Indie
New Genre Doc Asks, “Why Horror?”
Why are we fascinated by horror? Why do some of us love to scream and get scared out of our mind… while the rest of us cringe and recoil? It’s time to get our hands bloody and find out.
In Why Horror?, a new feature-length documentary set to premiere in October 2014, horror journalist Tal Zimerman brings his years of passion and expertise to the big screen. Through examinations of other cultures, the media, science, and the psychology of horror worldwide, Tal’s purpose is simple: to understand why we love to be scared.
“Why do I not only subject myself to multiple shocking sights and sounds, but why do I thrive on it?” asks Tal, an actor/comedian/part-time zombie. “Isn’t this stuff supposed to repulse me? With all the real-life tragedy in the world, why would anyone want to escape to the world of horror?“
Produced, directed, and edited by the award-winning team of Rob Lindsay and Nicolas Kleiman, Why Horror? is the first-ever documentary of its kind, with unparalleled access to the world’s most influential horror masters – including such genre-defining creators as John Carpenter, George A. Romero, Steve Niles, and Eli Roth – and unequaled scope as we travel the world to find out why horror succeeds everywhere.
And in an unprecedented move, the final stage of fundraising for this irreverent, much-anticipated documentary comes to life today – Wednesday, October 9 – at Kickstarter.com with the launch of Why Horror?’s “31 Days of Horror” campaign, running until Friday, November 8, 2013.
Contributors to the Why Horror? Kickstarter fundraising campaign will be able to access Tal and our filmmakers, suggest ideas for the film, and even become a part of the documentary themselves, with an incredible array of exciting perks and rewards for the various contribution levels.
“This documentary is a way to connect horror lovers, film buffs, sociologists… everybody can come together with a different interest in this project,” explains Tal. “We’re offering ourselves up to the community in a way nobody has attempted before. We just hope we make it out alive!”
For more information, visit www.whyhorror.com.
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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