FEATURE: My Movie in Wal-Mart, RedBox, Netflix, iTunes, etc! - MADISON COUNTY

ericengland33

Active member
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OFFICIAL TRAILER!!!!



The TEASER TRAILER is now LIVE!!!!



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http://www.facebook.com/MadisonCountyFilm

http://www.madisoncountymovie.com

http://www.twitter.com/MadisonCoFilm

Hey guys! I've been a member for about 3 years now, and I've been checking out the site long before then. I've always been a fan of dropping in here and checking out the films that people are making (Especially Matt's with STRICKEN), so I thought it was finally time to put up my own.

The film I'm currently in pre-production on is called MADISON COUNTY, and it's a 70's style horror/thriller in the vein of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but with a contemporary edge. I'm only 22 years old, so I'm relatively young in the filmmaking world and I grew up on 90's slashers. In fact, SCREAM is my favorite film of all time. But while I love films like that, I realize how dated and how bad they really were. Which is why I appreciate the finer films from the 70's/80's, and try to mix in my favorite elements from the horror films of the late 90's/early 2000's.

It's been a pretty interesting road to get to where we're at with this film. I'm happy to say we are FULLY financed and we begin rolling camera in Arkansas on September 6 of this year. I'm the writer/director/producer on the film and I'm joined in the producing by two of my very best friends from film school.

The origins of Madison started when I was about 13 years old and my grandfather moved to a new house in a place that was tucked away in the mountains. I was told to be careful when venturing off into the woods because the locals in the town moved to places like the one we were in to get away from others. They wanted to be left alone. Well, being the 13 year old trouble maker I was, I was trespassing on others land and was always getting run off by people and ran into some crazy people out in the middle of nowhere. So my wild imagination began to run wild and put together this crazy story filled with mystery, murder, and conspiracy. Thus was the birth of Madison County.

So right after film school, I wrote my first feature. The financing fell through for that (story of everyone's life, right?) so I began to write Madison County to be made on a shoestring budget. I finished the first draft in January of last year. We went through nearly 5 producers on the film before finally being financed and in the position we're at today. Oddly enough, the producer with the financing was the DP of my first feature (that is in post). That feature was one that I financed myself and he was so impressed with what we had accomplished that he wanted to see what we could do with an actual budget (not that we really have much of one-- but it's massive compared to my last film).

We're knee deep in casting right now and I'm proud to say that just the other day we attached ALMOST HUMAN EFX to do the Special FX for our film!! Almost Human has credits to their name like The Crazies remake, Quarantine, Superbad, Pineapple Express, The Sarah Conner Chronicles, and many more.

Almost Human's IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/company/co0075866/

We've attached Nick Principe (Laid to Rest, Hatchet 2) to the film as well:
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We recently shot a teaser (I'll post the stills below) for the film and we hope to have it up in the next couple of weeks. I'll be traveling to Arkansas in the next few weeks to begin prep down there before the rest of the crew gets down there. Lots of work ahead, but I'm excited!
 
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Below are some pictures from the teaser shoot:

For the teaser, we came up with an idea to integrate the opening of the film with a scary scenario that fit with the tone of the film (and possibly hinted to things from a prequel). Originally, I wanted to shoot the film on Super 16mm. I'm a fan of the look and feel of film, but at the end of the day-- my producer just wouldn't let me do it. So then we thought about going RED, but my producer owns all of his own gear (HVX, Letus, lenses, steadicam, sticks, etc). So I decided it was best to go with that and put the money elsewhere.

The teaser shoot went smooth for the most part. We only had about 6 people on set (all of which were the producers on the film) an actress, make-up guy, and a BTS stills taker. We shot the entire teaser in 4 hours and only spent a grand total of $150 (including food).

Great friend and Producer, Daniel Dunn (DP on my last feature)/Myself setting up a shot.
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Our very talented (and extremely brave) actress Katie Stegeman/Very cool Make-Up artist Ken Knolls.
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My other Producer, and great friend Levi Blue and Actor/Producer Ace Marrero. I actually met Ace while in film school. He was a lead in my thesis film, which was also a horror film-- but about a killer clown.
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All 4 producers checking the shot.
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Producer/Actor Ace Marrero and his new friend, Black Bacon.
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I want to wish you the very best in your production. Break a huge leg!
You will have your ups and downs, don't get discouraged... YOU WILL DO IT!!!
If Matt and I can help in any way please don't hesitate to PM us.

Gary :engel017:
 
I want to wish you the very best in your production. Break a huge leg!
You will have your ups and downs, don't get discouraged... YOU WILL DO IT!!!
If Matt and I can help in any way please don't hesitate to PM us.

Gary :engel017:

Thanks, Gary! I appreciate it! Looking forward to Stricken! I've told lots of people about the story of how you guys got it made. Can't wait to see the finished product!
 
Thanks, Gary! I appreciate it! Looking forward to Stricken! I've told lots of people about the story of how you guys got it made. Can't wait to see the finished product!

I appreciate that Eric! We look forward to seeing how your movie develops as well! Best wishes! -Matt
 
Looking good. Man I wouldn't want to be crawling around the pig pen. hahaha. Congrats!!!
 
I appreciate that Eric! We look forward to seeing how your movie develops as well! Best wishes! -Matt

Thanks guys!

We've ran into a lot of folks that have been involved in Stricken in one way or another while crewing up for Madison. Small world down here in LA!
 
Locked in 3 of our roles today!

Adrienne Harrell as ERMA!
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Colley Bailey as the lead in the film.. James!
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And Producer/Actor Ace Marrero as Kyle!
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Welcome on Joanna Sotomura as Brooke!!
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On a side note:

I've been working closely with a story-board artist to draw out some of the more elaborate action/stunt sequences and it's been such a great experience. This is my first time working with a story-board artist and a composer (the composer is doing the teaser trailer right now) and words can't describe how great it's been!

Everyone so far has been a diamond in the rough on this project and pulled in favors that are way beyond our reach! Our Sept shoot date is quickly approaching and I can't wait!
 
Indeed looking good. And of course I'm curious for the sound :-p

As well as the end result as the "on set recorded" sound (which I will not know because it will be cleaned up or ADR/foley-ed. But I'll see :-p)
 
UPDATE!

We woke up this morning to an e-mail from a pretty big distributor inquiring about the North American rights to MADISON COUNTY based off of the teaser! Very motivating!
 
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