It's (past) update time again. It has been non stop over here at The Quantum Terror movie, post production headquarters, but you deserve an update. There's not really much to tell. We are deep into editing right now with sound and VFX work about to begin, too. Again, we'd like to have the movie out in the month of May, but as far as when in May or even if we'll make that deadline, we can't be sure.
The thing is, we want this movie to be the best quality it can be. That means that I don't just slap together an edit and call it done. As of now, the first half of the movie is edited and has been sent off to our executive producer James Hudnell and producer Doug Mayfield of Mesmer Films for critique. We're also getting notes from director of photography Anthony Gutierrez, head of effects Jenna Green, and of course our master of sound and music Derek J. Hunt.
I personally want to say to all who supported this film, that my deepest desire is for all involved to feel good about having contributed to it. That means that when the movie comes out it will be the best it can possibly be, everyone has received their pledge rewards, and no one feels like they were slighted, ignored, or let down.
A few notes on pledge rewards. Again, scripts, downloads, and credits can of course not be given out until after the movie's release. I am still missing a couple of "Voice Of Evil" recordings. If you have not recorded yours for any reason or are having difficulty getting it to me, please let me know. It's been a long time coming but we are finally about to integrate your work into our film. We've had a little trouble with shipping with our T-shirt printer. Please, bear with us. If you have one coming as a reward they will be on their way soon. Very sorry for the extended wait, but thank you so much for being so gracious and patient.
Here's a few things to keep you tied over while you wait. Kristin Cochell was recently interviewed for IdolFeatures.com. You can read it by CLICKING HERE.
I had a fun moment where Quantum Terror actor Val Mayerik, who also happens to be an amazing artist and co-creator of Howard The Duck, drew a rather crazed looking portrait of yours truly.
I like it.
You may also like having a look at this title card, which I can't say what it's for just yet, created by our logo designer David Paul. David is also a very talented writer for his own brand Bad Halo Comix.
Meanwhile, in between editing sessions I've been doing some fun sketches of the creatures that may or may not (due to budget restrictions) be appearing in The Quantum Terror. (at least two of them do)
It's almost time to party with the creatures of the night but we're not slowing down here. Jenna Green is putting the finishing touches on our miniature creatures for our second unit work, I've been working on a few pickup shots with actor Matt Blackwell, and our green screen space is just about ready to go four our final round of second unit photography.
Fun Video For Halloween
Ah, we love special effects. That perfect blend of practical monsters, camera tricks, clever editing and compositing. That's why I was thrilled when a couple of days ago Rocket Jump Film School released this totally rad (Yes, I said rad. We're trying to bring that back, here.) video highlighting some of the practical effects that made us fall in love with movies. Being as I also am a writer, I put together an articles that expands on some of the effects they talk about. You can read it by clicking HERE. Keep an eye out for friends of The Quantum Terror, Alec Gillis (talking Facehuggers) and Tom Woodruff, Jr. (among the Terminator puppet crew) They have a pretty cool You Tube Channel, too.
If you enjoyed that, I'd also like to point you to an earlier article from a few years back. Click HERE to read that one.
Gore Noir Magazine
I'm told there's still time to order your coffin shaped H.P. Lovecraft edition of Gore Noir Magazine, featuring exclusive photos from The Quantum Terror, but they will sell out soon. CLICK HERE to get your copy, if you haven't already. They should be showing up in the mail any day now, for those who are expecting them.
Photos
You've all been so wonderful, nothing but support and not a single complaint that the movie is taking to long. I'm very grateful for that and I promise it's all going to be worth the wait. However, you know me. I've got to give you something. Here are a few more photos from our post production that will give you just enough to make you wonder what you're in for.
It's been a bit too long since our last update but we're back with some big news. The Quantum Terror will be featured for the first time in Gore Noir's black and white H.P. Lovecraft special. The fact that it's coffin shaped is enough to make it a gem in their already collectable series of magazines, but we believe the fact that will feature never before seen exclusive photographs of our practical effects Lovecraftian nightmares will make it even more so. It's going to sell out quick so pre-order your copy by going to this link: http://gorenoirmagazine.bigcartel.com/product/lovecraft-cthulhu-coffin-shaped-b-w-magazine-issue right now.
We've been hard at work over the last month creating the last of our monsters for second unit filming. We don't want to give away too much, but here are a few photos to spark your curiosity.
Jenna Green painting... something.
When Shoggoth wants your beer.
Hang in there.
I also took a little time to do a video update about how we're using stop motion as part of our movie.
