Indie
Chris Sivertson to Produce New Indie Thriller ‘The Absent’
Chris Sivertson (The Lost, Wicked Lake, I Know Who Killed Me) is back again producing yet another indie feature film. Principal photography is about to get underway for Sage Bannick’s The Absent, which is expected to wrap by October 6th. Inside you’ll find the full synopsis and casting.
Last Night, LLC announces the commencement of principal photography for the horror-thriller “The Absent.” Directed by Sage Bannick (“Just Hustle”), the feature will be shot in and around the Winthrop, Washington area beginning September 26th.
Chris Sivertson (director: “I Know Who Killed Me) is producing, alongside Lorna Paul (“Uncharted”). Mike Josten (“Night of the Demons”) is executive producing.
“The Absent” centers on Vincent, a high school teacher forced to choose between career and a love affair with Katie, one of his students. The pressure mounts when his twin brother, Oscar, returns to town after serving 25 years in jail for killing their parents. One by one Katie’s friends disappear, prompting the local Sheriff to target Vincent as the number one suspect. Vincent knows his brother is involved, but is unable to catch him in the act until the final scene. By then it is too late. The hunter becomes the hunted.
Cast includes Bryan Kirkwood (“Hellbent,” “Forsaken”) as Vincent with Yvonne Zima (“ER,” “Long Kiss Goodnight”) as Katie. The homicidal twin, Oscar, is played by Bryan’s real life twin brother, Denny Kirkwood (“Never Been Kissed,” Groove”). Sam Ball (“13 Going on 30,” “Pumpkin”) plays the sheriff and Kelly Eviston (“Home of the Brave,” “Mozart & the Whale”) is the school principal. Vanessa Zima (“Ulee’s Gold,” “Wicked”) rounds out the cast along with Matthew Josten (“Chicken Little,” “The Drew Carey Show”) and Jennifer Blanc (“The Crow,” “Dark Angel”).
The screenwriters for “The Absent” are Sage Bannick, Damon Abdallah and Ari Bernstein. Bernstein is also editing.
The film will be lensed in the towns of Winthrop, Twisp and Mazama, Washington. Second unit photography was completed in Los Angeles in August. Post production will take place at Lalamino Studios on the big island of Hawaii.
Production is expected to wrap by October 6th.
Director Sage Bannick is enthusiastic about shooting in Washington instead of Los Angeles.
“After battling the Hollywood system over financing and studio cost, Last Night, LLC decided to go grass roots and shoot the film on a shoestring budget with help from friends and family,” Bannick says. “We wanted to make a film the way George Romero did when he shot “Night of the Living Dead,” or Robert Rodriguez with “El Mariachi.”
“Oscar may slash high school students but he’s bringing independent cinema back to life,” continues Bannick. “Slash and Burn… Slash the students, burn the building and blow up a car while we are at it.”
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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