Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going
Daniel Rairdin-Hale
First, let me thank you for taking an interest in our movie. We have already put a great deal of work into this project and although we still have a little ways to go, we are very proud of the work we have finished so far and are eager to see the final product. Please enjoy this brief history of how our production was started and how we hope to finish it...
The Script
The idea was initially Joe’s. In 2006 we put together a three minute film as part of a 48 hour film project competition and we called it "A Cadaver Christmas." In the weeks that followed, everyone who saw it had basically the same response, "That was more like a preview than a movie, now I want to see the rest!" That got me thinking. Of the short films that Joe and I had worked on up to this point, "A Cadaver Christmas" was the first one that I felt we could really expand on. It was also based in the very popular and marketable genre of Horror/Zombie. For these reasons (and despite that I hate being covered in fake blood) I decided to ask Joe if I could write a feature based on his short. He agreed and I got to work.
Two years and five drafts later, with the help of Joe and Hanlon (and a lot of "research") we finally had an adequate script; campy and fun and just right for our first attempt at a feature.
Formation of the Company
In June 2008 we officially registered our articles of organization with the state of Iowa. We called ourselves "Cadaver Productions LLC." We are a limited liability company formed for the purpose of creating, marketing and selling our zombie movie. We sought investors and achieved our initial budget goals. And through a connection with another local production company we received access to the camera equipment we would need. With money in the bank and equipment at our disposal we were ready for business.
Preproduction I
Designers/crew
Finding adequate designers on a shoestring budget is a difficult process and one at which I was not entirely successful. Fortunately (and unfortunately) I have an interest and some experience in sculpting, painting, make-up, and special effects work. So when I had difficulty hiring a make-up designer for deferred pay... I became the make-up designer. And when I had difficulty hiring someone to design our gore effects, I began to design our gore effects. Realizing that I was ill-equipped to do all the jobs of a design team and film crew, family and friends quickly became an asset to the production: my sister planning the meals and securing food for the snack table, my mom sewing and distressing costumes, my dad building large scenic elements, my brothers-in-law helping with special effects tests, my sister-in-law designing our website, and everyone I know searching their attics and basements for props.
Joe also had connections, his brother handling our accounting, his wife dressing the set, running focus pull, you name it. And I don’t know where we would be right now without his friends from work pitching in and providing amazing publicity photos, designing equally amazing posters, designing lights, and animating some special effects. We are indebted to them all.
And although more regular daytime crew members would have been nice, I could not have asked for more devoted artists and I hope they are all excited about returning to the project next spring.
Cast
As I was writing the script, I had certain people in mind for some of the roles and fortunately, when the time came to offer them a part, they accepted. However there were still a few crucial roles (and a whole bunch of extras roles) that I had no idea who we would cast for them.
We held auditions in June and had a pretty decent turnout. Again, we did not know what to expect since our posting stated "little or no pay." Thankfully, there are actors willing to work long hours and cover themselves in fake blood for nothing but the glory of it all. And hopefully (as we plan to do with our crew) we will be able to thank them later with something a little more monetarily satisfying. We found the rest of our principle cast and filled a number of our extras quota through that round of auditions. For the rest of the roles we recruited friends and family to fill... did I mention yet how much of an asset to the production they’ve been so far?
I am proud to admit we have professional actors from Chicago, New York, and L.A. working on this production as well as amazing local talent and professionals from the Quad Cities area in Iowa and Illinois.
Principle Photography I
We had initially planned to shoot everything in a jam-packed two weeks. But after three eighteen-hour days with little sleep and no rest, we realized that we could not keep up the pace that we had set for ourselves. Although we have had numerous experiences shooting short films at this pace, packing all of principle photography into one sleepless weekend, we now knew that to finish our feature length production we would require a more sustainable schedule. The days were still long and hard, but the morale of the group and the quality of the work was much higher once we slowed down.
Consequently, this new schedule meant that we would not finish all of our principle photography by mid-August as planned. And we didn’t. Now we are beginning talks with our actors, crew, and locations about coming back to the shoot next spring when the space is available again. These circumstances actually provide us with a unique opportunity to begin postproduction before principle photography is completed. We can see our work, see what we still need, and start to generate some hype for the film. Unfortunately, the extra time and cost of principle photography was not factored into our already tight budget. But don’t worry, one way or another, we will make it happen. And if you’d like to visit our Merchandise page and make a purchase or a donation, you can help us make it happen; and we will thank you for it!
Postproduction I
Joe (our director and editor) has been hard at work piecing together scenes and finishing the first preview. Our composer, Scott Morschhauser has begun to develop some music. And our website is up and running thanks to Liz at BrokeHosting.com.
Preproduction II
We are now entering a second round of preproduction. Although we had originally planned to have finished principle photography at this point, our current circumstances offer us a unique opportunity to regroup and evaluate what we have so we can better plan our second shoot.
We are proud of the material we have already collected and expect even better footage on the second go around.
Thank you again for taking an interest. We are tentatively planning limited openings in select cities by Christmas 2009.