There's more news coming. I wish I could just say it all right now but we've got to make sure that everything's nailed down before we go blabbing. All I can say is that we're really excited about how well this movie is coming together, as well as all the possibilities for distribution that have come our way. It could be that this movie becomes bigger than I could have ever imagined. More on that, soon.
A moment behind the scenes with The Quantum Terror. Figured we better post this before the Star Wars trailer drops and all else is completely overshadowed. #QuantumTerrod #BTS #StarWars #practicaleffects
Posted by The Quantum Terror on Sunday, October 18, 2015
Yes, it's happening! This Sunday we got back on set for our third day
of shooting. Things went really well, largely due to our collection of
great talent, combined with a lot of storyboards that were drawn out,
ahead of time.
Here are some photos from the day, that we rather like.
As you can see, we're having a great time.
A quick update from today's The Quantum Terror film shoot. The cast and crew are working really hard, as Christopher Moonlight will show you.
Posted by The Quantum Terror on Sunday, October 18, 2015
Recently we gave a set tour to the Zombie Life Podcast show, who interviewed us extensively while they were there. We're really pleased with how it turned out. Give it a listen...
We're moving along, but we still need your help. Please share this stuff as we post it, and let people know that the Indiegogo is STILL OPEN
and can receive pledges. We have about 7 more days of shooting to do,
and every little bit helps. We've still got great pledge rewards
available, from coffee mugs to screen used FX pieces. If anyone is
interested in becoming an investor, please email me at
thequantumterror@gmail.com to learn more.
So, Zombie Life Podcast came out to the set of our film, and gave Jenna Green and I our most comprehensive interview yet. We hope you'll take the time to listen to it in its entirety, as they really captured our intentions.
Obviously, this isn't the only location we'll be shooting in, but
once you see the movie, you'll be amazed at just how big we can make
these little tunnels look, between trick photography, and miniatures.
We've also got some amazing behind the scenes video about our practical effects & storyboard work.
Our
other good news is that I've gotten some art commissions, which I'll be
putting most of the money from towards this film, which will take us
that much closer to the finish line. Yes, in case you missed it, I'm
also a working artist. Check out this sketch I did as a warm up, for one
of my upcoming works for a client.
Interested in commissioning your own drawing or painting? Interested
in our film investor options? Email me at thequantumterror@gmail.com
We're so near to having enough to complete this film. All of these
things can help. Also remember, if we reach our 6K stretch goal EVERYONE who has contributed to this project will get a free "Art Of The Quantum Terror" ebook that they can download.
One
of the most difficult parts of crowdfunding is providing contributors
with great pledge rewards. You may of noticed that some of our earlier
rewards are now gone. Sadly, the company that was providing them had to
close their doors. Fortunately nobody had yet to claimed those levels
and we've managed to seek out and bring even better ones to the table.
From here on out we're bringing you some awesome stuff, including:
Framed Art Prints
Shirts (available in Men's & Women's scoop & V-necks, as well as tanks)
Coffee Mugs
...and other clothing and accessories.
Even
though we are now shooting, we still need to raise more funds to get
everything done. Remember, if our Indiegogo reaches 6K, everyone who has
pledged will get a free download of The Art Of The Quantum Terror,
which includes an in depth look out our creature designs and behind the
scenes photos. Tell your friends and fellow horror lovers.
First, watch the trailer and then I'll tell you about what we've been up to.
Here's the short link to the Indiegogo: http://igg.me/at/quantumterror
Did you like it? We're pretty pleased with it. There are issues what we're working to improve right now, such as improving our sound, but over all I think you'd be hard pressed to find anything else of this quality on our budget. I'd say that I'd bet my reputation that we'll probably finish with a better all around film than most bigger budget indies, but the fact is that anytime a director/producer makes a movie, that's exactly what they are doing. Fortunately, I've got a great cast and crew who are bringing a level of quality to this film that would otherwise be out of my reach. However, we still need your help. If you've already pledged, please share our campaign. Now what we've made our goal, Indiegogo is letting us keep raising money, so we can make this movie be the best it can be.
The Story
Samantha Carroll's twin sister Silvia has
gone missing, without a trace. The only clues that Sam has to go on are
notebooks filled with strange quantum physics
equations combined with scribblings about the occult, that have been left
behind. Silvia's ex-boyfriend and fellow college classmate claims he has
seen her going into the nearby drainage tunnels that run under the town
he lives in, however he himself is a suspect in her disappearance.
Accompanied
by Samantha's concerned ex-lover Lucy, who has brought a new boyfriend in tow, the now
group of four go down into the tunnels where strange alien creatures and
alterations of reality, will confront them with their deepest desires
and darkest inner truths. Now, the question isn't just whether they will
find Silvia or not, but if it's even possible for them to ever get out
again.
