Indie
Tom Holland Debuts New Web Series ‘5 OR DIE’
At the beginning of August, several of the major horror web publications all received a mysterious video spot hinting at something called 5 OR DIE. It turns out that “5 OR DIE” is actually the new short film from writer/director Tom Holland (Child’s Play), which debuts exclusively on-line at the STRIKE TV website this September. STRIKE.TV is the new internet platform for Hollywood talent that was created during the Writer’s Guild Strike. Holland says the purpose is to give professionals a creative outlet other than the studios and networks. Read on for the skinny.
Holland is no stranger to the horror genre, having penned the screenplays for PSYCHO 2, THE BEAST WITHIN and later writing and directing horror classics FRIGHT NIGHT, CHILD’S PLAY and the Stephen King adaptations for THINNER and THE LANGOLIERS. “5 OR DIE” marks Holland’s grand return to the genre and introduces genre fans to a brand new killer unlike anyone you’ve ever seen cinematically thus far.
The short (shot in Studio City earlier this year) is about three high school friends who get caught in the middle of deadly chain email that instructs them to forward the letter in 5 minutes or die. As two of the friends watch the third get slashed and brutally murdered by a mysterious man in black, they desperately search for a way to protect themselves as they watch their time quickly run out.
Holland says one of the great things about the net is that there are no rules, and he intends to walk the edge in both horror and violence, hopefully falling over into the abyss of bad taste from time to time. There will be a message board on Strike.TV’s “5 OR DIE” page where fans can communicate with him and let him know if he has succeeded or not.
He hopes regardless, the show will be great fun for the fans and newcomers to the horror genre.
While STRIKE TV preps to premiere the short exclusively on their website in September, the My Space page is officially live now at: www.myspace.com/5ordie. Fans are encouraged to log in to their My Space page and add the profile to your friends list. You will have access to exclusive production stills, screen grabs and teaser trailers for “5 OR DIE”, and anyone that adds the profile will receive a code on August 18th to watch the short a full month before everyone else!
5 OR DIE was written & directed by Tom Holland and produced by Dennis DeFrehn, special effects by Vince Guastini and stars Brandon Fobbs (The Wire), Madeline Zima (Californication), James Snyder (Crybaby on Broadway) and Kevin Daniels (Their Eye were Watching God).
Her House of Horrors, the horror division of Independent Production House WOMXNOGRAPHY, has launched its Bite Size Short Grant Program, ahead of its film festival Dollhouse of Horror, which will take place in March 2025 in Los Angeles, CA.
The Bite Size Short Grant Program awards $2,000 film grants to female-identifying and queer horror filmmakers. Shorts must be able to be made for $2,000, with a minimum runtime of 8 minutes. Submissions are now open on Filmfreeway, and are being judged by a panel of horror lovers and content creators.
The 2024 Bite Size Short Grant Program judge lineup is as follows:
“James H. Carter II- A documentary director, film producer, podcaster, marketing specialist, and writer. James is the founder and co-owner of Creepy Kingdom. Creepy Kingdom was founded in 2011 and is a multimedia website, and production studio specializing in creepy content. Their primary focus lies at the intersection of childlike fantasy and the macabre, covering horror films, theme parks, haunts, and much more. Beyond their extensive media coverage, Creepy Kingdom hosts events, offers original merchandise, and engages in film production under the Creepy Kingdom Studios brand producing original films like “Foolish Mortals”, exploring Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” fan culture, and “Georgie”, featuring Tony Dakota from the original “It” miniseries.
“In addition to founding Creepy Kingdom, James has won awards for his documentary work, including the award-winning “Foolish Mortals,” which has earned him recognition. He has been featured on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween special.
“Ashleeta Beauchamp is the editor-in-chief of Peek-A-Boo! Magazine, a cheeky horror magazine created to uplift marginalized writers, artists, models and other creators within the horror community. She also runs The Halloween Coalition, a community group to provide support and marketing for horror and Halloween events around the Southern California area.
“Titeanya Rodríguez is a multi-hyphenate creative, and the founder and owner of HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, home of DOLLHOUSE OF HORROR and the horror division of WOMXNOGRAPHY. As a fellow storyteller and a self-proclaimed artivist, Titeanya’s mission is to create opportunities for women of color and queer women, across film, tv, sports, music, and beyond. She is also the creator of the BITE SIZE SHORT grant program.”
Winners will have a one-night theatrical screening at Regal Cinemas. Submissions Close April 8 at Midnight. Winners will be announced on May 27, 2024. Shorts must be shot and through post-production by June 30, 2024. The screening will take place on July 8, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA.
WOMXNOGRAPHY, HER HOUSE OF HORRORS, and Rodriguez are represented by Azhar PR, Granderson Des Rochers, and Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir.
To submit your short to the Bite Size Short Grant Program, go to the FilmFreeway link here.
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