is limited, but she is looking for a producer who can help write a KW Arts Grant, an experienced cinematographer who can shoot on a Red camera or an HD camera from the KW/Guelph area, lighting and sound technicians, and at some point, will do an open audition for actors.

She will most likely be looking for in-kind help for craft services, costume, location, oh and lots of animal wrangling! But if I get a grant everyone gets paid! (except PAs) and me.

“A Feral Tale” will  shoot in the Waterloo/Wellington area.

For more information, and to apply, contact Mary Cross at maryinparis@hotmail.com

Mike explained that everything came along smoothly during the production of Beneath. As smoothly as an indie film can go, that is. He laid the groundwork in May 2012 by creating a trailer to promote a sixty-day Indiegogo campaign.

His experience reinforced that raising funds remains the most difficult part of filmmaking. “It’s a great platform,” he says, referring to Indiegogo–the crowd funding  machine that can make an indie artist’s dreams come true. However, even the greatest dreams must succumb to reality’s pull.

The funding was “really difficult to get ,” admits Mike, acknowledging that  “you have to learn quickly, it has to be your life while the campaign is running.”  Mike deluged Twitter and Facebook with news of this great film in the making. Word spread wide that Beneath was ready to go with a little help from your funds.

You have to “keep at them,” Mike explained. “Fight and claw to get your funding,” he reminds us, for although sites like Indiegogo offer the platform, it still falls on the filmmaker to open eyes and wallets for the cause.

His persistence paid off. Before the funding door closed, all money was raised.  After a slow and anxiety inducing start to the campaign, a wealthy arts patron from Georgia (U.S.A.–A.O.K!) created fiscal momentum with a generous donation.

With some cash in his pockets, McMurran geared up Reel Phobia Productions and rolled camera in September. When it comes to horror, Mike acknowledges that “everything has really been done, and some things have been done to death.”  With Beneath, he wanted to create something unique that would manage to elicit scares from the crowds.

A lifelong horror fan himself (he shot a version of Dracula when he was six) McMurran believes “it’s the best genre to work in because you can get so creative.”  His previous work testifies to this philosophy. The Everwood Massacre, The Night Shift, and Demon Bitch–which was screened at Guelph’s Sharp Cuts Festival and the Toronto Independent Film Festival–strive to induce screams from the screen.  These titles can be viewed on McMurran’s YouTube channel.

Beneath carries on the tradition, although he admits that this one is technically superior to his first Everwood Massacre. Chalk it up to the value of experience, and of course, some financing always adds to the production value.

Starring the stunningly beautiful Annette Wozniak as Amy, Beneath details the terror of a home invasion. Tension builds as Amy is left with no option but to hide from her assailants under her bed,  and her once happy home morphs into a nightmare scenario of entrapment.

Obviously, having  so many scenes taking place under a bed posed some unique challenges. “I’m thankful that I’m not a claustrophobic person by nature,” jokes Annette. “With Beneath there was such a minimal space to perform in at times. I guess that little space heightened the anxiety and panic in my character, which worked to my advantage–small space, high stakes in the story.”

This small space, high stakes mentality that Annette describes was just what McMurran was aiming for. A Ti West fan, whose films The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers  garner praise for a slow but intense ratcheting tension, McMurran “wanted to do something like that, but wanted to do it in a very claustrophobic environment.”

With Beneath almost complete,  McMurran plans to produce more horror films in the near future.  ”It’s what I’m focusing on,” he explains. “I just really love the horror genre.” It’s clear that McMurran’s commitment to the genre, and indie-filmmaking, runs deep, and we can rest assured that more horrific offerings wait to emerge from beneath.

~ David Briggs

Be sure to check out the trailer for Beneath…follow this link!

Most independent films are made on more love than money – but some funding is still necessary. This workshop will talk about regional, provincial, federal and private funding available for emerging independent filmmakers. The workshop will consider each kind of application  in detail, from eligibility to budget to support material, and talk about the selection process.  In the hands-on part of the workshop participants will start drafting an application for their own project, and will receive practical pointers on how to make their applications better.
Grant Writing for Film-Related Projects Saturday Feb 9 10 am to noon at the MCC Studio above the Queen Street Commons Café. Free for members; $20 for non-members.

~Thanks to the MCC for supplying this copy!