As I say in the video, story and characters count. Executive
producer James Hudnall is
known for his work as co-creator of the Ultraverse for Malibu Comics as
well as Harsh Realms for Chris Carter, and is a writing genius in my book. His revisions of the script are invaluable. We continue to talk on the phone about directors we love (David Lynch and Sergio Leone are names that kept coming up) and tweaks that should be made to the script as footage is shot. We're both very visual storytellers and we want to make sure that ours unfolds through mood, body language, the looks in people's eyes and actions, as much as through what is said.
Building Scary Worlds & Monsters
Let's talk about building underground tunnels and the creatures that inhabit them, on a micro
budget. My passion for a long time has been working with a hybrid style of miniatures, trick
photography, practical effects, puppets, and green screen composite work, both
for the screen and design. I've helped bring to life the visions of some
amazing creators, on projects like Passport To Explore, Live Forever: The Ray Bradbury Odyssey, and Harbinger Down, but I'm the director, so I had to bring in someone who I could trust to do even better at that stuff than the standards I hold myself to. That's why I made Jenna Green my head of special effects. You'll probably know her best for her time on SyFy Channel'sFace Off (season 4) but she also wowed audiences with work on Army of Frankensteins.
We're not having a go at the FX alone, though. Studio 1881 actually has no internet presence, so you'll just have to take my word for it when I say that the main creature that is being sculpted there is beyond amazing. The fact that Oscar winning FX company studioADI is contributing animatronic tentacles to our film is just mind blowing. Having the support of people with that level of achievement (the Aliens franchise, Tremors, Starship Troopers, Harbinger Down) makes us believe we must be doing something right.
The Look & Sound
Cinematographer
Anthony Gutierrez is one of our latest additions to the team. This has been an amazing development for us, because even though I had confidence in my own camera skills and artistic eye, there's nothing like having a specialist at the helm, that can look at everything that is going on in a production, and capture it in a way that transcends your average B-movie. Composer Derek Hunt is a relative newcomer to film scoring, but as you can tell from the trailer, he's come up with some haunting melodies that will put the fear, in atmosphere. (It works better when you say it out load.)
...and there's so much more we're doing right now, that we either can't talk about just yet, or would just make this post twice as long as it already is. (Shout out to David Paul, who is doing our titles & the band Frankenstein who have a track in the film.) I just want everyone to see that the stars are right. We've attracted more top notch talent than I could have ever dreamed. We've got a film with amazing visuals, themes like love, LGBT issues, freedom of choice, life, death, spirituality, science, and the passion to make it all happen. Come be a part of it.
Wow, so here it is. We made it. Sorry that I'm a little late in
updating, since our funding goal was met, but we were going full
throttle without a rest stop in sight. No sooner did we make our goal
then we were off to South By South West, in Austin, to show off some of
our practical effects puppets, like the one in this video, below.
Now it's time to get to work, but we'll keep posting updates and
continuing to get the word out, so we can reach our new stretch goal.
Thank you again, for all of your help. Now, we're going to make a great
film. THANK YOU everyone.
-Christopher Moonlight
PS
Want to know more about how that monster under my arm is working?
Here's an explanation to a puppeteering class, that my dear friend
Tarish Pimkins teaches.
Wow, it has been too long since our last update. I'm pulling triple duty on The Quantum Terror as we simultaneously work on our pre production, crowdfunding, and media. It's no small thing, but it's worth it, because this movie has taken on a life of its own and is becoming more amazing than I ever dreamed possible. Our biggest news this week, is our Quantum Terror Fundraiser Party at Joe's CrabShack in Townlake, which is in Austin TX. CLICK HERE for full details on the event. Be sure to tell your friends.
If you can't make it out, there are still 9 days left to get your pledge
in, to our IndieGoGo campaign, with plenty of great rewards. We're 46%
to our goal, which is only $2,500 so it's still completely possible to
make get there.
As many of you know, this isn't a movie we're going to make. This is a move we ARE making, right now. The script, storyboards, production art, and special effects are all already in progress, as well as casting. Just take a look for yourself.
Remember to follow us on all of our social media, and sign up for mailing updates, all of which you can find just to your right, on the side bar. Join us, in our quest to produce the very best in indie sci-fi horror, and in celebrating practical effects. Thank you.
A twin sister lost. An underground maze. A nameless insanity from outside of time and space awaits.
When I came to Austin, TX in 2012, I was fortunate enough to make some wonderful friends, including directorFrank Papa III, special effects artist Jenna Green, and film composer Lauren Morris, and before long I convinced them that they should work with me to produce a work of indie horror, the likes of which no one has ever seen, or dreamed possible on such a micro budget. We tried to run a Kickstarter in the month of December, which was really the wrong time...
