Witch Bottle by Justin Demeere

[Nitsuj]

Fill and bury to trap your worry.
If found and open the spell will be broken.
Now the Ryjhin will come through hell’s portal,
Possessing your flesh and becoming immortal.
If this evil should escape, only a hag can undo your fate.



Two couples go to an abandoned house for a weekend only to find a witch bottle that contains evil possessions.

Burning Crow Pictures Presents

"Witch Bottle"

Written, Directed, and Produced
by
Justin Demeere


View poster and video HERE!

[Nitsuj]

My first DVXFest entry

written, directed, produced, and edited
JUSTIN DEMEERE

cast
MIDORI MCPHETRIDGE ...... Laurie
BOW MORTON ................... Max
KAREN HON ...................... Deborah
KEVIN WOODS .................. Tommy

voice of Laurie's possessions
KAREN HON

voice of Tommy's possessions, witch, and narrator
JUSTIN DEMEERE

make-up effects
KAREN HON
JUSTIN DEMEERE

music, sound design, and foley
JUSTIN DEMEERE

special thanks
to the cast for being the crew at times of need
my Fiance, Karen, for making it possible
my Brother for helping with the poster
my Mother for babysitting our Daughter Amia

[Nitsuj]

PRODUCTION

Budget
1 Utilitech fluorescent work light 65k- $30
5 fluorescent bulbs 100w equivalent 65k - $10
1 fluorescent blue party light $5
1 fluorescent red party light $5
1 box of gelatin $5
1 undead make-up wheel $6
2 plastic knifes 2x $3 = $6
1 bag of paper mache $7
1 package of Amaco WireForm $6
2 sets of ghoul teeth - 2 x $2 = $4

Total on screen = $84

Food
1st day of shooting - Pizza dinner $25
2nd day of shooting - BBQ and drinks $50
3rd day of shooting - Mexican $20 and Beer $25

Total off screen = $120

Total on and off screen = $204

Principal - 09/20/2009
Deadline - 10/15/2009

09/07/2009 - Screenplay finished
09/08/2009 - Witch Bottle prop was started
09/10/2009 - Witch Bottle prop cured, painted, and finished
09/12/2009 - Photography session for poster completed (Remi Demeere modeled for the shot)
09/13/2009 - Poster completed
09/14/2009 - Location secured
09/14/2009 - Lighting equipment secured and tested
09/14/2009 - Special Effects Makeup acquired
09/15/2009 - Cast secured
09/15/2009 - Special Effects Makeup prosthetics started
09/17/2009 - Bought some lighting and grip materials for the shoot
09/18/2009 - Finished up some storyboarding and SFX planning
09/19/2009 - Rehearsal with all the actors
09/20/2009 - Principal, had a 6 hour window for the location which was not enough time
09/21/2009 - Rough cut okay considering the time frame I had. Made notes of shots to reshoot and missing shots.
09/23/2009 - Caught the Flu had to push back second day of principal to October 4th
09/30/2009 - Over Flu so I can get back to work verified Sunday Oct 4th still good
10/03/2009 - Night shot test with lights and smoke machine
10/04/2009 - 2nd day of principal - RAIN! Still got some shots in
10/05/2009 - Got a Yamaha keyboard to do soundtracks with. Only have it for 3 days must finish all music within that time. Created a song.
10/05/2009 - Rewrote the ending.
10/06/2009 - I created 3 more songs today.
10/06/2009 - Had to reschedule the opening scene. Running out of time quick... must get that shot this week.
10/07/2009 - Worked on score.
10/07/2009 - Shoot went perfect. Weather was in my favor and the cast was in great spirit. Brought beer this time so they could have fun while I set up lights. ;)
10/08/2009 - Worked on rough edit.
10/09/2009 - Captured some audio clips from actors for dubbing and worked on editing.
10/10/2009 - Editing video.
10/11/2009 - Editing and captured some Foley.
10/12/2009 - Shot some video of one of the actresses who also is my fiance. I set a time for her outside the main shoot since it is only her in the shots. Did another greenscreen shot along with some other effects shots.
10/13/2009 - Worked on Foley. Finished rough edit. Sound design and editing has been the game of the day. Did another missing shot of an open grave site in the RAIN!
10/14/2009 - Foley, sound design, and sound editing for the day. I did the audio for the possessed today. My throat is raspy now.
10/15/2009 - Editing sound most of the day. At around 7pm Bow Morton called and asked about the intro. I explained that I wasn't going to be able to do it because of time and I won't have time to edit in since I'm already at 6 minutes. He said "It must be in, I'm coming over and helping to do it." So he showed up with a prop and some dry ice. I searched in a storage room for more props. We laid them out and I lit it in about 20 minutes. All together it was shot in about 45 minutes and it looks great. It does complete the film. Unfortunately it will not be in the dvxuser version but it is in the complete version. That's a wrap!
10/16/2009 - Recorded the narration for the intro shot last night and finished editing the intro. Completed the sound editing, titling, and credits. I completed the film at around 7pm and went out with Bow to celebrate. After 5 days of editing til 4am (last night 5am) I am going to rest this weekend.

[Nitsuj]

Images



















Witch Bottle being made in the oven.


This is the intro screen grab but I know I am not going to be able to fit it into the dvxuser version of the film due to 6min time restriction. It makes for a better film but I think the story can still hold itself up without it.


Green Screen for a shot in the film. It is poster board that cost $0.65 a sheet. Worked great.


For another shot. Took an hour to get this lit for such a small segment in the film. There is a fog machine and fan behind the camera too.


Editing the sound for this. It went 22 tracks deep. Weeeeee!


Cast goofing off after a night of shooting.


BEFORE - Me right before I turn myself into a witch.


AFTER

[Nitsuj]

Started the makeup prosthetics today. Usually you would take a lifecast of each actor and make a bust out of plaster to sculpt on. On a budget this will work just fine. A styrofoam bust is used and clay is then sculpted to my liking. I'm just applying the clay here and am in the process of the sculpting.

[ZazaCast]

Wait...which bottle? I'm confused...

Welcome to the fest, looks like a great concept for a film. Looking forward to it.

[Nitsuj]

Originally Posted by ZazaCast

Wait...which bottle? I'm confused...

Welcome to the fest, looks like a great concept for a film. Looking forward to it.

Ah yes a witch bottle is a device of witchcraft. Here is a snippet from wikipedia - "The witch bottle is a very old spell device. Its purpose is to draw in and trap evil and negative energy directed at its owner." "Historically and currently, the bottle is then buried at the farthest corner of the property, beneath the house hearth, or placed in an inconspicuous spot in the house.""The Witch-bottle was believed to be active as long as the bottle remained hidden and unbroken."

My story begins when somebody opens it and releases these evil entities of horror.

Thanks for the welcome!

[ZazaCast]

Oh... so it was YOU who released my Ex-Wife!!!!

[Nitsuj]

Is she a possessed horror hag from the deep? Then you are probably right. My ex was released as well. I had to exorcise her. ;)

[Sarah Daly]

What's with all this talk of ex-wives? Are they really so monstrous?!

Loving this idea dude - best of luck with it!