...but it was a great way to A) learn that Kickstarter isn't the right platform for us, no matter how near or far from Christmas we try to raise our funds, and B) gain a tremendous amount of enthusiastic and supportive followers who want to see a movie like this made. And why wouldn't they?! We love movies full of strange alien shapes, tentacles, and mind blowing scientific ideas of interdenominational beings so incomprehensible to the human mind, that one would go crazy, just from seeing one. (takes deep breath) It's easy to see that other people love them, too. We also love seeing awesome practical effects, like the ones in John Carpenter's The Thing or James Cameron's Aliens, so when we started doing test videos for our own effects, we and everyone else could see that it could be awesome.
By the way, those creepy sounds were provided by the before mentioned Lauren Morris, who's passion and deep understanding of her craft make it obvious that she's going to be a huge asset in making this movie as spine chilling as it can be.
Of course, these are just some of my own humble effects tests. As a producer, my job is to bring in people who know better than I, and I think I've scored a pretty amazing talent in makeup and creature effects artist Jenna Green, who is responsible for the more impressive effects on the film Army Of Frankensteins. You may also remember her as a contestant on season 4 or the SyFy monster makeup competition show Face Off. Here she is talking about one of the higher end rewards we came up with for our crowdfunding.
We're also courting some amazing actors. I won't mention all of them here, because their availability is going to depend on when we raise enough funds to shoot, but they include the likes of Mike Gassaway (Magic Mike XXL, Dallis, Bad Kids Go To Hell) and Paula Marcenaro Solinger (Blood Sombrero, Salem, Flashes) who was also kind enough to record this video about why she wants to be a part of our movie.
So, what's this film about?
Our story follows a young woman in her early 20's named Sam, who is struggling with all the expectations that she believes she needs to fulfill within the chaos of modern society, and the confusion she feels after having an unexpected romantic relationship with another woman. Things continue to break down, when her twin sister goes missing, and the search for her leads Sam and her former lover into a dark underground labyrinth where a malevolent entity from beyond time and space, dwells.
Wow, right? I could go on, but I've got to get back to work on producing this film. As you can see, we're really passionate about creating something meaningful and unique. We believe that there's plenty of room in life for diversity, and really can't understand why people continue to chase after the same horror movie tropes until they evolve into meta, and the meta burns out. Let's take our love of creatures, practical effects, great acting, and solid storytelling, and show that the spirit of independent film making can bring new and original material to the screen.
We're coming to IndieGoGo, very soon. Lets do this thing! Follow us on:
Well, the response to
our Kickstarter has been enormous, and would be lying if we said that we
weren't thrilled and honored by all the messages, social media
comments, and of course, generous pledges that we've received so far.
I
know many of you have been wondering: "Just what kind of creatures can
be created on such a low budget, and will they look cool?" Well, to
answer that, I offer you this video, which highlights the creation of a
Cthulhu like creature for a past comic book project calledNegative.
Just to be clear, this particular creature will not be featured in
the film, but we have plans for at least three puppets that will top
him.
Special thanks go to MoviePilot.comfor posting the link to our article entitled"Zombies Are Out, Tentacles Are The New Meta" which has made some major waves in the comments of their horror Facebook page.
(In response to one question: No, this is NOT a tentacle porn. Sorry to
disappoint.) We're over the moon at how many views it's gotten.
Thank you to Darkest Jack of Darkest Radio
for dedicating a segment of his last podcast to The Quantum Terror. If
you missed it, you can still listen to the recording by clicking HERE.
In our next update, we will have a message from former contestant from SyFy's Face Off & makeup artist behind Army of Frankensteins, Jenna Green.
Jenna is our lead FX artist on The Quantum Terror and there will be
exclusive interview footage of her for our backers, as well.
We have 25 days left to go on our Kickstarter, and making progress in bringing you our Lovecraftian style story of tentacles and madness to film.
If I do say so myself, I wrote a great little article about why movies like this one are exciting, called Zombies Are Over, Tentacles Are The New Meta. Don't worry. I don't bash The Walking Dead. It was fun to write, and to pick out animated gif images and You Tube trailers, to go along with it. Click HERE to read it.
We were also glad to be the topic of conversation during THIS EPISODE OF DARKEST RADIO. www.darkestjack.com is a weekly goth/horror podcast that's actually a really good time, so we were honored.
We'll have more news on the way very soon, including cast announcements, and video with our makeup guru and former contestant from the SyFy series Face Off, Jenna Green.
